Satan’s Attacks Against Christians
Satan’s Attacks Against Christians
INTRODUCTION Notes taken from the booklet, "How to Resist the Devil", by F. J. Perryman. In a previous lesson we learned that Satan was a real, living, active enemy.
1 Peter 5:8-9 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour; whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world"
Ephesians 4:27, "Neither give place to the devil."
If we do not resist the devil, things will go wrong for we are disobeying God.
Satan attacks every true child of God and you and I are no exceptions to the rule.
"Resist", means to withstand; to be firm against; to fight against if necessary.
"Be sober", means to be sane, to be mentally self-controlled; to be on guard.
"Be vigilant", means to be awake, to be watchful like a sentry on guard duty, ever watching and listening for the approach of the enemy.
Satan is a liar, murderer, divider, counterfeiter, roaring lion or an angel of light.
Many try to fight a passive fight by saying, "I just trust the Lord and ignore Satan."
God says, "Be strong, stand up, draw the sword, resist, withstand, and overcome." Not only the heroes of faith are to fight but each individual Christian, too. The war between God and Satan began in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28, and continues today.
Genesis 3:15, speaks of the continuous enmity between Satan and mankind.
"I was born from above, not to go under in defeat, but born to triumph." -Perryman
WAYS IN WHICH SATAN ATTACKS CHRISTIANS 2 Corinthians 2:11
The devil makes us lazy; a spirit of lethargy, heaviness comes over us; the brain becomes abnormally dull, tired and ambitionless.
Perhaps we blame sleeplessness, the weather, diet or pressure of duties.
Check each point: Have I had sufficient sleep? Is the weather hotter now than before? Is my diet sufficient? Am I busier than I should be?
If the answers are negative then recognize the thing as an attack of Satan and rebuke him in the Name of the Lord; Satan will be forced to flee from you.
James 4:7, "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
Sleeplessness; if Satan succeeds in keeping us awake then our senses are dulled; our activities are arrested and weakened; normal operations of life are undermined.
Pressure of duties: this makes us tired, overwhelmed and irritable; if we are too busy, too active, delays can frustrate us and Satan gets an advantage of us. Satan can cause traffic jams to delay us to attempt to exasperate us.
Beware of the time when unexpected callers or the children annoy us.
Nerves: Satan tries to attack the body and cause us to become nervous wrecks. If he succeeds in this then in our weakened position the devil gets us to sins easily.
Satan wrecks minds. 2 Corinthians 4:4, Satan once blinded the minds of the unsaved. Today Satan is engaged in the battle of the mind trying to regain control of it.
Satan attempts to enter the mind through a wrong thought, impression or idea lodged in the realm of the thought life. Scripture says a man is, as his thoughts make him.
Satan may enter our mind through a root of bitterness, a grudge, a disappointment (in love, school or business), pride, etc.
By death: Satan is a murderer and seeks by accidents to claim the lives of mankind. God holds the keys of life and death, yet God gives this power to Satan at times; in Job 1:12 God gave Satan the power to destroy Job’s family and consequently in Job 1:18-19 his 7 sons and 3 daughters were killed by a collapsing building.
By suicide: Satan tried to get Christ to commit suicide by jumping off the pinnacle of the Temple in the great temptation of Matthew 4:6.
Perryman tells the story of a man who couldn’t shave himself because the temptation to cut his own throat was so great.
Doubtless this is the explanation of most suicides; Satan has gained an entrance.
By moods: These are common to man but the devil must not be allowed to take advantage of them for his own pernicious plottings.
Watch your moods closely and seek victory through Christ over them quickly and constantly.
Money spending habit: Story of a woman who lived in sixteen different houses in ten years and each house requiring new furniture-what a waste of time and money.
The devil often takes advantage of a good thing and makes us sin by overdoing it.
Fashion craze or habit: God says that women are to dress modestly.
Many err in dress simply following modern fashions without considering the effects that it might have on the opposite sex.
Some men have committed terrible sins but confessed later, "I had no intention of doing it but because of her immodest dress I was tempted beyond the power of my resistance."
The temptation to the improper use of tongues opens the door to evil spirits.
Some individuals seeking special "Spirit-blessings" try to think themselves empty and Satan is glad to fill the vacuum. (Some tongues are doubtless genuine.)
Finding the will of God. The message of the Lord is clear and specific.
Satan comes to the seeking soul with many suggestions; he makes a haze, a fog in the mind by creating a great uncertainty.
Recognize the difference: God’s voice is specific while Satan’s is indecisive and cloudy.
Daydreaming: This is one of the devil’s most fruitful fields. There are good and bad day dreams; watch your passive, uncontrolled mental musings.
Flagrant sin is often the outworkings of accomplished daydreams.
14: Feelings: These, like thoughts and moods must be watched; don’t be touchy; don’t mull over sayings, "I wonder if he meant to insult me?"; "Why did he say that?"
Live by the faith of the Son of God and not by feelings.
Criticism: We must be prepared to receive it; we may be misinterpreted, misunderstood. This could overwhelm us and lead us to introspection and discouragement.
Discouragement is one of the major weapons utilized by the devil.
Old age: You have served the Lord faithfully; Satan says, "Now you are too old to resist; just relax and take life a lot easier." This is the devil’s lie.
Preachers have many temptations so pray much for them.
Satan tempts us to use a silly joke before the invitation and the Spirit departs.
Temptation to spiritual pride: "A fine prayer"; "good sermon"; excessive compliments.
Vision of great results-"me", the centre of a great revival; great crowds; much publicity; hundreds of decisions. Pray for Dr. Billy Graham.
Missionary in Satan’s territory: "perplexing situation", "stress of conflict", "disappointments", "discouragements", "mental breakdown", "blow upon blow", "baffled", and as a result the missionary is seemingly enveloped in darkness.
HOW TO RESIST THE DEVIL
Recognize the thing as an attack of the devil. James 4:7. "Resist the devil."
Resist, fight, draw the sword, Ephesians 6:11, ". . . that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."
Use the armour provided for the saint and listed in Ephesians 6:10-18.
Ephesians 6:14 -1oins girt about with truth.
Ephesians 6:14 --chest protected by the breastplate of righteousness.
Ephesians 6:15 -feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace.
Ephesians 6:16 --body protected with the shield of faith, to turn aside Satan’s fiery darts.
Ephesians 6:17 -head protected with the helmet of salvation.
Ephesians 6:17 -offensive warfare engaged with the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.
Put on Christ. Romans 13:14, "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof." Christ in me must be the Victor.
Use the Word. Christ in the great temptation in Matthew 4:1-11, did not pray or call for angp.ls to protect Him, but three times He quoted Scripture to Satan.
Matthew 4:4, Matthew 4:7, and Matthew 4:10.
Take the offensive; display the triumphant life.
Use your will or willpower by saying, "I will not sin"; "I resolve by the power of the indwelling Christ and His grace to overcome and be victor over sin."
Seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost; the Spirit will guide us as to whether or not the temptation is of the devil (for example in the matter of guidance).
Prayer. Ephesians 6:18, "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."
Plead the Blood of Christ to cover you. Satan will always flee from the presence of the Blood. Revelation 12:11, "And they overcame him (Satan) by the Blood of the Lamb."
CONCLUSION If you sin, confess it immediately and claim forgiveness on the basis of 1 John 1:9.
Rise up and take the sword and fight more diligently.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
What 5 lessons can we learn from 1 Peter 5:8-9 about Christian warfare?
Is it profitable to fight a passive fight against Satan? Why?
List a dozen methods that Satan uses to attack Christians. 414. Check the nineteen methods of Satan mentioned in this lesson and list those that the enemy has never used against you personally.
What is the precious promise of James 4:7?
Is it wrong to be moody? Why?
Mention three special temptations of Christian workers.
List seven things to remember in resisting the devil.
In Ephesians 6:10-18, identify the pieces of armour and the parts of the body they protect.
Quote Revelation 12:11.