8 SPIRITUAL ASSUALTS BY SATAN THAT THE CHURCH MUST DEAL WITH

Novemer, 2013

8 Passages to Consider in the assualt by Satan, our enemy, that the church should recognize and deal with in the power of prayer.  Failure to understand these things allows for the enemy to continue to prevail and gain victory over the church. 


1.  Hebrews 2:1, 'Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip."

--the things which we have heard is instructions by Christ and the Holy Ghost;  Have we given more earnest heed to the things which we have heard?  Have we let them slip?  Have we had ears but cannot hear?  Have we been listening to the wrong voice of instruction?  Have we been preoccupied by the things of this world and let slip the things of eternity?  It is most needful to keep before us the key priorities of Christ teachings through His Word.
The attack of Satan here is a common one mentioned in Scripture, 'which we have heard'; Satan closes the ears.  How often is it presented, 'having ears to hear but cannot hear'.  And a responsiblity upon us is that we would counter this deafness by crying out to Him that made the ears to hear and is able to open the ears of the deaf.  "They are not hearing Your Word O Lord.  Satan has blocked their ability, open the ears to hear Lord." 
The other area of interest is 'lest at any time we should let them slip'.  Is it not Satan's objective to take away from us the passion, the love, the zeal in serving, doing and obeying our Lord?  Yet, is it nt our own testimony, the churches and the proof of our nation, that because Satan distracted and robbed us of our priorities we have let slip that which never should have slipped away.  It is a wrestling match to hold on to that which is right and good and faithful unto our Lord.   

2.  Luke 11:42, "But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God:  these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."

--things done and not done;  A voice of warning to the Pharisees from Christ, 'Woe unto you'.  When God pronounces woe, we should immediately set up and take notice of the charge being brought.  they tithed mint and rue and all manner of herbs; yet this was not what God wanted.  Yet, men will justify what they deem worthy, rather than worry if God is pleased or accepting.  The rejected and neglected the important things of judgment and the love of God.  and then the words, 'these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.'  Done the right and rejected the wrong. 

3.  II Corinthians 10:4 - 5, "(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds:) v. 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"

--capturing every thought of one's own self and praying for the thoughts of others unto the perfect obedience of Christ; I am more and more prone to believe that this is the real battle, a battle for the thoughts and minds;  for in this lays the very crux of where a soul determins its eternity.  We have Paul stating to Christians, 'let this mind be in you which was in Christ'.  And we have Paul warning us of Satans control over the minds in II Cor.4, 'Satan has blinded the minds of those who believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should sine unto them.' 

4.  II Timothy 3:5, "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:  from such turn away."

--the practice of religous actions denies the true Presence of the Holy One in heart, mind and soul;
Having a form of godliness is religion.  Religion in centuries ago, was the term for Christianity.  Jonathan Edward and many others of his day even up til the mid 1800's could use that term religion and it was known and accepted that it was in regards to Chrsitianity.  But not today.  Today religion is not pure and undefiled;  religion is lies, half-truths, cults and falsehoods.  Religion is anti-Christian; it is anti-Christ.  Old Oliver B. Greene, an old Independent Baptist, who died in the 1970's used to say, in which I agree, 'Religion has sent more people to hell than anything else.'  It is a form of godliness, not a heart transfomration which is required for 'old things to pass away and all things to become new.' 

5.  I Timothy 5:14, ". . .give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully"

--Satan accuses the brethren continaully;  we are not to give him ammunition to charge us and speak against us, the body of Christ and our Lord with reproach;  OUr labor is to maintain in our personal walk of holiness with and for the Lord.  In this, we keep ourselves from reproach by our enemy.  No greater shame, than for Satan to boast against us and our failing flesh.  the image here is that of zechariah 3, 'Joshua the high preist standing before the angel fo the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. . .'  For our enemy is always attacking the servants of the Lord.  He already possesses and owns the souls of sin and lostness, he targets the beloved of the Lord.  And when we are un-Christlike, Satan is able to speak reproachfully against us. 
'give none occasion' - that means not one;  we are so prone in this day and age to compromise, to think that sin is permissible or okay.  The argument goes, 'Well, we are all sinners.  Everyone sins and its okay to sin every now and then.'  What an argument and thought from hell!

6.  Revelation 2:20 - 24, "Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce My servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.  v. 21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.  v. 22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.  v. 23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am He which seareth the reins and hearts:  and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.  v. 24  But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden."

--we have here the warning, 'which have not known the depths of Satan';  seduced by a false prophetess Jezebel, they commit fornication/adutlery; allow her to continue to preach and teach false doctrine, continuing to bring harm to the body by her lies and deception;

7.  I John 5:18, "We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not."

--the wicked one to touch us not;  it is one thing for him to talk with us, as he did with Satan;  but how much worse, when he stretches forth his hand to touch us like he did with Job; 

8.  I Peter 1:13 - 15, "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end fo the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ:  v. 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:  v. 15 But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of converstaion;"

--'not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance'; why is it that today within the church body there is so many that are following, practicing and returning to 'former lusts'?  It is a wide epidemic of those who were raised in the church to fall away and do great sin and harm to their lives and the witness of the church. 

Began:  November 28, 2013
UPdated:  December 3
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