The Armor of God - Day 11 (The Helmet of Salvation - Session 7 - Part 2E-2)

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II. The Whole Armor of God – Sessions 3-8 – Parts 2A-1 to 2F

E.  The Helmet of Salvation – Sessions 7 – Parts 2E-1 to 2E-3:

*Session 7 – Part 2E-2 – Let’s take a closer look at Paul's thorn in the flesh. II Corinthians 12:7 says, "And lest I should be exalted above measure through abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure." What was Paul's thorn in the flesh? The verse says plainly that it was a "messenger of Satan." The Greek word is translated "angel" 179 times and "messenger" seven times. It's never translated "disease" or "physical infirmity." Such an interpretation would be wrong. An angel of Satan, one of the spirit beings that followed him when God threw him out of heaven, buffeted Paul, tempting him with self-exaltation. That spirit wanted Paul to exalt himself; watch out – that’s what Satan try to get us to do today. In II Corinthians 11:23-27 Paul lists some of the ordeals caused by this evil angel that kept him humble. There is not a disease in the entire list. Paul's thorn must be understood in the same sense as Numbers 33:55; Ezekiel 28:24; and Hosea 2:6 where the same Greek word for thorn is found in the Septuagint. In these passages, the giants were called thorns in the sides of the Israelites. The giants resulted from the union of fallen angels with human women (Genesis 6:4; Jude 6; II Peter 2:4). They weren't diseases and plagues, bad eyes or a heart condition. They did cause suffering and war.

Paul asked three times for the thorn to be removed and God refused. He refused because the thorn was an evil spirit that was tempting Paul. It is not yet time for Satan and his demons to be removed from the world. That will happen in God's timing which is the Day of Vengeance, the Second Coming of Christ.

In truth each and every believer has the same thorn. We are all tempted and buffeted by Satan, and this will continue until Jesus put Satan away forever. God made many promises to each of us. I Corinthians 10:13 says, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

He has promised us a way of escape from the devil's wiles. This is a message of love, hope, and peace. Still, we cannot be ignorant of his devices. We must know the entire truth, seek forgiveness and obey God's Word. Then we will receive peace. Satan's thorns will still be thrown at us, but we will deflect and defeat them.

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May the peace of God guard your hearts and minds ALWAYS!!!
Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks

****Click to accept Christ as YOUR personal Lord & Savior****

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The Armor of God - Day 10 (The Helmet of Salvation - Session 7 - Part 2E-1)

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II. The Whole Armor of God – Sessions 3-8 – Parts 2A-1 to 2F

E.  The Helmet of Salvation – Sessions 7 – Parts 2E-1 to 2E-3:

*Session 7 – Part 2E-1 – The belt is truth, the breastplate is righteousness, the shoes are peace, the shield is faith, and the helmet is the assurance of salvation. It is the confidence that comes from knowing our salvation is sure. The helmet symbolizes our position in Jesus Christ, showing that we are a member of His family and joint heirs with Him. Putting on the helmet demonstrates that we know and embrace our position in Christ. We have been selected, saved and sealed by and in Christ; we are seated with Christ at the right hand of God; we are secure in Him; in Him we have a position of strength. We are assured of salvation, if our faith is not alone (James 2:17). Are there works of Righteousness in your life? Are you being changed (sanctified) in your experience? In your daily life? If so, rest assured that you are His.

By putting on the Helmet of Salvation, we show the enemy that he cannot crush us, touch us, nor do anything to us. Yet sometimes we still feel defeated. Why? It requires us to search our hearts and minds to see if we have given the devil an opening, and then defeat him, sending him fleeing. Our salvation assures the ultimate victory through Christ.

The Helmet of Salvation demonstrates three aspects of salvation: I have been saved (justification), I am being saved (sanctification), and I will be saved (glorification).

1. The first is justification. This is our legal position in Christ. We were saved from the penalty of sin at the moment we accepted Christ's sacrifice on the cross.  This aspect of salvation is past tense.  Because we accepted His free gift, we are justified.

2. The second is sanctification. This is in the present tense. We are being from the power of sin. Sanctification is an ongoing process as we learn to walk with God and put aside sin and Satan's ways. It is a process of sharpening our ability to discern between good and evil, and then choosing the good (Hebrews 5:14). It is this process that we become "vessels fit for His service" (II Timothy 2:20-21). We can be overcomers or non- overcomers. If we choose to be overcomers great rewards are promised (Revelation 2-3). Sanctification comes as a result of submitting to His authority, and allowing the Holy Spirit to direct us. We can choose to walk by the spirit in God's Kingdom, or walk in the flesh in Satan's kingdom. We can choose to quench the Holy Spirit by not allowing Him to work through us to carry out His will. We can grieve the Holy Spirit by continuing to sin. Or we can walk as sanctified believers, in the power and light of the Holy Spirit. Sanctification is the process of being trained to be His kings and priests for all eternity. We must learn to conquer the iniquity in us. In doing this we learn how to be His servants in all eternity.

3. The third is glorification. This is in the future. At the end of our earthly life, we will walk with our Heavenly Father and we'll be given a new body. The level of relationship and the level of authority that we have in heaven are determined by our obedience in this life. I believe our new body will be just like Jesus' body was after the resurrection. He was recognizable, He still had the scars from His crucifixion, and yet He walked, talked ate. He appeared in rooms without going through a door, and traveled instantly from one place to another.

Our spirit and soul are eternal, and will live with Him forever. This is fascinating. Even walking on earth, we are really in eternity. Only our body dies, and it is replaced with a new and better model.

Whatever the spiritual battle in which we are involved, we can stand secure with our helmet on, confident in our identity in Christ. We are on the winning side. We have nothing to fear but fear itself. II Timothy 1:7 says, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." Scripture labels it "the spirit of fear." Notice, Scripture doesn't say a spirit of fear, but the spirit of fear. The spirit of fear refers to Ephesians 6:12, where we're told, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

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May the peace of God guard your hearts and minds ALWAYS!!!

Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks

****Click to accept Christ as YOUR personal Lord & Savior****

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NOTE: These materials are copyright protected therefore you must request permission to reproduce any part of this material. To request permission, please contact Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks: drdehooks@abusedwoman.org.

The Armor of God - Day 9 (The Shield of Faith - Session 6 - Part 2D)

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II. The Whole Armor of God – Sessions 3-8 – Parts 2A-1 to 2F

D. The Shield of Faith – Session 6 – Part 2D – God does not leave us defenseless when we are engaging in spiritual warfare. God does not leave us without a shield and a helmet to ward off Satan's fiery darts. He gave us the Shield of Faith and the helmet of our Salvation.

Ephesians 6:16-17 says, "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God."

In Verse 14, Paul said to put on the belt and the breastplate. Now he says to take up the shield and the helmet. It makes sense that a soldier would put on the main articles of his armor before taking up his helmet and shield. A breastplate alone wasn't enough protection. The shield is movable and able to catch or deflect the enemy's arrows, knives and spears.

The fiery darts in Roman times included any thrown missile: a javelin, spear, arrow, or stone. Fiery darts could include the combustible arrowheads that set fire to fortifications, ships, houses and shields made of wood and leather. Roman shields were made of iron, and were usually shaped like a door. They were large enough to protect the soldier, and some were covered with layers of leather soaked in water just before the battle to extinguish fire from flaming arrows.

The shield provides another great word picture. The Bible often compares the Word to water. Ephesians 5:26 says, "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word." Just as a Roman shield that had been soaked in water put out flaming arrows, so the shield of faith quenches all of the enemy's fiery darts. Faith comes from hearing, believing and applying the Word, and without faith we please God.

Knowing the truth is not good enough. We must apply it, taking up the shield of faith to deflect Satan's attack. Practically, this means using specific truths from God’s Word to counteract various lies and accusations of the devil. There is not a single lie or accusation of Satan that we cannot extinguish Word of God. If Satan's fiery darts burn us, it's because we haven't spent enough time in the Scriptures building up our faith. Just as the leather on Roman shields would dry out in the heat of battle, so will our shields of faith if we are not completely immersed in the Bible each day. Satan's fiery darts consist of evil thoughts, lusts, passions and various temptations (I Corinthians 10:13- 14; II Corinthians 10:4-6; James 1:13-15; Romans 6:12; I John 2:15-17).

How does Satan attack you? Have you examined your thoughts? Do you know their origin? Are they good or evil? Are they from God or Satan? What do you think of yourself? What do you think of others? Write down every thought you have about yourself, your spouse and others you know. Write down how you feel about God. How do you feel about your earthly mother and father, even if they have died? Once you have done this, compare your thoughts to the truth of Scripture. Do your thoughts line up with the Word, or are some, or many, of them out of line?

Scripture commands us to examine our thoughts. II Corinthians 10:5 says, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." Our thoughts are either curses or blessings. Philippians 4:8 says, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

How do the thoughts that you just wrote down compare to this verse? Do the thoughts you identified build up or tear down those on your list?

Scripture commands us not to be ignorant of Satan's devices (II Corinthians 2:11). Not knowing the difference between good and evil reveals ignorance. This is why the command in II Corinthians 10:5 is so important. If we are to be successful in defeating Satan, we must examine our thoughts. We need to ask whether or not we are allowing Satan’s lies into our hearts, or God's truth. If our thoughts are good and of God, then we need to readily accept them into our hearts with great joy. If they are evil thoughts, we are to reject them and rebuke Satan.

James 4:7 says submit to God and resist the devil and he will flee. Sending the devil starts with our total submission to God. This is an ongoing process. If submitting to God is our habit, then we will be able to resist the devil. To resist implies that there is something that we must actually do. God grants us the power to resist, but we must choose to do so. The mystery of the fellowship of the Church is that it is a partnership with God (Ephesians 3:9).

As we grow in our relationship with God our shield will also grow. As a young immature Christian our shield is small, unable to withstand all of the attacks of the devil. But as we mature and learn God’s word by use and experience our faith grows.

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May the peace of God guard your hearts and minds ALWAYS!!!

Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks

****Click to accept Christ as YOUR personal Lord & Savior****

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NOTE: These materials are copyright protected therefore you must request permission to reproduce any part of this material. To request permission, please contact Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks: drdehooks@abusedwoman.org.

The Armor of God - Day 6 (The Belt of Truth - Session 3 - Part 2A-3)

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II. The Whole Armor of God – Sessions 3-8 – Parts 2A-1 to 2F

A.  The Belt of Truth – Session 3 – Parts 2A-1 to 2A-3:

Session 3 – Part 2A-3 – Ephesians 4:13-15 teaches that properly equipped believers won't be like children who are tossed around by waves and winds of false doctrine, or by men’s trickery, craftiness or deceitful scheming. The one behind all these tactics is our enemy, Satan, who wants to lead us away from the simplicity and purity of God's Word and simple faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is why he disguises his servants and himself as angels of light.

When a believer is led astray, what should we do? Ephesians 4:15 says, " but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—."

When we see Christians in our fellowship or circle of influence that are doctrinally wrong, we must refute their error. We do this in a spirit of unity, peace and love. Peace and love are key motivations. We must approach an erring brother with patience, instructing him in truth, with humility. We must avoid spiritual pride and arrogance, being sure not to fall into the same doctrinal error or one even worse. Galatians 6:1 teaches us to gently restore a fallen brother, thereby protecting ourselves from falling into the same sin. How do we put on or take up the belt of truth? Do we say a magical prayer or visualize picking it up and putting it on? NO!

Putting on the armor is not a passive action. The armor is not automatically put in place when we accept Jesus. It requires an act of doing, believing, embracing, responding to, and studying God's Word, and is accomplished over time.  This is the most basic foundational principal of spiritual warfare.

Ephesians 6:12 says, "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." As it concerns each individual believer, the high places referred to here are between our ears. II Corinthians 10:5 says to bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. What does this mean? It means that we are to examine each thought that enters our mind, and compare it to the plumb line (inerrant truth) of Scripture. We ask, "Does this thought come from God or Satan? Is it a good or evil thought; the truth or a lie?"

Hebrews 5:12-14 says to quit feeding on the milk of God's Word and start to feed on the meat. We are to become mature in our walk with God. Verse 14 describes discernment, saying that we should exercise our senses to know the difference between good and evil. Exercising our senses implies hard work. Christian maturity requires discernment and obedience to the truth. It requires us to know truth to be able to recognize error. We put on the belt of truth by studying and applying God's Word to our lives.

James 4:7 says to "submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee." There is a very specific order to this verse. It starts with submission. If we fail to submit and have sin in our lives, then the devil won't flee! How important is wearing the belt of truth? Nothing is more important if we desire to win at spiritual warfare and live a victorious, healthy Christian life.

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May the peace of God guard your hearts and minds ALWAYS!!!
Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks

****Click to accept Christ as YOUR personal Lord & Savior****

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The Armor of God - Day 5 (The Belt of Truth - Session 3 - Part 2A-2)

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II. The Whole Armor of God Sessions 3-8 – Parts 2A-1 to 2F

A. The Belt of Truth – Session 3 – Parts 2A-1 to 2A-3:

*Session 3 – Part 2A-2 – All our lives, we have been subjected to Satan's lies, and he is the father of lies. We have believed and lived lies. We have told lies. But when we came to faith in Christ, God’s Grace opened our spiritual eyes so we could see the Truth and the Truth set us free. We no longer fell under the authority of Satan's lies. God's truth, as found in His Word and our response to it, sanctifies us and sets us apart for his service. His truth continues the sanctification process.

John 17:14-17 says, "¹⁴ I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁵ I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁷ Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth." God the Father chose each of us. He sanctified or set each of us apart, and we are also required to sanctify ourselves. We are required to set ourselves apart to God.

1 Peter 5:8-9 says, "⁸ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. ⁹ Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world." 

II Peter 1:19-21 says, "¹⁹ And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; ²⁰ knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, ²¹ for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit."

Satan leads us into false beliefs so that we doubt God's Word. We actually help him in this, because many believers keep God in a tiny box, limiting what He can do in their lives by putting some areas off-limits. We must let God be God. Who are we to limit Him? We must decide whether or not we will believe the Bible and act on it, or continue to be tossed about by Satan.

II Timothy 3:16-17 says, "¹⁶ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

The validity of God's Word is a central issue. If it is God-given, God-breathed, God-protected, and God-preserved, then we must study and obey it. If we pick and choose which parts of it we believe, then all of it fails. Satan likes to get us to doubt parts of Scripture, especially those parts that make us uncomfortable. Once he’s got us doubting, he will devour us and we will at best become lukewarm Christians. God says he spews lukewarm Christians out of His mouth. We have a choice to make. Either we walk in our own understanding with Satan as our tour guide, or we can walk in God’s truth with the Holy Spirit leading the way (this is what I chose to do; how about you?).

John 14:6 says, "Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

John 17:17 says, "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth."

John 8:32 says, "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." If we refuse to accept God's truth, then we are not heirs to God's kingdom; instead, we inherit Satan’s eternal damnation. There is no middle ground. Make up your mind. Whom will you trust and follow? With whom will you walk? God gave you a free will to choose to manifest His Spirit, or manifest Satan's spirit. Never forget that our warfare is not against flesh and blood, but against Satan and his kingdom. Never forget your real enemy.

1 Timothy 4:1-3 says, "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, ² speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, ³ forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth."

What happens to us when we refuse to put on the belt of truth and tighten it up for battle? From the beginning of the Christian faith it has always been a challenge for believers to become well established in the Word of God. In Ephesians 4, Paul exhorts believers to stay unified in the Spirit until all of us come to unity in faith and reach spiritual maturity. Zealous Christians who step into positions of leadership before they have a solid understanding of truth spread much error.

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May the peace of God guard your hearts and minds ALWAYS!!!
Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks

****Click to accept Christ as YOUR personal Lord & Savior****

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NOTE: These materials are copyright protected therefore you must request permission to reproduce any part of this material. To request permission, please contact Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks: drdehooks@abusedwoman.org.

The Armor of God - Day 4 (The Belt of Truth - Session 3 - Part 2A-1)

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 Outline

I. Introduction – Sessions 1 & 2 - Parts 1A-1 to 1B
II. The Whole Armor of God

• A. Belt of Truth – Session 3 - Parts 2A-1 to 2A-3
• B. The Breastplate of Righteousness – Session 4 – Part 2B
• C. The Gospel of Peace – Session 5 – Part 2C
• D. The Shield of Faith – Session 6 – Part 2D
• E. The Helmet of Salvation – Session 7 – Parts 2E-1 to 2E-3
• F. The Sword of the Spirit – Session 8 – Part 2F

III.  The Whole Armor of God Study Guide

___________________________________________________________________

II. The Whole Armor of God Sessions 3-8 – Parts 2A-1 to 2F

A. The Belt of Truth – Session 3 – Parts 2A-1 to 2A-3:

Session 3 – Part 2A-1 – In Ephesians 6:14, Paul names the Belt of Truth as a primary piece of the Armor of God. Why begin with the Belt? Why not the sword or the shield? Satan’s first tactic is to cast doubt on God's Word. That is why our defense begins by having girded our loins with truth. Truth must dominate our lives. In the first three chapters of Ephesians, Paul explains the relationship and position of a person saved by Grace. As believers, each of us becomes a member of the body of Christ. God gives us resurrection power, and seats us with Him in the heavenly places above all earthly rulers, power and authority.  Our position is set forever in heaven.  Though we gain this position in Christ, we still must live out our faith in our daily lives.

In the first three chapters, Paul makes six doctrinal statements that spell out our position in Christ:

1. God has selected us. God chose us. Ephesians 1:4 says, "According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love." When Satan whispers or screams in your mind that you have been cut off from God, remind him that God chose you. God has chosen every man, woman and child that He created in His image.

2. God not only selected us, He saved us. Ephesians 1:7 says, "In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." God spent His Son's blood to redeem us, giving us forgiveness of sins. Satan holds no power of death over us. James 4:7instructs us to resist the devil and says he will flee. Because He saved you, Jesus gave you His power to use against Satan. But you must use it.

3. We are sealed. Ephesians 1:13 says, "In Whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise." Satan wants to demoralize us, taking away our hope. He wants us to doubt the security of our relationship to God. God gave you His Holy Spirit to seal your faith and guarantee your redemption.

4. Positionally, we are seated at the right hand of God. Ephesians 2:6 says, "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." As you survey the battlefield, what better place to sit than immediately next to the Supreme Commander of the Earth. This is your position.

5. We are secure. We will be seated with Christ for all eternity. Why? Ephesians 2:19 says, "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God." Ephesians 3:6 says, "that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel." You are a citizen, heir, and of the same body as Christ.

6. Our position is one of strength. Ephesians 3:16 says, "that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man." You need to be strong in the Lord and stand firm on the authority of these truths. You never have to run away, or be defeated! You put on the full armor of God to be able to resist the enemy, and taste God's victory. If you don't resist, Satan loves it.

Roman soldiers wore at least one of three different kinds of belts or girdles. One was like a leather apron worn to protect the lower abdomen; the second carried the sword; the third was a special belt, or sash, that designated the rank of an officer or high-ranking official.

The belt that carried the sword was absolutely necessary when going into battle. No soldier would purposely go to war without his weapon. Besides holding his sword's scabbard, this belt kept his tunic in place so he would not get tangled in it. And it secured the breastplate, which protected his chest. The belt kept everything else in place. The spiritual belt of truth performs a similar function in our lives. Truth lets us discern right from wrong, or recognize a violated standard.

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May the peace of God guard your hearts and minds ALWAYS!!!
Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks

****Click to accept Christ as YOUR personal Lord & Savior****

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NOTE: These materials are copyright protected therefore you must request permission to reproduce any part of this material. To request permission, please contact Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks: drdehooks@abusedwoman.org.

The Armor of God - Day 3 (Introduction - Session 2 - Part 1B)

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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

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