10 02 Satans Attack on The Church prob4

Spiritual warfare is a reality for every believer, and its battleground is most often found within ourselves—between flesh and spirit. When we refuse to give place to the flesh, we cut off Satan’s access and diminish his influence. The enemy’s primary target is the church, not simply as an institution, but as the living, breathing body of Christ on earth. This is because the church is called to display Jesus, to be his dwelling place, and to make known the manifold wisdom of God to the world and the spiritual realm. Satan’s hatred for Christ is now directed at us, the church, because Christ lives in us and through us.

The church’s purpose is profound: it is a habitation for God, a meeting place for God and man, a temple where the lost can find salvation, and a showpiece of God’s wisdom and glory. It is also a place of holiness, unity, maturity, and spiritual growth. The church is called to be the bride of Christ, a pillar of truth, a place of discipline, prayer, sacrificial giving, and sending out missionaries. It is a community where believers care for one another, uphold truth, praise God, labor together, expose error, and share in both suffering and opportunity.

Satan’s attacks are relentless and multifaceted. He attacks from without through persecution, but more dangerously, he attacks from within through false doctrine, compromise, and division. The most insidious threats come from those who infiltrate the church, diluting its message and drawing people away from the truth. Compromise, especially in the name of love or unity, can rob the church of its power and testimony. Divisions over personalities and pride, rather than doctrine, sap the church’s strength and distract from its mission.

The enemy’s schemes are always aimed at rendering the church ineffective—whether by direct defeat, removing us from the battle, causing God’s judgment through disobedience, setting us against one another, or making us forget our spiritual armor. Yet, the promise remains: the gates of hell shall not prevail against the true church. Our call is to remain faithful, to build according to God’s pattern, to rely on the Holy Spirit’s leadership, and to stand firm in truth and love, so that we may truly be the testimony of Jesus on earth.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The battleground of spiritual warfare is primarily within ourselves, between flesh and spirit. When we refuse to give place to the flesh, we deny Satan a foothold, and much of the battle is already won. Our personal holiness and surrender to the Spirit are the first lines of defense in the cosmic conflict. [00:24]
• 2. The church is not a building or a human organization, but a living organism created by God to be his dwelling place and the visible expression of Christ on earth. Its purpose is to display God’s wisdom, bring him glory, and serve as a meeting place for God and humanity. This high calling makes the church the central target of Satan’s attacks. [08:24]
• 3. Satan’s most dangerous attacks come from within the church, through false doctrine, compromise, and division. These internal threats are more destructive than external persecution because they undermine the church’s foundation and testimony from the inside out. Vigilance in doctrine, unity, and holiness is essential to withstand these subtle assaults. [18:27]
• 4. Compromise, especially when disguised as love or unity, is a deadly trap that can rob the church of its power, purity, and effectiveness. The enemy seeks to make compromise appear virtuous, but it ultimately leads to spiritual weakness and loss of testimony. True love never tolerates falsehood, and true unity is always rooted in truth. [24:09]
• 5. The schemes of the enemy are designed to either defeat us directly, remove us from the battle, cause God’s judgment, set us against each other, or make us neglect our spiritual armor. Our victory lies in recognizing these tactics, standing firm in our calling, and relying on the leadership and power of the Holy Spirit. Only then can we fulfill our purpose as the testimony of Jesus in the world. [26:19]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:24] - The Battleground: Flesh vs. Spirit
• [00:58] - Satan’s Attack on the Church
• [01:56] - The Church and the Gates of Hell
• [02:55] - Why Satan Hates the Church
• [04:17] - Christ’s Victory and Satan’s Vengeance
• [05:07] - Satan’s Seat: Attacks from Within
• [07:08] - The Genuine vs. False Church
• [07:59] - The Purpose and Function of the Church
• [08:24] - The Church as God’s Dwelling Place
• [09:42] - The Church: God’s Showpiece and Glory
• [10:52] - The Church’s Role in Maturity and Unity
• [12:16] - The Church as the Bride of Christ
• [14:24] - The Church’s Mission and Ministry
• [16:12] - The Church: God’s Organism, Not Man’s Organization
• [16:45] - Satan’s Attacks: Persecution and Compromise
• [18:27] - Dangers from Within: False Doctrine and Division
• [22:08] - The Need for the Holy Spirit’s Leadership
• [23:02] - Compromise and Worldliness in the Church
• [24:36] - Division and Party Spirit
• [25:45] - Satan’s Schemes and Our Response
• [26:38] - Standing Firm in Spiritual Warfare
• [27:00] - Closing and Praise

Bible Reading

Ephesians 2:19–22 (ESV) — > So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

2. Matthew 16:18 (ESV)
> And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

3. Ephesians 6:10–13 (ESV)
> Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 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 firm.

Observation Questions

1. According to Ephesians 2:19–22, what is the church described as, and what is its purpose?
2. In Matthew 16:18, what promise does Jesus make about the church and the gates of hell?
3. What does Ephesians 6:10–13 say about the nature of our struggle and the resources God provides?
4. The sermon says, “When we give no place to the flesh, we cut Satan out of this altogether.” What does this mean in practical terms? [00:24]

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon describes the church as “a dwelling place for God” and “the visible expression of Christ on earth.” What does it mean for a group of believers to actually live this out? [08:24]
2. Why does the enemy focus so much on attacking the church from within, through things like false doctrine, compromise, and division, rather than just attacking from the outside? [18:27]
3. The sermon warns that “compromise, especially when disguised as love or unity, is a deadly trap.” How can believers tell the difference between true unity and a unity that is actually compromise? [24:09]
4. Ephesians 6:10–13 talks about putting on the armor of God. What might it look like for a church to “forget or fail to use” its spiritual armor? [26:19]

Application Questions

1. The battleground of spiritual warfare is often within ourselves, between flesh and spirit. What is one area in your life where you feel this battle most strongly? What would it look like to “give no place to the flesh” in that area this week? [00:24]
2. The sermon says the church is called to be a place of holiness, unity, and spiritual growth. In what ways do you see our church living this out? Where do you see room for growth? [09:42]
3. Have you ever witnessed or experienced division in a church that was rooted in personalities or pride rather than doctrine? How did it affect you or others? What could have been done differently? [25:13]
4. The enemy’s most dangerous attacks come from within—false teaching, compromise, and division. What are some practical ways we can be vigilant in protecting our church from these threats? [18:27]
5. The sermon warns that “compromise, especially in the name of love or unity, can rob the church of its power and testimony.” Can you think of a time when you or someone you know was tempted to compromise truth for the sake of peace? How did it turn out? [24:09]
6. Ephesians 6:10–13 calls us to put on the whole armor of God. Which piece of the armor do you feel you need to focus on most right now, and why? [26:19]
7. The church is called to be a “showpiece of God’s wisdom and glory.” What is one way you can help our church display God’s wisdom and glory in your daily life this week? [10:33]