Attacking THE ENEMY
SERMON STARTER
There are too many down-in-the-mouth Christians telling me they're under attack from the enemy. I often hear the believers obsessing about how the enemy is winning in certain areas of their lives. Christianity is often thought of as a passive, non-confrontive, non-violent religion. It is seen as a sort of "tiptoe through the tulips," socially sterile approach to God that's confined to steepled buildings and cloistered saints. Actually, living the Christian life is more like a battlefield than a place of comfort.
Ray Stedman first advanced the notion that we are attacking the Gates of Hell. Jesus said,
"I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."
Matthew 16:18
Stedman taught that the gates of a city are a crucial part of the city's armament. Gates do not move. The stand where they're installed and resist attacks from the enemy. We're Satan's greatest threat and enemy. Every time we lead a soul to Christ, we are attacking his kingdom. The devil feels he owns the darkened souls who have no knowledge of or interest in God.
We storm Hell's Gates each time we snatch them from Satan's kingdom and become all the more his enemy.
This sermon explores Satanic Attack and why it's important to live the Jesus' lifestyle, especially by Attacking the Enemy.
Agape,
Pastor Phil <><<
March 27, 2011
pastor Phil Roland, Sheepfold Ministries
Attacking THE ENEMY
MATTHEW 16:13-20
"Christianity is thought of as a passive, non-confrontive, non-violent religion. It is a sort of "Tiptoe through the tulips," socially sterile approach to God that is confined to steepled buildings and cloistered saints. Actually, it's more like a battlefield than a place of comfort." Pastor Phil
"I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."
I. WHY ATTACK? ISN'T CHRISTIANITY NON-VIOLENT?
A. Christ's Kingdom is not passive: it's an active enterprise
Matthew 11:11,12
"Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not
risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the
kingdom of heaven is greater than he, and from the days of John the
Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent
take it by force.”
B. We use Spiritual Weapons to attack this world - 2 Cor. 10:4,5
"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for
pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing
that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into
captivity to the obedience of Christ,"
II. WHO DO WE ATTACK?
A. Three adversaries of the Christian life:
1. World - By Renouncing it - James 1:27 (NKJV)
"Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to
visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself
unspotted from the world."
a. Early Followers baptized AFTER renouncing the world
b. Declaring the world as one of their enemies
2. Flesh - By Repentance - Matthew 4:17 (NKJV)
"From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand."
a. Flesh will die w/o repentance - Luke 13:3 (NKJV)
"I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."
b. No Prosperity in un-repented sin - Proverbs 28:13
"He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever
confesses and forsakes them will have mercy."
3. Devil - By Resistance - James 4:7
“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
a. Enemy was once one of God's approved hierarchy
b. Fell from heaven and God's grace
c. Former name was "Hallel" - (Hal-le-lu-jah) Hmmmm. . .
ATTACKING THE ENEMY, cont., p.2
d. Hebrew name means "Shining One" - "Angel of Light"
"And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light." 2 Corinthians 11:14 (NIV)
e. Greek names:
Satan/Accuser Devil/Malicious Gossip
III. HOW DO WE ATTACK HIM?
A. We use Five Deadly Spiritual Weapons
1. The Word of God - Luke 4 - “It is written. . . “
2. The Blood of Jesus - Rev. 12:11a
“They overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb”
3. The Word of Testimony - Rev. 12:11b -
“and the word of their testimony.”
4. Praise – Neh. 8:10; Acts 16:25
“. . .the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”
5. The Name of Jesus - Phil. 2:9-11
“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name
which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those
under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
B. There are other effective Spiritual Weapons in our Arsenal
1. Intercessory Prayer
2. Preaching the Gospel
a. Proclaiming Christ
b. Shouting Good News
3. Soul Winning - Leading people to Jesus
a. Snatching souls from his grasp
b. Witnessing
4. Using Jesus' Approved Spiritual Weaponry (Isa 61)
a. Preach Good News to Poor (Isaiah 61)
b. Comforting the Broken-Hearted
c. Setting Captives Free
d. Leading Captives from Darkness to Light
e. Forgive, Love, Pray for Enemies
Storming Hell's Gates - Matt. 16:18
IV. WHY DO WE ATTACK HIM?
A. He hates Mankind and shows no Compassion or Mercy
1. Charlie Sheen is Devil's Poster Child
2. Dr. Frost - "The worst deceived are the self-deceived."
B. He hates us and wants to consume us - 1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV)
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a
roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."
ATTACKING THE ENEMY, cont., p.3
C. Without Jesus we are the "Devil's Lunch" Matthew 9:35-38 (NIV)
"Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their
synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every
disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on
them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a
shepherd.
37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are
few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his
harvest field."
1. The devil attacks vulnerable, helpless people
2. The are harassed and helpless
3. Like a Lion he will rend them to pieces at his pleasure
V. We attack under the authority of our Commander-in-Chief
A. He Goes before us and Leads the Battle - Isaiah 41:10
“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will
strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous
right hand.' "Behold, all those who were incensed against you Shall be
ashamed and disgraced; They shall be as nothing, And those who strive
with you shall perish. You shall seek them and not find them; Those who
contended with you. Those who war against you Shall be as nothing, As
a nonexistent thing. For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand,
Saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.'”
B. We have both His Promise and His Presence - John 14:18
"I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”
C. Become one of His Attack Lambs - Mark Geffert
1. Invite Jesus Christ into Your Heart – Romans 10:9,10
"The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the
word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the
Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the
dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto
righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
2. Receive the Promised Presence of God - Rev. 3:20
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and
opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”
Attacking THE ENEMY
Matthew 16:13-20 (NKJV)
13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?"
14 So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
20 Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.
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