We Love God!

God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)

There’s more to a biblical fast than abstaining from food. Without a spiritual purpose for your fast it’s just a weight-loss fast… And without a purpose, fasting can be a miserable, self-centered experience.
Donald S. Whitney

If you dislike a holy God now, why would you want to be with Him forever? If worship does not capture your attention at present, what makes you think it will thrill you in some heavenly future? If ungodliness is your delight here on earth, what will please you in heaven, where all is clean and pure? You would not be happy there if you are not holy here.
J.C. Ryle

    • The Doctrine About The Spiritua

    Posted on

    The Doctrine About The Spiritua THE DOCTRINE ABOUT THE SPIRITUAL WAR by Pastor Don Chapman

    1. The Spiritual War (SW) is a conflict between fallen angels and believers. We are all attacked. Eph.6:11-20; II Tim.2:25-26
    2. The SW is part of the Satan-angelic conflict (a war between God and the fallen angels).
    3. The local church is the ONLY place a believer can be trained and equipped for this war. The drill instructor is the pastor.
    4. The major battlefield in this war is the believer’s mind. Demons have the ability to place thoughts into the self-consciousness of a human soul – either directly or indirectly, both consciously and subconsciously. II Cor.11:3; Mt.4; Luke 4; Acts 5:3; Eph.6:16 “flaming arrows”
    5. The Word of God and prayer are the ONLY weapons that a believer has for protection in this war. These weapons are mentioned in II Cor.10:4, Eph.6:17-20 and Col.4:12.
    6. Through using the Word of God and prayer, a believer can resist the attacks of fallen angels. James 4:7 The Holy Spirit will help you do this – I John 4:4
    7. In addition to fallen angels, there are six other enemies that a believer has in this SW. They are:
      1. The lust of the flesh (OSN) – I Peter 2:11
      2. Relatives who are antagonistic to grace – Mt.10:34-36
      3. Other believers in reversion – Phil.3:18; James 4:4
      4. Those who persecute you – Phil.1:28-29
      5. Darkness (i.e., false doctrine) – Romans 8:6-7; I Tim.1:10
      6. The world system – James 4:4
    8. Suffering is part of every war. There is also suffering in the SW. Believers are commanded to endure these sufferings as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. II Tim.2:3
    9. One characteristic of maturing believers is consistent victory in this Spiritual Walk. I John 2:13-14
    10. Knowing how your enemy will attack in war will greatly aid in combat. Therefore, it is necessary for believers to understand the attack plans that Satan uses against them in the SW. I call these SAPs (Satan Attack Plans).

    The following is a list of some of the SAPs used against believers. Each category also has the doctrine to defend oneself with.

    SAP #1 Do not believe that the forgiveness of sin comes by confession

    alone. I John 1:8-10

    SAP #2 Get believers to add feelings, emotions or works to the

    Gospel. Galatians 1:6-9; 3:1-14; 5:1-13

    SAP #3 Get believers to believe that the filling by the Holy Spirit is indicated by their emotions or feelings. II Corinthians 6:11-12

    SAP #4 Try to get believers to worry. I Peter 5:7-9

    SAP #5 Get believers to commit evil so that God will be forced to punish them. I Cor.7:5; Eph.4:27-28; I John 5:18; Revelation 2:20-24

    SAP #6 Get believers to reject their pastor-teacher by making fun of his mistakes, gestures, age, dress, looks, his presentation, and or convince believers that they are not growing spiritually because the pastor is not teaching something NEW all the time. Hebrews 13:17

    SAP #7 Use eloquent false-teachers to get believers away from their

    local church. II Cor.11:13-15; II Tim.4:3,4

    SAP #8 Encourage believers to be proud because of their abilities,

    good looks, or talents. James 4:6-7

    SAP #9 Encourage believers to be discouraged by emphasizing their

    mistakes. I Cor.15:10

    SAP #10 Convince believers to not forgive others. II Cor.2:6-11

    SAP #11 Keep pastors from their right-church. I Thess.2:18

    SAP #12 Try to get believers to doubt their salvation, or convince

    them that they can do something to lose it. II Tim.2:12-13

    SAP #13 Encourage woman’s lib. I Tim.5:14-15

    SAP #14 Breakdown the believers respect for authority. Romans 13:1

    SAP #15 Encourage pastors to take a church before they are ready.

    I Tim.3:6

    SAP #16 Try to get believers to argue about some minor point of doctrine. I Tim.6:3-5; II Tim.2:23; Titus 3:9 All doctrine is important, but not all doctrine is cardinal.

    SAP #17 Try to keep believers from praying (privately and in a

    group). Eph.3:13

    SAP #18 Keep pastors from studying and teaching the Word of God. They can teach anything else, but not Bible doctrine. I Tim. 4:14-16

    11) In the SW, God has made provisions to protect believers positionally, physically and mentally.

    1. Positionally, we are eternally secure against losing our salvation. Fallen angels cannot take your salvation away. I Peter 1:5
    2. Physically, God protects us through secret service angels. Hebrews 1:13-14; Illustration – II Kings 6:8-23; II Chron.32:7
    3. Mentally, believers are protected through the “peace of God” – Philippians 4:6-7.
    4. In order to properly protect oneself in the SW, believers are commanded to put on the WHOLE armor from God. Ephesians 6:11-18 This armor is the Word of God. It is called the “armor of light” in Romans 13:12, and is also referred to in I Thess.5:8.
    5. It is not enough to have the whole armor from God, believers must also stand guard and be alert. Rev.3:2

    Copyright 1989 by Don Chapman
    You are allowed to reproduce this article only in its entirety and without additions or deletions.

    Related Articles: