The book of Revelation mentions seven churches in Asia Minor. Where are those congregations today? They do not exist. Why do they no longer exist? Because at some point in time they died. If that could happen then, it can happen today, and how sad to know that it does happen to congregations of the Lord's church today.
Ultimately, what can kill a church? Satan. Satan wants the church on this earth to die. He wants the people of the world all for his own.
1) Satan brings persecution to the church. If you don't believe it, then make a diligent effort to outwardly live a Christian life at work and at school, share the gospel with your neighbors - you will be persecuted. Yet the Christian can handle persecution (John 12:42,43; Acts 5:41,42). How we react to persecution will define us as a church.
2) Satan brings false teaching. Satan has made many things to seem good and holy and righteous, but in reality they are not at all. All of the religions of the world cannot all be right. It simply defies sound reasoning. Churches many times die because of false teaching. We need to teach what will lift us up in our Christianity. We need to teach what is doctrinally sound. We also need to correct our own errors, and through the scriptures we can do this.
3) Satan brings worldliness. Being like the world can kill a church. What is in the world that we should avoid? We must avoid immorality in all its subtle forms. How do we fight worldliness? We must remember that God's love is more powerful than our love of the world. Can the world even see the church? If the church starts to act, talk and dress like the world. it simply becomes invisible in the world's eyes.
4) Satan brings indifference. We must stand firmly and proudly for Christ. Christ said that we are either for Him or against Him. Being indifferent is essentially taking a stand against the cause of Christ.
These are four great weapons which Satan is surely using against us as members of Christ's church. Are we standing firm against his devices?
John 12:42,43
42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.Acts 5:41,42
41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
