James 4:7

To keep people out of the church

Acts 2:47

Colossians 1:13

Acts 20:28

The devil knows the value of the church in man’s salvation.

Revelation 2:9 – The devil has his churches. If he can keep men there, he can keep them from salvation.

Jesus’ first objective is to get men out of the devil’s domain and into His church. Hebrews 7:25

To get men back into his service

II Peter 2:20-22

II Corinthians 2:11 – The devil has many devices to get people back into his domain:

Trying to keep people ignorant of God’s word

Trying to interest people in worldly enterprises

Using church trouble and division to get people back into his service

Using evil companions to tempt people back into his service (I Corinthians 15:33)

Tempting people to serve themselves instead of God even as they worship

Tempting people with pleasure

Using our stinginess

Using chronic grouchiness and backbiting to get us away from Christ

Encouraging us to be adept at excuses instead of working like we should

Encouraging people to have a “rule or ruin” attitude within the church

I Peter 5:8-9 – Let us recognize our weak points and strengthen them.