I'm so grateful to see so many of you back this morning!
To be honest, I wasn't sure... how many of you would return.
Sometimes, when a pastor is teaching a series, and people squirm in their seats.. you can almost be assured, knowing it will be continued, the congregation count will be down in the services following, until the series has ended.
"To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:"
Ecclesiastes 3:1
As we read in the texts last time from Luke and this morning in Ecclesiastes, there is a clear understanding as to the fact that there are certain seasons that take place in our lives.
Amen?
If the devil left the Lord for a season that means that his three temptations took place also in a season, which is pretty elementary.
Isn't that true?
William Gurnall, wrote in his book, The Christian in Complete Armour,
"Satan knows when to make his approaches, when (if at any time) he is most likely to be entertained. As Christ hath the tongue of the learned to speak a word in season of counsel and comfort, to a doubting dropping soul, so Satan shows his black art, and hellish skill, in speaking words of seduction and temptation in season; and a word in season is a word on its wheels."
There are probably many more times that we find ourselves in a season of temptation in our spiritual war, but for this series, I am going to use only six, which is not exhaustive by any means.
You can probably add to these, yourselves just by reading through the Bible and pin-pointing times when people found themselves under the attack of the devil.
The First Season—Immediately After Conversion:
The devil does his best to attack a new believer in the earliest stages of his new life. Because he hates what has taken place with the work of righteousness it becomes his intent to destroy the new faith of the new saint.
The attack may not come the week of, the week after or even the month after because the excitement and desire is at such a high pitch. There is new wonder that fills their soul; for worship, for the Word, for prayer, and for evangelism.
And the devil shies away from them during this period of time.
But be not deceived, he IS working!
So when the initial inspiration of salvation begins to taper, he begins his attacks:
Through ridicule and separation from their closest friends and family members.
We all likely know this one..
"You're just not fun to be around anymore! All you ever talk about is... Jesus!"
So what's next?
Any one know?
Through the intense temptation from the old crowd, to go and do the old things with them again.
"But we always go to the club together on Friday night!
You don't even have to drink.. just come with me!"
Through reminding them of their failures of the past.
"Oh so now you're better than me now? THAT doesn't sound very Christian to me! Let's not forget the things YOU'VE done!
Because I remember!"
And keep in mind, this is NOT exclusive to new believers!
He will occasionally use these tactics on seasoned believers as well..
In fact, the closer you get to God, the more he'll use the people closest to you to unknowingly assist him in his attacks!
Let me make something plain...
If you're NOT under attack, you're not doing your walk with God right!
He doesn't need to fight for what's already his..
Can I get a witness?
Amen!
Through distractions of all kinds—entertainment, eating, shopping, hobbies—anything he can do so that there is no time to care for the soul.
Your soul is always going to be cultivated in the quiet places of devotion; private prayer, private Bible reading, private meditation, fellowship with others, church.
One of his most used tactics is to convince believers, that they can have the best of both worlds—then a relationship with Jesus and the world.
But his strategies are always the same old patterns..
Attack the new believer, who is weak and the seasoned believer, those who have become comfortable in their faith!
Just as the Pharoah in Egypt wanted to destroy all of the new babies born in Goshen, the devil does the same thing!
Just as Herod tried to destroy Jesus by killing all of the young males in Jerusalem, the devil wants to kill all the newly converted.
The remedy for their escape is for someone to build an ark to save them. Nothing is more crucial for Jochabed and Miriam to rise up to their responsibilities toward these new converts to help them fend off the attacks of the hardened heart of the devil.
His desire is to bring them back into bitter bondage and the hard labor of the sinful life.
In closing....
I encourage every hearty saint of God to stay in the Word daily,
and to take those most vulnerable, and new converts under your wings and help them to make it to the path to the narrow gate that leads to the celestial city.
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
Matthew 7:13-14
And now for the blessing...
And now may the the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
Brian Monzon Ministries