Satan is Waring Against the Church

Sermon Outline for Sunday, October 3, 2021

If you doubt the operation of Satan in the local church, we have looked at these verses before, but let us look at the straightforward references to the works of Satan that the church has compromised the foundation and allowed to take place:

Revelation 2:9–10 ESV

“ ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Revelation 2:13–14 ESV

“ ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.

Revelation 2:24 ESV

But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden.

Revelation 3:9 ESV

Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you.

We MUST never allow our moral and biblical values to be compromised for a inch to allow Satan to work.

How does Satan like to attack the church?

• He attempts to distract your worship.

 

Matthew 4:10 ESV

Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ”

• His goal is to subvert workers.

Luke 22:31–32 ESV

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

• Here the Lord is clearly warning His disciples that Satan attacks those who work for God.

• Satan wants Christians to be blown off course and find themselves useless for service to the Lord.

• Yet the prayer of Jesus keeps us.

Hebrews 7:25 ESV

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

• Satan also wants to keep the offerings of God’s Children from the church to try to stop the work of God from going forward.

 

Acts 5:3 ESV

But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?

• Satan tries tireless to steal the Word.

Mark 4:15 ESV

And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them.

• Satan attends church more than church folks. He comes to distract and disrupt so that God’s Word cannot be planted into our hearts and lives.

• Satan knows that the truth of God’s Word is the only way for you to walk in freedom.

• Another goal is to inflict wrath.

 

2 Corinthians 12:7 ESV

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.

• It is clear from Paul’s life that Satan can and will buffet even the most upright saints.

• However, God will also turn sinning ‘Christians’ over to Satan, removing the protective hedge, in order to bring them back to repentance.

• Ultimately Satan wants nothing more than to hinder God’s Work on Earth through the church.

• The attacks against the church are stronger and stronger, we must STAND FIRM on the Solid Foundation of the Word of God!

• Remember that Satan is NOT asleep; he is on the prowl to destroy God’s Work through God’s Children.

• We must be watchful and ready!

There are seven spirits that are constantly attacking the church, we will look at them soon.

Pastor Andy Lambert ~ pastorandy@cvcog.church