SPIRITUAL ATTACK

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF A SPIRITUAL ATTACK?

1.   One heavy circumstance after another.(Matthew 4:1-11)

2.   Accusations.(Revelation 12:7)

3.   Ongoing thoughts of what you don’t have, rather than focusing on God’s blessings.

4.   Continual temptations at the same point of your weakness.(Matthew 4:2)

5.   Attempts to engage you in debate.

6.   Fear based on lies, expose the lie and it must leave.(II Corinthians 7:5)

7.   Doubts about the truthfulness and goodness of God.

8.   General sense of heaviness and depression.(II Corinthians 1:8)

9.   Deception.

10. Division.

If you experience all ten of these, you have uncovered a “major attack” on your life.  The next step is to know how to respond to these by understanding your enemy’s tactics.

WHAT ARE SOME OF SATAN’S TACTICS?

“Be self controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith…”(I Peter 5:8-9)

TACTIC #1: Satan incites us to compare ourselves against others in our kingdom accomplishments, spiritual maturity, and our level of intimacy with the Lord.  This brings in pride.  We can respond to this attack with, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of God?…Whoever humbles himself like a child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:1-4)

TACTIC #2: Satan attempts to keep us in denial regarding our weaknesses.  For our weaknesses are doors that Satan uses to tempt us to sin.  We can close the door on this tactic by asking the Holy Spirit to show us our weakness.  After they are revealed, ask God to turn them into strengths.

TACTIC #3: Satan attempts to rob us of God’s mercy, grace, and unconditional loved.  Satan wants us to believe that those  of us who have wandered away, at some point in our Christian walk and then returned, are inferior to those of us who have never wandered.  “If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them, wanders away, will He not leave the ninety-nine and go look for the one that wandered off?”(Matthew 18:10-12) The person that has wandered from God and returns is accepted back with great rejoicing.  We are to forgive and accept those who have returned, just as God has accepted us, unconditionally!

TACTIC #4: Satan attempts to keep us in a state of unforgiveness and to have a hardened heart towards others.  “How many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me?”  Jesus says,…seventy times seven!”(Matthew 18:22) Why does Jesus ask this of us!  Because God doesn’t keep score on any of us and we are to emulate our Heavenly Father.

Now, that you are equipped to win spiritual battles, you can reassure yourself as you face future battles with this truth: “With God I will gain the victory and He will trample down my enemies.”(Psalms 108:13)


© Copyright 1999 New Testament Church