BREAKING STRONGHOLDS ? PART THREE

Posted under Uncategorized on January 12th, 2011 by with no responses 

Satan’s Subtleties
Excerpts from a sermon by John Sparks

Who is responsible for our sin: man or Satan? Satan is behind all sin. But man is responsible to resist and fight and flee and have faith against him.

* He attacks our physical strength-The Disciples in Gethsemene.
* He attacks our health-Paul’s thorn in the flesh^?a messenger of Satan to buffet him.
* He attacks our mind-John the Baptist in prison.
* He attacks our emotions-Elijah running from jezebel.
* He attacks our disposition-Peter chopping off Malchus’ ear.
* He attacks our morals-Solomon, Samson, David.
* He attacks our soul…He wants us to worship him or to be self-sufficient-to think we can get along without God.

Where do these temptations come from?

* From within-from ourselves: (James1:14) Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust. Thomas Watson said: “Everyone is Satan to himself.”
* From without-from Satan: (Matthew 4:3) He is called The tempter…He lies in ambush to get us…He lays a fuse of temptation to blow up our fort of grace.
* How does he do that? Seven characteristics of Satan.

1. Cunning…Sly, designing.

2. Treacherous-the betrayer.

3. Swift-angel of light.

4. Intense-he stands against God’s people to oppose them with an intensity that is straight out of hell.

5. Determined. Powers and signs and lying wonders.

6. Unvarying-relentless in his purpose-he never Gives up.

7. Subtle-artful, crafty, deceitful.

The subtleties of Satan: (2 Corinthians 2:11) Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices. The Greek word tempt signifies deception (Revelation 12:9) So the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil, and Satan, who deceives the whole world.

Here is how he attacks us through subtlety.

* He knows our weaknesses: He observes the natural disposition and characteristics of each of us-he cannot read our minds, he cannot see what is in our hearts-but he can read our lives, our habits, our temperament. He tempts the ambitious with a crown or an executive position, power. He tempts the covetous with money, a wedge of gold, stuff -he tempts the sensual with lusts of the flesh. He tempts the connoisseur with the beauty of the world, in art, music, fine wines, foods, theatre, etc. Watch out-the devil will get you in your weakest point.

* He knows just when to attack us:

* New believers: He doesn’t need to attack those whom he already owns, Jesus said to the lost you are of your father the devil, but just as soon as you are converted to Christ, he attacks with temptations: When Israel got out of Egypt, Pharoah pursued them – as soon as Christ was born, Herod sought to destroy him. As soon as the tender buds of God’s grace begin to blossom, Satan tries to nip them with temptation.
* When believers are idle: The devil’s workshop. Hunters don’t try to hit a running deer, but one who is standing still, unaware of the hunter’s presence. David was not at the battlefield where he was supposed to be when he saw Bathsheba.
* When we are in need: When Christ fasted 40 days, Satan attacked – tempted him with the glories of the world. If God doesn’t provide for us as timely as we think he should, Satan offers his temptations. People work two jobs; neglect God and family, because they refuse to trust God.
* When we are closest to God: Students in Seminary often suffer from Satanic attack.
* After seasons of prayer.
* After you have won someone to Christ.
* Christ had been fasting and praying 40 days, why attack at this time? You would think this would be the worst time to attack. Satan is deceitful, crafty. Our getting close to God makes him angry. He knows we will begin to influence others away from him. He thinks he will find us more secure: Let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. Like a soldier who lets down his defenses after a victory. David defeated the Amalakites, who after they had taken the spoil, were secure, eating, dancing, David attacked and destroyed them (1 Samuel 30:17) Pirates never attack an empty ship. Burglars do not burglarize empty houses. Crooks don’t rob banks with no money. So Satan attacks when we are rich in the Word and filled with the Holy Spirit.
* When we are weakest: He breaks over the hedge where it is lowest (Genesis 34:25) The sons of Jacob conquered the Shechemites when they were in pain and unable to fight.
* When we are alone: Eve when Adam was away. His policy is to give his poison privately.
* When death is approaching: As the crows pick at poor, helpless animals when they are sick and weak. So, Satan attacks when we are approaching death, sick and weak. The people of Israel were more fiercely attacked as they got closer to the Promised Land.

* He baits his hook with religion:

Seven forms of satanic religion:

1. Atheism – there is no God.
2. Humanism – man’s worship of self.
3. Rationalism – liberalism.
4. Intellectualism – Science so called.
5. Emotionalism – interpreting in light of experience.
6. Ritualism – much of religion today.
7. Denominationalism.

How does he hook the believer with religion? Interpreting the scriptures by our feelings. “I don’t feel saved.” “I could never win anyone to Christ,” lack of confidence. “I have experienced it.” Christian existentialism. “I don’t have to go to church to be a good Christian.

Satan tempts gradually: He tempts first to less sins-a small offense may occasion a great crime. David first looked at Bathsheba. Lot looked toward Sodom. “A little bit won’t hurt” is one of Satan’s biggest lies.

Satan tempts some more than others:

* Those who are ignorant of God’s word^?it is our weapon. Blind people can be led almost anywhere.

* Those who are proud. Let him that thinks he stands, beware lest he fall. Blessed are the poor in spirit.

* Melancholy persons: Depression leaves us wide open for Satan’s attacks. It leaves us unfit for duty. When the believer’s spirit is sad and melancholy, he is out of tune for spiritual things. It makes him sometimes side with Satan against God. The devil tells this person God doesn’t love him, He is not there to deliver him, there is no mercy for him, He will not hear when he calls on Him. This depressed, melancholy person is prone to believe Satan. Melancholy breeds discontent. God cannot use depressed people. Discontent, unthankful, impatient, and it often ends in self-murder-suicide! A melancholy person tempts the devil to tempt him.

* Idle persons-the devil’s workshop…(Micah 2:1)…If the hands are not working, good the head will be plotting evil.

He tempt us with lawful things:

* Recreation is lawful. “I need a vacation.” But, not from God.
* Spending time with one’s family is lawful and a good idea: but Seek first the kingdom of God. If you put God and his church first, you will have a better family. Be very careful that you do not put your family before God.
* Our jobs…Here is the attitude…(Ephesians 4:32)…Let him labour, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give to those in need.

He tries to make Christianity look like hypocrisy:

* “You can’t trust Christians.” “I’ll never go to church again because^?” If you have bad service in restaurant do you say “I’ll never eat again?” If you were cheated when buying a car, do you say, “I’ll never ride in a car again?”
* “Christians never have any fun.” Christianity is joy that the world cannot possibly understand. We are not supposed to be miserable. Too many are! It is hard for the world to accept that Disneyland is not the happiest place on earth, the church is!
* If a person is a zealous, joyful, witnessing believer he’s a fanatic (at the ballgame you can shout all you like and they call you a “fan”). Try saying amen, alleluia, praise the lord in most churches. You will be looked down upon as some kind of nut.
* If he is patient and turns the other cheek he’s a coward and not macho.
* If he is humble, he has no spirit or backbone, weak.
* They bring up martyrs of the past, the dark ages.
* All the church wants is your money.

He tries to lead us into error: That they should believe a lie.

* Satan is called a lying spirit. He is the father of all liars. As an unclean spirit he attempts to defile the soul with lust. As the lying spirit he labours to corrupt the mind with error.

* Three stages of apostasy-a falling away. Not all at once Erring from the truth (2 Timothy 2:18). Resisting the truth (2 Timothy 3:8) Turning away from the truth (2 Timothy 4:4).

* Satan brings division into the church by introducing error. He loves discord, he hates peace, he doesn’t want us to love each other, splits, fusses, discord, disagreements, and general fighting in the body of Christ.

* Satan persuades people to delay in repenting and turning to God: (Haggai.1:2).on building the house of the lord. The time has not come that the lord’s house should be built…Then the word of the lord came by the prophet Haggai, saying, it is time.

* The longer you put off giving up your sin the harder it will be to give up

The time is now!

On this day...

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