Hundredfold Ministries, Int'l

In my visits to hundreds of churches around the world, I have seen Satan’s influence in the lives of Christians. To illustrate my point I ask the question, “Why do so many claim to be Christian and attend church regularly and yet still practice lying, marital infidelity, dishonesty, child abuse, personal irresponsibility, greed, selfishness, etc?” Could the answer be that, at least in part, the church is ignorant of Satan’s schemes? I think so.

Tragically, much of the church leadership remains unaware of Satan’s attack on the church. They just don’t see it. I see God’s hand moving and drawing souls unto Himself. But all too often I also see the schemes of the devil moving successfully against the church with devastating effects. Many do what Jesus hasn’t told them to do. Some selfishly seek “mammon.” Others go about opposing the work of the Holy Spirit! While still others allow Satan to use their buildings in which to teach occult rituals!

Satans Plan of Attack

In order to analyze this assault of Satan on the church of Jesus Christ, I did what military leaders have done for centuries. I mentally placed myself in the enemy’s position to try to read his mind. I asked:

“IF I WERE SATAN, how would I attack the church?”

If I were Satan, here are the steps I would take to attack the world wide church:

ONE: I would infiltrate their Bible schools and seminaries. I would force the teaching to both extremes. On the one hand I would push the fundamentalism doctrines so far that no right-thinking person would ever accept such extreme doctrines. On the other hand, I would push the extreme of liberalism until there was no gospel left. Then when their graduates start preaching, the one group will be so offensive that no one will listen to them. The other group will scarcely know who Jesus is. He can never guide them. I hate a well-taught, balanced preacher! I must continue invading those schools that are balanced....

TWO: I would raise up false prophets and teachers and give them great people skills and preaching style. I would give them wealth, put some on TV, and set some pastoring large lavish cathedrals. I would give them forceful, humanly appealing messages as a substitute for the message about Jesus’ great salvation. They will draw many away from the true gospel of Jesus.

THREE: I would target every Bible-believing church in the world for invasion. My plan of attack would be twofold. 1) I would spread rumors about selected Christians who are doing well and have influence. At every opportunity I would spread lies and rumors about them. 2) I would attack the leaders physically, emotionally, mentally, professionally and financially. If I can’t get at the targeted individuals due to their personal integrity and prayer, then I would target their family members for attack.

It is my particular pleasure to fire my big guns at Christians. But some Christians are extremely hard to hit. They give me little or no target to aim at because their sins are so few. On the other hand, I can hit some Christians easily! They offer such large targets! Their sin makes them very large and easy to hit. I love Christians who have pride, arrogance, deception, bitterness and are unforgiving. They make BIG targets...so easy to hit!

FOUR: I would make every effort to keep Bible-believing, well taught Christians from teaching children. I would cause the Bible classes to stress subjects that have no impact on a closer walk with Jesus. Rather, the hearers would become very concerned about political issues, what does the book of Revelation mean, who is the anti-christ, pre or post millennial rapture, etc. I would decrease their missions vision. I would make them transfer their missions money into projects for their own comfort...things they want for their church.

FIVE: I would cause criticism and discouragement from within and without the church. Then Christians will become depressed and begin to wonder if all the energy, money and effort they are putting into their church is worth it. Naturally, I will have my messengers planted there to answer, “No.”

SIX: I would expend special efforts toward the destruction of individual and church prayer life. I would provide continual distractions and interruptions for those individuals who persist in personal prayer. For the regularly scheduled prayer meetings I would divert the prayer from those things the Holy Spirit is speaking to less important matters. I would encourage general, unfocused prayers like, “Pray for the lost souls in China...pray for our government...pray for our schools...pray for the homosexuals...pray for those in prison...pray for the homeless...” for I know these kinds of general prayers will get general answers while specific, targeted, focused prayers get specific answers.

[NOTE: These are good subjects, but what they lack is focus. A good percentage of prayer must be specific, i.e., which homosexual, which teacher or class in which school, which prisoner, etc.]

SEVEN: I would burden the churches with non-essential programs designed to use their energy, time and money. I know that God grants every individual and every church a set amount of energy, time and money. Therefore, the more of those items I can spend on the unnecessary, the less they have left with which to do God’s work. I really love old programs that are no longer doing any good! I love programs that have outlived their usefulness. I tell them, “You can’t stop that program! Sister or brother so-and-so will be offended.” Great idea!

EIGHT: I would tell them that demons can’t harm Christians. But I will only tell that to the evangelicals. I will appeal to the liberal `intellectuals’ by telling them that I don’t exist. Once both groups believe these lies, I will then have free reign in their lives and families and control over their churches.

Yes, the Apostle Paul saw the craftiness of Satan. But poor Paul was not as “learned” as so many of our church leaders of today. The poor man actually seemed to fear that Satan might outwit him! For he wrote, “...in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.” (II Cor 2:11 NIV).