Xenos Christian Fellowship
Christian Ministry Unit 1


Week 5: Satanology pt.2




Temptation



Definition:


Avenues:



Purposes:








Countermeasures:


(2 Sam. 11:1-5) Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they destroyed the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem. (2) Now when evening came David arose from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king's house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance…”






(Rom. 13:14) But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.


(Prov. 5:8; 6:25) Keep your way far from her, And do not go near the door of her house . . . (25) Do not desire her beauty in your heart, Nor let her catch you with her eyelids.




(James 1:14,15) . . . each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. (15)Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.




(Prov. 5:9-14) . . . Lest you give your vigor to others, and your years to the cruel one; (10) lest strangers be filled with your strength, and your hard-earned goods go to the house of an alien; (11) and you groan at your latter end, when your flesh and your body are consumed; (12) and you say, "How I have hated instruction! And my heart spurned reproof! (13) And I have not listened to the voice of my teachers, nor inclined my ear to my instructors! (14) I was almost in utter ruin In the midst of the assembly and congregation."


(Prov. 6:26-29) For on account of a harlot one is reduced to a loaf of bread, and an adulteress hunts for the precious life. (27) Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? (28) Or can a man walk on hot coals, and his feet not be scorched? (29) So is the one who goes in to his neighbor's wife; whoever touches her will not go unpunished.






(1 Cor. 10:13) No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.



(1 Pet. 5:8-10) Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (9) But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. (10) And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.


(Luke 22:31,32) Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; (32) but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.










(Heb. 4:15,16) For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. (16) Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.


(Matt. 26:41) Keep watching and praying, that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.










Accusation


Definition: personal denunciation based on real or alleged sins in order to alienate from God and demoralize.


(Rev. 12:10) And 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 have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night.


Avenues:




What is the difference between accusation and conviction?


Note: Both work through the conscience, by registering a painful or discomforting verdict on your actions. Accusation will commonly follow on the heels of conviction. You must accept conviction while rejecting accusation



Conviction

Accusation

draws us near to God

alienates us from God

focuses on our actions

uses our actions as an inappropriate basis for undermining our relationship with God

will normally be clear and specific

tends to be vague and generalized

constructive and forward-focused

destructive and backward focused


Levels:





Countermeasures:


1. If untrue:


2. If true:



Note:

Division

Definition: Division is personal alienation between Christians (especially workers*) caused by sinful attitudes

Purpose:



Results of Division:







Avenues:



Passive division:





Active division:



Issue-oriented conflict is not division.

(Acts 15:36-41) And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return and visit the brethren in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are." And Barnabas was desirous of taking John, called Mark, along with them also. But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. And there arose such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. But Paul chose Silas and departed, being committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord. And he was traveling through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.





Affective conflict:

(James 3: 13-18) Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. (14) But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. (15) This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. (16) For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. (17) But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. (18) And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.



Consider the following tip-offs:



Countermeasures:

  1. Prevention

(Heb. 10:24,25) let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another . . . 





(Phil. 1:27; 2:2) Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ; so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel . . . united in spirit, intent on one purpose.



(1 Thess. 5:12,13) But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.





  1. Early Detection









  1. Aggressive Treatment

(Matt. 5:23,24) If therefore you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.





(Matt. 7:3-5) And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.



(Col. 3:13)  . . . bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.







(Phil. 4:2,3) I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord. Indeed, true comrade, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.





(2 Tim. 2:24-26) And the Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

(Titus 3:10,11) Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.



Remember:

Persecution

Definition: : attacks on Christians (individually and corporately) to wear them down and/or intimidate them into backing off from radical commitment to Christ



Avenues:

(Rev. 2:10) Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that you may be tested . . . 









Countermeasures:

(1 Pet. 4:15) By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler . . . 

(Rom. 12:18) If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.







(1 Pet. 4:12) Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you . . . 

(John 15:18-20) If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. (19) If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (20) Remember the word that I said to you, "A slave is not greater than his master." If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

(2 Tim. 3:12) And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

(Luke 6:26) Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for in the same way their fathers used to treat the false prophets.







  1. Rejoice, because this is the proof that you are being effective

(1 Pet. 4:14) If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you . . . but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God.

(Matt. 5:11,12) Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. (12) Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

(Phil. 1:29) For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake . . . 







  1. Determine to continue serving Christ (especially evangelism) no matter what the cost

(Acts 4:19,20) But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; (20) for we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard."

(Acts 5:40-42) And they took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them to speak no more in the name of Jesus, and then released them. (41) So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. (42) And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

(Rev. 2:10) Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

(Rev. 12:11) And they overcame him because . . . they did not love their life even to death.





5. Stand with other Christians who are undergoing persecution

(Heb. 13:3) Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body.

Opposition

Definition: specific actions designed to hinder Christian ministry



Avenues:

(1 Thess. 2:18) For we wanted to come to you-- I, Paul, more than once--and yet Satan thwarted us.



(2 Tim 2:25,26) . . . those who are in opposition . . . (26)… having been held captive by (the devil) to do his will.



Countermeasures:







(2 Thes. 3:2) . . . and (pray) that we may be delivered from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith.



(2 Tim. 2:25,26) . . . with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, (26) and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.



(1 Tim. 1:20) Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered over to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.





Satanology: Overt Tactics

Definition: Overt tactics are obvious manifestations of Satan's attacks



A. Demon-Possession


Symptoms: (Mk. 5:2-13)


1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Note: The biblical incidence of demon possession appears to be concentrated around the ministry of Jesus and (to a lesser degree) the apostles.



Can Christians be possessed?




1 Cor 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?




1 John 4:4* You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.



B. Subjection


Definition:



2 Timothy 2:24-26; Acts 5:1-10




Symptoms:


1.  Resistance to Christ and spiritual truth (difficulty in conversion and growth) is observed.


2.  Character evidences excessive immorality or blasphemy without control.


3.  Strong depression after conversion, with no previous history of such depression.


4.  Medium and/or occult powers are present. (visions, telepathy, astral projection, divination)



Reasons for subjection or possession










C. Individual Persecution


Symptoms:











Deliverance from Overt Satanic attacks


A. Victory Is Ours In Christ

While the New Testament has much material about the destructive power and activity of Satan, it emphasizes Christ's authority and victory over him and the believer's consequent spiritual freedom.

Christ's victory over Satan



Christians' freedom from Satan’s Authority


B. Deliverance is possible only through Christ and only if the person will turn to him.


Renunciation:


(Acts 19:18,19*) Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices.(19) And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of all; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.



Counselor's Work:








Memory Verses


1 Pet. 5:8* - Be on the alert for Satan's attacks!

1 Jn. 4:4* - Christians need not be afraid of demons because of Christ 

Deut. 18:9-12** - Occult practices forbidden



Homework Assignment


Study for the exam.

Copyright 2006, Xenos Christian Fellowship