warfare12

                               The Dirty Dozen
                                                              by Bob Hall

    As a Christian and under Shepard I have seen converts to Christ start out with a tremendous zeal for God, a desire to win others to the Lord, and a genuine longing for the deeper things of God. However, too often they are short-circuited before they achieve a spiritually productive lifestyle. This results from a number of camouflaged satanic strategies. Our Master does not desire for us to fall through ignorance of the enemy�s devices. The following are twelve of the satanic ploys used most often to achieve this objective:

1. Outrage in Your Family:

     a. Rejection by loved ones for following Christ (ref. Luke 12:53).
     b. Bribes offered by certain family members.
     c. Sudden acceptance by those that previously rejected you provided that you abandon your
        "Religious fanaticism."
     d. Loss of friends.

2. Worldly Opportunities Suddenly Appear on the Horizon:

     a. A great new job opportunity appears that is just what you have been awaiting. However,
         the work hours conflict with fellowship and it requires that you be out of town on Sundays.
     b. Travel opportunities arise which separate you from the local Church. This interferes with
         receiving spiritual instruction and food, Christian fellowship, and the protective covering
         that the Church body provides.
     c. A surprise "lucky break" appears, however it is designed by Satan to break your fellowship.

3. A New Guy or Girl Comes into Your Life:

     a. Old "friends" get in touch with you.
     b. Opportunities for relationships and immorality unexpectedly present themselves to you
      (ref. 1Peter 1:14 and 4:2).
     c. Coincidentally a number of "attractive people" are taking notice of you (before salvation
         you weren�t ever invited to even a dog race).

4. Sickness:

      a. You suffer from one cold or affliction after another.
      b. Your children are continuously sick (ref. Matthew 9:35 and 10:1).

5. Christians Getting their Eyes on Man Versus God:

      a. Trusting a leader more that trusting God i.e., putting the man on a pedestal. Examples
          have included Baker and Swaggart.
      b. Feeling betrayed by God when a man shows inconsistency.
      c. Seeing shortcomings in the members of the body, finding fault and losing faith (if we're
          looking for dirt we will find it because we are all made of it).
      d. Losing the desire to go with God because of a feeling of hopelessness (e.g., thoughts like
          "If Swaggart can't do it, how in the world can I possibly make it?").

                                                                   Page 1 of 3

You are visitor number:

Date of last update: January 27, 2003