Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20000806.htm

OVERCOMING IN THE ANGELIC CONFLICT
Part IV: Handling Satanic Attacks In The Angelic Conflict
  1. Introduction
    1. Once a believer is confident of his hope of spiritual victory over Satan in Christ, and can identify both general activity and specific spiritual attacks of the Evil One, he must know how to handle those attacks.
    2. This lesson deals with Biblical specifics on handling Satanic attacks in that angelic conflict (as follows):
  2. Handling Satanic Attacks In The Angelic Conflict.
    1. Under a direct Satanic attack, the UNSAVED demon possessed must adjust to God (as follows): as only the unsaved can be thus afflicted (1 Jn. 5:18), one must believe on Christ to be translated from Satan's to Christ's kindoms, Jn. 3:16; Eph. 2:8-9; Mk. 5:1-20.
    2. Under a direct Satanic attack in which Satan influences other humans to achieve results, the BELIEVER can adjust effectively to others who are being used of Satan in any way to attack himself (as follows):
      1. The believer should respond to unquestionably demon-possessed [always unbelievers] as follows:
        1. Warning: Never use human resources (like human wisdom, physical strength, etc.) to try countering or controlling such people as this is very dangerous, cf. Jude 9 and Acts 19:13-17.
        2. However, if the possessed party obstructs the believer's path from doing God's will for his life and/or service, the believer has God's authority to practice exorcism, Acts 16:16-18; 13:1-3.
        3. Believing Scripture, the believer should order the demon(s) in Christ's name to come out of the afflicted, and do so in an attitude of prayer until the demon is gone, Eph. 6:12-18; Acts 16:16-18.
        4. Having exorcised the demon(s), the believer should present the Gospel to the exorcised unbeliever so he can believe and be saved to escape later possession, Mtt. 12:43-45; Rom. 1:16 & 1 John 5:18.
      2. The godly can respond to a sinful believer (or unbeliever) who is influenced by Satan in attacking him:
        1. We must absolutely refuse to argue with the oppressor(s) even if this means we must remain silent on occasion to do so. When possible, we should gently, Biblically instruct the offender, letting God deal with him as we cannot control him ourselves, 2 Timothy 2:24-26 with 3:16-17 and 3:1-5.
        2. We should not defend our human frailties he may critique or counter, but hide in God's armor: this means trusting Christ's atonement and cleansing by confessing any unconfessed, post-salvation sins (1 Jn. 1:9) and trust God's spiritual gifting for service (Eph. 6:12-18 in light of Isa. 59:16-21; 1 Tim. 4:12-16 with Eph. 4:7-13 on service gifts; 1 Cor. 12:4-7, 11 for God's appointments of service).
        3. If our Christian service efforts are opposed, we must trust in God's service appointment for us under local church leadership authority (2 Tim. 1:6-7; Heb. 13:7, 17). In this way we resist errantly defending our human weaknesses or to fleeing God's ministry assignments, Eph. 6:13; Jn. 10:1-14.
        4. If one opposes our interpretation or application of Scripture, we apply 2 Tim. 3:13-4:2 as follows: (a) Stay with the interpretation and its application we learned prior to the attack, 2 Tim. 3:14a; (b) Stay with the interpretation and its application God permitted us to become convinced was true on the issue at hand before the attack, 2 Tim. 3:14b; (c) Stay with the interpretation and its application we learned prior to the attack as given to us by godly, reputable teachers, 2 Tim. 3:14c with 3:10-12; (d) Stay with the interpretation and its application that we arrived on our own that coincides with these other [above] guidelines, 2 Tim. 3:15-17 with 1 John 2:20, 27, and (e) gently proclaim that interpretation to the opposer as opportunity permits, 2 Tim. 4:1-2 with 3:24-26.
        5. If we apply section "II,B,2,d" above, in time, the evil of the oppressor will manifest itself to others to our relief and defense, 1 Tim. 2:24-3:9. Thus, don't attack or flee the oppressor's effort!
        6. Avoid believers or unbelievers who exhibit the oppressive behaviors described in 2 Tim. 3:1-8; according to 2 Timothy 2:24-26 in the context, they are influenced by Satan!
        7. However, if the errant opponent repents, immediately encourage him regarding God's gracious forgiveness lest Satan tempt him even to commit suicide over guilt, 2 Cor. 2:6-11!
Lesson: We believers in our human abilities and efforts are simply no match for Satan, but Satan is no match for God. Thus, we must respond to Satanic attacks by picking up GOD'S armor, using GOD'S spiritual power by faith in God's Word at every turn to gain victory over Satan, 1 John 4:4; 2:14b.