Did you know every missionary deals with the devil’s strategies that keep people away from God?

DOUBT

Distorting God’s Word creates doubt.

Genesis 3:1-2 NLT

1 The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the LORD God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”
2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied.

A false statement creates a conversation of defense when there is nothing to defend.
The seed of doubt is planted, and a path to disobedience is created.

Matthew 3:17 NASB

and behold, a voice from the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Matthew 4:4 NLT

But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

I’m not controlled by my appetites but by God’s Word.
I know who I am as His son, and I don’t have to perform to prove it.

DISTRUST

You can’t trust God. He’s holding you back.

Genesis 3:5 NLT

“God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”

Matthew 4:6-7 NLT

6 and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’”
7 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”

Jesus trusts His Father and is not drawn into a pointless argument. Because He knows who He is, He discerns the scripture properly.

FEAR

Sin brings a fear-based relationship with those who love you.

Genesis 3:10 NLT

He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.”

The relationship between God and man that was meant to be covered in the glory of God, sustained in fellowship, and enjoyed by worship has been turned into fear. In the devil’s distorted world, fear is worship.

Matthew 4:9-10 NLT

9 “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”
10 “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God
and serve only him.’”

The glory of God’s presence has been restored in Jesus. There is no fear.

1 John 4:18 NLT

Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.

BLAME

Energy is focused on brokenness rather than the Healer of the broken.

Genesis 3:12 NLT

The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.”

Luke 4:18-19 NKJV

18 “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed
19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

TIFAW

Every missionary preaches the same message and
DOUBT turns into faith.
DISTRUST fades into face-to-face fellowship.
FEAR is replaced by God’s love.
BLAME gives way to humility and self-sacrifice.
We are all part of His mission field.

2 Corinthians 5:20 KJV

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.