INSIGHT
 

   Think of the most powerful enemy anyone could have: invisible, deceitful, unexpected, and capable of making you believe he’s on your side.  You would need some major weapons to fight this kind of enemy! Who is your enemy?  Who wants to prevent you from building relationships that will edify, encourage, strengthen, spur you on, and build up your faith in Jesus?  There are many people in the world that have given themselves already to this common enemy, that is, Satan, because they simply refuse to believe he exists.  He already has them in his hand at this point!  Even those of us who believe in the devil, who know he exists, can easily be deceived by his powerful temptations and unexpected assaults.  The encouragement we receive from the Scriptures, however, holds us accountable to be aware of Satan’s schemes:

 

If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven--if there was anything to forgive--I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes. 2 Cor 2:10-11

 

   From what we are learning in the Scriptures, we know that sincere love has to be at the center of our relationships, especially between us and the Lord.  Any attempt by you to undermine or threaten these relationships is a victory for the devil (James 4:1-4).  He is a destroyer of relationships and represents the exact opposite of everything God teaches in the Bible.

 

Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.     Eph 6:11-12

 

   We just need to keep in mind that whatever struggle we have in this world is a struggle against the devil’s schemes, not a struggle against your boss, your co-workers, your spouse, or even your brothers and sisters. Recognize who is in the midst of breaking relationships and who gives us the victory over any of Satan’s schemes. It is also important to recognize that we cannot blame the devil for everything that goes wrong. The devil tempts us and entices us through our own evil desires:

 

When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.                             `                   James 1:13-14

 

   Therefore, you need to put your mind on heavenly things (Heb. 3:1;Col 3:1-3) and allow the Holy Spirit to renew your mind (Rom. 12:1-3).
Spiritual Warfare
Satan's Master Strategy For Destruction

 

Key Text:                       Ephesians 4:17-19

 

“So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 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. 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.”

 

Theme:

 

Spiritual warfare is a battle of the mind and of the heart. This is Satan's master plan of deception.  This is the cycle he's going to try to catch you in. The results of it in this life are a mind filled with shame and guilt.  If something is not done about the shame and guilt the conscience becomes seared as with a hot iron. (1 Tim 4:1,2)

 

Application:

 

Here are some practical suggestions:

 

1. Don’t harden your heart: (Prov 28:14)  Blessed

    is the man who always fears the LORD, but he who

    hardens his heart falls into trouble.

 

2. Don’t be ignorant! Don’t think that because you

    know the Scriptures you are immune to Satan’s

    schemes. Don’t be futile in your thinking (thinking

    about vain things¾unproductive). Be sure you are

    not lacking in God’s Wisdom, which is pure and

    comes from the Scriptures. (James 3:17)

 

3. Seek the fellowship! Don’t avoid your brothers and

    sisters! Seek their encouragement and their spurring

    on! Separation from fellowship is the first sign of

    being trapped by the Devil’s scheme. (Heb 10:23-

    27)

 

May the Lord richly bless you!

 

Sermon Outline

Spiritual Warfare

 

I.      Last Week: Appreciating Differences

      Romans 12:3-10

1. Each member has his/her function

2. Value the differences

    a. Appreciate the good qualities

    b. Strengthen whatever is laking in our

        personality

3. Maturity comes when each others’ good qualities

    are balanced in our lives

 

II.  Satan’s Master Plan of Destruction

      A. The essence of Spiritual Warfare

         1. Ephesians 6:11-12

             a. It is a battle of the heart and mind.

             b. It is falsehood vs. Truth.

      B. The Artist of Deception

  1. Satan is good at deception. He tries to catch you

            in his cycle of deception. (Ephesians 4:17-19):

             a. Hardening of the heart

             b. Ignorance

             c. Darkening of understanding

            d. Loss of sensitivity

            e. Indulging in sensuality

         2. The Devil cannot force you to fall into his trap.

             He tries to convince you. 2 Thess 2:10-12

             a. Don’t buy his lies!

             b. If you delight in his lies God will give them to

                you!

  3. He appeals to your weakness. James 1:13-15

             a. You are not immune

             b. Don’t give him a foothold!

             c. Renew your mind (Rom 12:1-3)

 

III. Conclusion:

         1. Don’t be unaware of his schemes! Equip

             yourself with God’s Word.

         2. Seek out fellowship and encouragement from

             the brothers and sisters during troublesome

             times.

         3. Pray fervently to persevere in the knowledge

             and wisdom of our Lord Jesus.
Small Group Study

 

Warm-up:

Mention an area of weakness in your life. Share how you struggle to be accountable to God in that area.

 

See To It                             2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

 

1-     How will Satan try to influence people? Is it going to be by presenting himself as a mean, ugly, red devil?

 

2-     What kind of people are deceived by Satan’s schemes? Why are these people in the condition they’re in? (Look specifically at verse 10)

 

3-     Does God give these people what they want? Explain.

 

4-     What do you think got these people caught up in their delusion in the first place? Who were they really seeking?

 

Seeing It Closer        

 

1-     How has Satan tried to deceive you? Be specific.

 

2-     What kind of sign, or wonder, or counterfeit miracle has he tried to pull on you?

3-     How can you prevent from being caught up in a delusion that exists only in your mind?

4-     What does this passage teach us about trusting in physical things as opposed to spiritual things?

 

Getting To It:

 

Satan knows that he will only be able to get us if he appeals to our senses.  Jesus guards our hearts and minds (Phil 4:7) in His peace. Therefore if you persevere in filling yourself up with the spiritual, with the things that come from above, from God; then you will be promoting maturity in the Spirit as opposed to fulfillment of the flesh.  The thing that gets us is the reality of the desires of the flesh. They are real and they cry out!  However, we must remember that discipleship involves crucifying these passions and desires (Gal 5:24) so that we let the Spirit cleanse us and renew our hearts and minds.  Put on the armor of God! (Eph 6:11-20)

This week's Quiet Times:

SATAN’S MASTER STRATEGY FOR DESTRUCTION

 

MONDAY

In order for us to be aware of the schemes of the devil we must realize that we live amidst spiritual beings.  Many of them are unfriendly spirits (deceiving spirits and demons: 1 Tim 4:1-3) and many more are ministering angels sent by God to protect us (Heb 1:14). Read 2 Kings 6:8-17.  How was the King of Israel finding out all the moves of the King of Aram? What did the King of Aram do when he found out what was going on? How did Elisha’s servant react when he saw all that great army surrounding them?  How did Elisha respond? Why was he able to respond this way? What did he see that others couldn’t? Hezekiah, who also did many favorable things in the eyes of God, understood that he was always protected and surrounded by many more entities than his eyes could see. He encouraged the people who were rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem with this in 2 Chronicles 32:7,8.  Are your eyes open to what’s really going on around you?  Are you praying that you may recognize who is in control and who you want to give the control to in your life? Write Psalm 34:7-9 on an index card and memorize it.  Call someone in the church and ask them whether they are “seeing” the Lord’s hand at work in their life.

 

TUESDAY

How is your spiritual vision?  How much do you dwell on the unseen battles that are occurring in your life?  Are you just a spectator in your own battles?  Do you cower before the temptations that come and just simply give in because you know of no other alternative?  Do you shrink back from trying to make any progress in your relationship with God because you just don’t know what to fight with or with who or what you are you fighting? Read James 1:2-8.  What are you to rejoice in? What’s so good about trials that we should rejoice in them? Is it possible that we could not be getting these great things from a trial? What then should we ask for (vs 6)? Do you think that perhaps you are not looking at some of your trials with spiritual wisdom (James 3:17,18)? Maybe you want to solve them on your own? Maybe you think that you can do it with without any extra help?! Read Ephesians 4:7-16.  What gifts does God give the church? Why did He give us these gifts? Because of these gifts, what things should not happen (vs. 14)?  So then, how do we each do our part in the Body to help see the unseen? What do we help each other focus on?

 

WEDNESDAY

Satan’s primary tool is deception. Read 2 Thess. 2:9-12. How would you categorize the kinds of things Satan uses to deceive?  What do these things appeal to? What do they satisfy? The essence of spiritual warfare is lies vs truth. Satan can’t make you do anything so he will try to delude you into thinking something is good or truthful. He wages war to confuse your mind and capture your heart.  Where does our delight need to be in? How do you teach yourself to delight in the Lord? (Psalm 1) Read Gal 5:16-21.  It’s all about what you spend your time on.  What are you doing? What do you focus on most of the time? Your desires or the Law of the Lord? Where do you want to be? Write Psalm 37:4-6 on an index card and memorize it.  What happens when you make the Lord your hearts delight? Isn’t that something???!!! Turn the tables on Satan!

 

THURSDAY

Once you know who you’re fighting then you can prepare yourself for the attacks. Read Ephesians 6:11-17.  How are you going to be able to stand (survive) the schemes of the devil? What kind of weapons and defense will you need? Can you fight the devil physically? Is that the way you’ve been fighting--battling against your spouse, your brethren, your boss, your co-workers and roommates??  Is it they who wage war on you?  WHO IS IT??!! Notice in verses 11 and 13--who’s responsibility is it to put on  God’s armor? Go through these verses and list each piece of the armor. Make a drawing of this armor (whether you’re an artist or not) and point out each of the pieces of God’s armor.  On one of the margins of your paper list each piece of armor and how that piece will be effective in helping you stand firm.  Rate how you are wearing each piece of armor.  For example, in verse 15, how effective are you fitting your feet with the readiness of the gospel? What do feet have to do with readiness?  What’s the spiritual analogy here? From 1 to 10, how ready are you to “see to it” to these things?  Rate the other pieces of armor and understand the analogies used by Paul to the spiritual armor.  Hang up your work on a wall to remind you of how you are going to be prepared to stand against the devil.

 

FRIDAY

Read Revelation 12:7-12.  Who was aging war in Heaven? Who is the dragon and his angels? Where were they thrown down to? What power has been given to those on Earth to fight this dragon? What’s another name given to the devil in verse 10? How will you be able to overcome the devil? Why is a warning issued to you in verse 12? The Book of Revelation depicts the most amazing universal battle between Satan and his henchmen and the Lord God Almighty. The end of the story? Read 1 John 5:1-5.  Who is it that overcomes?  How are you able to overcome the world (the devil)? Read 1 Cor 15:50-58.  Focus on verses 57 and 58. Who is our victory? Therefore, what is the encouragement? Doesn’t this sound similar to the encouragement given in Ephesians 6:11ff?  How will you be able to stand firm?