by Larry Rouse<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n\t
I. We should not be surprised at the tactics of Satan.<\/p>\n A. When working with other men we must constantly be humbled and because of\nthat be willing to follow the wisdom of God. (James 4:13-18)\n
1. When we trust God it becomes all about Him and we empty ourselves.<\/p>\n 2. When brethren want to serve God there is not a problem we cannot work\nout.\n
B. There will be some who seek to draw disciples unto themselves. (Acts 20:30)<\/p>\n 1. They will appear humble, loving and often have a great ability to speak.\nSadly, they have a different motive than what is outwardly shown.\n(Romans 16:18; Colossians 2:18-19, 23)\n 2. How can I know when this is happening? How can I keep loved ones from\nbeing pulled into such a movement?\n 3. Let us careful look at the difference in how children of God work out\nproblems and those who submit to the wisdom of Satan.\n
II. The three pillars of false movements – the components of Satan’s wisdom (Jamess 4:14)<\/p>\n
A. Bitterness towards brethren. (Hebrews 12:15)<\/p>\n 1. pikri,a – bitterness; literally, of plants that produce inedible or poisonous\nfruit, root that bears bitter fruit; used metaphorically of a person whose\ninfluence or actions become harmful to a community one who causes\ntrouble (HE 12.15; ..); figuratively, as a hostile attitude (angry) resentment,\nanimosity (EP 4.31)\n 2. It is very easy to spread anger and bitterness. The world in not concerned\nwith justice and mercy. They are quick to believe a falsehood! Let us not\ndo this.\n 3. The “anger family” can accomplish much in Satan’s plan. (Galatians\n5:19-21)\n 4. The unstable are especially vulnerable to this powerful emotion.\n(Ephesians 4:26-27)\n 5. “I am so fed up with churches of Christ” or “These legalistic brethren are\ntelling lies against me!”\n
B. Pride towards brethren – (James 4:14; I John 2:16)<\/p>\n
1. Pride and bitterness are common partners. (Luke 18:9)<\/p>\n 2. Pride is often employed by those who have no foundation to artificially\nbuild one up. Many look down on their “ignorant” brethren. (I Corinthians\n8:1-3)\n 3. Pride rejoices in the faults of others. You live in the land of “throw-away”\npeople. You write them off with no attempt to work with them.\n 4. They often discuss the faults of brethren as a means of building themselves\nup. (II Corinthians 10:12, 18)\n
C. A learned dishonesty. (Luke 20:4-7)<\/p>\n
1. This creates a heart that cannot receive the word of God. (Luke 8:15 KJV)<\/p>\n 2. Men of faith and convict are open and bold. (II Corinthians 4:2; 3:2; John\n1:47)\n 3. One brother described a man’s preaching as “veiled subtleties that leave\nyou uneasy after hearing the sermons.”\n
4. They are always “misunderstood” and love to wear martyr’s clothes.<\/p>\n
5. How did Jesus teach others? Why do men hide their beliefs? (John 18:20)<\/p>\n
III. Tools Satan uses to build his pillars<\/p>\n
A. Wedge issues – How are differences among brethren are handled?<\/p>\n 1. Satan’s wisdom works to build wedges between brethren, the love of\nChrist shows mercy and patience.\n 2. “A crisis is a terrible thing to waste.” Consider how differences are\nexploited to achieve worldly goals. The love of God is very different. (I\nCorinthians 13:4-7)\n 3. Some issues: the term “church of Christ”, opposing “legalism,” how to\nbest conduct our assemblies, use of restoration history, CENI and\n“worship.”\n 4. By far, the biggest wedge issue used to spread bitterness amongst brethren\nis the care of the needy. This is not the first time where the needy are used\nas a prop and as a carnal tool. (Matthew 6:1-4)\n B. Secrecy and whispering – How is a fellowship is built upon bitterness and\nflattery?\n 1. They complain about others “gossip” they work hard to destroy\nrelationships with those that could answer their doctrine. “Ex. Don’t give\nthis to Larry!”\n 2. They do not have the spirit of open examination! (Acts 17:11; II Peter\n2:1-3)\n
3. They use emotion to separate them from others. (Galatians 4:16-17)<\/p>\n
C. Discarding your brethren<\/p>\n 1. How do people suddenly rebel against an eldership and destroy\nrelationships that have been built for years? They have help. (I John\n2:9-11)\n 2. Consider what the scriptures describe as one being captured. (II Peter\n2:18-19)\n 3. I have been shocked to see the ridicule of brethren publicly. It is hard for\nthose exposed to this over time to overcome it. Example: Korah (Numbers\n16:41)\n 4. Years ago I learned a truth from a proponent of the “house church\nmovement.” The average life span of a house church is 2 years.\n
5. These movements are a halfway house to denominationalism or worse.<\/p>\n 6. Doctrines that are favored are those which are different from the\n“traditional.”\n
IV. How to defeat Satan’s battle plan<\/p>\n
A. We overcome darkness with the light! (John 3:19-21)<\/p>\n
1. We must make local churches as a place where a strong faith is built.<\/p>\n 2. We must solve problems and desire to be with each other. (Ephesians\n4:31-32)\n B. We must give greater emphasis to Bible reading and Bible preaching. (II Timothy\n4:1-4)\n
1. When God is in view then my actions will be changed. (I John 4:20-21)<\/p>\n 2. One brother recently said: “In the church the reading of the books of men\nis on the decrease and the reading of the Bible is on the decrease.”\n
3. Consider how the writings of Francis Chan and David Platt are being used.<\/p>\n
C. Let us not become fearful but learn from these things to have a greater service.<\/p>\n
1. I do not believe that this current movement will last.<\/p>\n 2. What can I do to have an assurance with my God so that my heart\noverflows to be used by God as a servant? (I John 4:17-19)\n 3. We do need watchful elderships who will protect their flocks. Failure to do\nso will affect many.\n
V. Let us have our eyes opened to God’s word to see the tactics of Satan!<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Larry Rouse The Three Pillars of False Movements I. We should not be surprised at the tactics of Satan. A. When working with other men we must constantly be humbled and because of that be willing to follow the wisdom of God. (James 4:13-18) 1. When we trust God it becomes all about Him and we…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[888,301,392,126],"class_list":["post-46706","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon","tag-bitterness","tag-division","tag-lying","tag-pride"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":19079,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/if-god-gave-us-free-will-why-is-it-satan-can-still-tempt-us\/","url_meta":{"origin":46706,"position":0},"title":"If God gave us free will, why is it Satan can still tempt us?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 8, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Okay, I don't really know how to put this so here goes: If God gave us free will, why is it Satan can still tempt us? 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See the lesson \"Satan\" in the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":42397,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-accuser-of-our-brethren\/","url_meta":{"origin":46706,"position":2},"title":"The Accuser of Our Brethren","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 1, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"by Steve Wallace Via\u00a0Guardian of Truth, March 20, 1997 In Revelation 12:10 Satan is referred to as \"the accuser of our brethren.\" The word \"accuse\" is defined, \"(1) to charge with, or declare to have committed a crime, (2) to find at fault; to blame . . .\" (Webster 14).\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":38555,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-reality-of-satan\/","url_meta":{"origin":46706,"position":3},"title":"The Reality of Satan","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 8, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Doy Moyer \"Satan\" is a descriptive term that means \"adversary.\" \"Devil\" means \"slanderer.\" These terms aptly describe the being who is known as the enemy of God and His people. 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