Precious Remedies

Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices

Introduction:

So we have seven Friday’s left before we’re done in this semester of Friday mornings men’s bible study, and so, I wanted to focus on spiritual warfare. As disciples of Christ, we’re constantly under attack. And up to this point we’ve talked about discipleship; its nature, benefits, and cost. Then we moved into biblical leadership as Husband’s, father’s, and godly men in the market place. All of which invites spiritual warfare. We need to remember whats really going on here; as disciples in this world, we’re called to make more disciples. Well, we have an enemy who is ever possessive of his son’s and daughters of disobedience, and will do everything in his alloted power to steal, kill, and destroy any and all work against his kingdom of darkness. Satan hates two things; God and man. God because he wants to be him, have his glory, and power, and might. And man because man is made in God’s image and likeness, and also his most prized possession, therefore, Satan wants to destroy anything that resembles God’s image, glory, and power. So we’re his prime target. So I wanted to take some time to study spiritual warfare; study satan’s devices, and learn to apply precious remedies against his schemes.

So I wanted to take some time to study spiritual warfare; study satan’s devices, and learn to apply precious remedies against his schemes.

Introduction to Spiritual Warfare:Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices - Thomas brooks

- Lest Satan has an opportunity to gain a foothold with his devised snares.

Let’s read a few scriptures: ; ; ;

Device 1: to present the bait and hide the hook.

To present the pleasure of lust and hide the pain of shame and guilt that follows the sin. The bait: the sweet, the pleasure, and the profit

The bait: the sweet, the pleasure, and the profitThe hook: the shame, the wrath, and the loss that follows. Satan promises the soul honor, pleasure, and profit, but pays the soul with contempt, shame, and loss before God.

The hook: the shame, the wrath, and the loss that follows. Satan promises the soul honor, pleasure, and profit, but pays the soul with contempt, shame, and loss before God.

Remedies

Keep at the greatest distance from sin, and from playing with the golden bait that he’s constantly dangling in front of you. ;

Consider: that sin is but a bitter sweet, sweet for a moment, but a lasting shame sorrow, horror, and terror.

Seriously consider: that sin is a very deceitful and bewitching nature.Sin is from the greatest deceiver. Sin so bewitches the soul that it makes the soul call evil good, and good evil; bitter sweet and sweet bitter, light darkness and darkness light. It will kiss the soul and pretend favor upon the soul, and yet betray the soul forever.

Device 2:

Draws the soul to sin by painting sin with virtuous colors.

by painting sin with virtuous colors

He doesn’t present sin in its own nature because the soul would rather fly from it, so he wraps it up in virtue. Pride, for example is sinful, so he’ll present it under the name and notion of neatness and cleanliness, and coveting as spoils of success, drunkenness as good fellowship, etc.

Remedies

Consider: sin is not any less filthy, vile and bad because it’s dressed up in some virtuous color. A powder sugared turd still makes it a turd.

The more sin is painted under the color of virtue, the more dangerous it is to the souls of men. The virtuous paint I see is success, prosperity, and leadership, religious, and spiritual.

Device 3:

By extenuating and lessening of sin; its only a little pride, a little worldliness, a little uncleanness.

Remedies:

Solemnly consider: sins that appear to be small and of no consequence have brought upon men the greatest wrath of God, the eating of a tree, gathering on the sabbath, and touching the ark! There is always consequences for sin, always! Giving way to a less sin makes way for the committing of a greater sin.

Giving way to a less sin makes way for the committing of a greater sin.

Solemnly consider: that the other saints have chosen to suffer the worst of torments, rather than they would commit the least sin. The prophet Daniel for example. He would rather burn than sin. they knew that it was far better to burn for their not sinning, than that God and conscience should raise a hell, a fire in their bosoms for sin.

The soul is never able to stand under the guilt and weight of the least sin, when God shall set it home upon the soul. ;

There is more evil in the least sin than in the greatest affliction. God the father in dealing with his beloved son, who let all the vials of his fiercest wrath upon him, and that for the least sin as well as for the greatest.

Device 4:

By presenting to the soul the best men’s sins, and by hiding from the soul their virtues; by showing the soul their sins, and by hiding from the soul their sorrows and repentance.

Remedies:

That the Spirit of the Lord hath been as careful to note the saints rising by repentance out of sin as well as falling into sin.

David, falls hard into sin, but he repents, cry’s out to God, and acknowledges God as the only one who can save him. King Hezekiah humbled himself as a result of seeing God’s mercy that was cast upon him, And Job, Job curses the day of his birth, but he rises to repentance.

These Saints didn’t make a trade of sin, but fell, and rose by repentance. Verses the son’s of disobedience; ;

God has not, nor ever will disinherit his people for their sins, yet he has and does severely chastise his people for their sins. ; ;

Device 5:

To present God to the soul as one made up all of mercy. Like, God is love right, so he’ll accept me for who I am.

Remedies:

That its sore judgment in the world to be left to sin without any repentance whatsoever. ; ;

That God is as just as he is merciful. That sins against mercy will bring the greatest and sorest judgments upon men’s heads and hearts. Mercy is Alpha, Justin is Omega. When mercy is despised, then justice takes the throne. ;

That though God’s general mercy be over all his works, yet his special mercy is confined to those that are divinely qualified. ; ; ; ; ; ; .

Device 6:

By persuading the soul that the work of repentance is any easy work, and that therefore the soul need not make such a matter of sin.

Remedies:

That repentance is a mighty work, a difficult work, a work that is above our power. ; ; ;

consider of the true nature of repentance. the formal act of repentance is a changing and converting.

The subject changed and converted, is the whole man, both the sinners heart and life. first his heart, then his life: first his person, then his practice and conversation. ;

The terms of this change and conversion, from which and to which both heart and life must be changed; from sin to God. ;

Repentance is a continued act. True repentance inclines a man’s heart to perform God’s statutes always, even to the end. A true penitent must go from faith to faith, strength to strength, he must never stand still or turn back. ;