At Nowra City Church we have been preaching through the book of Ephesians during January 2014. Our last Sunday is on the Authority of the believer to stand against the devil. Here are my sermon notes on the Devil’s Tactics. They are a bit rough, but it gives you the information.

Ephesians 6:10-20

¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,^[c] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— ¹⁹ and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Intelligence on the Devil

1) He was once on our side Ezekiel 28:12-17

¹² “Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God:

“You were the seal of perfection,
Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
¹³ You were in Eden, the garden of God;
Every precious stone was your covering:
The sardius, topaz, and diamond,
Beryl, onyx, and jasper,
Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold.
The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes
Was prepared for you on the day you were created.

¹⁴ “You were the anointed cherub who covers;
I established you;
You were on the holy mountain of God;
You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones.
¹⁵ You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created,
Till iniquity was found in you.

¹⁶ “By the abundance of your trading
You became filled with violence within,
And you sinned;
Therefore I cast you as a profane thing
Out of the mountain of God;
And I destroyed you, O covering cherub,
From the midst of the fiery stones.

¹⁷ “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty;
You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor;
I cast you to the ground,
I laid you before kings,
That they might gaze at you.

2) He is the Father of lies – John 8: 44

You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

3) He is a murderer – John 8: 44

You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

4) A sower of discord -Matthew 13:39

³⁹ The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.

5) The first sinner -Isaiah 14: 12-14

¹² “How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer,^[a] son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
¹³ For you have said in your heart:
‘I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
¹⁴ I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’

6) Cunning -2 Corinthians 2: 11

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

7) Cowardly-James 4: 7

⁷ Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

8) A tempter-Matthew 4: 1-11

4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ² And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. ³ Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

⁴ But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”^[a]

⁵ Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, ⁶ and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:

‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’

and,

‘In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”^[b]

⁷ Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”^[c]

⁸ Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. ⁹ And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

¹⁰ Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you,^[d] Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship theLord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”^[e]

¹¹ Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

9) Thief-John 10: 10

¹⁰ The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

10) Without principle and will take advantage of men in their weak moment -Matthew 4: 1-11

4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ² And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. ³ Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

⁴ But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”^[a]

⁵ Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, ⁶ and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:

‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’

and,

‘In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”^[b]

⁷ Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”^[c]

⁸ Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. ⁹ And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

¹⁰ Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you,^[d] Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship theLord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”^[e]

¹¹ Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

11) Deceitful-2 Corinthians 11:14

¹⁴ And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

12) Fierce and cruel-Revelation 12:2

² Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.

13) Aggressive Ephesians 4: 27

²⁷ nor give place to the devil.

Throughout the bible the Devil has never been known to be:

§ merciful

§ good

§ loving

§ kind

§ gentle

§ patient

In Scripture He Is Compared to;

1) A Fowler (a snare or a trap) Psalm 91: 3

³ Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler^[a]
And from the perilous pestilence.

2) Fowl-Matthew 13: 4

⁴ And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.

3) Wolf-John 10: 12

¹² But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.

4) Destroyer-John 10: 10

¹⁰ The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

5) Roaring lion-1 Peter 5: 8-9

⁸ Be sober, be vigilant; because^[a] your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. ⁹ Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

6) Serpent-Revelation 12: 9

⁹ So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

7) Dragon-Revelation 12: 3-12

³ And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. ⁴ His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. ⁵ She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. ⁶ Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

Satan Thrown Out of Heaven

⁷ And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, ⁸ but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them^[a] in heaven any longer. ⁹ So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

¹⁰ Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. ¹¹ And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. ¹² Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”

Strategies of the devil

Firstly we need to identify the battleground

It is principally in the mind-manifesting in behaviour

2 Corinthians 4: 4

⁴ whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

2 Corinthians 10: 3-5

³ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. ⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵ casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

1) Lies

John 8: 44 – the devil is the Father of lies

⁴⁴ You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

§ He will tell you lies about yourself

§ he will tell you lies about others

§ he will tell you lies about life

§ he will tell you lies about the church

§ he will tell you lies about God

Some common lies;-

§ -everyone is doing it

§ -you’re not get caught

§ -you’re missing all the fun in life if you become a Christian

§ -nobody loves you

§ -life is not worth living

§ -you can afford to tithe

§ -you are worthless

§ -the grass is greener on the other side of the fence

2) Deception

1Timothy 2: 14 – Eve was deceived

¹⁴ And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.

2 Timothy 3: 13

¹³ But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

2 Corinthians 11: 3

³ But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity^[a] that is in Christ.

All deception has an element of truth but a majority of lies-truth is a better get you in

The classic deception that I hear often is:- I don’t need to go to church to have a close relationship with God

3) Temptation

1 Thessalonians 3: 5

⁵ For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.

Luke 4: 2

² being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.

Temptations by definition are tempting

They appeal to our flesh

Hebrews 11:25 -fishing line illustration

²⁵ choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,

4) Mediocrity

If you are the devil what would your worst nightmare be – a passionate spirit filled Christian who knew their authority in God

So the devil is hard are keeping people lukewarm and mediocre

Sobering scripture-

Matthew 13:22

²² Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

Hebrews 6: 12

¹² that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

6) Oppression

Acts 10: 38

³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

KATADUNASTEUO – to exercise dominion against, oppress and overburden in body or mind

Weight of the demonic in your life

-in the mind realm

How oppression can manifest

§ · nightmares

§ · strongholds of fee

§ · tormenting continuous thoughts

§ · spirits of murder or lust

§ · overwhelming thoughts of condemnation, inferiority, worthlessness

§ · suicidal thoughts

§ · total loss of hope for the future

§ · unclean thoughts

§ · addictions

7) Accuses the brethren

Revelation 12: 10

¹⁰ Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.

The devil makes accusation against us – in three areas

1) Before God

2) To Ourselves

3) To Others

The devil wants to bring

§ · Death

§ · Discouragement

§ · Discord

§ · Dishonesty

§ · Defamation

§ · Destruction

Summary

The devil wants you:-

§ to be self-absorbed

§ to stop coming to church

§ to be a non tither

§ to not be involved

§ to be critical and judgemental

§ to the open to the deception

§ to be tolerant of sin in your life

§ to sow discord

§ to be negative

§ to be wet blanket when it comes to areas of faith

§ to be mediocre in your walk with God – luke warm

§ ultimately to turn your back on God

All the information on the Devil we have spoken of today-none of this is caught God by surprise

God has prepared us for battle

Ephesians 6: 10

¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Strong in the Lord

Strong = Endunamoo

en= in

Dunamoo = dunamis = explosive power

= empowering or inner strengthening

Conveys the idea of being infused with excessive dose of dynamite, inner strength and ability

Read page 98-dressed the kill – by Rick Renner

In the Lord

This locates the power in the person Jesus Christ

Ephesians 1: 3 we are in Christ-located

so is the power-power over the Devil comes through relationship with Jesus Christ

relate back to being seated in heavenly places – and that we are raised up with Christ who was placed above – so we are “in the lord” and this gives us the authority.

Eph 1:20-23

²⁰ which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

²² And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, ²³ which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

The power of his might

Kratos Power – not power you intellectually believing

-it is power that is demonstrative, eruptive, tangible

Relate back to Ephesians 1: 19-22 -talks through the story

Eph 1:19-21

¹⁹ and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power ²⁰ which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

Key

Authority comes because of relationship.

Acts 19:11-17

Mark 16:15-17

The Armour of God

Ephesians 6: 11

¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Put on

-aorist imperative – a command get in with military snap and curtness

– a command to be obeyed at once

Important – it was a once and for all act

Wrong thinking-have you put your armour on today

Whole armour-balanced Christianity

Of God-it is God’s armour.

Your stand – it is God’s armour but your stand the

The can’t fight the battle just with your will

But the armour will be useless without you will

Your stand- God’s armour

Stand-you are in the right spot

The warfare we are involved in is the devil try to get you to move

We have to develop the tenacity to stand-to hold onto what God has given to us

Paul concern is for stability. Wobbly Christian are easy prey for the devil

Verse 12

¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,^[c] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

we do not wrestle against people

This verse also suggested structure and command lines within the demonic realm

Chinese Army – 1 to 25 to a US Marine

the evil day-day’s of concerted demonic attack

¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand

Verse 14-girded your waist with truth

This girdle is not just a strip of cloth like a girdle of today, or leather like a belt.

It is a large, thick, heavy apron which covers the entire abdominal region, or innards. It serves several functions:
• A defense barrier against enemy swords. It was hearty enough to keep a sword out.
• A place to tuck in your outer robe, so your legs would be unencumbered during battle.
• A sheath on which to hang your sword.
And Paul calls it a girdle of ‘truth.’ How do you put on this girdle? You simply must be able to accurately define truth, and by doing so, you wear the truth, and truth protects you inwardly. Prevent truth decay!
The Bible defines truth in 3 ways:
1. The Word of God.
John 17:17
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
2. The Son of God.
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
3. The Spirit of God.
John 14:16-17
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth…

When Buckled it gave a sense of confidence

V14 Breastplate of righteousness

Some commentators say that the breastplate had no back and therefore therefore there is no protection if we turned and run

Most commentators agree the breastplate had front and back and was designed to protect vital organs

2 lines of thought

1) God’s righteousness in us

No spiritual protection is greater than righteous relationship with God

2) righteousness a character and conduct

Living at Christs justification of our lives

V15 your feet Shod

Shoes of the gospel

v. 15 The Roman soldier wore thick leather sandals, attached to his feet with thick straps. On bottom were hobnails, which were sort of like cleats. They were very important. Just as one of the top priorities for our soldiers at war is good, dry shoes, because your whole body is built upon them.
‘Preparation’ in v. 15 means foundation. 4 times in this passage we are told to stand. A soldier who cannot stand, cannot fight.
Our foundation is the gospel! What is the gospel? [1 Cor. 15] The good news of Christ! And Satan tries to pollute and dilute the gospel.

Stability.
The hobnails helped him keep his footing, and keep from being knocked over.

Some churchgoers will believe anything they hear, as long as a preacher says it. Any great quote online they will like, share, and live by if it tickles their fancy, regardless of whether it is Scriptural or not!

Tell the story of the benefit of my study – what I believe has been challenged – but it has made me more stable in my faith.

V16 Shield of Faith

¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one

The Roman shield was quite large, about 2′ x 4′ – made of wood, and covered in tough leather. Sometimes the leather would be soaked in water before battle, to help resist the effect of fiery arrows. The edges of the shield were beveled so they could be interlocked together with other shields. A row of soldiers could kneel beside each other, lock in, and literally form a wall!

Play the clip from Gladiators

1. Daily faith is rooted in fact, not feeling.

It’s not about emotions and inner impressions.
We need to place our faith in facts, not feelings. Don’t trust your instincts on things the Bible is specific about. God will never contradict His Word. “Feelings come and feelings go, for feelings are deceiving. My trust is in the Word of God, naught else is worth believing.”
Three men were walking on a wall,
Feeling, Faith and Fact.
When Feeling took an awful fall,
And Faith was taken back.
So close was Faith to Feeling,
He stumbled and fell too,
But Fact remained,
And pulled Faith back
And Faith brought feeling too.
~Author Unknown.

2. Faith has nothing to do with probability.

George Mueller, “The process of faith begins where probabilities cease. It is not probable that a little shepherd boy could kill a giant with a slingshot. Probability says no, but faith says yes.”
[bunch of untrained Jews could see a wall fall by walking around it / that rain would ever come and Noah need a boat / man could survive in a den of lions]
Doubt sees the obstacles. Faith sees the way.
Doubt sees the darkest night. Faith sees the day.
Doubt dreads to take a step. Faith soars high.
Doubt questions who believes? Faith answers I.

3. Faith has nothing to do with appearances.
2 Corinthians 5:7
(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

At the close of WWII the Allied Forces were searching abandoned homes and cars. They entered the basement of a house in ruins. A Jew had spent time in there, a victim of the holocaust. Scratched into the wall were these words: “I believe in the sun, even when it does not shine. I believe in love, even when it is not shown. And I believe in God, even when He does not speak.”

Faith has nothing to do with appearances. It is the evidence of things not seen.
Appearance may say that God is nowhere to be found. Faith says, “He will never leave me, nor forsake me.”

Appearance may sometimes say all things are gone haywire. Faith says, even the hairs of my head are numbered! God is in full control.

Appearance told the disciples, there’s no need to fish any longer, we have tried all night in vain. Faith says, launch out into the deep, because Jesus said so!

v17 Sword the spirit

Word of God

Very powerful Hebrews 4: 12

Practical suggestions the battle

Decide now -in battle you don’t feel like fighting, so that is not the time to decide

1) Decide – I will lived a passionate and consistent Christian life

2) I will not choose whether I go to church or not – I will go because I am not led by my feelings

3) I will make myself accountable and the open to direction

4) decide now to not let your tongue be a weapon of mass destruction

5) when under attack, tell someone so they can stand with you

6) identify what you should not do when you are under attack and then don’t do that it happened

7) always be growing in God

8) decide now never to quit in the midst of the battle

Categories: Nowra City Church, Sermon Notes

Tags: Knowing the enemy, Sit Walk Stand, The Devils Tactics