Removing satan's seat homework 1

Homework 1: Name 8 things (ways) how the devil enters into the House of God. Explain and back it up with the Word of God.

I began with something of a “laundry list” of 8 ways in which the adversary attacks us and the church: 1) Pride/ego/arrogance (2 Chronicles 26:16-20 example of Uzziah, Luke 18:9-14 parable of publican vs. Pharisee), 2) Gossip/lies (Proverbs 25:18, Psalm 57:4), 3) Hidden sins (Revelation 2:20, Ezekiel 8), 4) Conflict/control (Revelation 2:20 spirit of Jezebel), 5) Lack of prayer/vigilance, 6) Focus on works (Revelation 2:4-5 loss of First Love–Jesus), 7) Addictions/lusts (demonic)–sexual issues, 8) Distraction/material possessions/cares of world (Revelation 3:17, Mark 10:17-25 rich young man, parable of sower). As you can see, I began to find support for these 8 ways and found many other related things that match up like laziness/sloth (2 Thessalonians 3:6-13), idolatry/things before God (Matt. 6:33 “seek ye first the Kingdom and His righteousness...”), fear/worry (“take no thought...”), “counterfeit Christians” (parable of wheat & tares). My Life Application Bible KJV (p. 12 chart) even listed strategies of the devil as doubt, discouragement, diversion, defeat, and delay (devil and all “d” words–>damnation in hell).

I then changed my mind about my approach to this assignment. I decided to focus on the armor of God (belt, breastplate, shoes, shield, helmet, and sword) listed in Ephesians 6:13-17. (see below) This includes 6 things, but many of these deal with multiple strategies of satan. [Again, I refuse to capitalize this proper noun despite the book title and proper English due to refusal to show any respect to devil.] This use of the armor of God provides an effective guideline for the paper and begins to delve into strategies of spiritual warfare and how to “remove satan’s seat” in our lives and defend against the attacks of the adversary.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;


One, it is important to “armor up” (put on our armor) every day and request protection by the Spirit and angels every day and night. (Psalm 121:5-7, Matthew 2:13) This starts with the belt of truth. In John 14:6, Jesus states, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” I have heard that the Roman belt was key for the soldier with the sword and breastplate attached to his belt. Thus, offense (sword) and defense (rest of armor) in spiritual warfare rest on Jesus with “righteousness as the girdle of his loins and faithfulness as the girdle of his reins” (Isaiah 11:5) which resulted in wisdom & understanding, counsel & might, knowledge, fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2). Through this and more, Jesus resisted temptations (Matt. 4:1-11, Luke 4:1-13, Mark 1:12-13) of physical needs (hunger: stones–>bread), emotional needs (security, manipulating God for a sign: casting himself off pinnacle of temple & proving God’s protection and calling as Christ/Messiah), and psychological needs (significance, power/achievement: worship me and get all kingdoms of world). The devil preys on our bodies and their needs, our emotions, and mind/thoughts. Jesus shows how to deal with these temptations–prayer and fasting and relationship with Father (Matt. 4:1-2).

Two, we need the “breastplate of righteousness” (right living in relationship with God, Jesus, and Spirit) as crucial in our discipleship walk. 1 Thessalonians 5:8 states, “But, let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.” The devil often likes to attack our heart and emotions, self-worth, and trust. The above verse points out that “righteousness” is centered in “walking by faith and not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7) and showing love as disciples (John 13:35). Righteousness prevents the adversary from preying on our emotional needs.

Three, we are told to walk literally in “gospel of peace” or shalom (wholeness of body, mind, spirit, soul). We are challenged to be ready to spread the Gospel–“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” (Matthew 28:19) Isaiah states, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace;...” (Isaiah 52:7). Our course speaks about the importance of growing to be able to keep the devil from catching up and entrapping us in various ways.

Four, the “shield of faith is able to withstand the fiery darts of the wicked” (Ephesians 6:16). 1 John 5:4 says, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” We see that faith will help us overcome the cares of the world (material possessions, worry, stress, fear of man) and attacks of the wicked (illness, addictions, temptations of flesh, and lust).

Five, the last piece of defensive armor involves the “helmet of salvation” (Ephes.. 6:17) and “hope of salvation” (1 Thess. 5:8). Jesus linked the breaking of God’s commandments with thoughts initially (Matthew 5:22, 28). The devil will attack us using our thoughts, dreams, imagination, questions, doubts. This piece would protect us from attacks on our mind, will, and thoughts.

Six, the last piece of armor is “the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God;” (Ephes. 6:17). Hebrews 4:12 describes, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” The challenge is to know our Scripture as Smith Wiggleworth, the anointed revivalist and healer, did--“Read the Word, Consume the Word, Believe the Word, and Act on the Word”. That’s all he read and studied.

In conclusion, I have listed more than 8 ways with my opening paragraph plus mentioning the temptations of Jesus with physical needs, emotional needs, and psychological needs. We could add spiritual needs to this. I have heard it said that we all have a “God-sized hole” in us that we try to fill in different, ineffective ways. I want to fill it in only One Way. (John 14:6, Mark 12:29)