What's Really Going On?
What’s Really Going On? || Day 3 - The First Attack on Prophetic Manifestation
For the next several days, we will teach from this scripture:
2 Timothy 3:1-17 NLT
"You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! They are the kind who work their way into people’s homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires. (Such women are forever following new teachings, but they are never able to understand the truth.) These teachers oppose the truth just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. They have depraved minds and a counterfeit faith. But they won’t get away with this for long. Someday everyone will recognize what fools they are, just as with Jannes and Jambres. But you, Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance. You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—but the Lord rescued me from all of it. Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived. But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work."
With prophetic manifestations demonic attempts will come to try and get the people of God to get out of position. What we must understand is that the devil has nothing new. He simply takes the same thing he has done before, puts a different wrapping around it and serves it up again. The chosen method of the enemy is to move in cycles. When it comes to the church, his attacks follow a fivefold cycle. We will discuss the first of these today.
First, he attacks the authority of the church.
Most of the time this is done through challenging the apostolic validity of the leader or leaders. The devil knows that God blesses and manifests Himself through order. Therefore, his attempt is to get things out of order and chaotic so the blessings of God and the presence of God will not manifest any longer.
Beloved, we are a people that have authority and submit to authority. Jesus said whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. He said all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me - Go therefore!
Pray with me: Father, in the name of Jesus, I ask that You grant me favor to discern the methods of the enemy. As I position myself to receive Your fullness, teach me to know both the authority I have been given, and to submit to the authority You have placed in my life. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Further reading: 1 Timothy 4:1-2 (NLT), 2 Timothy 4:1-5, Hebrews 13:17, 1 Corinthians 15:24-28, Matthew 16:19