What To Do When Satan Attacks

TITLE: WHAT TO DO WHEN SATAN ATTACKS

TEXT: JOB 1:1 - 11

INTRO:

HERE IN THE BOOK OF JOB, WE READ OF A –

A. GODLY MAN V.1 – HE FEARED THE LORD

B. RIGHTEOUS MAN V.1 – PERFECT AND UPRIGHT

C. BLESSED MAN V.2 – 4 TELLS OF HOW GOD HAD PROSPERED HIM

D. TESTED MAN V.12

WE FIND THAT GOD ALLOWED SATAN TO COME AGAINST HIM TO PROVE THE KIND OF MAN JOB WAS. AND IN JUST A SHORT MATTER OF TIME, JOB’S-

· SATAN HAD STRIPPED JOB OF EVERYTHING THAT HE HAD

NOW HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE EVER FELT LIKE THIS MAN (MAYBE NOT TO THE SAME DEGREE), BUT SATAN HAS CAME AGAINST YOU? I’M TALKING ABOUT WHEN THE DEVIL HAS BEEN –

· WORKING OVERTIME IN YOUR LIFE

· DOING ALL HE CAN TO DEFEAT YOU

· CONSTANTLY CAUSING TROUBLE IN YOUR LIFE

· I BELIEVE WE ALL HAVE!

WELL FOLKS I BELIEVE WE ALL NEED TO LEARN A VALUABLE LESSON TONIGHT IN THAT: ANYTIME WE PRESENT A DANGER TO THE DEVIL HE IS GOING TO COME AFTER US WITH EVERYTHING HE’S GOT.

* IN LUKE 22:51 WE FIND SATAN WANTING TO SIFT PETER – AND I BELIEVE THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE THE DEVIL KNEW THE DANGER PETER PRESENTED AS A PREACHER OF THE GOSPEL – THINK ABOUT IT – 3,000 WERE SAVED ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST ALONE!

* IN DANIEL 9 WE FIND AN ANGELIC WAR GOING ON IN THE HEAVENS, THE PRINCE OF PERSIA WARING AGAINST GABRIEL TO THE POINT THAT GABRIEL HAD TO CALL FOR MICHAEL TO COME HELP HIM.

* IN LUKE 4 WE FIND SATAN TEMPTING JESUS TRYING TO MAKE HIM SIN SO AS TO DISQUALIFY HIM AS THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD.

* IN LUKE 22 WE FIND SATAN ONCE AGAIN COMING AGAINST JESUS IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE AND ONCE AGAIN, THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE SATAN WAS TRYING TO KEEP JESUS FROM GOING TO THE CROSS. SATAN KNEW CALVARY WOULD BE THE PLACE OF HIS UTTER DEFEAT!

WELL FOLKS – DON’T BE ALARMED WHEN THINGS SEEM TO GO HAYWIRE IN THIS CHURCH AND IN THIS CHURCHES’ FAMILIES. YOU SEE WE PRESENT TO THE DEVIL AND EXTREME DANGER THEREFORE WE ARE HIS # 1 TARGET.

I PETER 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

LET ME GIVE YOU A FEW WAYS SATAN LOVES TO ATTACK A CHURCH LIKE OURS.

1. DIVISION

ONE OF THE EASIEST WAYS SATAN CAN DESTROY A CHURCH IS TO GET A CHURCH DIVIDED! HE MAY CAUSE AN ARGUMENT OVER SOME DISAGREEMENT AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT – CHRISTIANS ARE ANGRY WITH ONE ANOTHER. BUT SATAN JUST DOESN’T STOP THERE, THAT ANGER SOON LEADS TO A WICKED OLD BITTER SPIRIT WHICH DOMINATES YOUR THINKING AND DAY IN AND DAY OUT YOUR MIND IS CONSUMED WITH WICKED THOUGHTS TOWARDS THAT BROTHER OR SISTER IN CHRIST.

MY FRIEND IF YOU HAVE A BITTER SPIRIT AGAINST ANOTHER CHRISTIAN HERE TODAY – YOU’RE NOT RIGHT WITH GOD!

EPHESIANS 4:31

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

HEBREWS 12:15

Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

2. DISRUPTION

MY FRIEND, I’VE SEEN IT HAPPEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN! WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT PREACHER? I’M TALKING ABOUT A DISRUPTION IN THE SERVICE –

· KIDS FIGHTING BEFORE THE SERVICE

· PEOPLE COMING IN DURING INVITATATION TIME

· PEOPLE TALKING WHILE THE PREACHER IS PREACHING!

FOLKS LISTEN, IF YOU ARE A PERSON THAT TALKS THROUGH THE SERVICE, REALIZE THAT YOU ARE A TOOL BEING USED BY THE DEVIL! DID YOU EVER STOP TO THINK THAT THE PERSON YOU ARE TALKING TO MIGHT BE LOST AND ON THEIR WAY TO HELL – AND YOU ARE KEEPING THEM FROM LISTENING TO THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD!

3. DISCOURAGMENT

YOU MAY BE HERE THIS MORNING AND EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE GOING GOOD IN YOUR LIFE, YOU ARE –

· SERVING THE LORD, TEACHING A CLASS, BUSY WINNING SOULS

THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN OLD SMUTTY FACE RAISES HIS HEAD IN YOUR LIFE. YOU LOOSE A –

· JOB AND HE TRIES TO DISCOURAGE YOU WITH THAT

· FINANCIAL PROBLEMS ARISE

· A CAR BREAKS DOWN

MY FRIEND YOU CAN MARK IT DOWN WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO SERVE THE LORD – THAT’S WHEN SATAN IS GOING TO COME AGAINST YOU WITH THE FIERCEST OF HIS ATTACKS!

ILL. SOMEONE CAME TO DR. JOHN RICE ONE DAY AND SAID, I DON’T BELIEVE THE DEVIL ATTACKS US CHRISTIANS THE WAY YOU CLAIM THAT HE DOES. DR. RICE SAID, “YOU TWIST HIS TAIL THE WAY I DO, YOU PREACH AGAINST SIN THE WAY I DO AND YOU’LL SEE THAT HE DOES.”