Bible Study Enemy of the Church

[Douglas Summers]

Satan, Enemy of the Church.

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#1
Satan, is a personal being. The word of God makes it clear that Satan is a living personality and not just an evil influence as some would have us believe. The Bible refers to Satan and Devil over 100 time, and is shown to have personal attributes. Satan is more than evil, He is a person with MIGHTY power.

So, what does Satan look like? "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an ANGEL OF LIGHT" (2 Cor. 11:13-14). Is it any wonder that MILLIONS of people are deceived? Very few people think of Satan in that way. In Fact, that is the very thing Satan wants. In (Gen. 3:1-6) Satan beguiles Eve into believing opposite of Gods command of not to eat of the tree in the midst of the garden. He does not tell her directly to eat of the tree, but by beguiling her with suggestions, Eve reasons in her own mind that that is not what God meant.

In the same way, SATAN works on the Church.....Sowing tares (Matt. 13:24-30). Satan is the enemy of the Church.(Matt. 13:25). God tells us to be sober, be vigilant; because YOUR ADVERSARY (your enemy) the devil, as a roaring lion, walking about, seeking whom he may devour. (1 Pet. 5:8). He hinders good souls to turn back in the day of battle. He makes people of little faith give up beneath the burden of conflict.

• He will try to deceive you (2 Cor. 11:4)
• He will temp you at your weakest point (2 Cor. 2:11)
• He will try to kill your testimony as a Christian (1 Pet. 5:8; Luke 22:31)
• He will try to get you to compromise on Spiritual lines (Eph. 6:11-12)
• He will attempt to hinder your prayers (Dan. 10:12-21)

We should know something about Satan's devices and tactics and how to deal with them. "Lest Satan should get an advantage of us; for WE ARE NOT IGNORANT OF HIS DEVICES". (2: Cor. 2:11) (forgiving the brethren) (2 Cor. 2:1-13).
He can cause you to lie to the Holy Spirit, "But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit"? Paul writes to the Thessalonians, "Wherefore, we would have come unto you...But Satan HINDERED us (1 Thess. 2:18).

Satan does not work in Beer Joints, prostitution houses and gambling houses and dope houses. That is from our second enemy, "THE FLESH." Many of the things we blame Satan for are really the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21). Satan mainly works in religious institutions (2 Cor. 11:13-15). Satan has use false preachers, and false religions to dam more souls to hell than anything else, As the Lord says, …."Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord,"...…….."I never knew you." (Matt. 7:22-23). "Many" means A vast majority.

It is important that we are able to distinguish between "the true and the false," We are to test the spirits, weather they are of God (1 John 4:1) If anyone teaches that The Christ is not God, or works for to maintain or receive salvation, the Truth is not in them. There is much more Scripture instructions on Satan...I will leave room for Questions or answers.
In Christ, who's mercy is from everlasting to everlasting,
Douglas Summers

 

[Luminous_Rose]

" for Satan himself is transformed into an ANGEL OF LIGHT" <--- Thank you for posting this. I did not know the Bible said this until my husband showed it to me. I believe it is an important scripture because of culture, times, and what society perceives as evil symbolism, we end up with an image of a red guy with horns, a pointed tail, and a pitch fork. Although, this is not thd case in reality. Appearing as something good is definitely deceiving.

Satan does not work in Beer Joints, prostitution houses and gambling houses and dope houses. That is from our second enemy, "THE FLESH." Many of the things we blame Satan for are really the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21).

I like how flesh and Satan are here described as two different things. Our weak, human, sinful nature and then Satan. I hadn't thought about this too much before. Although, couldn't Satan inhabit such places where evil takes place as well? Can't Satan use the weaknesses of the flesh as a gateway to deceive?

 

[Douglas Summers]

I like how flesh and Satan are here described as two different things. Our weak, human, sinful nature and then Satan. I hadn't thought about this too much before. Although, couldn't Satan inhabit such places where evil takes place as well? Can't Satan use the weaknesses of the flesh as a gateway to deceive?

Hi Rose, Two things about Satan: He wants to draw away worshipers from God and Satan wants to be worshiped and be above God. (Isaiah 14:12-14) So, he is not so much worried about those who follow after the things of the flesh, but those who follow after God through Jesus The Christ our savior. He will try to cause believers to curse God by material wantonness. I have seen people praise God for winning the lottery or a few hundred dollars from scratch offs (as if God gambles) and then forget Him and grumble about their lives after they have fallen deep into a wantonness life after they run through all the cash. (He tried to do that with Job) but Job did not fall for it (Job 1:1-12).
Satan even tried to tempt Christ (through the flesh) to offer Him fame and fortune if Christ would worship him (Matt. 4:1-11). So Satan's work is mostly in religious circles and denominations and born again believers. If a man is a born again believer, and walks and fellowships with God, you will see Satan at work in the visible Churches. Satan is sly, but our example AND our wisdom IS Christ (1 Cor. 1:29-31)

 

[ezra]

Satan is a adversary as a roaring lion the roar is create fear panic then he finds the weakest prey

 

[Douglas Summers]

Satan is a adversary as a roaring lion the roar is create fear panic then he finds the weakest prey

Yes ezra, that is why we need genuine fellowship with God and then the brethren.

 

[LovethroughDove]

He hinders good souls to turn back in the day of battle. He makes people of little faith give up beneath the burden of conflict.

With all the suicides going on lately, this is more relevant than ever. You can't give up if you love God with all your heart. Satan is the deceiver and gives you the ok to off yourself.

 

[Luminous_Rose]

Hi Rose, Two things about Satan: He wants to draw away worshipers from God and Satan wants to be worshiped and be above God. (Isaiah 14:12-14) So, he is not so much worried about those who follow after the things of the flesh, but those who follow after God through Jesus The Christ our savior. He will try to cause believers to curse God by material wantonness. I have seen people praise God for winning the lottery or a few hundred dollars from scratch offs (as if God gambles) and then forget Him and grumble about their lives after they have fallen deep into a wantonness life after they run through all the cash. (He tried to do that with Job) but Job did not fall for it (Job 1:1-12).
Satan even tried to tempt Christ (through the flesh) to offer Him fame and fortune if Christ would worship him (Matt. 4:1-11). So Satan's work is mostly in religious circles and denominations and born again believers. If a man is a born again believer, and walks and fellowships with God, you will see Satan at work in the visible Churches. Satan is sly, but our example AND our wisdom IS Christ (1 Cor. 1:29-31)

So this is a yes? I know there is more challenge for Satan to deceive a believer and have his own victory, plus he wants to feel that he takes from God's glory. It does seem that Satan enjoys the weaknesses our flesh and enjoys to use it against us. If he see's for example that a wife desires another man besides her husband, that Satan will use that to further destroy her current marriage and lead her flesh towards other weaknesses like adultery, hatred, wrath, envy, etc.

I see that Satan can work anywhere, but he can't be omniscient as God is so it is bits at a time, but he does have targets. I have seen things Satan has done within the body of Christ and it is not pretty. Although, I feel believer or not, Satan targets everyone from outside the church and within it. Evil is not always discriminatory.

 

[Razeontherock]

Yes, satan prefers to hide, and one of his devices is to hide within our own human weaknesses. An advantage we have is that we fight this the same way, regardless.

 

[jasonc]

With all the suicides going on lately, this is more relevant than ever. You can't give up if you love God with all your heart. Satan is the deceiver and gives you the ok to off yourself.

not in all cases, there are evidence some drugs can cause suicide. malaria drugs are linked to that and other drugs.

 

[Douglas Summers]

It does seem that Satan enjoys the weaknesses our flesh and enjoys to use it against us. If he see's for example that a wife desires another man besides her husband, that Satan will use that to further destroy her current marriage and lead her flesh towards other weaknesses like adultery, hatred, wrath, envy, etc.

These things happen in life, but it is not always of Satan, it is the Adamic nature. Even David committed adultery, but Satan is never mentioned as the cause, it was our sin nature (2 Samuel chapters 11 and 12). There are three enemies of the Church. (Satan, the flesh and the world), That is: The principles that this world (cosmos) is ruled under. Satan is the ruler of this world order. Three times Christ calls Satan the prince of the world (John 12:31; John 14:30; and John 16:11) What was given to Adam was lost to Satan when they disobeyed God. and driven out of the Garden of Eden. (Gen. 1:28-31) (Gen. 3:1-24).

 

[for_his_glory]

Satan’s kingdom is that of earth to travel back and forth in to deceive and corrupt the nations. His only purpose is to distract people from the love of God through the lust of our flesh as our desires become that of what we can lay up here on earth as our treasures as we gain that which is of the world, but lose our very soul in the process. Nothing here on earth last forever for all is temporal and our eternity is based on the condition of our heart.

When we become our own gods we have no desire to know the God of love and compassion when things are going good in our lives. It’s not until our world around us comes crashing down and when we lose the power we once had over our lives and even control of other people then we lash out and curse God.

Satan loves to destroy those of faith in God by using others that are the closest to us like our families or friends. Gossip, backbiting, anger and hatred are his weapons of choice to cause us to lose our faith in God if we fall to his devices of evil. When he can get us to speak words of hurt and anger towards others then this will cause our flesh to rule over the Spirit of God that dwells in us and shuts down the blessings of God in our life.

Satan can only steal our faith if we allow him to and he will use anything or anybody he can to accomplish this. Be aware of his deception and guard yourself against him with the word of God so you will not fall prey to him as he tries to devour your very soul. Ephesians 6:10-18