Recently the Boston Herald reacted to the Boston Red Sox with the comment, "If the Red Sox spent as much time and energy focusing on the opposition as they have spent bickering among themselves, maybe they might have won a championship in the last 79 years! That would probably require just too many people to subjugate their egos." In a very similar sense that is Ephesians 4:26-27 which also states that as long as we fight one another or believers, we open the door for Satan to be in charge. Now that is frightening! Perhaps the time has come for us to take a look at the real enemy.

While a Peace Corps volunteer among the Igbo people of Nigeria in the mid 60's, I once heard a friend say, "There is no such thing as a small snake." A single bite from the smallest, newly hatched West African snake will kill the biggest man. Similarly, even the "smallest," most unheralded evil spirit can overwhelm the most healthy and esteemed man. The man who would engage spiritual reality must begin with humility, even as Joshua took his shoes off when he heard God say, "You're in territory ruled by powers far beyond that which your pride has allowed, and only I can save you from them." (Fight Like a Man -Dalby)

I do believe the best approach is to study what the Bible says about Satan. Hear it! The fact that we fight one another and not Satan is dramatic proof that we don't understand our enemy. When we deal with Satan we're not dialing with "an evil influence" but rather an evil intelligence, a personality, an angel. (Study Isaiah 14:12-14) In view of this, we must recognize the following:

I. SATAN HAS A STRATEGY

Ephesians 6:11 speaks of "the wiles of the Devil". This means that Satan has a strategy! What is it? As Dr. Lehman Strauss said in the last message he gave here on the great planet earth, "go to the first use of the word in the Bible to discover the most significant meaning." For this we go to Genesis 3:1,5 "Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? (v.1) For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."(v5)

Here we see that the #1 strategy of Satan is to cause us to doubt. I often deal with people who doubt their salvation. This is serious because it is Satanic in origin, so my reply is always the same: "Deal with Satan by means of the only offensive equipment available; namely, the Word of God and prayer." (Eph. 6:17-18). Increase your prayer life Biblically (i.e. utilize Proverbs 28:9) and let God speak to you through His Word and then speak to God on the basis of what He says. Then study, study and study the Bible until you are aware of Romans 10:17 and I John 5:4. This method has to work because it is God's diagnosis and prescription for doubt. However, if this doesn't work then you have to consider that yours is intellectual faith at best (Matthew 13:20-21) or demonic faith at worst (Matthew 7:21-22) but not saving faith. That means that you then need to follow the Biblical procedure for entering the Family of God. (Send for the Bible study cassette, Explaining Christianity).

Now note this: If you are a believer, but you don't deal with doubt, you must consider the results of ignoring doubt: Disobedience - and then comes the disthronement of God. This is what happened in Genesis 3. (Study Genesis 3:1,5-6) This is the reason we have often said that a back-sliders life is the product of a closed Bible. Let's face it -- the key to Christian living is knowing how to defeat doubt via I Peter 5:7-8. God said it - That settles it - I believe it! Doubt is also the #1 technique Satan uses in Christian work. Did you ever hear: "Oh no, we can't do that -- it won't work." Doubt on the part of those of us who are believers here in New England is the reason the Christian community doesn't own the most powerful FM station in New England. God opened the doors in the 60's and Satan inoculated us with doubt! "It can't be done" we said. A great price for that doubt.

II. SATAN'S STRENGTH

Not only do we need to consider Satan's strategy (Ephesians 6:11) but also Satan's strength. The devil is a created being and therefore, he is not omnipresent, omniscient or omnipotent but he has a tremendous team at his disposal and they are united. From Ephesians 6:12 note the team Satan has at his disposal:

1) Angelic forces - "principalities -- powers"

These are fallen angels who respond immediately to the commands of Satan. Unlike us who think

we must do it all ourselves, Satan has developed a team totally available to defeat Christians. It is

well documented that the church of Satan prays at a specific time daily for the demise of evangelical

leadership. During '97 I have been aware of this here on Cape Cod.

2) Humanistic forces - "the rulers of the darkness of this age" (Eph 6:12)

There is no doubt that Adolph Hitler was demon possessed. I remember interviewing John

Bolton, a prominent Christian businessman, who had an interview with Hitler with the idea of

talking him out of World War II. He told me that Hitler looked beyond him and never heard a

word he said. At the time of the interview with Mr. Bolton, he told me he was fully aware of a

demonic presence. His Plymouth Brethren background gave Mr. Bolton a wonderful grasp of

Scripture so he recognized Eph. 6:12 at once! There is no question but what men like Saddam

Hussein are totally controlled by demonic forces. This might very well come to a head by the

year 2000 so we have the option of revival or ruin. Satan knows his time is short and he is making

full use of his team. This is the reason I have seen so many Christian leaders be almost nullified

by discouragement and the desire to quit. That is not a Holy Spirit motivation. It is Satanic!

3) Spiritualistic forces - "spiritual hosts wickedness in Heavenly places" (Eph 6:12)

This tells us that there are myriad's of demons who move at the bidding of Satan. These forces

are necessary because Satan cannot be in two places at one time. Unlike us, he believes and

utilizes the team concept and unlike us Satan doesn't allow for opposition from his team. They

are united 100% for the Satanic strategy. Hear it again. Ephesians 4:26-27 flatly states that our

disunity is an open door for the Satanic team to enter and defeat!

III. SATAN'S SUBTLETY - "the fiery darts of the wicked one"

Recently I saw the damage one little tick could cause. Lyme disease undetected and untreated

can be very dangerous and so can the "fiery darts" of Satan. Let's face it -- Ephesians 6:16

makes it crystal clear that we may be marked by skepticism, bias and criticism because one little

dart from the enemy struck us so we have a choice today:

a) be taken in by the satanic team

b) be under the control of Jesus Christ who "was manifested that He might destroy the works

of the devil." (I John 3:8)

I might also add that if you are an unbeliever you are not operating on your own volition. There

is another one in control. Read it for yourself. "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are

lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light

of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." (II Cor. 4:3,4)

I always am greatly encouraged when I preach in a church that arranges to have a team praying during the entire time I am preaching. Whereas I appreciate the financial sacrifice of so many radio listeners, I am especially encouraged when people say: "I pray for you daily". That means II Thessalonians 3:1-3 will happen. "Finally brethren, pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you and keep you from evil." Please take time to write me personally and indicate your prayer support.

A P P L I C A T I O N

Psalm 96:5 is a forgotten text. The key word is "idols". The Greek word in the Septuagint is "daimonia" (demons). Therefore the text reminds us that error attracts us and if we submit, we get hooked on it. A radio listener called me while I was conducting meetings in New Jersey. Having been helped by Songtime they called at least a dozen churches to see if they engaged in expository preaching. Only one responded positively. No wonder the satanic team is winning and, like the Red Sox- no World Series ring in 79 years. The focus has been on everything but winning. In conclusion let me define "expository preaching". Nehemiah 8:8 says..."So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading."

This is a call to help Songtime fight the satanic team. Your prayers and gifts will be used to that end. We'll be able not only to remain on all stations but we'll be able to add stations and according to Nehemiah 8:8 we'll...

1. Explain the text.

2. Apply the text.

3. Psalm 119:165 will happen!