Adversaries

Temple Baptist Church - 10-23-2019

Hebrews 10:22-31

Introduction:

A.  We have taken a lot of time in these verses because of the seriousness of the subject.  Verse 27 uses the word “adversaries” in reference to those who forsake the assembling of ourselves together.

B.  Adversaries – those who are opposed to or stand against something.  Literally, enemies.

1.  An Adversary of God.  We belong to God but live for self. 

1 Corinthians 6:19-20  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  (20)  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

2.  An Adversary of the Church.  We become a discouragement to others instead of exhorting one another. 

Matthew 5:15  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

3.  An Adversary to the Lost.  We become a reproach instead of an example. 

Matthew 5:16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

C.  Verse 25 uses the word “manner” – a habit or custom.  The First Mention of the word “manner” is found in Genesis, chapter 18.

Genesis 18:11  Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.  (Something done with regularity.)

D.  The “assembling of ourselves together” is:

1.  A Special Time - Acts 20:7  And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

2.  A Special Place - Matthew 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

3.  A Special Purpose - John 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

4.  A Special Person - Philippians 2:9-11  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

E.  When faithful people become unfaithful ones, the reasons become obvious.

            1.  A lack of understanding the importance of assembly.

2.  An absorption of worldliness.

3.  A decline in spirituality.

F.  Let us look at what God thinks about the sin of forsaking.  Not what I think; not what you think; not what others think; but what God thinks.

1.  No More Sacrifice For Sins – vs. 26

a.  “Forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” is a Willful Sin.  We place our will above God’s will.  When we stay out of church, we do it willfully.

b.  “Forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” is a Knowledgeable Sin.  We know and understand what we are doing.  When we stay out of church, we do with knowledge of what we are doing.

c.  “Forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” is a Presumptuous Sin.  In the Old Testament, there is no sacrifice for sins of presumption.  When we stay out of church, we presume that God does not know, God does not care, God will do nothing about it

2.  Fearful Looking For Of Judgment And Fiery Indignation – vs. 27

a.  “Forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” shows a lack of fear of Certainty.  “looking for of judgment”

b.  “Forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” shows a lack of fear of Consequence.  “fiery indignation”

c.  “Forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” shows a lack of fear of God.  “which shall devour the adversaries”

3.  Possible Death – vs. 28-29a 

a.  A despising of God’s Commandment.  “He that despised Moses' law”  Despise – to dis-esteem.  The word “Despise” dates all the way back to the Latin word despicare (des-pi-care), which combines de "down" with specere "to look at." So if you look down your nose at something, you.   say you despise it. Nowadays the word gets used a lot to describe things people really, really dislike, too. 

b.  A merciless Judgment.  “died without mercy”  A corporeal death (consisting of, or relating to a physical material body); there was no atonement nor sacrifice for him, nor pity to be shown. 

Deuteronomy 13:8  Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him:

c.  A New Testament Accountability.  “Of how much sorer punishment”  God expects much more of us than He did the Old Testament saints because of the completion of God’s Word.  They saw “through a glass, darkly; but then face to face:”  Then references the completion of “that which is perfect,” the completed canon of Scripture.

Acts 17:30  And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

You Bad Devil, You!

Temple Baptist Church - 10-25-2017

1 Peter 5:8-9

Introduction: 

A.  Last time I preached on Wednesday night, I preached on Satan and his hatred for God and all that God created.  We found that:

1.  Satan is our enemy.  “adversary”

2.  Satan is our personal enemy.  “your”

3.  Satan is a destructive enemy.  “he may devour”

4.  Satan is a persistent enemy.  “walketh about seeking”

1.  Understand who the enemy is: the devil.  “whom” 

a.  Our enemy is no other professing Christians.  Mark 9:38-40  And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.  (39)  But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.  (40)  For he that is not against us is on our part.  (I understand doctrinal separation and am a separatist but fighting other denominations or people who profess to know Christ is detrimental to the cause of Christ.)

b.  Our enemy is certainly not our brother in Christ.  Galatians 5:13-15  For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.  (14)  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  (15)  But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

2.  Be ready to resist the devil.  “resist”  Resist-to oppose or to withstand.

a.  Resisting takes spiritual preparation.  Ephesians 6:10-13  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  (11)  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  (12)  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  (13)  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

b.  Resisting takes obedience to God.  James 4:7-8  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  (8)  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

c.  Resisting takes a conscious effort on our part.  1 Corinthians 6:18-20  Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.  (19)  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  (20)  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

d.  Resisting is a continual war with the flesh.  2 Corinthians 10:3-5  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:  (4)  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)  (5)  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

3.  Be ever watchful and ready to resist the devil.  “steadfastly”

a.  Ever watching in sobriety.  1 Peter 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

b.  Do not allow sinfulness to root in your life.  Ephesians 4:27  Neither give place to the devil.

4.  Resist the devil in the faith.  “in the faith”

a.  Resist the devil in the Spirit.  Romans 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

b.  Resist the devil in the Scriptures.  Matthew 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

5.  Realize that you are not alone in the fight.  “knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world”

1 Corinthians 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

2 Timothy 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Revelation 1:9  I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Satan’s Desire

Temple Baptist Church - 10-18-2017

1 Peter 5:8-9

A.  Tonight, I want to take another short look at these verses because of the importance to the local church. 

1.  Peter, through inspiration of the Holy Ghost, wrote these verses but, through personal experience, understood well the reality and consequences of satanic attack. 

2.  In Luke, chapter 22, our Lord warned Peter that Satan desired him to sift him as wheat.  The stern warning went unheeded and Satan sifted Peter.

B.  You and I are needed:

1.  By God to be a physical and verbal witness for Him because He chose it to be that way.  Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 15:16; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 3:2

2.  By Satan because he can only destroy the church and the child of God if he can use us.

C.  In Matthew 16, we see that Peter turns from spirituality to carnality in a few seconds. 

Matthew 16:13-23  When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?  (14)  And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.  (15)  He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?  (16)  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.  (Spirituality)  (17)  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.  (18)  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  (19)  And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.  (20)  Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.  (21)  From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.  (22)  Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.  (Carnality) (23)  But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.  (His spirituality glorified the Son of God while his carnality, which was satanic, brought reproach to the Son of God.)

D.  During our study of Scripture, we find that often defeat comes upon the heels of victory. 

1.  In a moment of great accomplishment, Satan will steal that glorious moment and leave the child of God devastated through personal failure. 

2.  Here, Peter has just made the great declaration, “Thou are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” and in almost the next breath, Peter rebukes that same Christ and draws a stern rebuke himself. (vs 22)

E.  The Person – Peter - “and said unto Peter”

1.  A Man Of Great Faith - Matthew 14:28-29  And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.  And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

2.  A Man Of Great Love For The Saviour - John 21:17  He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Matthew 19:27  Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?

3.  A Man Greatly Used Of God In His Service - Acts 2:14, 37-38  But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:…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.

F.  The Problem – Self - “for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men”

1.  A Man Of Reaction Instead Of Action - John 18:10  Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.

2.  A Man Of Words Instead Of Hearing - Matthew 26:33-35  Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.  Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.  Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

3.  A Man Of Passion Instead Of Thinking - Matthew 16:22  Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

G.  The Product – Satan Used Peter! - “Get thee behind me, Satan”  Satan uses us in the same way.  His objective: to destroy the work of God!

           

SOME WAYS SATAN WILL USE YOU!

1.  Satan will use us to divide the church. (Number one problem – I will deal with this one heavily)  **Turn to 1 John 1:1-7 – Division is a result of walking in darkness!

a.  Strife brings about division in the church - 1 Corinthians 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

1)  He will use us to hurt the feelings of others–  James 1:19-20  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear,slow to speak, slow to wrath:  For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.  (Those Who Offend - open mouth, insert foot!)

James 3:2, 5-6  For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body…Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

2)  He will use us by hurting our feelings – James 1:19-20  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:  For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.  (Those Who Offend Are Offended)

Proverbs 18:19  A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.(Offended people have a hard time getting over it)

Psalms 119:165  Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. (I cannot emphasis this verse enough!)

b.  Strife brings about a lack of spiritual growth - 2 Corinthians 12:20  For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

c.  Strife brings about every evil work - James 3:16  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

d.  Strife brings about reproach to Christianity - Psalms 80:6  Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours: and our enemies laugh among themselves.

e.  Strife will destroy us, our family, our testimony, and the local church.

Romans 12:16  Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

1 Corinthians 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Philippians 4:2  I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.

1 Peter 4:1  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

2.  Satan will use us to defile the church.  1 Corinthians 5:1  It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.

a.  The defilement of sin - Ephesians 5:3  But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

b.  The decision of sin - Romans 6:13  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

c.  The disciplining of sin - 1 Corinthians 5:11  But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

3.  Satan will use us to deter the work.

a.  Through disagreement with the Pulpit - 2 Timothy 4:14-15  Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:  Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words. (If you disagree, come see me and talk.)

b.  Through discouraging others In the way - Numbers 32:9  For when they went up unto the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, that they should not go into the land which the LORD had given them.

c.  Through disloyalty to God’s House - Hebrews 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Conclusion:  Do not allow your spirituality to become carnality!

Your Adversary The Devil

Temple Baptist Church - 10-4-2017

1 Peter 5:8-9

Introduction:

A.  We will never fully understand, this side of eternity, the wickedness and power of the one that God calls our “adversary.”  “Adversary” means “opponent.”  He is against us!  He is against all that is good!  He is the “arch enemy” of God and hates God with all his being.  He cannot touch God so he goes after all that God has made. 

B.  Peter knew much about the wickedness, purpose, and power of Satan as he had “sifted” Peter as “wheat” in the Book of Luke.  Our Lord said, “Satan hath DESIRED to have you, that he may SIFT you as wheat.”  I thank God for the next verse that says, “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”  As much as Satan hates us, God loves us!

C.  Here, in 1 Peter, Peter warns the Jewish believers of the person, purpose, and power of Satan.  He had borne the brunt of Satan’s attack and now continued to “strengthen” the brethren.  We, as God’s children, need to fully understand the person, purpose, and power of our enemy.  Satan is active today just as he was in the days of the apostles.  Here is a “short” look at Satan:

1.  Satan’s Desire - “your Adversary”

a.  Need To Realize That You Have An Enemy

b.  Adversary - An enemy or foe; one who has enmity at heart.

2.  Satan’s Danger - “a roaring lion”

a.  Need To Realize That He Is A Formidable Foe - Jude 9  Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. 

b.  We Are No Match For Him In Ourselves

3.  His Disposition – “the devil”

a.  Devil – One who slanders or falsely accuses - Revelation 12:10  And I heard a great voice in the heaven saying, Now is come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ; for the accuser of our brethren has been cast out, who accused them before our God day and night:

Job 1:9  And Satan answered Jehovah and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

b.  Satan – One who withstands - 1 Chronicles 21:1  And Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.

Zechariah 3:1  And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of Jehovah, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.

1 Thessalonians 2:18  wherefore we have desired to come to you, even I Paul, both once and twice, and Satan has hindered us.

c.  Serpent – cunning - 2 Corinthians 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Genesis 3:1  Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

d.  Dragon – power and cruelty - Revelation 12:12  Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

1 Peter 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

1 Corinthians 5:5  To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

e.  Lucifer - Light Bearer - 2 Corinthians 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Ezekiel 28:14-19  Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.   Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.  By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.  Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.  Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.  All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.

4.  Satan’s Determination - “walketh about”

a.  Satan Never Gives Up - Revelation 20:7-10  And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

b.  Satan Never Gave Up On The Lord Jesus - Luke 4:13  And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

c.  Satan Never Gave Up On Job - Job 2:1  Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.

d.  Satan Never Gave Up On Peter - Luke 22:31  And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired [to have] you, that he may sift you as wheat:

e.  Satan Never Gave Up On Paul - 1 Thessalonians 2:18  Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

f.  Satan Will Never Give Up On You - 1 Peter 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

5.  Satan’s Devouring - “may devour” - 2 Corinthians 2:11  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

a.  Through Temptation - Matthew 4:1-11

1.  Tempts In The Area of Provision - 3-4 God won’t take care of you

2.  Tempts In The Area of Protection - 5-7  You are on your own

3.  Tempts In The Area of Promotion - 8-10  Higher paying jobs that take you out of His service

b.  Through Pride - Luke 22:31-34  Self Reliance  (Though good is intended!)

c.  Through Unrepentant Sin - 1 Corinthians 5:5

d.  Through Unfulfilled Marriages - 1 Corinthians 7:4-5  The Devastation of Infidelity!

e.  Through Unforgiveness - 2 Corinthians 2:10-11

Ephesians 4:31  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. 

f.  Through Anger - Ephesians 4:26-27  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:  (27)  Neither give place to the devil.

1.  The Command of Anger - “be ye angry”

2.  The Condemnation of Anger - “your wrath”

3.  The Continuance of Anger - “sun go down”

4.  The conquering of Anger - “let not” - your power!

g.  Through Not Acknowledging The Truth - 2 Timothy 2:24-26  And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,  (25)  In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;  (26)  And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

1.  They Oppose Themselves (hurting others, but self more)

2.  They Oppose The Instruction of The Pastor

3.  They Are Taken Captive At Satan’s Will

6.  Satan’s Defeat  - “resist steadfast in the faith”  (Remember God’s Hedge)

a.  Resist Him - James 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

b.  Resist Him Steadfastly - Ephesians 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

           

c.  Resist Steadfastly In the Faith - Ephesians 6:13-18  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth (God’s  Word), and having on the breastplate of righteousness (holiness of life);  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace (serving the Lord);  Above all, taking the shield of faith (trusting god), wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  And take the helmet of salvation (knowing you are saved), and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit (praying hard), and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints (watching);