Insidious Part 3

Insidious Part 3 - Manifestations Insidious - proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with HARMFUL effects. || treacherous; crafty. Ephesians 6:10-12 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 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. There are SPIRITUAL forces that are EVIL at work against us. 4 levels of satanic/demonic activity: 1. INFESTATION - Hauntings; inhabiting certain geographies and objects. (Hosea 4:12; Matthew 12:43; 1Corinthians 10:18-22; Revelation 18:2) 2. OPPRESSION - External attacks; buffeting, tormenting. (2Corinthians 11:23-12:7) 3. OBSESSION - Strongholds (mentally or physically); fear, anxiety, depression, addictions, etc. (1Corinthians 10:5; 2Timothy 1:7; Romans 8:15; Mark 5:2-5; Luke 13:10-17) Ultimately we don’t have a food, drug, drink, sex, language, thought, or attitude issue; we have a LORDSHIP issue. 4. POSSESSION - taking control of a body (animal or human). (Mark 5:2-5; Matthew 12:22; Acts 19:11-20) The Bible describes this demonic activity manifesting in BOTH natural and supernatural circumstances and events. FALSE Spirituality/Religion - (Hosea 4:12; Acts 16:16-21; 1Corinthians 10:19-22; 1Timothy 4:1-5; Revelation 2:9, 24; 9:20) TEMPTATION (Genesis 3:1-7; Luke 4:1-13; Acts 5:3; 1Corinthians 7:5) Natural DISASTERS - (Job 1:12-19) PERSECUTION - (2Corinthians 12:7-10 ; 1Thessalonians 2:18; 1Peter 5:8-11; Revelations 2:9-10, 13; 11:7) PHYSICAL Attacks - including acts of violence, persecution, and killing. (1Samuel 19:9-10; Job 1:12-19; 2Corinthians 12:7-10; Acts 19:11-20; Revelation 2:9-10, 13; 9:1-11; 11:7) WAR (Job 1:12-19; Revelation 12:17; 13:1-7; 17:12-14; 19:19) Physical ILLNESS (Job 2:7 ; Matthew 9:32; 12:22; Luke 13:10-17; Mark 9:17-27) MENTAL illness (Mark 5:2-5; 1Samuel 16:14; 2Timothy 1:7) Supernatural STRENGTH (Mark 5:2-5; Acts 19:11-20) Supernatural KNOWLEDGE (Acts 16:16-21; Revelation 2:24) Resistance against God’s people and ANGELS. (Daniel 10:12-13; 1Thessalonians 2:18) Miraculous SIGNS and WONDERS (Acts 16:16-21; 2Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 16:14) Satan will work through good, even CHRISTIAN people. (1Chronicles 21:1-8; Matthew 16:22-23; Acts 5:3; 2Timothy 2:23-26) Christians are warned not to give satan LEGAL place in their life through intentional or unintentional sin. (John 8:34; Isaiah 59:2; Ephesians 4:27) Neither ignorance nor unbelief are bliss, pardon, or PROTECTION from satan’s strategies. (Hosea 4:6; Leviticus 4:1-5:6; Job 1:5; 3:25; Matthew 12:43-45) While all of these are examples of demonic activity, scripture is clear that NOT every circumstance is of demonic origin. This will require prayerful and SCRIPTURAL discernment, knowing satan’s strategies and also contrasting the attitude and results of a situation with the nature of God. (Galatians 5:22-23; 1Corinthians 13:4-8; Mark 12:30-31; John 14:15; Romans 12:1; Matthew 28:18-20) Other sources: consequences of free WILL, circumstances of DEPRAVITY, and God’s JUDGMENT. (Proverbs 5:21-23; 19:3; Ephesians 5:6) Satan is an EXPLOITER of everything; strengths, weaknesses, good, ease, success, trial, failure, and tragedy. Satan’s STRATEGY: deceive, disappoint, disrupt (diversion), distract, disorient, divide, doubt, depress, deter (discourage), divert (not a detor, but he will settle with that if he can’t divert you), debilitate, dominate (enslave), despair (no confidence, not even hope), destroy. Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 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. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.