This week is our final post in addressing the question: How does God’s enemy come after His people and His leaders for the sole purpose of distracting, disrupting and derailing them from being involved in God's great mission?
As we survey Pauline literature we will discover fourteen tactical strategies that the enemy will use to come after God's people along with specific antidotes in addressing that problem. See the introduction to this series to receive an overview of this subject.
14. Blinding People
“A leaders gentle reaction and sound instruction are their greatest weapons” – Gary Rohrmayer
Text: 2 Timothy 2:26 - Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
Problem: “Satan blinds people to truth”. J. Robert Clinton
Antidote: “Gently persuade people winning them over by manner as well as truth”. J. Robert Clinton
Reflective Questions:
- What are some of the natural responses to opposition?
- How can the enemy use our natural responses to add to the problem?
- How can the enemy use youthful passions to derail leaders? (II Timothy 2:22)
- How can the enemy use quarrels to deceive people? (II Timothy 2:23-24)
- How can the enemy use quarrels and controversies to distract the church?
- Why is gentleness so powerful in these situations?
- How many of the qualifications of elders have to do with emotional maturity? (I Timothy 3:1-7)
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, Gentle Savior, sanctify our hearts through trusting You rather than our own inclinations. May we be empowered through the spirit of gentleness and our trust in the truth of God rather than the force of our personalities. Father, save us from the temptation to trust our natural inclinations and overreact under pressure. As we humbly trust You, set people free who are captive to the enemy's will, break the bonds of spiritual death and divisiveness. In the strong Name of Jesus, Amen.
View the entire series of posts on Spiritual Warfare
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