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I. Introduction – Session 2 – Part 1B: Until Jesus comes, as long as we breathe we will be in continuous warfare. Satan will do anything to defeat God, including attacking us. In Ephesians 6:12, Paul says that we "wrestle not with flesh and blood." The word for "wrestle" in Greek is pale. It indicates a hand‐to‐hand fight, a wrestling match. Wrestling
is a type of fighting that includes trickery, cunning, strategy and
often, using an opponent's own strengths against him. Satan has three objectives in this wrestling match.
1. First, he wants
to destroy our unity with God, the body of Christ, and our families. If
he persuades us that we are cut off from the Father, he knows we will
question the source of our hope and our power. If God is not for us,
we might as well give up. People who believe their sin is so grievous
that there is no way God will forgive them will give up. They may even
believe that they have blasphemed the Holy Spirit, and are now cut off
from God forever. They buy into Satan's lies and half‐truths, instead
of clinging to God's truth.
Satan uses our lack of assurance of God's
power and love to separate us from God. He causes us to question the
reality of our faith. It is imperative that we examine ourselves to make
sure we are believers, but once that is settled, we need to believe and
trust what God has said. Trust and obey and you shall be saved! Believe
it. Rely on it.
Another common satanic tactic is making us
wonder if God is withholding something good from us. By so doing, Satan
causes us to think that God is somehow evil. It’s what he did to Eve
with the fruit, and what he tried to do to Jesus in the wilderness when
he challenged Him to turn stones into bread.
2. Satan's second objective is to entice us to sin so he can gain a place in our life. I John 3:8 says, "He
that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the
beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might
destroy the works of the devil." He wants us to sin so that we will be destroyed.
3. Satan's third objective is to
put us under the influence of false teaching. He strives to keep us from
the light of truth and lure us into greater darkness. The rise
of cults, New Age mysticism, Eastern religions and even atheism
indicate a multi‐directional assault by false teachers. Satan's false
teaching especially affects our children through the influence of
godless teaching; he seeks to destroy our nation. Public schools are
filled with violence, illegal drugs, open sexuality, and all fed by
perverse textbooks.
The most serious deception is within our own churches. A serious study of the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3 would reveal that we are facing an even greater challenge today.
Why are there as many divorces in the church as out? Why is the use of
pornographic materials no different in the church or out? Why are
alcohol or drug addictions no different in the church or out?
Where is the power of God in our lives? It
is missing because we have been taught that obedience is good, but not
absolutely necessary for salvation. We have been taught a form of
Godliness that denies His power in the doctrines that teach the gifts of
the Holy Spirit have passed away.
We have been given a false security with
the "once saved, always saved" theology; this is partly true - salvation
is a free gift of God, through faith in Jesus. We must believe that
Jesus is the Son of God, repent, and accept Jesus as our personal Lord
and Savior; this will never be change - Jesus finished His work on the
cross. God is not going to take salvation back; it is Jesus'
righteousness God sees when He looks at us. BUT IF you backslide, fall
in anyway, you go back to God, repent, and ask Jesus back into your life
and keep moving! God will restore you back to His fold. Therefore, once
saved, always saved, those NOT mean, you accept Jesus as your Lord and
Savior, and keep sinning or if you fall you don't have to repent again;
it mean Jesus finished His work at the cross and His work cannot be
undone!
If there is not fruit, if there is not a
change in attitude and behavior, there is no salvation. Salvation is not
just a verbal assent; there must be a change of heart. Have
you ever been taught how to be a vessel of honor fit for his service?
Have you ever been taught what it means to be an overcomer? Do you know
how to achieve these? I strongly suggest that there is nothing more
important to learn.
Either the devil keeps us blind to his
existence and his activities, or tries to take us to the other extreme,
of taking our eyes off of God and focusing them on him and his evil
influences. He gains a perverse sense of joy when we credit him for all
our problems and defeats. "The devil made me do it" is among Satan's
favorite testimonies. Satan is very deceptive in how this manifest.
Satan assumes responsibility for all sorts
of power so that we live in fear of him, rather than in reverential fear
of God. In contrast, Jesus told us not to fear the one who is able to
kill the body, but to fear Him who is able to cast both body and soul
into hell (Matthew 10:28).
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May the peace of God guard your hearts and minds ALWAYS!!!
Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks
NOTE:
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permission, please contact Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks: drdehooks@abusedwoman.org.
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