Twisted and perverse teachings have crept into the church. Paul the Apostle wrote in 1 Timothy 4:1 "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils."
We don't call sin "sin" any more. Now we call it "a problem" and send the person to a psychologist. A murderer is not longer a terrible monster. He is just a "victim of society," born on the wrong side of town. He was deprived of the rights of social opportunities.
Adultery is no longer considered sin in Hollywood or for that matter about 90% of the church. Movies and television rarely show any of the disastrous consequences of the impact AIDS has when folk live a certain lifestyle.
Alcoholism is no longer considered sin. Instead, the alcoholic has a "disease" we spend millions of dollars every year to propagate. (Taste great, less filling)
Doctrines of humanism and modernistic theology erode the very fiber of the Word of God. Churches have sold out to accommodate the world's decaying values. They no longer believe in the blood. They no longer believe in the Cross. They no longer believe in the virgin birth.
I'm not speaking about philosophies today. I'm not talking about ideas, tendencies or trends. I am talking about what the Bible calls "demon spirits," dispatched from the realm of the supernatural to afflict the lives God so loved enough that He sent His only Son to die and be resurrected for.
There is a devil loose!
When the public school system bans the Bible and used tax dollars to pass out condoms, there is a devil loose!
When 28% of all babies in America are born to single mothers, there is a devil loose!
Animal rights activists are hailed as compassionate heroes, but the slaughter of unborn babies is regarded as a constitutional right, there is a devil loose!
We do not need another social program. We do not need more government policies. We do not need another self-help psychology book. We need to recognize that there is a devil loose!
The devil is the root of our problem today. The spirit of the antichrist is in the world even as you read this. The blinding, darkening, deceiving, diabolically deadening power of the devil is overtaking America.
Christians are not immune. In fact, we have a big target painted on our backs. Just because we're saved, the devil does not give up quietly and go away. When we enter into God's presence, we start giving the devil a bad time. That makes him mad and he wants to destroy us.
When irritation is high and patience is low, know that Satan has come in great wrath. He will plague your mind with fear and various images within you. He will rob you of restful sleep, drain you of your peace, and put oppression on top of you.
Does worry torment you day in and day out? Do you cringe in fear at any sound around the corner?
Spiritual wickedness in high places have come to destroy you and I. Jesus said, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy." (John 10:10).
We have to confront the one that oppresses us. We have to stand up to the devil! Freedom is never granted by the oppressor. It must be demanded by the oppressed.
The devil will not loosen his hold on your life because you think he should. He will never loosen his grip on your loved one because it's the right thing to do. He will steal your children, ruin your marriage, wreck your body, rob your bank account unless you stand up to him.
You have to stand up to him with the authority given to you by Jesus Christ if you're going to break the power of demonic powers. We have to determine in ourselves that we will defeat the devil and his demons. We have to determine by faith in God's Word that the armies of the antichrist that are coming against us will be defeated.
I'm tired of the devil stealing our finances, stealing our joy, stealing our peace and prosperity. I'm tired of us as the Body of Christ rolling over and becoming a doormat for the devil.
Jesus did not shed His blood on Calvary for us to submit to the devil. Jesus did not rise in power from the dead only for you and I to live in bondage and fear. Jesus did not say, "I am He that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore" for the church to live in misery and defeat while the devil laughs.
It's time for the church of Jesus Christ to march forward, not to be conquered but to conquer, in the name of Jesus. It is time to put on the armor and go forward in the power of His might and subdue kingdoms, dethrone powers, and trample the devil and declare to him, "We are the church, against which the gates of hell will not prevail! (Matthew 16:18).
