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

[Rev. Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks, PsyD]

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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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