Satan Goes To Church

“Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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.” (Ephesians 6:11,12) We never seriously put on the whole armor of God if we don’t believe that this spiritual battle is real, difficult, and dangerous.

  Jesus said, “Upon this rock I will build My Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” But let me tell you something, not all churches come under the category of ‘My Church’. Not all ‘churches’ are part of the Church that Jesus built! Some may have once been but they let the enemy come in and take over.

 The Bible reminds us to be mindful of the enemy as deceiver. 2 Corinthians 11:3 says “But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.” If you think the enemy isn’t at work within your church, think again. The devil is active, working to sabotage your church in any way possible and stop your congregation from fulfilling its mission. As the verse from 2 Corinthians suggests, the enemy is so crafty that he will disguise himself in situations that show up in your church and lead members of your congregation away from Christ without them even realizing he is doing it.

 The DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) knows the best way to catch a drug dealer is to put someone on the inside, to infiltrate the drug gangs and work from within. Satan is not as stupid as most think and uses this method to work his way in the church. He knows that to openly attack the church would only serve to unify and strengthen it. So he tries to infiltrate the church and work from within to destroy it. Sure he uses people but we must remember that your brothers and sisters are not the enemy. “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.” (Ephesians 6:12)

 Satan has been using this “infiltration method” since the beginning of time.  Satan has gotten into our churches, and he is succeeding in draining the strength and power.

 Hollywoodism (is that a word) is one way in which satan enters into the church. The less power of God a church shows, the more ceremony will be involved, more bells and whistles. Bling! Anything to draw a crowd and fill the pews. Big bands instead of worship leaders and choreographed dancers waving flags in your face instead of bona fide worshipers who worship in spirit and in truth. This is done to try to make up for the loss of spiritual power. It is outward and not inward. Everything’s done to please people, and every decision is made in light of what others will say or do or think. “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” (2 Timothy 4:3) Lots of programs but little power. Churches are busy with bake sales, yard sales, plays, projects of all sorts but where is the power of God? They’re like whitewashed tombs, all pretty and clean on the outside but full of dead people’s bones on the inside. Folks, Holy Spirit is a gentleman and will not push Himself in anywhere He doesn’t feel welcome. Unlike satan who is a bully and will push his way through whenever he finds an open door or even a crack.

  The church of today is filled with whining, whimpering, jealous, defeated Christians. They are worldly, selfish and cold because they are in bondage, under the power of the devil’s emphasis on the flesh, and their church won’t preach against it. Instead of the call of the church, people hear and give in to the call of the crowd.

  Another way satan uses is Jewism. There’s a movement in today’s church where some are going back to the ceremony of the old Jewish law. Modern churches are complying more every week with the ceremony of the tabernacle and temple worship. Romans 3:20 tells us that no flesh will be justified in His sight by the works of the law. Galatians 3:21 (my favorite) says that if salvation comes by way of the law than Christ died for nothing. How sad that some can look my Savior in the eyes and tell Him what He did was not enough, they have to add something of themselves. Honey, when He said, “It is finished!” that’s exactly what He meant! Why do you try to finish what he has already finished (completed)? My salvation was bought and paid for with the blood of the precious Lamb of God! Nothing I do with make my salvation more sure! Paul also tells us in Galatians 5:1 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Hallelujah! Whom the Son has made free is free indeed!

 New Testament Christianity is not about keeping ordinances and following regulations laid down by the Christian clergy or religious headquarters. It is in being led by the Spirit of God. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14). Amen!

 Folks we must be careful in our church not to get caught up in rituals or stuck in ruts, and to strive to be Spirit filled and Spirit led, not so bound to any schedule. I love when the pastor is sensitive to the Spirit and allows Him to do what He wants to do in a service.

 More pastors today are people pleasers and not God pleasers. Anything to fill their pews! It seems to be all about numbers and not souls. Many a soul will spend eternity in hell because of a silver tongued, smooth talking religious racketeer who loves power and money. Jesus calls them hirelings! Wolves masquerading as shepherds, caring nothing for the sheep but are after the own reward. What a terrible thing to stand before a righteous God and have Him say….depart from me you workers of iniquity, I knew you not.

Lord help us!

In His love,

Elizabeth