3/6/18 – Tuesday: Eph 6:11, The Angelic Conflict, Pt. 25, The Enemy, Pt. 22, Satan's Strategies, Pt. 2.

Lesson #18-026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RmmCHjAJ2c

Grace Fellowship Church

Pastor/Teacher, Jim Rickard

www.GraceDoctrine.org

Stand in Warfare – Eph 6:10-20.

Outline of Eph 6 :10-24
1. The Empowerment, vs. 10.
2. The Enemy, vs. 11-12.
3. The Equipment, vs. 13-17.
4. The Energy, vs. 18-20.
5. The Encouragement, vs. 21-24.

2. The Enemy, vs. 11-12

Eph 6:11-12; Rev 12:10; 1 John 2:1-2; 2 Cor 11:3; Gal 3:1; Rom 12:2; James 4:7-8

Continuing in Eph 6:11, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil,” we continue to note the strategies of Satan to keep people away from a relationship with God.

Seven of Satan’s Strategies

1. The devil’s strategy toward the believer is first directed towards God Himself as Satan accuses believers of guilt that should lead to condemnation when we sin. Because of Satan’s jealousy towards believers who have been given eternal life in Christ, Satan makes an accusation about the sins of believers to God the Father, Rev 12:9-10; Job 1:6-11; Zech 3:1-2.

Rev 12:10, “Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, ‘Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night’.”

When Satan accuses us of guilt, he also runs into God the Son, who is seated at the right hand of the Father. At that point, Jesus Christ takes on a role beyond being our Savior. He immediately acts as the believer’s defense attorney, our advocate, (PARACLETOS) and intercedes on our behalf to present the case that every sin that the devil mentions has already been judged. The law of double jeopardy applies: You cannot be judged twice for the same offense. So, Jesus Christ mentions that and God the Father as the judge throws the case out of court, Rom 8:33-34; 1 John 2:1-2.

1 John 2:1-2, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; ²and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.”

Rom 8:33-34, “Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; ³⁴who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.”

2. It is Satan’s objective to sponsor reversionism in both unbelievers and believers involved in Christian degeneracy. As part of his deception, he provides a false religion with a false gospel and false doctrines with a false communion table, as he and his minions disguise themselves as angels of light, 2 Cor 11:3, 13-15. These are all designed to sponsor reversionism in the believer and keep the unbeliever from knowing Christ. Illustration: 1 Chron 21.

2 Cor 11:3, “But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.”

3. It is the strategy of Satan to get you to be disobedient to the Word and the Pastor’s authority in teaching it, by destroying your focus on God’s Word when being taught, (both in the presence of the pastor and by not attending services), and by ignoring the doctrines you have learned, 1 Chron 21:1; Gal 3:1.

Gal 3:1, “You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?”

4. It is the strategy of the devil with regard to believers to frustrate the will of God in the believer’s life. The will of God is categorized and classified in three ways: Mental, operational, and geographical.

·         Mental will of God: What does He want me to think?

·         Operational will of God: What does he want me to do?

·         Geographical will of God: Where does He want me to be?

It is the Satanic objective to frustrate all three categories.

  a. Mentally; Satan tries to stop the intake and application of Bible Doctrine in your life, and instead get you to think in terms of the world’s way of doing things, Rom 12:2; 1 Cor 14:20; Eph 4:14.

Rom 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Eph 4:14, “As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming.”

1 Cor 14:20, “Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.”

  b. Operationally; Satan tries to distract or stop the application of your spiritual gift in the ministry and service God has given to you, 1 Cor 12:4-7; cf. Gal 5:7; James 4:7-8.

1 Cor 12:4-7, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. ⁶There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. ⁷But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

Gal 5:7, “You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?”

James 4:7-8, “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ⁸Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

  c. Geographically; Satan tries to move you out of the area, (town, state, country, etc.), God sees best for you to excel in His Plan, 1 Thes 2:18.

1 Thes 2:18, “For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, more than once—and yet Satan hindered us.”