Know Your Enemy's Strategy

Know Your Enemy’s Strategy

This past week, the New England Patriots of the NFL, and their coach were fined when one of their team’s assistant coaches was caught with a video camera at the opposing team’s bench. Apparently he was not making family videos of his special trip to an NFL game – he was recording the defensive plays for the benefit of his own team. He was a spy.

Several years ago, Patriots and their coach were fined when one of their team’s assistant coaches was caught with a video camera at the opposing team’s bench. Apparently he was not making family videos of his special trip to an NFL game – he was recording the defensive plays for the benefit of his own team. He was a spy.

If you are a sports fan – you know how beneficial it would be to know what your opponent’s strategy before the contest – if you know the strategy it is much easier to defend against.

In real life, the situation is no different. We are, as Christians, in a battle. It’s not a game; it’s not a sporting contest - where you give your all for an hour and then have a shower, and go back to normal life. Every Christian, the moment you come to saving faith in Christ - you enter into a lifelong spiritual battle against an enemy whose great intention is to besmirch God’s glory by destroying His treasures.

If you are a football fan and you watch the NFL - then there is one team that you either love or hate. The New England Patriots are a team that absolutely nobody is neutral about. To some - they are one of the great teams of all time .... to others, they are a bunch of cheats with an arrogant coach and quarterback and you would love to see ANY team win, except them. “Why, they are cheaters!”

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Several years ago, Patriots and their coach were fined when one of their team’s assistant coaches was caught with a video camera at the opposing team’s bench. Apparently he was not making family videos of his special trip to an NFL game – he was recording the defensive plays for the benefit of his own team. He was a spy.

Verse 11 says, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the ‘schemes’ of the devil.” Schemes – the Greek word here is “methodias”, from which we get our word ‘method’ or ‘strategy’. Satan has a strategy to destroy you. Have you ever thought about that? Maybe not – Maybe, when you think about the devil’s temptation against you - the old image from the cartoons comes to mind: There you are, faced with a choice. On one shoulder you have the angel in white - the good angel, whispering in your ear - to do the right thing. You’ve seen an elderly man drop his wallet on the sidewalk just ahead of you. The angel in white says, “Take that wallet back to the man.” And, on the other shoulder, you have the little creature with the red jump-suit and horns whispering in your other ear - - “Don’t do that. Keep it for yourself! You need some more cash - you can put it to good use.” Duelling angels - - one whispering good and one whispering evil in every decision you face. Is that your idea of temptation?

If you are a sports fan – you don’t want to cheat …. But you know how beneficial it would be to know what your opponent’s strategy before the contest – if you know the strategy it is much easier to defend against.

According to the Bible - when it comes to your enemy the devil – he is not standing on the sidelines, with his fingers crossed, hoping that you and I will fall into sin – that we will mess up. No, the Bible makes it clear that Satan has a ‘method’ - a battle plan – a strategy - to kill your joy and suck the vibrancy out of your spiritual life. This is NOT the only place we read about his method. Turn with me to

Paul is talking to a church with a need for forgiveness to be shown by some members to other members. Verse 10: ANyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ.” .....

In real life, the situation is no different. We are, as Christians, in a battle. It’s not a game; it’s not a sporting contest - where you give your all for an hour and then have a shower, and go back to normal life. Every Christian, the moment you come to saving faith in Christ - you enter into a lifelong spiritual battle against an enemy whose great intention is to besmirch God’s glory by destroying His treasures.

"in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes." (, NIV)

“His schemes” There are million different plays in the devil’s playbook against you and in one morning, we can’t possibly look at every specific way the devil’s scheme, his methods will work themselves out. But if you boil everything down to the lowest common denominator, Satan’s strategy against you has 2 main parts. What I want to do this morning is to prepare you who are God’s people, to stand firm against the devil’s schemes, by looking at those 2 main parts: 1) To Tempt 2) To Trouble. He will tempt you TO sin. And, when you have fallen into that sin - he will trouble you FOR your sin.

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To Tempt

Verse 11 says, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the ‘schemes’ of the devil.” Schemes – the Greek word here is “methodias”, from which we get our word ‘method’ or ‘strategy’. Satan has a strategy to destroy you. Have you ever thought about that? Maybe not – Maybe, when you think about the devil’s temptation against you - the old image from the cartoons comes to mind:

First part of Satan’s strategy is to tempt you to sin against God. To persuade you to rebel against Him.

Let’s be clear, as we saw last week, Satan has no power over any child of God. He cannot take control over you, possess you, indwell you, or body check you into sin. “Greater is He who is in you, than He who is in the world.” (). If you are a Christian, then you cannot truly say, “The Devil MADE me do it.” Oh, but the devil is a powerful being. Don’t dare take him lightly. So, how DOES the devil have power in your life? .... The only power that Satan has in your life, is the power of SUGGESTION.

You’ve seen an elderly man drop his wallet on the sidewalk just ahead of you. ……..There you are, faced with a choice. On one shoulder you have the angel in white - the good angel, whispering in your ear - to do the right thing. “Take that wallet back to the man.” And, on the other shoulder, you have the little creature with the red jump-suit and horns whispering in your other ear - - “Don’t do that. Keep it for yourself! You need some cash - you can put it to good use. GOD’S PROVISION.” Duelling angels - - one whispering good and one whispering evil in every decision you face. Is that your idea of temptation?

Okay, so how does he use his power of suggestion? I want us to look at 3 different time-specific situations .....

1. He Chooses the Right Time

According to the Bible - when it comes to your enemy the devil – he is not standing on the sidelines, with his fingers crossed, hoping that you and I will fall into sin – that we will mess up. No, the Bible makes it clear that Satan has a ‘method’ - a battle plan – a strategy - to kill your joy and suck the vibrancy out of your spiritual life. This is NOT the only place we read about his method. Turn with me to

Have you noticed that the temptation fits the time- 3 specific times when the temptation seems to come with particular ferocity. You know that there are times in your life when the temptation is stronger than others. You have those seasons of life when you are running hard after God - in close communion and you can almost FEEL His hand around yours. The arrows of the enemy seem to just bounce off of your breastplate. But there are other times, when it seems that the enemy has managed to get his fingers between the breastplate and your chest and is plunging the dagger right into your heart. Let me point out THREE specific times when the battle seems to rage with special fury:

Paul is talking to a church with a need for forgiveness to be shown by some members to other members. Verse 10: “Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ.” .....

i. When You Are Suffering

"in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes." (, NIV)

When you are suffering. Remember back in the book of Job - In , Satan presents himself before God (as an obedient angel. Don’t forget that - He hates God, does all that he can to frustrate God’s plan … but when it’s time for the angels to present themselves before their God .... Satan has to be there too). God says to Satan, (v. 8), “Have you considered my servant Job?” Remember Satan’s reply? Look at v. 9, “Does he fear God for nothing? . . .” v. 11, “… Stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” God says fine – take whatever you want from him – Satan does, Job passes the test. Satan is still not satisfied. In chapter 2:4, God is proud of Job’s faithfulness . . . Satan says, “Skin for skin! Stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh and he will curse you to your face.” You’ve experienced that.

“His schemes” There are millions of different plays in the devil’s playbook against you and in one morning, we can’t possibly look at every specific way the devil’s scheme, his methods will work themselves out. But if you boil everything down to the lowest common denominator, Satan’s strategy against you has 2 main parts. What I want to do this morning is to prepare you who are God’s people, to stand firm against the devil’s schemes, by looking at those 2 main parts: 1) To Tempt 2) To Trouble. He will tempt you TO sin. And, when you have fallen into that sin - he will trouble you FOR your sin.

In the life of Jesus himself, when does Satan come to tempt him? – after he has spent 40 days and nights, alone, without food in the wilderness. And when the devil comes, the very first temptation he throws is, “Look at these rocks around here. You’re hungry. Why don’t you turn these stones into bread.”

1 To Tempt

You know what it is to feel all alone in this world. You have been crying out for rescue from God … You’ve gone to the One you thought could rescue you. You’ve gone to the One you thought WOULD rescue you. And all you’ve received from heaven is .... silence. You’ve been hurt ..... and the question that attacks - threatening to take root in your mind … the question you are wrestling with is: “What are you getting from your faith? What help is God giving to you now - when you need it most?! How long will you wait in disappointment?!”

First part of Satan’s strategy is to tempt you to sin against God. To persuade you to rebel against Him.

“You’re suffering. Here’s the remedy .... take it from MY HAND.”

You’ve been hurt - someone you trusted ...

The Bible may say, “Turn the other cheek ...”

It’s the temptation that addicts face - - - the relief to your suffering comes through THIS drink … this. .............................................................

William Gurnall puts it well, “A temptation comes strong when the way to relief seems to lie through the sin that Satan is wooing to . . .” “When you’re poor and Satan comes, ‘What! will you starve rather than step over the hedge and steal for your supply?”

Let’s be clear, as we saw last week, Satan has no power over any child of God. He cannot take control over you, possess you, indwell you, or body check you into an act of sin. “Greater is He who is in you, than He who is in the world.” (). If you are a Christian, then you cannot truly say, “The Devil MADE me do it.” Oh, but the devil is a powerful being. Don’t dare take him lightly. So, how DOES the devil have power in your life? .... The only power that Satan has in your life, is the power of SUGGESTION.

ii. Following Times of Special Blessing

Okay, so how does he use his power of suggestion? I want us to look at 3 different time-specific situations .....He Chooses the Right Time

Another season that Satan chooses for significant temptation is the flip side of the first – when the Christian has just enjoyed a special taste of the love of God. If you are a Christian, you KNOW God loves you – that is what you cling to – That God so loved the world – including you, that He gave His only Son. But there are many days when you know that love by faith – it is a truth that you believe because God said so – you feel alone.

You know that there are times in your life when the temptation is stronger than others. You have those seasons of life when you are running hard after God - in close communion and you can almost FEEL His hand around yours. The arrows of the enemy seem to just bounce off of your breastplate. But there are other times, when it seems that the enemy has managed to get his fingers between the breastplate and your chest and is plunging the dagger right into your heart. Let me point out THREE specific times when the battle seems to rage with special fury:

Oh, but there are those special times when God sees fit, in your best interest, to visit you in a special way – when it seems as though you have been ushered into heaven itself – you see His glory as you never have before – you want to stand on a street corner and grab everyone passing by and say, “You NEED Jesus Christ”! “You need to

i. When You Are Suffering

Those are great times of blessing. And when you’re trying to climb out of the pit of despair, you often think - “if only I could get HERE - - If only I could know God’s presence, then the my spiritual life would be good again - I wouldn’t be tempted to turn my back on God.” Oh, but the times of blessing are also times of huge danger. Over and over in Scripture, we see that it is in those very times, the devil is ready to pounce:

When you are suffering. Remember back in the book of Job - In

In , King David is near the end of his life – he has defeated his enemies, but he is so old and feeble that his men won’t let him go into battle with them any longer. Now Philistine giants from Gath come and attack. Gath – that’s the very same town Goliath was from. These men are war machines: men with 6 fingers and 6 toes, carrying spears as thick as weaver’s rods – they taunt Israel - - and David’s men go out against this enemy … and v. 21, “Jonathan, son of Shimei wipe them out. What a victory. David’s public life begins with his battle against Goliath, the giant from Gath. Now, in his old age, his story is about to end with multiple threats from Goliath’s own people - - and David’s men are more than up to the task. Great way to put an exclamation mark on the end of David’s life! VICTORIOUS!

, Satan presents himself before God (as an obedient angel. Don’t forget that - He hates God, does all that he can to frustrate God’s plan … but when it’s time for the angels to present themselves before their God .... Satan has to be there too). God says to Satan, (v. 8), “Have you considered my servant Job?” Remember Satan’s reply? Look at v. 9, “Does he fear God for nothing? . . .” v. 11, “… Stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” God says fine – take whatever you want from him – Satan does, Job passes the test. Satan is still not satisfied. In chapter 2:4, God is proud of Job’s faithfulness . . . Satan says, “Skin for skin! Stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh and he will curse you to your face.” You’ve experienced that.

Oh, but that’s not the end. - , reads, “Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number his troops”. In other words – he tempted David to put his trust in the size of his army, RATHER than in the size of his God.

- the same account, but from a different perspective. , “Then SATAN stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, ‘Go, number Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me a report, that I may know their number’.”

There is temptation at the very time of your greatest spiritual strength. Let us NEVER say, “I’ve got this.”

There Peter who one minute is on a spiritual mountaintop – Jesus asks, “Who do men say I am?” Peter nails the answer – “YOU are the Christ, the Son of the Living God”. Jesus’ response? “Flesh and blood have not revealed this to you . . . “ The next thing we read, Jesus starts speaking about his coming suffering and death and Peter, the newly discovered genius pipes up and says, “Surely not Lord - - no suffering for you!”

In the life of Jesus himself, when does Satan come to tempt him?

“Get behind me Satan” - - OUCH … back of the class.

– after he has spent 40 days and nights, alone, without food in the wilderness. And when the devil comes, the very first temptation he throws is, “Look at these rocks around here. You’re hungry. Why don’t you turn these stones into bread.”

There is the Church at Laodicea in , they are so rich with the things God has given – so full of blessings that they have lost their spiritual hunger. God says, ‘You are poor, pitiful, blind and naked’. And you don’t realize it. The devil has come along and led into sin - at the very point they feel

You know what it is to feel all alone in this world. You have been crying out for rescue from God … You’ve gone to the One you thought could rescue you. You’ve gone to the One you thought WOULD rescue you. And all you’ve received from heaven is .... silence. You’ve been hurt ..... and the question that attacks - threatening to take root in your mind … the question you are wrestling with is: “What are you getting from your faith? What help is God giving to you now - when you need it most?! How long will you wait in disappointment?!”

And that friends, is my fear for us - as individual Christians … and as a church. That some of us would be able to come Sunday after Sunday and hear us talk about spiritual warfare and our enemy Satan, and think, “Oh not more of this Spiritual Battle mumbo jumbo . . .” because we’re comfortable – “I’ve got my job, I’ve got my family, I’ve got my church” - - - I am at rest in the blessings of God.

“You’re suffering. Here’s the remedy .... take it from MY HAND.”

That feeling of comfortable complacency is spiritual poison.

You’ve been hurt - someone you trusted ...

iii. When We Attempt Some Special Service for God

The Bible may say, “Turn the other cheek ...”

There is another specific time Satan seems to choose for significant attack – not only when we are suffering, not only when we are experiencing significant blessing at the hand of God. A third time Satan uses, that we need to be aware of, is when we step onto the field to attempt some special service for God. Let me ask you, “What is the hardest morning of the week to get out of bed?” For many of you, I already know what it is – Sunday morning.

It’s the temptation that addicts face - - - the relief to your suffering comes through THIS drink … this drug .. this food or this act of sexuality. Oh so many are the ways we try to self-medicate. And they don’t work. .............................................................

When can you guarantee that your phone is going to ring? Isn’t it when you sit down with your family to read the Bible and pray? Speaking of family, don’t you find that your kids who can sit next to each other for hours, in a cramped car, when you’re on the road on a camping trip, try to sit them next to each other when you are doing family devotions – and all of a sudden - World War 3 breaks out?

William Gurnall puts it well, “A temptation comes strong when the way to relief seems to lie through the sin that Satan is wooing to . . .” “When you’re poor and Satan comes, ‘What! will you starve rather than step over the hedge and steal for your supply?”

See it in the church - - whenever we set out to follow our Lord in significant obedience – we want to get serious about following Him and making Him known - - - those are the very times that we are hit with a crisis - - a key family moves away, there is a financial challenge - - we start seeing others like

ii. Following Times of Special Blessing

Wife looks at her husband after 30 years in a loveless marriage – all we can see are the warts and shortcomings. It always seems to happen when we get serious about following the Lord whole-heartedly.

Another season that Satan chooses for significant temptation is the flip side of the first – when the Christian has just enjoyed a special taste of the love of God. If you are a Christian, you KNOW God loves you – that is what you cling to – That God so loved the world – including you, that He gave His only Son. But there are many days when you know that love by faith – it is a truth that you believe because God said so – you feel alone.

That is the strategy of the enemy - -

Oh, but there are those special times when God sees fit, in your best interest, to visit you in a special way – when it seems as though you have been ushered into heaven itself – you see His glory as you never have before – you want to stand on a street corner and grab everyone passing by and say, “You NEED Jesus Christ”! “You need to know the forgiveness, joy and purpose in life that can only be found in Him”.

Those are three special periods in our lives when the enemy of your joy steps up his attacks. Do you know what his attack has in common in situation? He tailors the attack to each particular time.

Thomas Brooks, puritan pastor, wrote classic book: “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices”. In it, he makes this very point. Here’s what he says:

“Whatever sin the heart of man is most prone to, THAT the devil will help forward. If David be proud of his people, Satan will provoke him to number them, that he may be yet prouder.”

… “Satan loves to sail with the wind and to suit men’s temptations to their conditions and inclinations. If they be in prosperity, he will tempt them to deny God; if they be in adversity, he will tempt them to distrust God; if their knowledge be weak, he will tempt them to have low thoughts of God ....”

.Pinocchio - has some very good spiritual lessons on temptation and sin. Pinocchio and his mischievous friend Lampwick are lured away by the Coachman - that evil figure who deceitfully rounds up little boys to enjoy Pleasure Island, the place where your every desire becomes a reality. Anything goes on Pleasure Island - if Pinocchio and Lampwick are feeling feisty - they can get into a fight; if they’re feeling naughty - they can destroy a house; they can even indulge themselves in smelly cigars, frothy beers, and bar games - even though they are underage.

Those are great times of blessing. And when you’re trying to climb out of the pit of despair, you often think - “if only I could get HERE - - If only I could know God’s presence, then the my spiritual life would be good again - I wouldn’t be tempted to turn my back on God.” Oh, but the times of blessing are also times of huge danger. Over and over in Scripture, we see that it is in those very times, the devil is ready to pounce:

That’s reality. Not only an incident of history … but a description of your daily life in this spiritual battle. And my plea for us is this: DO NOT LET THAT HAPPEN.

.

At first - they feel like they are in paradise - the more they sin, the more they feel like ‘real adults’. But the delight doesn’t last for long. And what starts out as ‘FREEDOM’ - soon shows its true colors - - it is nothing more than ‘SLAVERY’ - in fancy packaging.

In , King David is near the end of his life – he has defeated his enemies, but he is so old and feeble that his men won’t let him go into battle with them any longer. Now Philistine giants from Gath come and attack. Gath – that’s the very same town Goliath was from. These men are war machines: men with 6 fingers and 6 toes, carrying spears as thick as weaver’s rods – they taunt Israel - - and David’s men go out against this enemy … and v. 21, “Jonathan, son of Shimei wipe them out. What a victory. David’s public life begins with his battle against Goliath, the giant from Gath. Now, in his old age, his story is about to end with multiple threats from Goliath’s own people - - and David’s men are more than up to the task. Great way to put an exclamation mark on the end of David’s life! VICTORIOUS!

After taking a drink of beer, Lampwick suddenly grows donkey ears. Pinocchio looks at his beer and slowly puts it down. Then Lampwick makes a billiards shot … and a donkey tail tears through the back of his pants. Pinocchio looks at his cigar - he knows he shouldn’t be smoking it - but when he first got to Pleasure Island - it seemed so grown-up, so ‘freeing’ to smoke it. Now he’s disgusted by it - throws it away.

Lampwick ultimately turns into a donkey and starts hee-hawing, kicking and calling out in desparation for his ‘mama’. He and many other bad-boys-turned-donkeys are locked up in crates to be shipped and sold to salt mines and circuses. And what the Coachman had said earlier comes true: ‘Give a bad boy enough rope, and he’ll soon make a jackass of himself’.

Oh, but that’s not the end. -

Trouble

, reads, “Again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, ‘Go, number Israel and Judah” - the same account, but from a different perspective.

The first part of Satan’s strategy is to tempt us to sin – but when you do sin, his mission is not finished yet. When you give in to his temptation, that is when part 2 of his despicable strategy kicks in: that is, to TROUBLE. First comes the temptation to sin, then comes the trouble for the sin.

, “Then SATAN stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, ‘Go, number Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me a report, that I may know their number’.” Not contradictory accounts – Chronicles puts flesh on the bones.

Satan is anti-God in every way. Just as the Holy Spirit comes to counsel us – to lead us into obedience and holiness, and when we do live in holiness, we experience the fruit of obeying – the love, joy patience, gentleness, self-control that is the fruit of the Spirit. So Satan, turns that experience upside down and copies it. He tempts us to turn our backs on God – to disobey – he wants to ‘UNSANCTIFY YOU’ and when you give in – he comes back again to show you what an unworthy wretch you are.

… In other words – he tempted David to put his trust in the size of his army, RATHER than in the size of his God.

The Old Testament has an incident which is very instructive. In Zechariah, the second last book, just before Malachi, the prophet Zechariah is given a vision by God – he is given eyes to see what physical eyes cannot see. He sees the high priest of Israel - a man named Joshua, at the time – and Joshua is ministering, doing his high-priestly duties. says, “Then he showed me the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan – standing at his right hand (right hand symbolizes strength) - - - Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.”

That’s reality. Not only an incident of history … but a description of your daily life in this spiritual battle. And my plea for us is this: DO NOT LET THAT HAPPEN.

Krispy Kreme Donuts - - There is almost nothing in the world that tastes as good as a Krispy Kreme Donut. You just have to have another one – you think if one is this good – 2 will be even better. So you have another. The second one doesn’t taste nearly as good. “Well maybe that wasn’t a good donut. Let me try another to get that good taste back in my mouth. So you have a third. The third Krispy Kreme is just about the worst thing you’ve ever tasted.

There is temptation at the very time of your greatest spiritual strength. Let us NEVER say, “I’ve got this.”

Temptation is like the taste in your mouth after eating one Krispy Kreme – crying out for another one. You give in – and then Satan comes back like that sick feeling in your stomach to rub your nose in your own foolishness.

There Peter who one minute is on a spiritual mountaintop – Jesus asks, “Who do men say I am?” Peter nails the answer – “YOU are the Christ, the Son of the Living God”. Jesus’ response? “Flesh and blood have not revealed this to you . . .” Front of the class! “ The next thing we read, Jesus starts speaking about his coming suffering and death and Peter, the newly discovered genius pipes up and says, “Surely not Lord - - no suffering for you!”

: “I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, ‘Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ has come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.” Did you catch that? He’s talking about Satan here:

“Get behind me Satan” - - OUCH … back of the class.

“. . . the accuser of our brothers . . . who accuses them day and night before our God.”

There is the Church at Laodicea in , they are so rich with the things God has given – so full of blessings that they have lost their spiritual hunger. God says, ‘You are poor, pitiful, blind and naked’. And you don’t realize it. The devil has come along and led into sin - at the very point they feel STRONGEST – they are actually most EMPTY – in danger.

That is the second part of Satan’s strategy. And you’ve been there. You’ve been on the receiving end of this: A sinful choice – you gave into the temptation. You knew it was not right. You responded in anger, rather than love. You rejected God’s comfort and tried to remedy your problem by yourself. And now the enemy comes back and says:

And that friends, is my fear for us - as individual Christians … and as a church. That some of us would be able to come Sunday after Sunday and hear us talk about spiritual warfare and our enemy Satan, and think, “Oh not more of this Spiritual Battle mumbo jumbo . . .” because we’re comfortable – “I’ve got my job, I’ve got my family, I’ve got my church” - - - I am at rest in the blessings of God.

“Look at you! Look at the filth on you. A real child of God would never do that. You’ve just shown your true colors – you’re a hypocrite. You are an imposter. You are NOT saved.”

This is such a critical question for so many people I have come across: they come to me in the grip of worry, anxiety and outright panic - - filled with doubt that they are really saved at all - - - -

They come with stories of sins in the past - - real sins … rebellion in childhood, in the young adult years, even in the very recent past … can any of you identify?

You are sitting here, this morning, you’ve tried to worship - you are listening for God’s voice … but you are gripped by shame. Your sins are always before you. And that’s exactly what Satans’ plan for you was - when you

So what do you do with the accusations? What do you do with the shame? Some of you are wondering that right now, questioning: “Part of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives is to convict us of sin. If we feel no remorse for sin – if we don’t feel sick about our sin – we prove that we don’t belong to God.” That’s right. So, you wonder, “how do I know whether or not the voice I hear is the voice of Satan accusing – or of God’s Spirit convicting?” How do you know?

That feeling of comfortable complacency is spiritual poison.

Let me give you 2 points to hold onto and when you are in doubt about the source of your troubled heart about your sin – test your thoughts with these questions and you will know where they are coming from:

iii. When We Attempt Some Special Service for God

number of people I know, who come to me in the grip of anxiety – outright panic, filled with doubt that they are really saved at all. Let me give you 2 points to hold onto and when you are in doubt about the source of your troubled heart about your sin – test your thoughts with these questions and you will know where they are coming from:

1. In Which Direction are the Thoughts Leading Me?

There is another specific time Satan seems to choose for significant attack – not only when we are suffering, not only when we are experiencing significant blessing at the hand of God. A third time Satan uses, that we need to be aware of, is when we step onto the field to attempt some special service for God. Let me ask you, “What is the hardest morning of the week to get out of bed?” For many of you, I already know what it is – Sunday morning.

These accusatory thoughts … where are they leading me? Satan’s accusations are designed to make you give up. He wants your guilt to drive you to the place Judas Iscariot went - - betrayed the Son of God … filled with sorrow - ended it all.

When can you guarantee that your phone is going to ring? Isn’t it when you sit down with your family to read the Bible and pray? Speaking of family, don’t you find that your kids who can sit next to each other for hours, in a cramped car, when you’re on the road on a camping trip, try to sit them next to each other when you are doing family devotions – and all of a sudden - World War 3 breaks out?

The Spirit’s conviction is designed to lead you to repentance. It’s a conviction that comes from the overflow of love .... When the Holy Spirit puts His finger on your sin … it’s because God loves you … He wants you to stop turning yourself into a donkey … and restore your joy in fellowship as the son of your heavenly Father.

You know the story of David – Bathsheba – Uriah her husband – , Nathan the prophet comes to David after his run through the most terrible trail of sin and tells him a story of a poor man with one lamb – stolen and slaughtered by a rich man, who had great flocks of sheep. Nathan paints a picture so tragic, so heartbreakingly evil that David says - - “Who did it? The man who has done this deserves to die . . .!!” Nathan jumps in, points the finger in David’s face – “You are the man.”

See it in the church - - whenever we set out to follow our Lord in significant obedience – we want to get serious about following Him and making Him known - - - those are the very times that we are hit with a crisis - - a key family moves away, there is a financial challenge - - we start seeing others like

In verse 13, David repents, “I have sinned against the LORD”. Now, if Nathan was the devil’s spokesman, what would he have said? TOO BAD - - It’s too late now to repent. Besides – your repentance is a joke. You don’t really mean it - - -You say that you’re sorry now – but you don’t really mean it. Tomorrow you are going to let God down again. So save your breath, it is too late for you.” You’ve heard that voice.

The 14 year old, adolescent boy - who looks at dad – “You’re so clueless .. – all we can see are the warts and shortcomings. It always seems to happen when we get serious about following the Lord whole-heartedly.

But that is NOT what Nathan says. NO, he is speaking for God and as God’s voice to David in , “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.” There will be consequences, but you are forgiven

That is the strategy of the enemy - -

Hear this, Christian … if you are in Christ and you repent of your sin - turn your back on it … then you. ARE. FORGIVEN .... and any voice that tells you otherwise, is not from God.

ii. What Does the Voice Make of the Cross

Those are three special periods in our lives when the enemy of your joy steps up his attacks. Do you know what his attack has in common in situation? He tailors the attack to each particular time.

Satan comes and accuses you - and his accusations make the cross seem small. “Sure, God so loved the world ...” - but He doesn’t really love you. If God loved you - He wouldn’t have let you fall into that sin. Give it up!” Do you see what this attack makes of the cross, where the Son of God died for sin?

Thomas Brooks, puritan pastor, wrote classic book: “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices”. In it, he makes this very point. Here’s what he says:

.... It’s lacking. Not enough for you.

The Holy Spirit comes and His conviction leads you to the cross as your only hope. So that you realize the true weight of your sin, the depth of guilt … but instead of running away … you run TO THE CROSS.

, “So Christ, having been offered once, to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin (that’s already dealt with), but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.”

Don’t miss that, Christian - - “Christ will appear, not to save those who are good enough … not those who keep their noses clean enough … not for those who have their act together or who have no shame in their past … but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him.

If there is a voice that points you away from the cross .... then that

Satan says: Yes God so loved the world – but his love is for people who are better than you.

“Whatever sin the heart of man is most prone to, THAT the devil will help forward. If David be proud of his people, Satan will provoke him to number them, that he may be yet prouder.”

The Holy Spirit – says

… “Satan loves to sail with the wind and to suit men’s temptations to their conditions and inclinations. If they be in prosperity, he will tempt them to deny God; if they be in adversity, he will tempt them to distrust God; if their knowledge be weak, he will tempt them to have low thoughts of God ....”

.Walt Disney’s version of Pinocchio - has some very good spiritual lessons on temptation and sin. Pinocchio wants to be a real boy. One point in the story, he and his mischievous friend Lampwick are lured away by the Coachman - that evil figure who deceitfully rounds up little boys to enjoy Pleasure Island, the place where your every desire becomes a reality. Anything goes on Pleasure Island - if Pinocchio and Lampwick are feeling feisty - they can get into a fight; if they’re feeling naughty - they can destroy a house; they can even indulge themselves in smelly cigars, frothy beers, and bar games - even though they are underage.

At first - they feel like they are in paradise - the more they sin, the more they feel like ‘real adults’. But the delight doesn’t last for long. And what starts out as ‘FREEDOM’ - soon shows its true colors - - it is nothing more than ‘SLAVERY’ - in fancy packaging.

After taking a drink of beer, Lampwick suddenly grows donkey ears. Pinocchio looks at his beer and slowly puts it down. Then Lampwick makes a billiards shot … and a donkey tail tears through the back of his pants. Pinocchio looks at his cigar - he knows he shouldn’t be smoking it - but when he first got to Pleasure Island - it seemed so grown-up, so ‘freeing’ to smoke it. Now he’s disgusted by it - throws it away.

Lampwick ultimately turns into a donkey and starts hee-hawing, kicking and calling out in desparation for his ‘mama’. He and many other bad-boys-turned-donkeys are locked up in crates to be shipped and sold to salt mines and circuses. And what the Coachman had said earlier comes true: ‘Give a bad boy enough rope, and he’ll soon make a jackass of himself’.

KIDS - - Increased freedom – nobody’s watching …there’s freedom here. Let me plead with you – because we love you and God loves you infinitely more than we ever could - - don’t use that freedom to chain yourself in slavery.

2 TROUBLE

The first part of Satan’s strategy is to tempt us to sin – but when you do sin, his mission is not finished yet. When you give in to his temptation, that is when part 2 of his despicable strategy kicks in: that is, to TROUBLE. First comes the temptation to sin, then comes the trouble for the sin.

Satan is anti-God in every way. Just as the Holy Spirit comes to counsel us – to lead us into obedience and holiness, and when we do live in holiness, we experience the fruit of obeying – the love, joy patience, gentleness, self-control that is the fruit of the Spirit. So Satan, turns that experience upside down and copies it. He tempts us to turn our backs on God – to disobey – he wants to ‘UNSANCTIFY YOU’ and when you give in – he comes back again to show you what an unworthy wretch you are.

The Old Testament has an incident which is very instructive. In Zechariah, the second last book, just before Malachi, the prophet Zechariah is given a vision by God – he is given eyes to see what physical eyes cannot see. He sees the high priest of Israel - a man named Joshua, at the time – and Joshua is ministering, doing his high-priestly duties.

:1says, “Then he showed me the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan – standing at his right hand (right hand symbolizes strength) - - - Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.”

That’s reality. Not only an incident of history … but a description of your daily life in this spiritual battle. And my plea for us is this: DO NOT LET THAT HAPPEN.

Last weekend - Krispy Kreme Donuts - - There is almost nothing in the world that tastes as good as a Krispy Kreme Donut. You just have to have another one – you think if one is this good – 2 will be even better. So you have another. The second one doesn’t taste nearly as good. “Well maybe that wasn’t a good donut. Let me try another to get that good taste back in my mouth. So you have a third. The third Krispy Kreme is just about the worst thing you’ve ever tasted.

Temptation is like the taste in your mouth after eating one Krispy Kreme – crying out for another one. You give in – and then Satan comes back like that sick feeling in your stomach to rub your nose in your own foolishness.

: “I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, ‘Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ has come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.” Did you catch that? He’s talking about Satan here:

“. . . the accuser of our brothers . . . who accuses them day and night before our God.”

That is the second part of Satan’s strategy. You’ve been here. You’ve been on the receiving end of this: A sinful choice – you gave into the temptation. You knew it was not right. You responded in anger, rather than love. You rejected God’s comfort and tried to remedy your problem by yourself. And now the enemy comes back and says:

“Look at you! Look at the filth on you. A real child of God would never do that. You’ve just shown your true colors – you’re a hypocrite. You are an imposter. You are NOT saved.”

This is such a critical question for so many people I have come across: they come to me in the grip of worry, anxiety and outright panic - - filled with doubt that they are really saved at all - - - -

They come with stories of sins in the past - - real sins … rebellion in childhood, in the young adult years, even in the very recent past … can any of you identify?

You are sitting here, this morning, you’ve tried to worship - you are listening for God’s voice … but you are gripped by shame. Your sins are always before you. And that’s exactly what Satan’s’ plan for you was - when you walked into his trap of temptation – he goes from cheerleader to accuser.

So what do you do with the accusations? What do you do with the shame? Some of you are wondering that right now, questioning: “Part of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives is to convict us of sin. If we feel no remorse for sin – if we don’t feel sick about our sin – we prove that we don’t belong to God.” That’s right. So, you wonder, “how do I know whether or not the voice I hear is the voice of Satan accusing – or of God’s Spirit convicting?” How do you know?

Let me give you 2 points to hold onto and when you are in doubt about the source of your troubled heart about your sin – test your thoughts with these questions and you will know where they are coming from:

1. In Which Direction are the Thoughts Leading Me?

These accusatory thoughts … where are they leading me? Satan’s accusations are designed to make you give up. He wants your guilt to drive you to the place Judas Iscariot went - - betrayed the Son of God … filled with sorrow - ended it all.

The Spirit’s conviction is designed to lead you to repentance. It’s a conviction that comes from the overflow of love .... When the Holy Spirit puts His finger on your sin … it’s because God loves you … He wants you to stop turning yourself into a donkey … and restore your joy in fellowship as the son of your heavenly Father.

You know the story of David – Bathsheba – Uriah her husband –

, Nathan the prophet comes to David after his run through the most terrible trail of sin and tells him a story of a poor man with one lamb – stolen and slaughtered by a rich man, who had great flocks of sheep. Nathan paints a picture so tragic, so heartbreakingly evil that David says - - “Who did it? The man who has done this deserves to die . . .!!” Nathan jumps in, points the finger in David’s face – “You are the man.”

In verse 13, David repents, “I have sinned against the LORD”. is his cry. Now, if Nathan was the devil’s spokesman, what would he have said? TOO BAD - - the damage is done. It’s too late now to repent. Besides – your repentance is a joke. You don’t really mean it - - -You say that you’re sorry now – but you don’t really mean it. Tomorrow you are going to let God down again. So save your breath, it is too late for you.” You’ve heard that voice.

But that is NOT what Nathan says. NO, he is speaking for God and as God’s voice to David in

, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.” There will be consequences, but you are forgiven

Hear this, Christian … if you are in Christ and you repent of your sin - turn your back on it … then you. ARE. FORGIVEN .... and any voice that tells you otherwise, is the voice of the enemy. It’s not from God.

ii. What Does the Voice Make of the Cross

Satan comes and accuses you - and the intention of his accusations is to make the cross seem small. “Sure, God so loved the world ...” - but He doesn’t really love you. If God loved you - He wouldn’t have let you fall into that sin. Give it up!” Do you see what this attack makes of the cross, where the Son of God died for sin?

.... It’s lacking. Not enough for you.

The Holy Spirit comes and His conviction leads you to the cross as your only hope. So that you realize the true weight of your sin, the depth of guilt … but instead of running away … you run TO THE CROSS.

, “So Christ, having been offered once, to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin (that’s already dealt with), but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.”

Don’t miss that, Christian - - “Christ will appear, not to save those who are good enough … not those who keep their noses clean enough … not for those who have their act together or who have no shame in their past … but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him.

If there is a voice that points you away from the cross .... then that is not the Lord’s – it is the voice of His enemy and yours.

Satan says: Yes God so loved the world – but his love is for people who are better than you.

The Holy Spirit – says stay close to the cross …. And the peace of Christ, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

“Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of HIS MIGHT.”