TEXT:  Matt. 16:18;  Heb. 12:28

INTRODUCTION:

A.      SATAN HAS TRIED EVERYTHING TO DESTROY THE CHURCH.

B.      BUT GOD PROMISED A KINGDOM THAT CANNOT BE SHAKEN, NOT EVEN

          DEATH COULD KEEP IT FROM BEING ESTABLISHED.

C.      LET’S LOOK AT SATAN’S EFFORTS TO OVERCOME THE CHURCH.

I.      SATAN’S FIRST EFFORTS DIRECTED AT JESUS.

A.      HIS FIRST WEAPON WAS HEROD’S JEALOUSY ( Matt. 2:16 ).

B.      UNABLE TO DESTROY BABY JESUS, HE ATTACKS THE MAN WITH

          POWERFUL TEMPTATION ( Matt. 4:1-11;  Heb. 4:15 ).

C.      FRUSTRATED AGAIN, HE CAUSED CONFUSION AMONG BELIEVERS

          ( John 6:15, 60-66 ).

D.      AFTER MANY FAILURES, SATAN WINS A BATTLE.

          1.       Jesus is put to death ( Acts 2:22-23 ).

          2.       Jesus wins the war ( Acts 2:24;  Gen. 3:15 ).

II.     FAILING TO DESTROY JESUS, SATAN ATTACKS THE

        CHURCH.

A.      THE GREAT BATTLE ( Rev. 12:7-11 ).

B.      HIS FIRST EFFORT – SUPPRESS THE TRUTH ( Acts 4:13-22;  5:40 ).

C.      SOW DISCORD ( Acts 15:1-2 ).

D.      PERSECUTION ( Acts 8:1 ).

E.      FALSE DOCTRINE ( Acts 20:29-30 ).

F.      EVEN THOUGH THE CHURCH WAS SHROUDED IN THE DARK MISTS OF

          THE MIDDLE AGES, IT STILL EXISTS AND GROWS.

III.    HE IS STILL TRYING TO DESTROY THE CHURCH TODAY.

A.      THROUGH PERSECUTION ( 2 Tim. 3:12;  Matt. 5:10-12 ).

B.      THROUGH DISCORD ( James 3: 14-16;  Gal. 5:13-16 ).

C.      THROUGH FALSE BRETHREN.

          1.       False teachers ( 2 Cor. 11:13-15 ).

          2.       Contentious men ( Titus 3:9-11 ).

          3.       Hypocrites ( Tim. 3:1-5 ).

D.      FALSE DOCTRINES ( Col. 2:8 ).

E.      WORLDLINESS ( James 4:4;  1 John 2:15-17 ).

F.      THROUGH MAMMON – WEALTH ( Matt. 6:24;  1 Tim. 6:9-10, 17 ).

G.      THROUGH LUKEWARMNESS ( Rev. 3:14-19;  Heb. 6:11-12 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      Matt. 16:18;  Heb. 12:28.

B.      THE CHURCH WILL ALWAYS STAND.

C.      ARE YOU A PART OF IT?

D.      ARE YOU DOING YOUR PART IN IT?