Vigilance in Spiritual Warfare: Guarding Against Deception

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Peter Luke Paul they recognize Satan is prowling around like a lion seeking to whom he may devour he has schemes that we could be ignorant of and he's looking for an opportune time that's Christian Believers recognizing these realities about the enemy they don't brush it off and say it's irrelevant they actually look and say some are ignorant they better not be ignorant because they could be duped. [00:19:02]

Periods of peace are not permanent uh a ceasing of conflict but it's pauses that the adversary uses to plan his next move that made me ask this question when did Satan return to challenge Christ after these initial Temptations and I realize you can't I can't be dogmatic on what the very next the opportune time was. [00:20:26]

How does Jesus look at a born again believing Christian telling him he's not thinking correctly how does Jesus look at this believer verse 23 he turned and said to Peter he's talking to Peter right get behind me Satan you're a hindrance to me you're being the mouthpiece of the devil now that's that's an interesting opportune time right. [00:23:09]

Your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ and remember he's saying this to those at Corinth who have false Apostles there teaching errors this isn't people who are not attending church it's people who are attending a church and even in that context the emphasis from the pulpit the emphasis from the ministry could be such where people's minds are LED astray from Christ. [00:27:36]

No wonder for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of Light so it is no surprise if his servants so he's deducing you know what if the devil does it obviously those under him are going to do it so it's no surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as Servants of righteousness then he says their end is going to correspond with their deeds. [00:29:56]

Eve if you eat that it's a really virtuous decision you're making a wise decision right that's what the devil does right he's so don't be ignorant he's looking for an opportune time he disguises himself this is the enemy that we've got and and not just the enemy we've got he has ministers and they could be under the name of Pastor and they could be false teachers who are imitating their father the devil. [00:32:19]

We must be proactive because our enemy is proactive he's proactive we can't sit down and resign and give up so Brethren the Bible says Temptations will come the Bible even says woe to you by whom Temptation comes that's a whole another topic like Peter being a stumbling block to Jesus we too could be stumbling blocks. [00:49:09]

No temptation whether fleshly desire whether Satan whether his ministers no temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man God is faithful and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability and how do we know he won't let you be tempted beyond your ability because he's the one who let job be tried God allowed this to happen. [00:50:09]

The enemy will be back and there's certain things that happen in my life I'll even go into the kitchen and tell my wife is I think this is an opportune time Be watchful pray and yet there's always a way of Escape we've got no reason to give in to the schemes of the devil so do you expect Satan is looking for an opportune time. [00:51:03]

We took every one of your thoughts captive in obedience to Christ we destroyed every stronghold that was raised in your mind against the knowledge of God that was how Paul ministered Paul came into a church he saw thoughts that were unbiblical that were not according to Christ and he ripped those down out of the sky and he took their minds captive in obedience to Jesus Christ. [00:52:11]

Temptation can be avoided by no one right Temptation will come that's a true statement but resistance may be made with prayer pray that you not enter into tempation Matthew 26 so that's right and course to Divine Aid we can put ourselves in Readiness to meet such designs and then he goes on in the book of an old father. [00:53:00]

Brethren Temptation will come there's always a way of escape the devil is looking for an opportune time Satan has devices Satan has schemes that's the enemy we've got he's looking for an opportune time Luke realized that Peter experienced it Peter realized he's prowling around like a a roaring lion seeking someone to devour you shouldn't be shocked when the lion jumps out of the Bush. [00:54:57]

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