By Chuck Lawless
Let me start this post with a clear caveat: Satan will not ultimately win as he attacks God’s church. Jesus broke the powers through His cross (Col. 2:15), and the enemy will eventually be cast into outer darkness (Rev. 20:10). In the meantime, though, the devil strategically attacks us. Consider these ways he seeks to get the “up”per hand.
- He wants us to mess up in sin. The results of our sin are numerous. Our witness loses credibility. Our prayers are hindered. Our joy wanes. Relationships often suffer. The world looks at us and sees no difference– and the enemy temporarily wins.
- He wants us to cover up our sin. He did it in the Garden of Eden, and he still does it today: if we sin, he wants us to hide like Adam and Eve did. That way, we never confess it and turn from it. Likewise, the enemy wants the local church to ignore the sin among its members.
- He wants us to get hung up on difficulties and discouragement. “You’ve served God faithfully,” he says to us, “but what good has it done? You’re still struggling and lonely.” He delights when we cower in the cave like Elijah (1 Kgs 19), forgetting God’s previous blessings and focusing on only the trouble at hand.
- He wants us to clam up in evangelism. God has only one plan to get the gospel to our neighbors and the nations: believers tell the story to others (Rom. 10:9-16). It’s the enemy who points out reasons for us not to share the gospel. Maybe you’ve heard messages like “You’re going to lose your friendship” or “You really don’t know enough to do evangelism.”
- He wants us to bow up over position and power. The enemy who himself sought the throne of God is pleased when we guard our turf and protect our positions in the local church. “You’ve served in that position for years,” he reminds us, “and why should you give it up? Nobody can do it as well as you can.”
- He wants us to break up. This strategy, too, started in the Garden, where Adam turned on Eve and blamed her for his wrong. From the beginning, the enemy has sought to sever marriages, families, friendships, and congregations. He knows the church will hardly make a difference when we shoot each other in the back.
- He wants us to build up our own kingdoms. He does not mind when we talk about the kingdom of God as long as our real focus is our own kingdom. “Serve God,” he says, “but make sure others know just how much you’re serving Him. In a ‘humble’ way, be sure to get the word out about the size and influence of your ministry.”
- He wants us to cloud up the message. Without question, the enemy rejoices when the gospel message is decidedly and clearly forsaken. At the same time, though, he is pleased when the message is subtly changed so the gospel disappears while still sounding like a biblical message. The cloudiness of the message thus keeps non-believers from hearing the truth.
- He wants us to give up on prayer. He points out unanswered prayer, reminding us that God has at times not heard us in the past. Why would we then seek God’s presence and power today?
- He wants us to get puffed up with ego. In fact, this strategy is the root of the rest of these strategies. When we reside on the throne of our lives, the enemy is at least temporarily winning.
What other ways have you seen the enemy get the “upper” hand in a church?
NOTE: The church I attend, Restoration Church in Wake Forest, NC, is seeking 1,000 prayer partners to pray for us once a month during 2015. Would you join us in praying? Please sign up at www.restorationrdu.com/1kpray.
Chuck Lawless currently serves as Professor of Evangelism and Missions and Dean of Graduate Studies at Southeastern Seminary. You can connect with Dr. Lawless on both Twitter and Facebook.
Satan does indeed use all of his evil forces to attack Christians from all directions, but God has given us the power to resist Satan’s best shots if only we would pray. God said, “Call unto me and I will answer thee, and show thee great an mighty things, things which you have not seen before. Think of it – God wants us to take hold of divine power and use it for the Kingdom sake. It is within our reach. God said, “Ask Me about the things to come concerning My sons, And you shall commit to Me the work of My hands.” Power over Satan is ours for the asking. God is moved by prayer to act on our behalf.
Jesus said that his house will be called a house of prayer. Prayer is the key. We don’t win God’s favor by our works, but we do gain His attention with our prayers. When our pastors are committed to prayer, instead of church administration, their preaching will have life. Prayer will invoke the full power of the Holy Spirit and give force to their preaching. God awaits the opportunity to add fire to the service, we need only to ask.
Today, more than ever before, we need the power of prayer. And,it must start with our pastors. We need to pray that our pastors have more time for the closet, so that when they preach their preaching is born of the Spirit. Powerful preaching is born of powerful praying.
Our pastors need to be strong men of prayer. They need not be afraid of speaking boldly the truth of the Word of God. And, when they become strong men of prayer their lives will reflect the glory of God. Isaiah was afraid to speak until his lips were seared by the fire of God. Satan will tremble when they begin to speak, if only they return to continuous prayer.
When that happens their flock will follow. On Wednesday nights our small group prays that our pastors will have more time for prayer, preaching and teaching the Word of God. When this happens – Satan will flee!
Pray!
Agreed, Steve. Thanks.
I’m just curious as to what would you say to the Bible college student who gets filled with all kinds of knowledge pertaining to things such as “Q” (additional materials used to write Luke[see Luke 1:1]) or when we realize that we really don’t know where much of the OT came from except to rely on faith that it did happen? When our biblical studies takes the place of biblical relationship?
I don’t disagree that Satan roams about like a roaring lion looking for whom he can devour but we must not overlook our own hearts and their role in the issue:
“But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.” -James 1:14
It’s important to note that Satan is NOT omniscient, omnipresent nor omnipotent. We can’t blame everything on him when it’s our own hearts (which are deceitful) that are the problem. Satan sows where there is fertile ground. We must yield our lives totally to Christ and participate in our sanctification.
I don’t differ with you, Mark. WE are our biggest issue. If we don’t recognize the enemy, though, we ignore a strong teaching of scripture.
This is a great article and all the points are right on the money.
I would just add that Satan also wants a leadership in place that has a “Smorgasbord” approach to obeying the scriptures.
Above even burnt offerings God most of all wants obedience to His Word which seems to be a matter of option among church leadership these days. I don’t believe they take seriously that all scripture is God breathed; thus leadership tends to think that some of Paul’s writings for example were simply Paul’s personal opinion rather than God’s divine instruction to the church through Paul.
I have actually heard from an elders own lips….”Well… that might be what Paul wrote, but we do things differently at this church”.
I would hope for balanced scholarship, Brandon, that presents various views without weakening one’s walk with the Lord or one’s trust in the Word.
Thanks for the insight, Hal.
The temptation of NUMBERS: How about when the Pastor wants a big church and will do anything to get there. So he starts “softening” the message so it doesn’t offend or drive anyone away. Starts saying things that appeals to our egos, makes us feel good about ourselves and positive as we leave church. Starts teaching us that we have the power within ourselves to do anything and have anything IF only we believe. Then as the Pastor compromises on his so called Bible teaching, he also brings in the “young” rock band and removes the older musicians and singers who have served faithfully. Thinks if he brings in younger, more popular music it will attract the youth. So he continues to compromise in the worship. Ignoring the older generation of his own congregation. The older generation feels devalued and can’t relate to the vague lyrics and empty mindless repetition in some of the songs. Gone are their beloved hymns that declared SOUND THEOLOGY AND CHRIST HONORING TRUTHS, gone is an older seasoned and wiser leadership who are being replaced by much younger kids. Gone is the Biblical knowledge and wisdom that came through many years of walking with God. Gone our the spiritual Grand Father’s who are so needed today. Gone are solid convictions and believing the Word of God is infallible. The sin of compromise. All for numbers. THIS IS BIG TODAY (AT LEAST WHERE I LIVE ON THE WEST COAST) I know this may sound like I’m a grouchy “OLD” person but no I’m really not. Just been around long enough to see this all happen and see through the facade. We’ve become a Church that worships 1. Music 2. Youth 3. Numbers 4. Success by worldly standards. 5. Money. God forbid that we fall prey to this slippery slope.
I think one of the greatest ways Satan tries to get the upper hand in church and in our lives to is cut off, suppress, and/or limit our intimacy with God. As believers, if he can get us to be apathetic and inactive in our faith he has achieved a great feat in keeping us cut off from the greatest and most infinite power in the universe. A power that we have both the opportunity and the birthright to dwell in and wield in reaching this lost and broken world.