Rev. 12:13-17 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. [14] But the woman was

given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is

nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. [15] So the serpent

spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. [16] But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. [17] And the dragon was enraged with the

woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and

have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

SATAN'S PLAN OF ATTACK

SATAN'S PLAN OF ATTACK

• Satan is real and working today. • Satan is at war with the Church.• 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant;

because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

SATAN'S PLAN OF ATTACK

• The armor of God is our defense • Ephes. 6:11 Put on the whole armor

of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

SATAN'S PLAN OF ATTACK• Satan’s power is limited today • Rev. 20:2 He laid hold of the dragon,

that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;

• God no longer allows his Spirit to take control of man against his will. Neither does Satan have that power today (demon possession)

• Both God and Satan control us only indirectly through influencing us to make decisions to follow one or the other.

SATAN'S PLAN OF ATTACK

• We need to know the way Satan works to adequately defend ourselves against his influence

• 2 Cor. 2:11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

I. SATAN WANTS TO KEEP PEOPLE

OUT OF THE CHURCH

SATAN'S PLAN OF ATTACKKeep People Out Of The

Church• He knows salvation is in Christ's

Body The Church • Ephes. 5:23 For the husband is

head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.

SATAN'S PLAN OF ATTACKKeep People Out Of The

Church• He wants attention to be focused

on the hypocrites in the church rather than looking at self

• Romans 14:12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

SATAN'S PLAN OF ATTACKKeep People Out Of The

Church• He wants people to wait before

becoming Christians • James 4:14 whereas you do not

know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

SATAN'S PLAN OF ATTACKKeep People Out Of The

Church• He does everything he can to keep people

from obeying the gospel • 2 Thes. 1:7-9 and to give you who are troubled

rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

SATAN'S PLAN OF ATTACKKeep People Out Of The

Church• Are you helping or hindering Satan’s

attempt to keep people out of the church?

• Matthew 23:13 But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.

II. SATAN WANTS TO GET THOSE IN THE CHURCH OUT

SATAN'S PLAN OF ATTACKGet People Out Of The Church• He wants us to hate and destroy

each others faith • Galatians 5:14-15 For all the law

is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

SATAN'S PLAN OF ATTACK Get People Out Of The Church

• He wants us to be divided • Matthew 12:25 But Jesus knew

their thoughts, and said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.

SATAN'S PLAN OF ATTACK Get People Out Of The Church

• He wants us to grow weary and give up the Christian life

• Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

SATAN'S PLAN OF ATTACK Get People Out Of The Church

• He entices us to sin so guilt will drive us out of the light

• 1 John 1:7-9 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

SATAN'S PLAN OF ATTACK Get People Out Of The Church

• Are you helping or hindering Satan’s attempt to get those who are in the church out of it?

• 2 Timothy 4:10 Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world…

III. SATAN WANTS TO RENDER THOSE WHO

REMAIN IN THE CHURCH

HELPLESS, WEAK AND INEFFECTIVE.

SATAN'S PLAN OF ATTACK Keep Us Weak, Helpless & Ineffective

• If he can't divide us physically he wants us divided in spirit so we won't work effectively together

• 1 Cor. 3:3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?

SATAN'S PLAN OF ATTACK Keep Us Weak, Helpless & Ineffective

• If he can't get us to give up the Christian life by growing weary he'll be satisfied with us just not doing anything

• James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

SATAN'S PLAN OF ATTACK Keep Us Weak, Helpless & Ineffective

• If he can't cause our guilt of sin to cause us to leave the church he will be content to weaken our influence on others because of our own sin

• 1 Peter 2:12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

SATAN'S PLAN OF ATTACK Keep Us Weak, Helpless & Ineffective

• He wants us to do as little as we think we can possibly get by with rather than as much as we can

• 1 Cor. 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

SATAN'S PLAN OF ATTACK Keep Us Weak, Helpless & Ineffective

• He wants us to be unconcerned about the needs of others

• Galatians 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

SATAN'S PLAN OF ATTACK Keep Us Weak, Helpless & Ineffective• Are you helping or hindering Satan’s attempt to

keep those in the church, helpless, weak and ineffective?

• 2 Timothy 3:1-5 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

SATAN'S PLAN OF ATTACK

• Is Satan winning by keeping you out of the church?

• Is Satan winning by getting you to leave the church?

• Is Satan winning by keeping you helpless, weak and ineffective in the work of the church?

SATAN'S PLAN OF ATTACK• Are you working for Satan or for God? • Matthew 16:21-23 From that time Jesus began to

show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. 22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!" 23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."

ARE YOU WORKING TO DEFEAT SATAN

OR ARE YOU UNKNOWINGLY WORKING WITH

HIM?