The Nature of Satan's Stronghold in Man - by Pastor Doug Riggs

This was originally recorded August 7, 2016.

My notes:

How does the enemy work? How do we stay off the ground where the enemy has access to us? "How does the adversary work through sin and the flesh to enter a person's life, and to develop strongholds, and to influence our behavior?"

Sin is the base of operation Satan uses to affect and afflict us. It's our sin nature he has access to. Our sin nature is also termed 'flesh' and 'soul life'. "Satan, sin, the flesh - it's always looking for a starting point" (i.e.: opportunity). "He (Satan) will always seek work through that in us, sin, and flesh, to establish a base of operations from which to not only establish himself - that's called a stronghold - but to continue to launch an attack against the soul."

So how can we defeat sin? We can't! "The Holy Spirit is the only one who can defeat sin. Our will is either in submission to the Spirit of God (that's Galatians), or to the flesh - or to sin. There's nothing in between. We're walking in the spirit in submission to the Holy Spirit, or walking in the flesh, or walking according to sin, and therefore, under the rule of Satan."

"The biggest battle we have is not with the devil... it's with ourselves. Enemy #1 lives inside us... The enemy within is the sin nature... flesh. The enemy that we all carry with us is the old man."

"We have a sin nature, which is the root of all sins; flesh, the attributes of that sin nature; and the old man is the identity of sin in the flesh."

We know Satan goes about as a roaring lion seeking those he can devour. "Pride is a big gateway; unbelief is a big one as well. Emotions can affect our belief or unbelief rather than the word of God."

The Holy Spirit, "the third person of the trinity in us is the provision that God has made in lieu of the law" for us not to sin. "That's New Covenant reality."

So, what gives Satan access? Living in the realm of the flesh, the old man, the self-life, uncrucified flesh; all are on the ground where Satan has access. Self is the greatest enemy we have that threatens our ability to hear and respond to the gospel. It's the dirty-rotten sinner who needs Jesus, not the goody-two-shoes nice-guy who is pleased with himself. The flesh is also the Christian's worst enemy, as it threatens our ability to finish our race and win the prize of the on-high calling of God in Christ Jesus. When we live out from the flesh, we aren't necessarily doing evil, horrible, sinful deeds. We can be the world's most generous philanthropist, donating millions to charity. If that's done out from the old man, it's worthless to God. Satan, capitalizing on our pride, will pat us on the back and convince us we're doing great things, and then use the law to accuse and condemn us.

Are we living under the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus? - or under the law of sin and death? Sin is missing the mark; not necessarily doing overtly evil things. When we live in the flesh, we’re missing the mark.

Link to Audio: https://dougriggs.s3.amazonaws.com/Assemblies/8-7-16%2Bsunday.mp3

Maranatha!

John Mark

...hereby committing this unto the providential care of the enthroned Head of the Church; whose Name is blessed forevermore, Yeshua Mashiach - Jesus Christ!