SATAN UNMASKED : RECOGNISING SPIRITUAL ATTACKS
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OUTLINE
1.SIN
2.SICKNESS
3.SUFFERING
4.STORM
5.SUPPLICATION
6.SIGHT
7.SAYINGS
THE MESSAGE
SATAN UNMASKED : RECOGNISING SPIRITUAL ATTACKS
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1.SIN
Luke 22:31-34 Psalm 37 : 23-24
We must recognize the attacks of satan in causing people to sin . Jesus recognized the attack of satan on Peter and prayed for him that his faith should not fail . Jesus told Peter that satan wants to attack him and cause him to stumble and sin . Peter did not realize the severe attack of satan upon him and boasted that he was willing to die for Jesus. Jesus told Peter that he would deny him thrice before the cock crows twice. There was an intense satanic attack on Peter to cause him to sin and deny Christ . But Jesus knew it ahead of time and prayed for the restoration of Peter .He encouraged Peter to strengthen others after he was converted. We must have discernment in recognizing satanic attacks on people to cause them to sin and pray for their restoration and fruitfulness .We should not blindly condemn everyone who stumbles and destroy them .
2.SICKNESS
Matthew 12:22 Luke 13:11-12,16
We must recognize the attacks of satan in causing sickness . Jesus could discern it whenever sicknesses were caused by demonic oppression . He cast out the evil spirits and brought deliverance to the sick. The blind and dumb man was healed when the devil was cast out. Jesus recognized the spirit of infirmity that had caused a woman to be bowed down for eighteen years and released her. We must have discernment to recognize sicknesses caused by satanic attacks and resist them . Not all sicknesses have natural causes as some of them may be caused by evil spirits like spirits of infirmity.
3.SUFFERING
Job 1:8-12 Job 2 : 3-7
We must recognize the attacks of satan in causing suffering in our lives. Job was an upright man who feared God. But satan brought unbearable loss and suffering in his life. Although God allowed satan to attack Job it was not God but satan who brought all this suffering in the life of Job. The friends of Job did not have this discernment and revelation about the cause of Job’s suffering. Therefore they argued endlessly about the reasons why Job was experiencing this suffering. Even though Job himself did not know the real source of his suffering he remained faithful to God and did not blaspheme Him.We must have discernment to recognize the attacks of satan in causing mysterious suffering in our lives and not blame God unjustly for the attacks of satan.
4.STORM
Mark 4: 35-41 Mark 5 : 1-20 Matthew 2: 13-14
We must recognize the attacks of satan in causing storms in our lives . When Jesus and his disciples went in a boat to cross over to the other side a great storm arose on the way. We can understand the source of the storm when we read what happened when they got to the other side. There was a demon possessed man waiting for them and Jesus delivered him from the demonic bondage. Since satan knew that Jesus was crossing over to the other side and would deliver this demon possessed man , he wanted to prevent them from reaching the other side by sending a fierce storm . But Jesus recognized this satanic attack and rebuked the storm and calmed the sea. We must have discernment to recognise the attacks of satan who may send storms upon our way whenever we set out to do good and help people to be delivered from satanic bondages. We must take authority over those storms and experience the victory of the Lord.
5.SUPPLICATION
Daniel 10: 12-14 James 5 :16-18
We must recognize the attacks of satan in hindering the answers to our prayers and supplications. Daniel prayed for twenty one days before he received the answer to his prayers. The angel who brought him the answer told Daniel that God had heard his prayer on the first day itself and had sent the answer through His angel . But there was a satanic resistance and hindrance that caused the answer to reach him after twenty one days . But Daniel had been faithful to pray till the answer reached him. He did not get discouraged and give up praying. We must have discernment to recognize the attacks of satan in causing delays and hindrances to the answers to our prayers and we must not give up praying but persevere until the answer reaches us. We must not blame God for the delays caused by satan.
6.SIGHT
II Corinthians 4: 3-4 II Timothy 2: 23-26 Luke 4:18
We must recognise the attacks of satan in causing blindness to the spiritual sight of people . This satanic blindness prevents them from understanding the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ . Instead of getting angry with them for not understanding the gospel we must first deliver them from the spiritual blindness caused by satan . The Spirit of God is upon us to give sight to those blinded by satan. We must have discernment to recognize the attacks of satan in causing hindrances to the spiritual sight and wage spiritual warfare to bring deliverance from the spiritual blindness before presenting the gospel to them.
7.SAYINGS
Mark 8:31-35 Luke 4: 1-13
We must recognize the attacks of satan in the sayings and words that we hear . Jesus recognized the voice of satan behind the well meaning words of Peter who tried to deviate Jesus from the path of the cross. Peter ‘s words sounded as though he was very much concerned about the welfare of Jesus and did not want Jesus to suffer the shame and agony of the cross. But Jesus recognized the cunning trick of Satan to lead Him away from the cross and thus destroy the very purpose of His coming to this world. Jesus rebuked Peter and said ‘Get thee behind me satan for you are an offence to me because you do not savour the things of God but those that be of men? Even in the beginning of His ministry Jesus overcame of the temptation of satan which came after his forty day fast. He refused to yield to all the cunning words of satan. We must have discernment to recognize the attacks of satan even behind well meaning sayings to deviate us from the way of the cross and the will of God for our life. We must be determined to follow the Lord in the path that He has chosen for us even if many sincere well wishers try to persuade us to choose an easier path.
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