Christian Living

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ARE THERE ANY OTHER WEAPONS THAT THE DEVIL HAS AT HIS DISPOSAL IN ORDER TO INHIBIT CHRISTIANS FROM OBTAINING SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS?

PROJECTIONS

So what is a projection?

This was something that I was totally unaware of when I became a Christian. I initially became aware of what this was, when I was on staff for a church that was located in my home town. This church provided housing for its members. On one particular evening I knelt down to pray in my bedroom. As I was offering up prayer all of a sudden an image of a particular person appeared from my past, who I was associated with in let’s say a sexual way. This interrupted my prayer, and I have to admit that I was quite alarmed. As I thought about what had just happened I realized that this was a projection from the forces of evil trying to inhibit me from continuing on in prayer.

So what is an evil projection?

An evil projection is something that comes into the mind, which could come in the form of:
an image of someone with whom we had some kind of engagement with in regards to sin; thoughts that try to stimulate us to think evil about someone else, which has no basis in fact; thoughts relating to a regretful action that we had committed against someone else; thoughts relating to a regretful action that we wish we could have prevented from happening.

How do we know whether this projection came from the satanic forces of evil or whether this projection was triggered by someone or some situation that we had just interacted with?

Sometimes this distinction isn’t always clear. However, if a projection occurs when you are occupied with prayer, praise, or studying the word this could be a pretty good indication that the forces of evil are trying to inhibit you in your walk with God.

Is there a scriptural basis for this?

There is. Let’s go to Eph. 6.

The Fiery Darts Of The Wicked
Suggested Reading: Eph. 6:10-16
The apostle considers every Christian as being engaged in warfare against numerous, powerful, and subtle foes.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Their leader, the devil, uses his wiles (the methods of the Devil; the different means, plans, schemes, and machinations which he uses to deceive, entrap, enslave, and ruin the souls of men46) against believers.

One of the methods that he uses against them is called the fiery darts of the wicked one (the evil one). There are a number of ways to describe them.
They can be referred to as:
a. Considerations darted into the mind… sometimes they starting up suddenly in the mind, even in the middle of holy exercises47
b. Lies, blasphemous thoughts, hateful thoughts about others, doubts, and burning desires for sin48.

There is also something more about them that the believer should know.
They can:
1. Come suddenly, like arrows sped from a bow.
2. Come from unexpected quarters, like arrows shot suddenly from an enemy in ambush.
3. Pierce, and penetrate, and torment the soul, as arrows would that are on fire.
4. Set the soul on fire, and kindle the worst passions, as fiery darts do to a ship or camp against which they are sent49.

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Are there any other weapons that are left at the devil’s disposal?

There is one more.


FALSE TEACHING

I believe that this is the devil’s most successful weapon which he uses to prevent people from getting saved and stunt the growth of born-again Christians.
For the unbeliever he offers a myriad of gods to believe in proclaiming that all roads go to the same place.
For the believer he tries to obscure any reliance on the ministry of the Holy Spirit. He does this by advocating through his messengers (false teachers) that the believer is still responsible to observe some of the tenets of the Mosaic Law, which was given to the Jews as a schoolmaster (tutor) in order to bring them to Christ. He also obscures their reliance on the ministry of the Holy Spirit by using teachers who advocate religious freedom (the freedom to engage in the sins of the flesh: e.g. adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism; polygamy; incest; slander; lying; extortion; etc.) as allowances of their liberty in Christ.

Let’s take a look at an example as to how the devil uses this weapon of false teaching against believers.

Satan Himself Is Transformed Into An Angel Of Light
2 Cor 11:3-20
The devil, as he beguiled (deceived) Eve in the Garden of Eden, desires to corrupt the mind of believers as to their single hearted faith in Christ.

3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

He does this in three ways:
a. By preaching another Jesus.
This refers to his identity. The devil has no issue with any religion or teaching that proclaims that Jesus is a prophet, teacher, angel, Michael the archangel, or even the son of God, as long as he is not referred to as being God come in the flesh, who is one of the members of the trinity, God the Father and the Holy Spirit being the other two.
b. By receiving another spirit.
He desires that the spirit of human perception be that which characterizes the teachings of those, who are in the leadership positions of the church so that this same spirit also characterizes the perception of its members.
c. By accepting another gospel.
The devil’s gospel is to support the idea that all roads lead to the same place. Teachings are encouraged which center around the ideas that: Jesus payment for sin has no value; Jesus was not raised from the dead; no one goes to hell; Jesus is not God; there is no need for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, human merit will secure eternal life; sin is to be condoned, etc.

4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

His false apostles (those who claim to have divine authority) are deceitful workers (imposters) whose motives are to get personal gain by capturing converts. They offer an admixture of the Mosaic Law and grace. Instead of being empowered by the Holy Spirit they emphasis dos and don’ts, which they proclaim will please God. They masquerade meaning that they advocate a change on the outside, but not on the inside.

13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

Some will even teach that you can live the way you want as long as you follow the protocols of their church (e.g. tithe; volunteer for church activities; observe certain days of the year; etc.).

Furthermore, they masquerade as gentleman of the cloth (agents of good). This should not be a surprise, because Satan himself is a pseudo emissary persuading men to do things under the name of religion. Therefore, it is nothing so great that Satan’s agents are faithful and upright (morally) whose works are works of deception.

14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

It is unfortunate today that there are many Christians, who have become a new creation, but are attending churches which don’t preach the gospel, and instead advocate that it is by means of obeying the Mosaic Law and doing good deeds, which will procure favor with God. They believe that the basis for securing entrance into heaven is by being subjected to or partaking in some kind of human action (e.g. water baptism; communion; observing the sacraments; observing the holy days; confessing to a priest; tithing; observing the 7th Day Sabbath; etc.). Pleasing God is relegated to adhering to patterns of outward observance. Fellowship with God by means of the ministry of the Holy Spirit is substituted by engaging in church activities, which have a godly tradition.
Church becomes a social gathering with a godly slant with no impact of divine power.

So now that you are aware as to the weapons that the devil uses against believers in order to: inflict bodily harm, even death; distort their mental reasoning by means of projections; confuse by means of false teachings, how is the Christian able to fight against them?

Hopefully, the next chapter will provide us with these answers.


CHAPTER 13
HOW IS THE CHRISTIAN ABLE TO FIGHT AGAINST THE WEAPONS OF THE DEVIL?

The Christian is in a constant battle for control of their mind. Many lose this battle to the forces of evil, because they don’t learn from temporary defeat. What I mean is these skirmishes just don’t go away. Either we learn how to fight against them or if not then you might as well go back to living as an unbeliever.

How do we fight against the weapons of the devil?

The first weapon of his is persecution.

PERSECUTION

The devil uses world leaders, unbelievers, and fellow believers to persecute Christians.

In this regard what spiritual weapon should the Christian use in their fight against this evil weapon?

Please go to 2 Tim.

All Those Who Live Godly
Suggested Reading: 2 Tim 3:1-9; 2 Tim 3:10-14
Paul in his instructions to Timothy is telling him to be on guard, because in the last days there will be people, who will be eminently selfish under the garb of religion, intent on their own interests, having an outward semblance of reverence toward God, but denying His power. Furthermore, they hold to an outward form of religion ever increasing in their knowledge, but never able to come to a precise and correct experiential knowledge of the truth, which can only be gained by having personal communion with Christ.

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be… 2 Tim3:1-2

But in regards to myself, Paul says to Timothy, you have observed first hand my doctrine (teaching), manner of life (daily behavior), purpose (intentions; main concerns), faith (relationship to Christ), longsuffering (which focuses on a person's ability to persevere or endure in the midst of difficult situations50), charity (love directed toward people), and patience (a person's ability to remain calm when confronted with adverse and unpleasant circumstances51).

10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

When I was at Antioch, at Iconium, and Lystra there were those who organized a systematic program of harassment and oppression52 against me, which resulted in personal suffering. However, through all of this not only did I endure (to bear them patiently), but God delivered me (to draw out from peril) out of them all.

11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

And then he goes on to make this profound statement. All those who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Another word not only will those who live godly suffer persecution, but they will be able to bear it.

12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

The spiritual weapon in fighting against the devil’s weapon of persecution is to live godly.

What does it mean to live godly?

First, it means that we must have the Holy Spirit residing within.
Second, it means that we must learn about the basic doctrines of the faith (e.g. redemption, forgiveness, eternal security, etc.).
Third, it means that we need to learn about what sin is, and then confess it to God the Father when we commit it.
Fourth, it means that we must learn about the new person who we have become at salvation.
Fifth, it means that we must learn about God’s perspective concerning those sinful tendencies that we have been engaging it.
Sixth, it means that after we have learned about God’s perspective we need to memorize and meditate upon it throughout our day.
Seventh, it means that we must continue to attend to the assembling of the saints for worship, prayer, fellowship, etc.

The next question to consider is how does a Christian fight against the devil’s second weapon which is called projections?

Let’s go to 1 Peter.

PROJECTIONS

Just to recap, what are projections?

A projection or as in the case of the devil, an evil projection (fiery dart) is something that comes into the mind, which could come in the form of: an image of someone with whom we had some kind of engagement with in regards to sin; thoughts that try to stimulate us to think evil about someone else, which has no basis in fact; thoughts relating to a regretful action that we had committed against someone else; and thoughts relating to a regretful action that we wish that we could have prevented from happening.

Another way to describe projections is that they are:
a. Considerations darted into the mind… sometimes starting up suddenly in the mind, even in the middle of holy exercises53.
b. Lies, blasphemous thoughts, hateful thoughts about others, doubts, and burning desires for sin54.

Remember, not all projections are from the devil. Sometimes they are from our interactions with people and circumstances.

What is the spiritual weapon that will allow Christians to be able to counteract this weapon of evil?

Please go to Eph 6.

Wherewith Ye Shall Be Able To Quench All The Fiery Darts Of The Wicked.
Eph 6:16
We are told that there is a spiritual weapon available for the Christian, which will allow them to quench (extinguish) the fiery darts of the wicked (of the evil one; the devil).

Do you know what it is?

It is called the shield of faith.

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

What is the shield of faith?
The word shield can be taken to be the large shield which, according to the ancient historian Polybius, gave protection to the whole body. It was made of two layers of wood, covered with canvas, and with a leather covering on the outside; this, when soaked with water before the battle, would effectively serve to extinguish the incendiary missiles of the enemy (Barth) 55.
The Christian is to carry this shield at all times, which is analogous to faith. As this shield was soaked with water so that the fiery arrows of the enemy weren’t able to burn it up and leave the combatant defenseless, so in this regard the Christian is protected when they take up faith.

What is faith?

It’s that which protects the believer from the onslaught of the fiery darts. It’s that which acts like water. Water in the scriptures can be considered as a type of the word of God.

An example of this is found in Eph. 5.

The Washing Of Water By The Word
Eph 5:25-26
Husbands should love their wives with a self-sacrificial love, even as Christ loved the church by his example of self-sacrificial love, when he laid down his own life for it, so that he might cleanse and sanctify it by the washing of water by the word.

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

This word “cleanse” describes how sanctification or holiness becomes a reality in the believer’s life. Inward purification takes place when the believer appropriates the word of God. As outward cleansing can be made effectual by a bath of water, so inward cleansing can be made effectual by the application of the word.

Let me leave you with a practical example of combating evil projections.
Recently an unbeliever friend of mine, who I have interacted with over the past many months, has seemed to have become distant. The phone calls have become less frequent to almost being non-existent. When I would go and visit this person something just didn’t seem right. Usually there would be a suggestion made by this person to me in regards to helping to complete a construction project whether this was a paid venture or not.
The devil, if he so chose, could use this situation to project thoughts into my mind such as, why is this person treating me this way? What did I do wrong? Did I say something to offend?
In my recent interactions with this person I couldn’t find anything that would substantiate any of these thoughts that I was contemplating. I realized that it is one thing to try to figure out if my thinking concerning this matter could be substantiated. However, it’s another thing to let these thoughts become a continual occupation in my mind. If or when they do, then I must confess this over preoccupation with these ideas as sin to God the Father and replace them with God’s perspective.

What do I mean when I say that I must replace these thoughts with God’s perspective?

One of the things that 1 Cor 13:5 says is that we as believers should “believeth all things”. These words mean to credit no evil on any, but on the most positive evidence. They also mean to believe the best of every person.
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 1 Corinthians 13:7

So in order for this projection in this particular area to not affect me I must appropriate, memorize, and meditate upon the specific words of this verse and their meaning. When I do this I will be occupied in my mind with God’s perspective the consequence of which will be to avail myself of the peace of the Spirit and not the unrest of human perception.
Just to put a balance to this I didn’t say the devil’s projection. Sometimes it is difficult to determine where this projection has come from. Whether it is from the forces of evil or ourselves we should take the appropriate action towards it as was just mentioned.

We have one more weapon of the devil to address, this being his weapon of false teaching.

How does the Christian fight against the evil weapon of false teaching?

Let’s go to 2 Cor 11.

FALSE TEACHING
As I mentioned earlier I think that this is the most difficult of the devil’s weapons for Christians to combat. When an unbeliever gets saved having received the indwelling Holy Spirit, their memories, thoughts, and propensities of their flesh have not been eradicated. While they have a new nature, they are at a loss as to how to access God’s presence on a consistent basis.
If they have been going to a particular faith in which the preaching of the gospel has been non-existent then in some cases they will carry out the tendency to continue to attend the various activities of said church. Even though they are a new creature they never are able to learn about the new man that they have become along with being able to address the weaknesses of their flesh (sin nature) according to confession of sin to God the Father and the replacement of these sinful thoughts with divine viewpoint, because these teachings are not presented in said church.
I can remember in my early years in the ministry of being accused by the leader of another faith of proselyting their members. The issue according to them was not whether the unbeliever needed to get saved, but whether I was trying to dissuade them from attending said church. Let me make this perfectly clear, if an unbeliever were to hear the pure gospel and respond thus becoming born-again and I became aware that the church that they were attending was religious (void of the Spirit) you bet that I would recommend that they no longer attend said church.
I understand that there is probably in many cases the reality that no two born-again Christian churches have identical doctrinal platforms. However, what they should have in common is the preaching of the pure gospel and reliance on the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Churches that are religious have neither of these qualities. A Christian will not grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ in a religious setting.
In this regard I can’t even say that I’m sorry if I have offended a religious leader or institution. If a believer is going to spend eternity with Christ, and they will, then it is in their best interest to be involved with a Spirit-filled church now, isn’t it?

As we have already been taught earlier, the devil tries to deceive the believer by means of false teaching in three ways.

Let’s go back to 2 Cor. 11.

That You Might Well Bear With Him
2 Cor 11:3-20
The devil tries to deceive the believer:
a. By preaching another Jesus.
This refers to his identity. The devil has no issue with any religion or teaching that proclaims that Jesus is a prophet, teacher, angel, Michael the archangel, and even as being the son of God as long as he is not referred to as being God come in the flesh, who is one of the members of the trinity, God the Father and the Holy Spirit being the other two members of this Godhead.
b. By receiving another spirit.
He desires that the spirit of human perception be that which characterizes the teachings of those, who are in the leadership positions of the church so that this same spirit also characterizes the perception of its members.
c. By accepting another gospel.
The devil’s gospel is to support the idea that all roads lead to the same place. Teachings are encouraged which center around the ideas that: Jesus payment for sin has no value; Jesus was not raised from the dead; no one goes to hell; Jesus is not God; there is no need for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, human merit will secure eternal life; sin is to be condoned, etc.

For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. 2 Corinthians 11:4

Paul was essentially saying to the Corinthians, you seem so eager to accept a new person when he comes and tells you about a different Jesus. That is not the Jesus we told you about. And you happily pay attention when you receive a spirit and a message that are not like the Spirit and the message that we brought to you56.

What spiritual weapon should the believer take up in order to combat this evil weapon of false teaching?

While the apostle Paul is aware that the believers at Corinth might submit readily to false teachers, his admonition would be the opposite of that which he mentioned in that they “might well bear with him”. This would be that they not bear (submit; tolerate; accept) with them.
This is not an easy decision for a Christian to make, although these believers had received enough teaching so that they not only should have been able to recognize false teaching, but also have chosen to remove themselves from under it.
For new converts this would probably be a decision that they wouldn’t make because they probably would have no reference as to what would characterize Spirit-filled teaching and what would characterize religious teaching.
The early church was continually dealing not only with false teaching, but the inability of the believers to remove themselves from it.

I think that this is the way it is for many believers today. In some cases they have been severely hurt financially or sexually by those in leadership and have decided to no longer attend any church at all. For others their cost in time, talent, and treasure for being committed to being involved in a Spirit-filled church is too overbearing. So they attend a church once a week where they can fulfill their obligation and have the rest of their free time to do other things.

May God grant us the wisdom to recognize false teaching, and the courage to withdraw from it.

I hope that this study has enlightened you as to who the devil is? Who are his spiritual forces of evil? What are his evil weapons that he uses to prevent unbelievers from being saved and believers from advancing in their walk with God?

I would like to leave you in the final section with some parting words.

THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT

I do think that at times it is embarrassing when you hear a Christian attribute all of their problems to the devil. For those who are listening to them, especially unbelievers, it sounds as if they are making an excuse for their bad thoughts, words, and behavior.

It’s true that the spirit of the devil, the spirit of self-perception, the spirit of self-reliance, the spirit of self-gratification is the same spirit that characterizes the sin nature of every person, who is born into this world.

When an unbeliever becomes a believer they receive the indwelling Holy Spirit, who provides for them His nature, and access to it.
Those apostles of Christ, who were used to disseminate information to the church in regards to the devil, had walked with Christ on a day to day basis for three years. What I’m trying to say is that their ability to discern spiritually the workings of the devil and his evil forces probably took a while to develop. This can only happen as we learn how to rely on the Spirit on a day to day basis.

How many Christians have learned how to rely on the ministry of the Holy Spirit on a day to day basis?

I can only speak for those who I have come into contact with over the years and my guess would be very few.

Many get impacted by the Spirit on Sunday and live like hell the rest of the week.

So as Christians let’s no longer attribute all of the problems in our life to the devil.

Find a Spirit-filled church to attend. Get involved. Use your time, talent, and treasure to edify the church. Learn how to put on the new person, who God has made you to be, on a daily basis. The result will be that the Holy Spirit will be able to: guide you into all truth, cause you to be able to recognize your God-given gifts, cause you to be able to recognize an answer to your prayer, cause you to be able to experience His presence on a more consistent basis so that the forces of evil will take notice of God working in your life, which will serve as a reminder to them of their unfortunate decision of having rebelled against Him.

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