Introduction

Satan has a formidable arsenal of weapons which he uses against us, but none so well-used as these mentioned here. At various times all of us have fallen victim to these weapons. See if any of them sound familiar to you:

1. Doubt and fear

A. Two edges of the same weapon: Doubt questions the past, Fear questions the future.

B. Usually the first weapon used against a new Christian.

C. After the euphoria of new-found faith wears off, Satan attacks viciously with DOUBT.

D. Accounts for the high drop-out rate among new believers.

E. Imposes a great responsibility upon us to nurture them.

F. Not limited to new believers: often attacks more mature

G. Causes us to question our salvation experience

H. Causes us to question our worth

I. REMEDY: Romans 8:16-17 “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs

with Christ.”

2. Feeling

A. Too many people think they must FEEL saved.

B. Feeling is deceptive: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.”

C. Believing is an act of the will, nothing to do with feeling.

D. If salvation depended on feeling:

I. Stephen would have been lost while being stoned.

II. Paul would have been lost in the Philippian dungeon.

III. Peter would have been lost on an inverted cross.

IV. The greatest discovery a Christian can make is that his salvation has nothing to do with his feelings.

3. Disappointment

A. Results from failed expectations in others.

B. Disappointment with God

I. May be that God is looking out for your best interests

II. May be simply a matter of timing.

C. Disappointment with others

I. Be gracious unto them, allow for human weakness

II. As you forgive you will be forgiven

D. If we allow others’ failures to cause us to stumble, then our faith is in worse shape than theirs. “If they come between you and God, they are closer to Him than you are!”

4. Discouragement:

A. Usually because we fail to live up to our own expectations

B. Satan is ever ready to point an accusing finger when we fall

C. Despite what Satan may say we are God’s children:

D. Romans 8:15 “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” (NIV)

E. So what if we do sin? 1 John 2:1,2 “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous”

5. Persecution

A. This too, is rooted in fear; fear of what others may say or do.

B. “All that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

C. Jesus said, “Blessed are you when men shall persecute you and revile you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my name’s sake.” (Matthew 5)

D. What if:

I. Noah had given up when mocked and scorned?

II. Moses had given up when reprimanded by God for striking the rock in anger.

III. David had given up when caught in the sin of adultery?

IV. Christ had given up when the Jews would nor accept Him?

E. READ: Romans 8:35-39

6. How to deal with these devices

Recognize them as lying attacks from a vicious Devil.