The Obedient Church (Santosh Poonen)

Satan attacks the Obedient Church because he knows that God crushes him under the feet of such a church (Romans 16:1-20). What do people notice when they visit your church? Do they notice your loyalty and obedience to Jesus (Romans 16:19)? The marks of an obedient church are that it consists of: godly women like Phoebe, Mary, and Persis, who were servants of the church and helpers of many; godly women like Rufus’ mother, who was a mother to the apostle Paul; godly couples like Prisca and Aquila who risked their lives for the sake of the gospel and partnered in building the church (Romans 16:3-5), and were well-versed in God’s Word and the doctrine (Acts 18:26); many who can be called beloved, fellow prisoners, outstanding, fellow-workers in the Lord, approved in Christ, and choice in the Lord (Romans 16:5-13). Sadly, many Christians, who themselves will be saved, will send their life's work on the conveyor belt and into the furnace at the Judgment seat of Christ, only to find it all get burned up (I Corinthians 3:12-15). Satan believes in the "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" principle of warfare (Romans 16:17-18). So, he attacks the Obedient Church by sending into its midst people who: cause divisions; cause others to stumble; teach things contrary to the whole counsel of God; seek their own gain - financial, emotional, in sympathy, etc.; flatter the unsuspecting in order to deceive them. To combat this we should: value unity in the Spirit in the brotherhood; stay away from those who sow stumbling thoughts; fill your mind with what is good and reject what is evil; don’t be unsuspecting; beware of those who flatter. There is an unhealthy lust in our flesh to want to hear an evil report. The first promise that God gave mankind after the Fall was that He would crush Satan under our feet (Genesis 3:15, Romans 16:20). The purpose of a church being the Body of Christ is so that the Head (Christ) crushes Satan under our feet. The only way that Satan can be crushed under our feet is if we are partners with the God of peace - by living at peace with God and with others as far as it lies with us. Let this be our church mission statement: “The God of peace is crushing Satan under our feet.”