May 25, 2016 | People the Enemy Uses

This is a message from Dr. Anthony George's Wednesday night Bible study. Here's the link to the audio message from FBA's website. My notes are only meant to be a guide to assist in your Bible study. Enjoy! :)

Romans 16:17-20 NASB

• The enemy can use people out of church as well as inside the church. We must identify who they are and be on our guard.
• Romans 16:17 NKJV
• Who are the troublemakers in your life? Home? Work? Country? Government? Spot them, Note them, Mark them.

1. Observe what they do.
   • They create divisions between people.
     • Divisions can be a good thing; God creates division for specific purposes.
     • Here we are talking about a bad type of division; one where precious relationships are severed because of one's divisive decisions.
   • They place obstacles before people.
     • This is specifically concerning tripping up someone's spiritual life.
     • Calculates the downfall of another person. These people really do exist.
   • Are there people in your life that fit into these two categories? 
2. Understand why they do it.
   • It's one thing to say that you can't believe that they would do something like that. But we must understand why they do what they do: they are in bondage to their own desires.
   • They also have impure motives.
     • Intentionally deceptive.
     • Manipulative.
   • Here in Romans, the writer is telling us to be cautious of people not only in the Roman house, but are found in God's house as well. 
   • Spirits: evil entity, evil tendency, strongholds, attitudes (disposition, temperament), carnal manifestations
     • Spirits on the loose: PRIDE. AMBITION (form of lust--wanting what you don't have) Luke 14:7-11 NLT. SEDUCTION Proverbs 7:6-10 NLT. FACTIONS 1 Corinthians 3:4 NKJV. JEALOUSY. DISCORD. CONFUSION. FEAR (bondage, self worth). CONTROL. SABOTAGE. DEFIANCE. LAZINESS. BITTERNESS Acts 8:23 NKJV. 
     • God wants us, as Christians, to have a spiritual antenna to lookout for these strongholds in and around our lives.
   • All saved people have been forgiven. Not all saved people have been delivered.
   • Not all unsaved people are bad. Not all saved people are good. (In terms of behavior. Only the Holy Spirit can reveal this to you)
3. Do what you're supposed to do.
   • No matter what everyone else is doing, keep doing what you're supposed to be doing.
   • Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him!
   • What is my responsibility?
     1. Watch them. "Keep your eye on them" scopeo.
        • Ask God to show them to you. "Lord, show me the spirits. Show me the people I should trust." He will show them to you, you just gotta ask.
        • Someone you trust is trusting someone that you wouldn't trust.
        • The Holy Spirit is your Guide. Use this gift. 
        • Romans 16:18 NKJV, Romans 16:18 NASB, the simple, the unsuspecting, and the naive.
        • 2 Corinthians 2:11 NKJV
     2. Avoid them. Romans 16:17
        • They will respect you when you stand for what you believe.
        • You can pray for God to remove people. 
        • When God takes care of a situation, it's always a whole lot cleaner than when you try to do it.
        • God will part the seas and make a path for you.
        • We have the right to say no more.
     3. Don't be like them. 
        • When you ask Him to identify strongholds in others, be sure to ask to identify the ones in your own life.
        • Don't ever let your environment to change you. Only Jesus can change you, for He will change you for good.
     4. Be confident of your victory. Romans 16:20
        • People are not your enemy. The Enemy is your enemy. In the end, Jesus will ultimately crush the enemy down.