Salvation, Forgiveness and Living in Christ

Encounter with a religious scholar

Recently, a religious man came to Chief Apostle N. Lazar of New Jerusalem Church to argue with him about the doctrine of confession of sins. When they both met and were introduced to each other, Chief Apostle asked him the following questions:

• Where is the Biblical reference that a person is saved when he says a prayer and claims to believe Jesus in his heart? When is a person saved?
• Where is evidence in the Bible that when Jesus was on this earth, people confessed their sins to him? Where did He command people to come to Him and confess their sins?
• Where is forgiveness of sins obtained? In Christ or out of Christ?
• When is a man joined into Christ?

The man who had come to question Chief Apostle regarding one of the 7 doctrines given to him from the Word of God, the Holy Bible, was spellbound as he listened carefully to the message from God for the 21^st Century from the prophet and apostle whom the Lord Jesus Christ has raised up to prepare the Church in these last days for the soon coming King, our heavenly bridegroom, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Some of these discussions are outlined in the following excerpts.

Salvation

Theories and Facts

Today while many theories abound on when a person is saved, the Bible has the facts. There is no record in the Bible that if a person raises his hands in a meeting and says a prayer to Jesus, he is saved. If that is so, can a person raise his hands in a meeting, say a prayer to Jesus privately, and claim to be saved while continuing as an Atheist, Muslim, Hindu or Buddhist. No, in order to be saved, a person must openly and publicly confess that he denounces his old ways, confess his sin to a man of God as in Matt 3:6 and take water baptism. He needs to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Mk 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. To be saved, he needs to now continue in the Word of God while openly proclaiming to the world, the Church, angels and to God that he is now embracing Christ, His Word and His Body the Church, all three of whom are inseparable.

Early Church and True Salvation

How did the early church understand the word “saved”. When Peter completed his sermon on the day of Pentecost inspired by the Holy Spirit, there was an immediate response from the audience. The people asked Peter, “What should we do to be saved and Peter told them how”:

Ac:2:37-42: Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Role of the Church in Salvation

Peter’s explicit description of the way of salvation was profound and clear to those who were soon to be faithful members of the early church of our Lord Jesus Christ. First, those that heard Apostle Peter, believed in Jesus Christ, repented from their sins, confessed their sins as in Matt 3:6 to the man of God, received water baptism, were washed by the blood of Jesus Christ, and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. They separated themselves from the assembly and fellowship of those who do not walk in accordance with the written word preached by Apostle Peter, and continued stedfastly in the apostle’s doctrine, fellowship, in breaking of bread and prayers. All of these new believers continued in one accord with the family of God and praised God continually. Ac:2:47: Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. 

Note, the phrase added to the church to be saved is bolded. Salvation is not complete unless a person does all of the above and becomes a part of the family of God and abides stedfastly in the family of God, the Church, abiding and continuing in God’s Word until the end. This is the way to true salvation. In John 8:30-32: As Jesus Christ spake these words, many believed on him. (Jesus never told them you are saved). Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 

In order to continue in the Word, become disciples of Christ, know the truth and be set free, the early church continued stedfastly in the apostle’s doctrine, fellowship, in breaking of bread and prayers. The apostles declared to the Church all they heard and were commanded of Jesus Christ. In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, and the Word was God, John 1:1. And the Word was given to the Church where Christ resides, Eph 1:22. Apostle Paul states the Word of God or commandment he gave to the Church was the same commandment that he received from the Lord. 1Cor 11:23: “For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you”, in reference to his commandment to the Church from the Lord regarding Holy Communion. 

The church members obeyed and became partakers of Christ’s salvation that is given to all them that obey Him, Heb:5:9: And being made perfect, he (Jesus) became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; If this is exactly how the early church members received salvation it holds good for all time, even the 21^st century and is in accordance with God’s Word. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever, Heb 13:8. Even today there is a true Church and there is an Apostle from God. The way to true salvation is taught in God’s Church by the man of God who received commandments directly from Jesus Christ in accordance with the Holy Bible. God’s way of salvation does not change with time, seasons or centuries. There is only one way to salvation. That is to repent, confess your sins, receive water baptism, receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and abide in God’s Church continuing in His Word. If you do this, you will be raptured at Christ’s coming. M't:24:13: But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Salvation, Your Eternal Decision and Destiny

Salvation is the most important decision you will make in your life and will determine your destiny for eternity among the only two eternal choices available, extreme eternal joy (heaven) and extreme eternal sorrow, agony and torture (hell). Shouldn’t this eternal and most important decision in your life hinge on the written Word in the Bible preached by Apostle Peter than on someone else who is neither saved nor has heard directly from God on the topic related to salvation as the apostles did for 40 days they spent with Christ after the resurrection? Ac:1:2: Until the day in which Jesus was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen.  

Has the person who is misleading you received the commandment from Jesus directly, or are you relying on someone else’s opinion than the Word of God? If someone gives you a bottle with some capsules of medicine, would you not want to make sure the bottle is sealed and read with utmost care the label on the bottle? Many people have lost their lives because they believed someone and did not read the label which said “Arsenic trioxide, a highly poisonous substance which will be fatal if congested”. Eve listened to what the devil said about the apple, fell for the deception, ate the forbidden apple, for she was deceived into thinking God’s Word was not true. Come back to God’s Written and spoken Word. Don’t become an eternal victim of theories and human opinion. Heaven and earth will pass away but God’s Word will always stand. Jesus said in M't:24:35: Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Obtain salvation in accordance with God’s Word. 

 There is no shortcut in Christianity. The Word of God is a two-edged sword and is not meant to be played with. Heb:4:12: For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. God’s Word is final and all mankind will give account to God for their adherence in this life to His Holy Word. Come to New Jerusalem Church where God’s Word in taught by the Apostle who has received it directly and physically from Jesus Christ the same savior who appeared physically to the early apostles and gave them commandments to be provided to the church so all who obey will receive eternal salvation.

Heb:5:9: And being made perfect, he (Jesus Christ) became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.

Forgiveness of Sins

Theories and Facts

Today many man-made theories abound which deprive people from obtaining true forgiveness and cleansing by the blood of Jesus Christ in accordance with the Word of God. Because people have not obtained the true joy of having their sins forgiven, the old guilt abides in their hearts and in frustration they acknowledge that a man will be a sinner until Christ comes back. If one who proclaims himself a Christian calls himself a sinner, what about the ungodly and the wicked in this world. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, not torment them with guilt and remembrance of their past sins. Heb:10:2: states that the worshippers purged from sins cannot have any more conscience of sins. If a person calls himself a sinner after claiming to have accepted Jesus Christ, something has gone wrong because he is walking in darkness. 1Jo:1:5, 7: God is light and in Him is no darkness. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we are cleansed from sin by the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and His blood flows in our veins and arteries and our hearts, then we are not sinners but saints. But the question is, what does the Bible teach us about how to obtain forgiveness of sins and be cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ?

Nowhere in the scripture did the apostles teach people to raise their hands in a meeting, say a prayer and conclude that they were Christians because their sins were forgiven. To the contrary, the apostles explicitly taught the people in the first century that forgiveness or remission of sins does not occur until confession of sins followed by water baptism.

Confession of sins, baptism and washing away sins

One day a brother asked the Lord Jesus if he would be so kind as to appear to him. He kept on praying eagerly because he wanted to see Jesus. One night as he was praying, Jesus appeared to him and this brother was so delighted that he fell at Jesus’ feet and went close to embrace him. When Jesus saw this brother coming close to touch him and embrace him, Jesus lifted up his hands, stopped him motioning with His hands, and said “No, first go and wash and be cleansed and then you can touch me”. Immediately, this brother understood what the Lord said and went and took water baptism. Jesus made it very clear to him that only in water baptism preceded by confession of sins to the man of God, the blood of Jesus will cleanse a person. Saul had seen Jesus face to face and heard his voice and command. He was blind and fasted and prayed for three days. Yet his sins were not forgiven. After three days, God sent Ananias to Saul, and as Ananias prayed, scales fell off Saul’s eyes and his eyesight was restored. Saul received the Holy Spirit. Then Ananias told him, “Why tarriest thou? arise and be baptized washing away thy sins calling on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ”. Paul arose and testified of his faith in Christ, confessed his sins openly to the man of God, and was baptized and when he was given meat he was strengthened. He was now clean for he had obtained forgiveness of sins from Jesus Christ through the man of God when he confessed his sins and obeyed the Word of God in the waters of Baptism. His sins were now washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ.

On the day of Pentecost, Apostle Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit said in Acts 2:38: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost”. Peter declared that repentance and in essence confession of sins and baptism is required for remission or forgiveness of sins. 1Jo:1:9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Confess to whom? Jesus directly? But when Jesus was alive, he did not ask anyone to confess their sins to Him. The only record in the Gospels of any confession being performed is in relevance to the man of God, John the Baptist as in Mt 3:6 where people came to him and confessed their sins and took water baptism.

Facts and Biblical Truths About Confession

Confession is open solemn declaration. We hear many people worldwide getting caught in sin having their gruesome act exposed, leaving them with no alternative but to appear on TV and confess their sins openly. The Biblical method of confession is to the man of God in the Church of the Living God. It is important to acknowledge our sins to God, but this is not confession, for God knows all about us including our thoughts even before the act is committed. In James 5:14-16 we read, Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Then the Bible points out the effectual fervent prayer of prophet Elijah which God heard and blessed Israel with and compares it to the forgiveness of sins and healing through prayers of the elders of the church.

Job Pray’s for his Friend’s Sin

In Job:42:8: the Lord tells Job’s friends, “Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job”. God refused to hear the confession of Job’s friends, because in essence God knows everything and nothing can be covered from Him. So God told Job’s friends that there was no shortcut. They have to go the man of God, if they want their sins forgiven and their standing with God restored. “My servant Job shall pray for you”, God said.

Samuel the Prophet Prays for Israel’s Sin

In the book of Samuel we read another instance where the children of Israel confessed their sins and the prophet Samuel prayed for them unto the Lord. 1Sa:7:3: And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. 1Sa:7:4-6: Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only. And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD. And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh. Israel repented from their sins, confessed their sins before God to prophet Samuel, and remission of sins or judgment was rendered right there in God’s presence because prophet Samuel prayed for the children of Israel and God forgave their sin.

Abraham Prays for Abimelech’s sin

Ge:20:7, 17: Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine. So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children. God heard Abraham’s prayer and forgave the sin of Abimelech and restored his health and the health of his family. Confession of sins is mandatory for forgiveness of sins. Yes, it takes time to remember all our sins and confess them.

Open public confession in the Assembly recorded in the Bible

In Nehemiah 9, Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them. And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers. And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God. Israel stood before the men of God and for one-fourth of the day the entire congregation or assembly confessed their sins.

Covering Sins and Consequences

Proverb:28:13 states He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Unconfessed sins will follow people to the judgement throne of God and at that time it will be manifest to the whole universe and shouted upon housetops, Lk 12:3. 1Tim 5:24: Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. When sins are confessed to the man of God in the Church which is God’s judgment throne in God’s presence, to an authorized man of God, the man of God prays unto God to forgive those confessed sins and provides spiritual counsel from God on how to escape those sins in the future. The plans of the enemy will be revealed at that time so we can protect ourselves from future attacks. The Bible speaks loudly and scriptures abound throughout emphasizing this truth.

Joh:20:21-23: Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained.

Jesus sent His apostles into the world even as He was sent of the Father into the world to save people from their sins. Jesus sent them with the authority to forgive sins.

M't:9:8: But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men (the power to forgive sins).

Ac:19:18: And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds (sins).

Ro:10:10: For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession (of faith in Christ, repentance from sins and confession of sins) is made unto salvation.

Living in Christ

When does a person get joined into Christ? Is forgiveness of sins obtained in Christ or out of Christ?

Christian life is living in Christ. 2 Cor 5:17: If any man be in Christ he is a new creature (his nature is changed—it is no more natural for him to sin, but unnatural). But to live in Christ, a person has to be joined into Christ. When is a person joined into Christ?

In Gal 3:27 we read, for as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. When a person repents, confesses his sins, and obeys God in the waters of baptism he receives forgiveness of sins in Christ, and receives the baptism of the Holy Spirit and has put on Christ or has been joined into Christ. To receive water baptism, a person has to go to the man of God or the man of God from the Church of the Living God has to come to him as in the case of the Ethiopian Eunuch who was baptized by Philip. Acts 8:38: And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

Being joined to Christ and being joined to the Church is one and the same. When a person becomes a part of the body of Christ, His Church, that person becomes a part of the body and flesh of the Lord. Eph:5:30: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. This is the bride of Christ. Being joined unto the Lord and being joined unto the church is one and the same thing. Now he can boldly say, Jesus is the Vine and he is one of Christ’s branches, John 15:5.

Ac:2:41: Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Ac:2:47: Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Ac:5:14: And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

Ac:11:24: For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

In the early church, the new believers were baptized with water and the Holy Spirit and immediately added to the church to prepare themselves for Christ’s soon coming. Jesus Christ is coming soon. There is no more time! God’s Word is True. God’s teachings by the man of God from New Jerusalem Church is the Truth and is exactly in accordance with the Word of God. Those who walk in God’s Word will be raptured. The rest will be left out. The greatest tragedy a man can experience is being left out in Christ’s coming. We do not want this to occur to you. Come and join God’s body established in these last days, New Jerusalem Church whom the Lord has founded through Chief Apostle N. Lazar for all the children of God to be saved and perfected in Christ!

Jer:6:16: Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.

SATAN’S MEETING: (Read even if you’re busy)

Satan called a worldwide convention of demons. In his opening address, he said:

“We can’t keep Christians from going to church.”
“We can’t keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth.”
“We can’t even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their savior.”
“Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken.”
“So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish dinners, BUT steal their time, so they don’t have time to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ..”
“This is what I want you to do,” said the devil:

“Distract them from gaining hold of their Saviour and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!”
“How shall we do this?” his demons shouted.
“Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds,” he answered.
“Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow.”
“Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles.”
“Keep them from spending time with their children.”
“As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work!”
“Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice.”
“Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive.” To keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly.”
“This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ.”
“Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers.”
“Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day.”
“Invade their driving moments with billboards.”
“Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes..”
“Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands will believe that outward beauty is what’s important, and they’ll become dissatisfied with their wives. “
“Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at night.”
“Give them headaches too! “
“If they don’t give their husbands the love they need, they will begin to look elsewhere.”
“That will fragment their families quickly!”
“Give them Santa Claus to distract them from teaching their children the real meaning of Christmas.”
“Give them an Easter bunny so they won’t talk about his resurrection and power over sin and death.”
“Even in their recreation, let them be excessive.”
“Have them return from their recreation exhausted.”
“Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God’s creation. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead.”
“Keep them busy, busy, busy!”
“And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences.”
“Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Jesus.”
“Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause.”
“It will work!”
“It will work!”

It was quite a plan!
The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there.

Having little time for their God or their families.
Having no time to tell others about the power of Jesus to change lives.

I guess the question is, has the devil been successful in his schemes?
You be the judge!!!!!

Does “BUSY” mean: B-eing U-nder S-atan’s Y-oke?

Please pass this on, if you aren’t too BUSY!

I don’t think I know 10 people who would admit they love Jesus.

Do You Love Him?

IF YOU LOVE JESUS, PASS THIS ON!!!!!!!

Strategies Of Satan & His Demons (Part 1)

INTRODUCTION:

1. On one Halloween night, a little boy in a Devil costume knocked on my door wanting candy. When I saw him, I thought to myself how sad it is that our society encourages children to dress up as Satan, and other evil personalities. Don't people realize that Satan is real and not some sort of Halloween character? We characterize Satan has some fictitious person. 

2. Unfortunately, many people don't believe that the Devil really exists.

ILLUSTRATION:

Once there was a boxer who was being badly beaten. Battered and bruised, he leaned over the ropes and said to his trainer, “Throw in the towel! This guy is killing me!”

The Trainer said, “Oh, no he’s not. He’s not even hitting you. He hasn’t laid a glove on you!” At that point the boxer wiped the blood away from his eye and said, “Well, then, I wish you’d watch that referee. He sure is tough!” Some people are like that trainer, they deny the obvious.

3. Do you believe that Satan & demons are real?

4. Jesus sure did.

On one occasion Jesus said, ‘‘Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you" (Mt. 12:25f).

5. Jesus tells us two things about Satan & demons.

a. First, Jesus believed in them. For He personally recognized them by name.

b. Second, Jesus recognized that Satan has a kingdom. His kingdom is this world (1 Jn. 5:19).

6. Jesus not only believed in Satan & his troops, but He fought against them. Jesus spent 25% of His ministry casting out evil spirits and demons. 75 times in the synoptic gospels Jesus casted out evil spirits in ordinary people. Jesus realized how real Satan & demons are, and we better as well.

7. Over the years, some Christians have had the misconception that Satan & his demons are no longer active today.

8. They say that they were active when Christ was on the earth, but their activity is no longer in existence because Jesus defeated them on the cross.

 

9. It is true that Jesus defeated and disarmed Satan on the cross (Col. 2:15), however, the Bible teaches in (Rev. 20:7-10) that Satan will not be completely bound up or destroyed until after the second coming of Jesus. So this means that Satan & his comrade's are still active today.

10. In the Bible, we are warned time and time again to be aware of our enemy.

(Eph. 6:11-12) "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the Devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

a. Paul is telling us that we have a fight on our hands. Our enemy is not against flesh and blood but our enemy is the “rulers, authorities, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm.” Our enemy is Satan & his demons.

(1 Pet. 4:8) "Your enemy the Devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

b. A lion is a predator. It constantly roams around looking for helpless animals to attack and kill. In a similar way, the Devil roams around the earth looking for Christians and non-Christians to attack.

11. Have you ever wondered how Satan can attack so many people all around the world virtually at the same time? We must understand that Satan does not have the same qualities as God. He is a created being; a fallen angel. Since he is a created being, he is not omnipresent. He cannot be everywhere at the same time. He is finite. So he sends his demons to do some of his dirty work.

12. What are demons? Demons are simple evil spirits who try to take people away from God and His truths. Demons are fallen angels who have rebelled against God. In (Mk. 3:22) Jesus calls Satan “the prince of demons." Satan is the ruler of the demons, who are his agents. They work together.

13. People who say that Satan & demons are not active today are being deceived by Satan who according to (John 8:44) is the father of lies. He wants people to believe that he is not active today.

14. Brethren, we need to open our eyes and realize that we are in spiritual warfare with Satan & his troops. We must take our heads out of the sand and stand up and fight. We must fight in the power and authority of the Lamb of God, the Lion of Judah, and the King of Kings. Its time we fight in the name and power of Jesus Christ. Amen!

THIS MORNING, WE WILL LOOK AT SOME STRATEGIES AND TACTICS THAT SATAN USES TO ATTACK US. THEN, WE WILL LOOK AT HOW WE CAN DEFEAT AND CONQUER SATAN & HIS DEMONS. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL EXPLORE TWO TACTICS THAT SATAN USES TO ATTACK US.

I. FIRST, SATAN IS A DECEIVER WHO IS OUT TO MISLEAD US.

1. In the Garden of Eden, God told Adam that he could eat from any tree in the garden except from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

2. But Satan, the mighty deceiver, came along and told Eve that it was OK to eat from the tree of knowledge because if she did, her eyes would be opened, and she would be like God, knowing good and evil. And so the woman ate and gave some to her husband and he ate as well.

(Gen. 3:13) “Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

3. Satan is the master deceiver. A deceiver is someone who persuades people to believe in something that is not true. Satan & his troops are out to mislead us; and to persuade us to believe in something that is not true.

4. How does Satan mislead us? One way he misleads us is by planting misleading thoughts in our minds.

In (1 Chron.), David took a census of Israel even though God did not advise him to do so. And because he did that, God sent a plague on Israel and 70,000 men died. -- Why did David take an unauthorized census? Where did he get the idea to do that?

(1 Chron. 21:1) "Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel." Incited means to "stimulate or entice.”

5. In other words, Satan planted a thought in David’s mind to do something that God did not approve of.

6. In (Mt. 16:22), Peter rebuked Jesus for revealing that He must go to Jerusalem and be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Who incited Peter to discourage Jesus from going to the cross? Satan!

(Mt. 16:22) Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

a. Jesus knew that Satan was the one who planted the thought in Peter’s mind, which was designed to hinder Jesus from fulfilling His mission on the cross. 

7. Ananias and Sapphira, who were believers (v. 32), sold a piece of property to give to the apostles. However, before they gave the money, they decided to keep some of it for themselves. Because they lied to Spirit, and kept some of the money, they died. Where in the world did they get the idea to lie to the Spirit and keep some of the money? Satan!

(Acts 5:3) Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart.”

8. It is obvious from examining these passages that Satan can plant misleading thoughts in our minds. He entices us to do things that are contrary to the will of God.

9. Here are some random thoughts that Satan darts at people.

a. You don't need to go to church in order to be saved. All church people are hypocrites anyhow.

b. You don't need to be baptized to be saved.

c. It's all right to cheat on your spouse; no one will ever find out.

d. During our anger, Satan tells us, "Go ahead get revenge."

e. Your not a good Christian, look at all of the evil thoughts you have; you might as well give up on your faith, for God will never save a person like you.

f. To the teenagers, Satan plants these thoughts: It's all right to drink alcohol and do drugs; everyone else is doing it. It won't harm you.

g. Go ahead and have sex before marriage; God doesn’t care. He wants you to have fun.

10. Satan hurls all kinds of misleading thoughts in our minds.

ILLUSTRATION:

In August of 1993, Jerry Simon, a minister in Huntsville Alabama, was sitting in his office doing his normal duties when all of a sudden Eileen Janeciz walked in and shot him in the chest and back for no apparent reason. Mr. Simon was murdered.

Before her arrest, Janeciz held police at bay for 8 hours, reading passages from Anton LeVay’s Satanic Bible. Did Satan have something to do with Jerry Simon’s death? I believe so. We should never underestimate the influence that Satan & his demons have. They are powerful and have brought many good people down.

11. Brethren, Satan is the mighty deceiver. He is after our souls. He wants us to commit sin after sin so that we will alienate ourselves from God.

12. He is good at what he does. He can plant thoughts in our minds, so beware, and do not get taken in by his deceitful ways. Don't follow his misleading thoughts. Stand strong in God's ways and not Satan's ways.

13. Even though I am a Minister, someone who is aware of his tactics, he constantly plants evil thoughts in my mind. He will do the same to you. He is after us. We must be prepared and alert (1 Pet. 5:8) and recognize when we are under attack. He is a deceiver.

II. SECOND, SATAN IS A TEMPTER WHO TEMPTS US TO SIN.

1. Satan will come at us with every weapon he has. He doesn’t care who we are or how much power and influence we have. He goes after every man, woman and child. We are his enemy and he is after our souls. He will not stop until Jesus comes again.

2. Satan is so bold and brave that he tempted Jesus Christ Himself, the Son of God.

(Read Mt. 4:1-11).

3. If Satan will come after Jesus, he will certainly come after us. So be prepared.

4. Satan entices us to commit an unwise or immoral act. Usually the temptation that is thrown our way is something very pleasurable, something that we want, but yet is against God’s will.

5. He and his troops know our weak points. They know exactly what to tempt us with.

ILLUSTRATION:

Satan could drive up in a Budweiser truck full of beer, get out and pour me a tall glass of suds. I would not be tempted to drink it.

However, if he drove up in a truck full of Blue Bell ice cream, I would be sunk.

6. He knows what to tempt us with.

a. If lust is what you struggle with, then Satan will tempt you to look at pornography and X-rated videos.

b. If gossip is your downfall, then Satan will entice you to talk about others. He will convince you that it is the all right to do so.

c. If addiction is what you struggle with, then Satan will bombard you with opportunities to indulge in alcohol and drugs.

7. Until we are willing to say “NO” to those temptations, then Satan & his companions will not stop. They will bombard us with tempting desires. Everyday they will tempt us hoping that we will stumble.

8. Parents, Satan is even after your children.

9. No one is safe from his attacks.

ILLUSTRATION:

Dr. Neil Anderson, who holds a doctorate from Pepperdine University, told this story in his book “The Bondage Breaker:”

One day a student of his told him that their little boy was caught lying and stealing. They asked their son why he did it and he said, “Daddy, I had to do it. Satan said he would kill you if I didn’t.” Instead of spanking him for blaming Satan for his actions, he confronted the enemy’s lie and hugged his son for trying to save his life.

I told you earlier that Satan plants thoughts in our minds. Can he at times do that to children? Absolutely! Before you discipline your children for bad behavior, ask them if they were having thoughts, which provoked them to misbehave. And assess their answer to see whether or not Satan may be heavily influencing them. Of course children like adults are still responsible for their actions, however, it is helpful to determine if Satan has a reign in your children's life.

10. How can your children get tangled up with Satan?

a. When you give your children money to buy heavy metal rock and roll tapes and money to go to a rock concert, you are sending them to Satan's church.

ILLUSTRATION:

Several years ago, a Michigan teenager shot his older brother in the head. When the Police arrived he was arrested. While they were searching the boys room for evidence, they found a (hood, black robe, an upside down cross, black candle, card 666) & (11 cassette tapes of Motley Crew, Black Sabbath, and other heavy medal tapes). They also found a book that was given to him at a rock concert that listed step-by-step procedures on how to perform a satanic ritual.

b. Parents this is a very real Devil and if you expose your children to him, you may lose them.

c. Get rid of those satanic music tapes from your house and do not send them to rock concerts.

d. Don’t buy them occult toys such as (Dungeons & Dragons; Ouchgy Board; or Tera Cards). These are of the Devil.

e. Don’t send your children to occult movies such as (Exorcist; Omen). The Devil is working through these movies and could influence your children to seek satanic power.

11. Parents if you love your children, and I know that you do, please beware that Satan & his demons are after your children. Protect them in the power and blood of Jesus Christ.

CONCLUSION:

1. Brethren, Satan & his demons are real! In fact they are so real they are probably working in this church this morning. How many of you received negative thoughts about today's sermon? Satan may have given you these thoughts.

2. Satan is a deceiver and a tempter. He can plant false thoughts in our minds. He is a roaring lion looking to devour us.

3. Of course as Christians, Satan & demons cannot possess us or over power us. However, they can harass us and do everything they can to cause us to stumble. So be alert.

4. Next Sunday morning, Lord willing, I will speak on how we can defeat Satan & his demons.

5. In the mean time, I hope this lesson revealed to you a few of the tactics that Satan & his troops use. We need to be informed in the strategies of our enemy, so that we can defeat them. If you have been struggling against the evil one and you want help to defeat him, then please come and let us pray for you.