The Devil’s Greatest Weapon

Acts 20:29-30

INTRODUCTION: The Bible seems to indicate a shift in the greater source of assaults against the truth. It would do us well to learn of these sources and defend accordingly.

I. THE CHURCH’S PROMINENCE (1 Timothy 3:15)

A. The Pillar of the Truth

B. The Ground of the Truth

II. THE DEVIL’S PLAN (Matthew 16:18)

A. The Promise of Attack

B. The Promise of Protection

III. THE DEVIL’S TOOL

A. The Source of it All

1. Satan filled men’s hearts to do wrong (Acts 5:3).
2. Satan seeks advantage of us (2 Corinthians 2:11).
3. We are not to give place to the Devil (Ephesians 4:27).
4. We are to stand against the wiles of the Devil (Ephesians 6:11).
5. The Devil sets snares for men (1 Timothy 3:7; 2 Timothy 2:26).
6. The Devil seeks whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8).

B. The Devil’s Weaponry (Acts 20:29-30; see Galatians 5:7, 10, 12)

1. The unsaved world (Acts 20:29; Acts 4:1-3, 17-18; Acts 5:17-18, 33, 38-39; Acts 8:1-3; Acts 9:1-2, 23-25, 29; Acts 14:2, 5, 19; Acts 16:19-24; Acts 17:4-9; Acts 19:23-29; Acts 22:22-25; Acts 23:1-2)
a. Mostly physical persecution
b. The easiest to overcome
2. The selfish saved (Acts 20:30; Philippians 2:21)
a. Becoming busybodies (1 Timothy 5:11-13)
b. They are not afraid to speak on matters of which they are ignorant (Jude 1:10-13).
c. Speaking evil of those with good conversations in Christ (1 Peter 3:16-17)
d. Self-willed, they speak evil of authority (2 Peter 2:10; 3 John 1:9-11; Jude 1:8).
e. Seeking to corrupt minds (2 Corinthians 11:3; 1 John 2:26)
f. Seeking to divide the saints (Romans 16:17-18; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13)
g. Seeking to draw away (Acts 20:30)
h. Causing others to rebel against the truth (Galatians 2:11-14)
i. All while transforming themselves to look like ministers of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:13-15) implementing clokes and flattering words (1 Thessalonians 2:5)

C. The Saints’ Behaviour

1. We do not war in or against the flesh (2 Corinthians 10:3; Ephesians 6:12).
2. Yet, we must learn to call out and separate from those who seek to destroy the church (Ephesians 5:11-12; Philippians 3:1-2, 18-19; Colossians 2:4, 18; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 10-12, 14-15; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; 2 Timothy 3:1-9; 2 Timothy 4:14-15; Titus 1:9-16)

CONCLUSION: As believers, we must make it a priority to protect our church from the attacks of Satan!