Dealing with the enemy! Part 3
By: Pastor Ron Crandall
Ephesians 6:11 .... stand against the wiles of the devil.
The word ¡§wiles¡¨ in the Greek is ¡§methodia¡¨ - ¡§ To follow up and investigate by methods and a settled plan, plan crafty tricks, schemes.¡¨
Ephesians 4: 18-
18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way.
21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
*29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
(NIV)
The enemy has several methods of attack against Individual Christians here is just twelve of them:
Matt 4:3-11
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
8. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
(KJV)
Three times here Jesus spoke the WORD! ¡§ IT IS WRITTEN!¡¨
We need to follow Jesus¡¦ example and speak the word of God to Circumstances, to our Health, to our Spirit Man and To the Lives of our Children!
Satan tempted Jesus with things he had no right to give him in the first place.
1.) He spoke to Jesus¡¦ psychical need for nourishment.
Yet the word proclaims that he is the ¡§Bread of Life¡¨
The Word also says he is Jehovah Jireh the God that Provides.
Phil 4:19
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
(KJV)
2.) He spoke to Jesus¡¦ trust in the Father
2 Cor 1:10
10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
(KJV)
2 Cor 3:4-6
4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
(KJV)
3.) He spoke to Jesus claiming he could give Him what the Father could not.
Ps 24:1
1 The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
(KJV)
1 Tim 6:17
17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
(KJV)
Ps 89:11
11 The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.
(KJV)
1 Cor 10:26
26 For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.
(KJV)
1 Tim 6:17
17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
(KJV)
Destroy Satan¡¦s lies with the truth from God¡¦s word¡K.. We need to put him in his rightful place.
By speaking the word of God and saying it is written, now get behind me¡K.
„« What are some of the Methods Of Attack Against The Local Church Congregations:
1. Creating negative perspectives within key circles of people, thus causing a spirit of negativism to spread within the church.
¡§Optimism is the content of small men in high places.¡¨
ľ Men fail through lack of purpose, rather than talent.
Phil 4:13
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
(KJV)
2. Harassing the flock with continual attacks on weak sheep or sheep that are not under proper spiritual covering for protection.
Isa 59:19
19 So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
(KJV)
1 Pet 5:7-10
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
(KJV)
3. Using the tongue as a tool to cause divisions, discord through gossip, slander, by passing half-truths and evil reports.
Prov 11:13
13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
(KJV)
Ps 133:1
1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
(KJV)
Eph 4:3
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
(KJV)
Eph 4:13
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
(KJV)
Eph 4:15
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
(KJV)
4. Maneuvering people into positions of relational conflict caused by satanic confusion and carnal deception.
1 Cor 14:33
33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
(KJV)
James 3:16
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
(KJV)
Ps 44:15
15 My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me,
(KJV)
I Jn 4:7-8
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
(KJV)
5. Attacking key leaders discouragement circumstantial pressures so as to remove their influence by default or failure.
1 Sam 30:6
6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
(KJV)
Ps 33:22
22 Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.
(KJV)
Job 22:28-29
28 Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.
29 When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.
(KJV)
6. Magnifying little problems within the church causing spiritual stress, which cannot be pinpointed.
¡§A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities; an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties¡¨
Matt 16:23
23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
(KJV)
7. Maneuvering fragmented truth into imbalanced doctrinal emphasis, which influences the weaker and newer sheep, thus causing spiritual instability.
Mark 11:17-18
17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.
18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.
(KJV)
8. Working against the spiritual vision of the church by sending people into the church that seem to be supportive, but actually are against the vision and continually work to destroy the vision, although sometimes they work innocently in total ignorance of what they are doing.
Eph 4:14
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
(KJV)
If there ever is a time for the believer to begin to stand up call Satan on his schemes and tricks it is definitely now.
Recognize Him for what he is deceitful¡K
Begin to proclaim God¡¦s word loudly to him and watch him run¡K
By no means get me wrong or misunderstand me today he will be back.
The great thing is God gave you a tongue¡K
Use it for life and the proclamation of liberty to yourself and others.
Invitation:
