| HOW TO KNOW YOU'RE UNDER ATTACK 2 |
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| Snapshot at Bethany Christian Church in Paniqui, Tarlac |
| Let us build within us the ability of godly confrontation. Godly confrontation results from a mature inner man, seasoned by the Word of God. TEST THE SOURCE Don't believe the lie: "Well, some things happen for the glory of God." God does not redeem us from something and then test us with it. He doesn't put sickness, disease, death or poverty on us to teach humility. He will not cause you to go through something He paid for at the Cross. So many talk doubt and unbelief, giving glory to the enemy whilt thinking they are humble for God. We must know the character of God to recognize an attack! If we really know Who God is and how He operates, then we will be able to detect and destroy the devices of the enemy (John 10:10). TEMPTATION AND WILES The devil plans his attack. He has a strategy in every situation. The first step in recognizing an attack is understanding the devil will work his strategy in one of two ways: by wiles or temptations. 1.) TEMPTATIONS ARE OBVIOUS They are outright, blatant words, exposures or situations (James 1:14). Understand that God does not tempt you (James 1:13). The enemy will use temptation against you in an area that has caused you trouble in the past. Temptation comes as a way the enemy plans to abort you from the will of God. It is an attack designed for you to sin, to harden your heart against the Spirit of the Lord. Temptation can cause heaviness and depression. Sometimes they come in manifold numbers. But those that trust in the Lord at these times are safe and secure. Second Peter 2:9 says, "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations..." 2.) The second strategy of the devil is through the means of a wile. A wile is a scheme that is hidden to deceive. It is not obvious like temptation. A wile intends to lure you as if by magic spell. It craftily covers itself to lead you into deception. Although the Bible only uses the word "wiles" once in the New Testament, Scripture repeatedly warns us of deceptions. The Bible is clear when Scripture speaks of deception, those who embraced a wile are deceived when: see these references - James 1:22; 1 John 1:8; Gal. 6:3; I Cor. 3:18; James 1:26; Gal. 6:7; i Cor. 6:9; I Cor. 15:33; I Tim. 4:1-3. Truth is the only antidote for deception. We can be alerted to every scheme if we will listen to our spirits. You may not understand it completely, but back away until you do. Judge everything by the Truth of the Scripture and the character of God. Those safeguards will ground an enemy missile every time. To be continued... |
| As we continue oue series entitled, How to know you're under attack... GODLY CONFRONTATION We don't just wake up one day and our home has fallen apart. We don't just look around and our children have run away from home. We don't just get up some morning and find we are in total poverty. It starts some place. The first time you felt an impression that something was not right, what did you do? Did you ignore it or confronted it? When we ignore a bad situation, it will continue to worsen. The devil will not go away if you leave him an open door. Uncontrolled desires will not disappear. Ignoring destructive situations will cause the downfall of your family, your health or your circumstances. |