Why is the Modern day Church Impotent against the kingdom of darkness?

Because the Church is Defeated!

Jon Watkins   Online Ministries   November 22, 2013

The Modern day Church for the most part is defeated and useless to God. I am not referring to a building, although they are just as useless, the building is not the Church. I won’t go into what Jesus says to the seven churches in Revelation because it would take too long. Suffice to say, six (6) of the seven do not fare well. One out of the seven, the Church of Philadelphia, is for a lack of better words, given a good report card. You can start reading about the seven churches beginning in Revelation 1:20 and ending in Revelation 3:22.

We, believers in Jesus Christ are the church, the body of Christ, and the church for the most part is impotent in the battle against the kingdom of darkness. The battle against Satan and his minions is really between Satan and God.

2nd Chronicles 20:15 – And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.

Since we are made in the image of God, and God loves us, Satan attacks us as a way to get even, so to speak, with God for casting him out of heaven. Satan and his angels hate us most because we can be saved, redeemed and rightfully called children of God and they cannot. Satan’s hatred for humanity is so great we cannot comprehend it, neither can we comprehend how great and wonderful is the love of God toward us. There is a war being fought on our behalf in the spirit world. If we could see what is taking place around us in that spirit world, we would not be doing the things we currently do in rebellion against God. We would understand seriousness of our plight and our need for God and his protection. We would be seeking His face, striving to build our faith and learning to trust in the true God of heaven.

Why is the majority of the body of Christ defeated?

Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

One reason is most want to play church and keep their worldly ways, meaning they want to hold on to fleshly desires. Drinking, partying, going to the night clubs, listening to rock and roll or any other form of ungodly music. Having a form of godliness putting on a facade for all to see.

2nd Timothy 3:1-7 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

2nd Timothy 3:1-7 make up the majority of the six (6) churches in Revelation. But why are people driven to hold on to those ungodly desires?

Ephesians 6:12 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.

What Paul gives us in Ephesians 6 is a warning to show us just how weak and powerless we are against the wickedness around us. I must come back to this scripture daily to remind myself that it is not people who are coming against a true believers, but the spiritual forces of wickedness working through them. I am certain that some of you understand the reference here, and the rest of you, well, it went way over your head, or you don’t want to deal with it. Most Preachers WILL NOT preach or teach the congregation anything about Satan, demons or the spirit world. Why?

• People do NOT want to hear the truth!
• Preaching about sin and evil is not profitable and makes people uncomfortable.
  
• Churches take a survey and ask the people what THEY want to hear preached from the Pulpit!
  
• Preachers don’t want to offend or scare anyone. They can’t build a Mega-church by offending people.
  
• Preachers are afraid of Satan and have made a deal, if they leave him alone Satan will leave them alone.
  
• Preachers don’t want to upset the flock and hence get run off from their cushy job. Yes, pastor is just a job to most.
  
• Many modern Preachers are not called of God, know very little of spiritual things and are running the church as a business.

If you’re one of those who did not comprehend, if it went over your head because you have not been taught properly, let me explain.

Every one of us, no exceptions, are under constant attack by the demonic forces that are at work 24/7. They never rest, they never sleep, they never stop the onslaught against humanity. The objective is to get you to commit sin, whether in thought, word, or deed. NO ONE is immune, as scripture states in Romans 3:23. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

If you’re one of those who subscribe to the belief that once you’re saved you no longer sin, and if you should happen to sin, you do not need to confess it to God, then you had better heed 1st John 1:8-10. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

If you think you are immune or protected you are in error. You are protected to an extent, in that God only allows the enemy limited liberties in his attack on you. Read the book of Job and you will see this when God allowed Satan too take away all Job had and then come against Job in his physical body. Why did God allow that? Job was full of pride thinking it was because of his abilities he was successful and this is a big problem in the church body today.

There is also an account in Luke where Satan wanted to have liberty with Peter. Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: Perhaps Satan knew that Peter was going to deny that he knew Jesus, and that is why Jesus said in the next verse; Luke 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

The Lord knows what is truly in each of our closets hidden away from even our closest family and friends. Sometimes the Lord allows us to be attacked by Satan to purge out the hidden sin we hold on to. No one is perfect and no one ever will be until the trumpet sounds and we are given that glorified body. Then and only then will sin no longer be a problem.

The degree to which YOU ALLOW those demonic forces to control your thoughts and actions depends on your relationship with God, the training and admonition you receive based on sound Biblical Doctrine, and the extent to which you apply the truth of God’s Word to your life daily. Matthew records the words of Jesus in Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. Luke records it this way. Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Certainly you are not expected to literally pick up a cross and drag it around. The Gospel is the Cross and it represents what Jesus did there. You must have your faith exclusively in Christ and him Crucified and nothing else. Paul said in 1st. Corinthians 1:17. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. And in Verse 23 he says But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; Paul also says in 1st Corinthians 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

That folks IS the Gospel, Jesus Christ and HIM Crucified and nothing else. The Gospel means Good News and the Good News is Jesus died for YOUR sins and that is what the enemy fights so hard to keep people from knowing. The simple knowledge that Jesus loves you and died for you on the cross, was resurrected, is still alive and well, soon to come back for those who will believe! Problem is, Satan has people wrapped up in lies and deception pursuing their own fleshly desires and labeling it as Gospel. Not so!! You are to avail yourself, looking to what Jesus did on that Cross daily to remind you what the true Gospel is. If you do not focus on the Cross daily, the enemy will eventually slip in and get you off into another gospel.

2nd John 1:9-11 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

If you’re a Sunday only Christian, If you’re into the prosperity gospel, social gospel, if you sit under the false teaching of the multitudes of misguided preachers, then you are no threat to the kingdom of darkness at all. The enemy has you in the bag so to speak, and he leaves you alone to go about your business and your fleshly desires. The false teachings and other religions are another gospel, and in fact, Paul says in Galatians if you follow any other gospel you are accursed!

Galatians 1:6-9 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Let that sink in for a bit. If you are following another gospel, false doctrine, you are accursed, and you had best ask the Lord to show you the truth!

Accursed literary meaning: under a curse. Synonyms: cursed, damned, doomed, condemned, ill-fated, ill-omened, jinxed

Is that you? If it is, I would stop right now and ask God to forgive you, repent, and get into True Biblical Teaching, the True Gospel. If you do not, you are headed for Hell.

The world looks at those who seemingly have it all: the nice clothes, jewelry hanging everywhere on their person, the new car, the fancy house, and they see them as blessed by GOD. That is not true at all. It is the farthest thing from the truth. For the most part, (there are some exceptions) the ones you see who are considered blessed are far from it. At least they are not blessed by our Heavenly Father. Satan can give you the desires of your heart, and it’s sad to say, but that is where most of those blessing are coming from and not from the true God of heaven. I say it all of the time, look at the fruit of a person and you will see WHOM they serve! They may look good on the outside but they are dead on the inside, full of dead man’s bones!

Matthew 23:27-28 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

For those who tow the line and do not deviate off of the path of Biblical Truth, the demonic forces go into attack mode and call up extra troops. They will mobilize the religious crowd, those same Sunday only folks, to come against you. They will work through the minds and actions of family members. (who may be part of that Sunday only crowd. These are the ones Satan uses the most) Let’s not leave out the God haters and deniers. No, I do not consider myself some super spiritual person who has arrived. I merely have gotten the beam out of my own eye before helping others to find the splinter in theirs.

Matthew 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.

As in war, when a bomber (in this case a believer with Biblical Truth) gets close to or over a target, the enemy (demon controlled religious folk) unleashes a barrage of anti-aircraft fire. The attacks come not at the message that is presented, but at the messenger. They enemy will try to discredit (shoot down) the messenger and therefore try and keep the payload (Biblically correct doctrine) from reaching the target, the lost!

Lucifer has been trying to destroy man since the first lie was presented to Eve in the Garden of Eden. He has not stopped and will not, until our Lord puts him in chains for a thousand years. Then he will be loosed once again for a period of time before being cast into the Lake of Fire, the burning Hell for all eternity. He knows that and hates us because we can be redeemed simply by placing our faith in what Jesus did, dying for our sin, which is a debt we could not pay. He is using every tactic known to deceive, and sadly, many are falling for the deception.

Reader, you cannot defeat or have any kind of victory over the principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, and the spiritual wickedness in high places on your own, in the flesh. Paul says it this way;

2nd Corinthians 10:2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

We don’t have to war with Lucifer and his minions. Jesus defeated them already at the Cross. All we have to do is have faith in what Jesus did and in the power of His name. When you use the name of Jesus you are using the best and only weapon that can, and has defeated the kingdom of darkness.

Colossians 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Now, that does not mean the enemy will not come after you, he will. However, Paul tells us how to withstand the onslaught of the enemy. We must put on the Armor of God and nothing else you try in the flesh will do. I know because I did so, foolishly, and lost!

Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

This is how to have Victory over the Enemy. There is NO other way! Are you a part of the Church of Philadelphia?

Revelation 3:7-13 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

If not, you can be but it comes with a price!