["Pomp and Circumstance"]
Good morning, we're in Luke chapter 4
Luke chapter 4
and the Bible reads and
Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness
Being 40 days tempted of the devil and in those days
He did eat nothing and when they were ended he afterward hungered and the devil said on to him if thou be the Son of
God command this stone that it be made bread and Jesus answered him saying it is written that man shall not live by bread alone
But but by every word of God and the devil taking him up into an high mountain
Showed on to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time and the devil sent on to him all this power
Will I give thee and the glory of them for that is delivered on to me and to whomsoever
I will I give it if thou therefore will worship me all shall be thine
And Jesus answered and said on to him get thee behind me Satan for it is written
Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve
And he brought him to Jerusalem and set him on a pinnacle of the temple and said on to him if thou be the Son of
God cast thyself down from hence for it is written. He shall give his angels charge over thee
to keep thee and in their hands they shall bear thee up lest at any time thou dash thy foot against the stone and
Jesus answering said on to him it is said thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God
and when the devil had ended all the temptation he departed from him for a season and
Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee and there went out of fame of him throughout all the region round about and
he taught in their synagogues being glorified of all and he came to Nazareth where he had been brought up and as his custom was
he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up for the read and
there was delivered on to him the book of the prophet of Zias
and when he had opened the book he found the place where it was written the Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he
hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor
He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted
To preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind to set at liberty them that are bruised
to preach the acceptable year of the Lord and
unto none of them was Elias sent save on to Serap the city of Sidon on to a woman that was a widow and
many lepers lepers were in Israel in the time of Elishias the prophet and none of them was cleanse saving name and the Syrian and
All day in the synagogue when they heard these things were filled with wrath and rose up and thrust him out of the city
And let him on to the brow of the hill where on the city was built that they might cast him down headlong
But he passing through the midst of them went his way and came down to Capernaum the city of Galilee and taught them on the Sabbath
day and
They were astonished at his doctrine for his word was with power and in the synagogue
There was a man which had a spirit of an unclean devil and cried out with a lot voice saying let us alone
What have we to do with thee thou Jesus of Nazareth our thought come to destroy us?
I know thee who thou art the Holy One of God and
Jesus rebuked him saying hold thy peace and come out of him and when the devil had thrown him in the midst he came out
of him and heard him not and
They were all amazed and spake among themselves saying what a word is this for what authority and power he commanded the unclean spirit
And they came out and the fame of him went out in every place of the country roundabout
And he arose out of the synagogue and entered into Simon's house
And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever and they sought him for her
And he stood over her and rebuked the fever and it left her and immediately she arose and ministered on to them
Now when the Sun was setting all day that had any sick with diverse diseases brought them on to him
and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them and
Devils also came out of many crying out and saying thou art Christ the Son of God and
He rebuking them suffer them not to speak for they knew that he was Christ
And when it was day
He departed and went into a desert place and the people sought him and came on to him and stayed him that he should not
Depart from them and he said unto them
I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also for therefore on my send and he preached in the synagogues of Galilee
Let's pray we thank you Heavenly Father for every precious soul in this building tonight
This morning and we thank you for our pastor dear God and please bless him as he preaches your word in Jesus name we pray
Amen
Amen, okay
we're in Luke chapter 4 this morning and look down at verse number 1 it says in Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from
Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness
Being 40 days tempted of the devil and in those days he did eat nothing and when they were ended he afterward
hungered and the time I started this morning is
Satan will take what he can get
Satan will take
What he can get I want to go through the story here in Luke chapter 4
And then we're gonna go to the story in Exodus with Pharaoh and Moses to kind of illustrate this point this biblical concept
That when it comes to spiritual warfare when it comes to Satan fighting you you gotta keep in mind that he will take whatever
He can get from you and you know when we think of Satan's goal for our personal lives you may think to yourself
Well Satan's goal is just to get me out of church Satan's goal is to you know cause me to stop reading the Bible
Maybe try to cause me to get involved in sin, but quite frankly it's not that simple in fact his will for your life is
Multifaceted there's various things that he wants you to do and quite frankly you know he's okay with you staying in church because he will take
What he can get okay the Bible tells us in John chapter 10 verse 10
You don't have to turn there the thief referring to Satan
Cometh not but for to steal and to kill and to destroy
I am come that they might have life and that they may have it more abundantly
And I do believe that here in Luke chapter 4 we see this principle executed
We see this principle illustrated the best with the temptation or the trial of Jesus Christ in the wilderness of course
We know that he's being led of the Spirit into the wilderness
Which is a picture of tribulation and he's there 40 days being
Tempted being tried of Satan look at verse number 3 if you would it says here in the devil sentence
If thou be the Son of God
Command that these stones
Excuse me command this stone that it be made bread so the first thing he's trying to get at him for is what hunger
We know that Jesus is fasting. He's hungry even though he's 100% God
He's also 100% man therefore
He feels that sense of hunger, and he's trying to tempt him with food and of course
We know that God he himself can take a stone
Turn it into the most delicious meal that you've ever seen in your life
And he has that capability of doing so and so Satan is trying to get that from him
He's trying to cause him to essentially stop his fasting and quit the spiritual warfare and give in to this
Sensual desire not necessarily wrong desire, but this fleshly desire of eating says a verse 4
Jesus answered him and said it is written that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God
So he combats this temptation with a spiritual truth that says you know what I can't live by physical bread alone
But by every word that proceed out of the mouth of God
Essentially saying that the most important thing that we need to focus on is these spiritual matters verse 5 says in the devil
Taking him up into a high mountain
Showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time now
This is this is always fascinated me this particular verse here
Because what it seems to indicate is that Satan somehow is able to give a panoramic view of
All the kingdoms in the world in a moment of time meaning just kind of throughout history
Or even in that particular period of time all in one moment is able to show him all the glory
All the the glory and the magnificence of all these kingdoms
And he says there in verse number six all this power
Will I give thee and the glory of them for that is delivered unto me and who to whomsoever?
I will give it if thou will therefore worship me all shall be thine so the first thing he tempts him with is food
Of course he rejects that he recognizes that you know the word of God is the most important thing for
Spiritual sustenance to help him get through this
But then also we see that he tries to tempt them with power right the ability to rule over all nations
All he has to do is worship Satan
But here's the thing is that Jesus already is gonna rule all nations
The kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and so obviously he's trying to give this to him
sooner than what is
Biblically illustrated the prophetic statements have said what the Bible says will happen, but Jesus doesn't give in to it
He says in verse 8 Jesus answered and sentenced him get thee behind me Satan for it is written thou shall worship the Lord thy God
And him only shalt thou serve
So he's trying to tempt them with something that is essentially good because he will rule over the nations
But he's trying to tempt them with an ungodly way of getting it right and so he doesn't give in to that
he doesn't worship Satan he rebukes Satan tells him to get behind him and
quotes scripture and says we should only worship the Lord our God verse 9 says he brought him to Jerusalem and
Set upon a pinnacle of a temple and sent him if thou be the Son of God cast thyself down from thence
It is written he shall give his angels charge over thee to keep thee and in their hands
They shall bear thee up lest at any time thou dash thy foot against the stone. So what is he tempted him with now?
Well, he's trying to essentially call out his deity, right?
And he's basically trying to get him to tempt God by casting himself down
And let's just be honest if Jesus were to just throw himself off the pinnacle of the temple. He doesn't need angels
He probably flowed himself, you know, I mean very just if he wanted to just fly he just do it
Right, he probably or just land softly or something
He can cause himself not to be hindered just as he walked on water and these supernatural feats in his ministry
But what is Satan doing? He's using scripture out of context in order to tempt Jesus Christ to essentially
Compromise
their verse number 12 says and Jesus answer said unto him it is said thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God and
When the devil had ended all the temptation I want you to notice this he departed from him for a season
So Jesus Christ is a key
Illustration here example of how to defeat Satan when Satan is tempting us, right?
He just defeats him with what with scripture just coming scripture coming with scripture coming with biblical principles
Not giving in to the temptation of Satan not giving in even though he's quoting scripture
He knows he's quoting out of context. He's resisting the devil and what does the devil do?
He flees from him and I want you to notice that it says there that he departs from him permanently
Indefinitely. No, he departs from him for a season
Implying that Satan will come back and this isn't the sermon but it's important for us to realize that if you're under satanic attack
And you defeat Satan in the sense of you're able to resist him. You're able to just defeat his temptations
You don't give in hey, praise God you got the victory there, but let me just say this
It's only for a season though
And he is gonna come back and here's here's an admonishment for people who just keep giving in to sin
Keep giving in to temptation keep giving in to whatever Satan is bringing their way
If you give in to those things the temptation is gonna come again, but the next time it comes you'll be weaker than before
It's important for us to overcome the temptations of Satan through the power of God and through his word
Because it kind of helps us to build up strength for the following temptation
You know what that test is gonna come around again. He's gonna try to break you down again
He's gonna try to tempt you again. This is how Satan works
He departs for a season, but then he comes back. However, if you're able to overcome these temptations look at verse number 14
Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee and there went out of fame of him
Through all the region round about because Jesus was able to overcome this
he was then filled with the Spirit came in the power of the Holy Ghost and
Of course that prepared him to begin his ministry his three and a half year ministry
Whereby he did many wonderful works go to Exodus chapter 8 if you would Exodus chapter 8
Satan will take what he can get and when he comes to he's not just gonna come to you with one temptation with one trial
with one
Tribulation with one difficulty with one deceit with one lie with one false doctrine
No, he's gonna throw everything he can at you because he wants to see what he could get from you
And you know what? Let me just be honest here. There's people in our church. They just will not get out of church
Right. I hope so, you know, that's what I think, you know, well, let me just point one out me
I'm the pastor. I'm probably not gonna get out of church. Okay, you know, I got to preach every Sunday and Thursday
So I just this is my job. All right
But I'm sure there's people here who are very grounded very
Disciplined very much have been in the Christian life for a length of time
They've set parameters in their life and they're probably never gonna get out of church
And in fact, they're probably never gonna stop reading their Bible. They're probably gonna go they're gonna be three to thrive
They're gonna be in church all the days of their life and you know what Satan probably won't be able to get you
To get out of church and smoke crack and drink beer
It's just probably it seems kind of ridiculous that you would ever even do something like that
You're like that would never happen to me and you know, you're probably right about that
But let me say this Satan will take what he can get from you though
Just because he can't get you out of church
Doesn't mean he's not gonna attack you doesn't mean he's not gonna tempt you with something else
Because he will take whatever it is he can get and whatever it is you can give him. He'll take that
Yeah, you may not be able to get you to stop reading the Bible, but he will take whatever he can get
And obviously we want to keep people from getting out of church
We want to keep people from getting involved in sin. We want to keep people from you know, just kind of
Reducing their spiritual disciplines and living a life that's pleasing unto the Lord
We want to keep people from doing those things
However at the end of the day
There's gonna be something that Satan is gonna tempt you with there's gonna be some form of deceit that he's trying to tempt you
With and you know what you can justify
Believing that you can justify behaving that way because you're still in church
So sometimes people say well, you know, I'm in church so at least I'm in church
You know, yeah, I'm feeling this way, but you know, at least I'm in church. Oh, yeah
I think this way but you know, at least I'm still reading my Bible and you know what?
Yes, amen to that. But just keep in mind Satan will take what he can get from you though
This is how Satan operates, okay, and I don't want our church to think that well, you know
I'm in church. So the battle is over doesn't work that way
Or, you know, I've read my Bible so the battle is over and we know that they all of Christian life is a spiritual battle
It's all spiritual warfare from beginning to end
Even if like we're not in some major spiritual battle in general, you're always in a spiritual battle
Because you live with your flesh that's constantly fighting against you, right?
You have the world the flesh and the devil but obviously there's seasons when that battle gets a little hotter
Gets a little more difficult becomes a little more strenuous causes you to want to kind of you know
Read your Bible more and pray more and and recognize spiritual matters more and it's important for us to realize that even though you know
You may not be experiencing necessarily a huge spiritual battle today
You still need to realize that Satan is still out to get you that he still wants to sift you as wheat
That he still wants to trip you up. He still wants your your faith to be you know question
He still wants to put doubt in your mind
He's still out with an agenda against you to take you down some form or another
And even if he can't get you out of church, maybe he can get you to not so one as much
Maybe he can't get you out of church, but maybe he doesn't get you
You know, he can get you to stop reading your Bible as much
Look at let's look at another example here in Exodus chapter 8. Of course. This is the famous story between Moses Aaron and Pharaoh
Pharaoh of course pictures Satan and
I'm not going to go through the entire story here, but I want you to notice a couple things here in verse 25
it says here in verse 25 of Exodus 8 and Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and
Said go ye sacrifice to your God in the land. Of course. This is after a couple of plagues
So Pharaoh's a little motivated to just all right, you know, go ahead go sacrifice to your God in the land
Go ahead stay in church
Verse 26 and Moses said it is not meet so to do for we shall sacrifice
The abomination of the Egyptians to the Lord our God lo
Shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes and will they not stone us?
we will go three days journey into the wilderness and
Sacrifice to the Lord our God as he commanded us. So what do we see here?
Pharaoh says ask Satan. All right, fine go sacrifice to God, but make sure you do it in land
You know, that's an example of Satan trying to take what he can get that's fine. You can sacrifice that's fine
But just make sure you stay in the land though and Moses is like no we're gonna go three days journey into the wilderness
We're not gonna do these things based upon your stipulations your terms and services
We're gonna do it the way God wants us to do it
Verse 28 says Pharaoh said I will let you go all very kind and gracious of him
They you may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness he says, okay fine go to the wilderness
Only you shall not go very far away though and treat for me. So at first he's like, you know
Sacrifice to God but make sure you stay in the land Moses says no no deal
We're gonna go three days journey and then Pharaoh comes back with okay fine
You can go to the wilderness, but just make sure you don't take it too far
Don't go very far, you know instead of three days journey maybe a day and a half maybe two days
Maybe two and a half but don't go three days journey. Don't go very far now
You know at a glance that may seem reasonable
Like well, at least we could we're gonna take what we can get right they may think to themselves
Well, you know, I guess it's still in the wilderness
But what people don't realize is that Satan Pharaoh is trying to take what he can get from you
Okay
He says don't go very far, you know, there's a good example of this is when you know
You might have family or friends or people you're close to and they see that you're really getting involved in the Christian life, right?
It's like you're going to Sunday morning service you add a Sunday night and then you start adding a Thursday
And then you add slow winning and somebody family comes to you like hey, it's great. I'm glad that you're doing the Christian thing
I'm happy that you're like, you know, you're about God and everything, but don't take it too far
Don't go too far into this, you know, oh you're evangelized you're going door-to-door. Oh, wow
Okay, you know don't get too zealous about this stuff
Like we it's cool. It's cool that you're going to Sunday morning service. But I mean, do you have to go back to Sunday night?
All right, you're going Sunday night. That's great. But do you have to go Thursday? There's another service to fall in week
Don't don't take it too far. All right, this is often the temptation that Satan brings
He tries to get you to forfeit that which is best for that which is just good
Look at verse go to chapter 10 if you would chapter 10 in
verse number 8
Satan will take what he can get from you
And what I want to encourage you today or instruct you ask church members is to be aware of
What Satan is trying to get from you and don't just walk away thinking. Well, I'm fine. I'm in church
I read the Bible. I love the Lord Jesus Christ
Hey praise God for that, but you better be vigilant and aware cuz Satan is cunning
He's crafty and he's trying to see what he can get from you and you'll take anything from me
And let me just say this we shouldn't give anything to Satan
We should give no room to Satan. We can't give him an inch. We don't want to give him a foot
We don't want to give him a milliliter. We don't want to give him any space whatsoever to Satan
Because you'll take even the smallest increment from you if you can
Look at Exodus 10 verse 8 and Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh and he said unto them
Go serve the Lord your God
But who are they that shall go?
Moses said we will go with our young and with our old
With our sons and with our daughters with our flocks and with our herds
We will go for we must hold the feast unto the Lord and he said unto them. Let the Lord be so with you
This is like flattery, huh as
I will let you go and
Your little ones look to it for excuse me
As I will let you go and your little ones look to it for evil is before you
Not so go now ye that are men and serve the Lord for that ye did desire
And they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence. So what is Pharaoh saying? He goes
That's fine. Go serve God, but don't take your kids
Don't take your flocks. Just make sure the men are the ones who aren't going to this and go serve the Lord
So what how can we apply this today? Well, how about this, you know, let's serve God as a family
right
Let's serve God with our mothers our fathers our sons and our daughters and we don't have flocks but our cars
our resources everything that we have
Whereas Satan says no don't don't do that. You just serve God don't get your family involved in this
Your wife doesn't need to go sowing your children. Don't need to go sowing with you. You guys don't need to serve God together
Just see that our man served the Lord now. I will say this is the men's activities only for the men. Sorry about that
This is the exception to the rule, okay
But in general what serving God should include the entire family
Right, this is why when we promote sowing we send families out together
And you know, it's a little challenging sometimes
But you have little ones out sowing picking the flowers and making all kinds of noise and it's just like you're just trying to like
Take people out of hell and you're just like stop, you know, and we got to train them teach them and and help them to be
a witness
But you know, it's worth it, right?
To serve the Lord with your family with your children train them up in the way that should go
This is important. Whereas Satan says oh, no, no, just just yourself. You should be the only one who's serving God
Don't get your family involved in this. No as for me in my house
We will serve the Lord, right
But this is an example of Satan just trying to take what he can get
Farrah would have been content with just having the men go and leaving the flocks the children the young people
Everyone else except for the men he would have been happy with that
Why cuz he will take what he can get look at verse 24 and Pharaoh called into Moses and said go ye serve the Lord
Only let your flocks and your herds be stayed let your little ones also go with you. So this is okay fine
Take your wives take your children, but leave your resources behind though. Don't serve God with your resources
You
Moses said thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt offerings that we may sacrifice unto the Lord our God
Our cattle also shall go with us there shall not and hoof be left behind
For therefore must we take to serve the Lord our God and we know not with what we must serve the Lord
Until we come thither but the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart and he would not let them go. So what do we see here?
You know, he says leave your resources behind leave your flocks your herds go with your little ones go serve God
But don't serve God with your resources and you know, Moses is just not giving an inch
He's like no, we're gonna take the animals too because we don't know how much we're gonna sacrifice
He might ask us to sacrifice everything we got so we can't leave anything behind
We serve God with everything our time our talents our resources our children our spouses our lives
Everything has them to the Lord
Not a hoof shall be left behind
This is an example of Pharaoh just trying to take what he can get
Go to first Thessalonians chapter 2 if you would first Thessalonians chapter 2 now we know off the bet right off the bat
You know God's or not God's excuse me Satan's will for mankind is to damn them to hell, right?
but they don't come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, that's what he's trying to get and
That was his plan for all of us who are in this room
To take us to hell to keep us blinded to the gospel
blinded to the truth and
You know what? He's not even trying to keep people from being Christian either
Because there's plenty of people out there. They claim to be Christians
They're in church right at this moment right now
They're singing to hymns. They're tithing. They're listening to preaching. They're taking their Bibles
They identify as being Christian, but they're not even saved because they believe in false gospel
But you know, he's fine with them calling themselves Christian. He's fine with them going to church every Sunday
He's fine with them carrying a Bible
He's fine with them using all the Christian needs and the Christian lingo and converting people to their church and getting proselytes
Because as long as they're not saved he's fine with that because he will take what he can get
Now obviously he probably prefers people to just be as far away from the truth as possible to be a Buddhist a Hindu
You know some some pagan religion out there that has nothing to do with Christ
But you know what if someone calls themselves Christian
But they're not saved he's happy with that because he will take what he can get now thankfully for us
That's not the case with us right? We believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. We have eternal life. Oh
Then we're good to go then
Fight's over. Well the fight for our souls over
But now what does Satan want he wants to hinder you
He can't damn you
So the next best thing for him is what to hinder you
Hinder you hinder me from what well from serving God
And I don't mean serving God as in just soul winning obviously
That's a part of serving God, but you know serving God when we talk about serving God this includes
Everything that we do in the Christian life our relationship to our spouse our relationship to our children our relationship to our bosses
When we what we do at work
How we operate one with another how we just live our lives is the Christian life
Because the Bible isn't just about serving God in a spiritual sense in the house of God
It's being able to serve God in all different facets of life
Okay
So what we'll say to try to do who try to hinder you from doing that look at first Thessalonians 2 14
It says here for ye brethren became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus
For you also have suffered like things of your own countrymen even as they have over the Jews
Who both killed the Lord Jesus? Oh, what does it say there? Oh who both killed the Lord Jesus?
The Jews killed Jesus just want to remind you of that in case some law tries to make it seem anti-semitic to say that
And their own prophets and have persecuted us and they please not God and are contrary to all men. Tell us how you really feel Paul
Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved
To fill up their sins always for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost
But we brethren being taken from you for a short time in presence not in heart
Endeavor the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. So the Apostle Paul is explained to the Thessalonians. He's saying look
You know, I've been wanted to see you but you know, I've been persecuted by the Jews. They've been hindering us
They've been just doing all these things to stop us
But we have a great desire to see your face
Verse 18 wherefore we would have come unto you even I Paul once it again, but Satan hindered us
Now, how did he do it? Well through the Jews according to this context
So when he says Satan hindered as he's referring to the fact that the Jews who have persecuted them and forbade them are the ones
Responsible for hindering the Apostle Paul from coming unto the brethren
Now the Apostle Paul did a lot of great works
He's a soul winner. He's an evangelist started many churches, but we we see here that even the Apostle Paul can be hindered by
Satan
What does it mean to hinder it means to slow you down?
It's the cause you to be retarded and
Not in the most modern way that people think about that retarded literally means to hinder to slow down. That's what that means
Okay, you know fire retardant, right?
and
So, you know, that's what Satan, you know, and by the way
Let me say this if you're serving God if you're like all-in if you are
Thinking to yourself. Well, my life is as unto the Lord. I want to preach the gospel
I want to do things that are pleasing in his sight then he's trying to hinder you and
Don't think well just because I'm serving God
I'm not gonna receive any attacks folks the Bible tells us that Satan as a roaring lion
Walk at the bow seeking whom he may devour and now and you know, and if he can't devour you praise God
But he will try to hinder you though and slow you down
From doing or being as effective as you can be in the Christian life
Well, if he slows me down a little instead of ten souls if I get five then what's the problem
Oh, here's the problem is that he'll just take what he can get from you
He's happy with you doing five as long as you don't do ten
He's happy with you doing two services as long as you don't do three
He's happy with you. He will take what he can get from you is what I'm trying to tell you
He
Would try to turn you aside he would try to deceive you
You know what as Christians just because we're saved and just because we're King James only and just because we're in church
Doesn't mean we're immune to the deception of Satan
Okay, and you know what? We shouldn't be ignorant of Satan's devices
We shouldn't be ignorant of the fact that Satan is out to just hinder us and out to just kind of
Misconstrued our minds and our perception of things we have to be aware of these things that we are in a spiritual battle
Okay, and not think to ourselves. Well, that's yeah other people are deceived but not me
Well, you better make sure you examine yourself. You better make sure that you spend time in prayer throughout this week
Which is probably one of the greatest things that people neglect doing when they're in a spiritual battle is pray
Rarely if ever as a pastor have I witnessed people telling me that they pray through some of these things
Just pray
But you know why people don't praise because they don't believe that they're really being under attack or something
Or they don't believe that they're susceptible to deception
Folks were all susceptible to deception if we're not filling our minds with truth with the Word of God and we're not praying through things
He will try to deceive you he will try to hinder you
Satan will take what he can get go to James chapter 4 if you would James chapter 4
The Bible tells us in 2nd Corinthians chapter 2 verse 11
Satan
Can get an advantage of us and it says for we are not ignorant of his devices
Meaning that all of us here know
that there are certain devices that Satan will try to use to deceive us and
You're not ignorant of it, but some people are just careless about it though
Some people are just reckless with that information
Some people don't they take that information. They don't do anything with it
Not realizing that Satan is a formidable opponent. He's very cunning. He's very crafty
He's been doing this for thousands of years. He's perfected his ability to hinder stop
Believers deceive them so as to make them not as effective get him out of the ministry
Get him out of church or just even cause wedges between relationships in marriage
with their pastor
With their children Satan, that's what he's known for
He knows how to create that
So, how do we combat it and this morning obviously that the title of the sermon is Satan will take what he can get and
The point of that title is to kind of get across to you that you know
You're not immune to deception and it doesn't matter how long you've been walking with God
How long how many times you've read the Bible how much you've spent time in prayer that truth is still true
that principle still there and
I don't want us as a church to become this flock where we're just kind of careless about
The attacks of Satan and not able to recognize it when it's there
Okay, and look there's been times when I've been deceived as a believer there's been times when I've been hindered I've been slowed down
Obviously, I haven't been taken out of the ministry
But you know, I'm sure Satan would love to get me out of the ministry
I'm sure Satan would love to just stop me. But if he knows he can't do that, he'll try to do it in different ways
Slow me down
You know create a wedge between me and the members
That's a way to do it, right
So, how do we combat this hot you're like man, okay, you know
Satan's out and he's trying to get see what he can get take what he can get. What do we do with that?
How do we combat it?
Well, I'm gonna give you just some simple
Principles that everyone knows but you just need to be reminded of this morning, okay
Number one is you need to submit to God and resist the devil
Submit to God and resist the devil and please don't take lightly what I'm telling you this morning
Don't think well, this is just a Sunday morning service
I can't wait to go eat and out in and out afterwards and no take this serious
Because this is a spiritual battle. We're Christians. We have an enemy
God is our Savior. Jesus Christ is our Savior, but I'm trying to prepare you for the fact that Satan is roaming about
He's crafty he's trying to deceive you
He's trying to hinder you somehow and I'm trying to communicate to you how to resist that and how to stop that
Submit to God and resist the devil. What does that mean? Well, the Bible tells us neither give place to the devil
Right Ephesians chapter 4. What does that mean? You know, you shouldn't put yourself in precarious situations
Where
Satan can tempt you make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lustre of and if you find yourself in spiritual battle
That's the best time to just
repent of your sins
Say Lord examine me and see if there be any wicked way in me
you know and
Lord help me to read the Bible more help me to pray more how I'm gonna be more spiritually minded
You know help me to listen to more godly music
Help me to surround myself with a Christian atmosphere because I need to be vigilant. I
Can't give place into the devil. Look at James chapter 4 verse 6
But he giveth more grace wherefore he saith God resisted the proud but giveth grace to the humble
Submit yourselves therefore to God
Resist the devil and he will flee from you
Draw nigh to God and he'll draw nigh to you
Cleanse your hands these sinners and purify your hearts you double-minded now before I get into resisting the devil
I want to clarify what it means to submit to God
Submitting to God requires you drawing nigh to God
Because it verse 8 kind of gives us the steps right drawing nigh to God
How do we do that reading the Bible and let me ask you this. Have you read the Bible today?
Have you read it this week or?
Do you think you're just good to go?
You see in order for us to avoid deception we have to fill our minds with truth
Sanctify them through thy truth thy word is truth in order for us not to be simple-minded and
Given to every single deception that Satan is throwing our way. We need to make sure we fill our minds with the Word of God
Let the Word of Christ dwell in you listen to this richly not poorly
not scarcely
but richly
Meaning that you don't want in the morning when you wake up. You should be reading your Bible shame on you if you haven't
Because you're a Christian. You're a child of God and you're under attack
You have a target on your back and you should be vigilant and read the Bible every single day
You know like I don't have time for that. I just I'm so busy then throwing Alexander Scorby or something do something
Listen to the Bible read the Bible
And look, I'm I'm gonna do this and I'm encouraging everyone to do this. Obviously. I can't make you do this
But we're gonna do no media November
And I'm super looking forward to that. Okay, some of you are like
And I'd say a jokingly but it's fact though there's people in here that just you you're like a crack addict when it comes to social
media
You're like a meth addict you're like a heroin addict what's another drug out there what?
Fentanyl addict
That's like you
Cuz you just you're so addicted to social media. It's like removing it for 24 hours. You just seems that you're just gonna
Hear your bones start to ache you start having hot flashes
You need a detox though and
Obviously, I can't we can't you know, I can't tell you to permanently get rid of it
I think sometimes maybe we should
So and by the way, there's there's a very small minority in our church who are not on social media. They're weird, you know
Weirdos and stuff, you know, just but you know, everyone's different
But I for example, I got rid of Facebook like a couple days ago now I didn't delete my account just deleted the app
You know, I just like I just you know, you press it and it wiggles you press the X and it's gone
And it's just like
Start like hyperventilating or something, but you know here I am a couple days later. I feel great now. I haven't done it to Instagram
But but I am you know, I'm actually gonna price our a little earlier than November just to kind of wean myself on to it
And you know what? I'm not only am I not gonna have any media in November. I'm gonna replace it with something else
Okay, you said what should I replace it with how about just reading the Bible
Yeah, but but what I mean that's like super beneficial
And I'm not saying remove things from your life and just don't add anything to it. You have to practice the principle of replacement
You know if you're gonna replace social media, you should replace it with reading the Bible. How about just reading books in general?
You like I don't have time to read books, of course, you know because you're reading tons of books on on on Instagram the cold reels
You just were reading so many posts that that's your book reading or whatever
But why don't you delete that and actually get a physical book and read that instead? Well, what else can I do?
I don't know, you know spend time with your family
How about going outside touching grass?
How about taking a walk with your family
Without
Your phone
You know because we like to do all this stuff, but then we're just like
You know what I'm talking about, how about you practice just leaving your phone at home
Right and look if this makes you nervous you need it the most
You need it them how about going to the gym
How about lifting how about spending time with your wife
Spending time with your husband spending time with your kids reading to your kids. Hey, how about this?
You know
This is one thing that we did my family and I started practicing
And we talked about this for about two weeks or so and we started practicing this on Friday family altar
So what is that we get together and read a chapter of the Bible we take blessings
We sing hymns. We take prayer requests and we pray together
Like
We do that at church already
Well, god forbid you should do some spiritual at your house too
I'm just trying to give you ideas of what to do
You know, let's let's let's go back to the day the 90s, you know where social media wasn't around, you know
You say why well, I'm I'll tell you why you know a lot of times people think well
I don't know what I'm gonna do with my time. And how can I draw night to God?
I don't have enough time to do that. You do have enough time
You're just frivolously wasting your time on other things that don't matter things that are vain
Things that are just turning your brain to mush things that are giving you anxiety and stress
Why don't you just replace that?
with reading the Bible and draw night to God and
Not having your phone nearby to check it every time
We
We're gonna do it
Draw night to God he would draw night to you. How do you draw on that?
How do you submit to God you draw night to him?
It says here cleanse your hands these sinners and purify your heart to double-minded. What does that mean?
You basically repent of your sins as God to clear you Lord of there. Is there anything in my heart?
That's just you're not pleased with
You know what? Sometimes Christians just are scared to actually ask that
Because they know for a fact that there is things in their heart that they need to get rid of
But you know what in order to submit to God that requires that type of prayer say Lord examine me
Help me to be cleansed and then also
Resisting the devil now, what does it mean to resist the devil? How do we do that?
How do we resist Satan when he's attacking us? Well, here's the best way to do it and
Listen to me. Here is the best way to resist Satan
Other than just not giving in to sin don't make any hasty decisions
Yeah
You see when Satan attacks you he causes you to think that you have you're supposed to have a sense of urgency to make a
decision now I
Gotta fix this now. This has to change now. We gotta do this now and that's what Satan wants
He wants you to make a hasty decision because we often make the most worst decisions when we do it hastily
But why don't you just resist and just say I'm gonna sleep on this
For a couple nights
I'm gonna pray about this. I'm gonna read the Bible
With this in mind, I'm gonna go to church and do what I'm supposed
I'm gonna labor and work for the Lord before I make any decision and folks just listen to me
You know
I've
Ministered to people for the last 17 years and some of the worst decisions that people make make they make them just on a dime
At the drop of a hat, you know what that is that Satan caused you to think no
You have to try you got to decide now you got to decide now just be hasty
Decision maker just do it now. Just do it now. Just relief the stress by just making the decision now
No, just shut up Satan
And just you know what? I'm gonna resist the devil
I'm not gonna listen to you don't tell the devil to shut up by the way, but you know, we're not Pentecostal
But you know resist the devil and just say, you know, I'm not gonna make any hasty decisions right now
Get your emotions under control
And I'm not telling you to not be an emotional person because we all are that's normal. It's perfectly fine
Well, God God does not expect for you to not be emotional he expects for you to not make decisions based upon being emotional
He wants you to be spirit-led
not carnally led
Resist the devil and just say you know what Lord I'm not gonna make any decisions right now. I'm gonna read the Bible
I'm gonna pray I'm gonna soul win. I'm gonna give it some time
Until my emotions just kind of level out and then I'm gonna keep praying
I'm gonna keep reading the Bible and you know what happens often after that because you've resisted Satan. What does he do? He departs?
He flees from you, but I hate to tell you this. It's only for a season
But you know if you're the type that always makes a hasty decision when the temptation comes then the next season he comes
It's gonna be easier to give in to his temptations
Because you didn't build up the resistance I
I
Want to encourage you as a church endure hardness I
Don't like hardness I
Don't like uh, you know
Trials, I don't like difficulties. I don't like anxiety. I don't like stress. I don't like any of that stuff
But you know what? It's gonna be there no matter what so why don't I just endure it?
And you know the worst way to endure stress and hardships is just doing nothing at all
Just sitting in your home. Just thinking
You know just allowing the imaginations to grow like a mushroom in your brain and in your soul. That's the worst thing you can do
You know what I do when I'm stressed go take a walk go lift weights go to the gym go hike
Go do something of activity go serve God go do something to preoccupy your mind, but let me say this don't go to social media though
You
Say why because sometimes that it just induces more stress
You know my wife was telling me that like
They did this study where like when people actually get off of social media it actually resets
their reward system in their brain
And it actually causes them to actually enjoy
Just the simple things of life more because you know when you're on social media your your emotions are like this
sad videos happy videos funny videos just like one after another you're just like
You're just seeing everything it takes you through this wide spectrum of emotions
And then one minute you're just live in the other minute. You're just tearing up
You know and you're just like oh, man this poor dog
And then the next videos nature is metal where a dog is eating like another you know
And then and then it what does it do it goes to the political realm and it gets you really angry
Right and then it takes you to a real of myself preaching the word of God, and you're like oh
This is what I need right here
But it takes you to all these wide range of emotions, and so you wonder why you so emotional all the time
We need to be level level-headed
Okay, but you know if you get rid of social media it actually resets your your reward system
so you could actually go and enjoy like flowers and stuff and
Some of you're like flowers. I'm like see that. It's cuz your reward system is busted
When you actually go outside you enjoy like plants and trees and the sky and
Scenery and you actually enjoy you know the things that God has given to you. That's a great way of life
Endure hardness
Okay, but as you're enduring serve God
Be with your family
Spend time with your children play with your children read to your children
Play tag and hide-and-seek with your children
You know be with your wife spend time with your wife. You know go to dinner with your wife and just look at your wife
Leave your phones behind
Go read books go improve your life improve yourself
Why don't you take the next three months to just improve yourself?
And prove yourself as a Christian improve yourself as a husband and prove yourself as a father and prove yourself as a worker
Just make yourself better
So draw night to God to resist the devil spiritual warfare go to 2nd Corinthians chapter 10 2nd Corinthians chapter 10
Here's the next thing you can do
What's the title of the sermon Satan will take what he can get so how do we create an optimal?
Environment so as to not give them anything at all not give them an inch not give them a foot well number one draw
Night to God and resist the devil, but number two cast down and captivate your thoughts
We need to master the ability to control how we think
We need to master that ability a lot of people don't have that ability
You know they just let whatever in
Through their eyes and their ear gate and whatever comes in they just allow to just create a monster in their imagination
But we as Christians need to be strong minded
strong up here
Meaning what look at 2nd Corinthians 10 verse 3 for though we walk in the flesh we do not war after the flesh
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds
So the Bible seems to indicate that people
Christians can build up
strongholds in their mind in their soul, and it's not us who are building at Satan who's putting them there
What are strongholds deceit doubts?
things that are
Contrary to the Word of God, and they're so strongly embedded in our brains in our minds that it actually hinders us from believing the promises
of God
And what God says is that you gotta pull those down
verse 5 says casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalted itself against the knowledge of God
Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ the Bible says what does it tell us?
It's telling us we need to be strong-minded and the way we can become strong-minded is not allowing your imaginations to just go unfettered
You know what I'm talking about
Sometimes our imaginations run wild when we're in a tribulation or trial, and we just think of the worst possible outcome
Even to the point where you think it's just true
It's already happened. Well if this happens, then this happens, then this happens, then I'm gonna die
That's an imagination
And the Bible says that whatever thought comes into your mind
That's against the knowledge of God meaning against the body, and I don't want to bring up the social media thing again
But it's kind of part of it
That induces a lot of it
And if you're not mentally strong, you'll just believe anything
You got to be mentally strong
Cast down the magic this has to be a common daily practice for all Christians
That
When you are confronted with a particular thought you always measure it according to how you feel no according to the Bible
You get a thought it's just like okay, well there are many devices in a man's heart, but the counsel of the Lord that shall stand
So the Bible says because our hearts can come up with all types of devices. You know people who are
You know
Continuously paranoid and stressed. I mean they're just always thinking of the craziest outcome for anything
You know a lot. Let's just say like you know a lot of introverts that come into church
You know they're just like oh man this person's gonna talk to me if he comes out
He's gonna ask me this question
I don't know that and they come up with this entire scenario in their brain
And then what happens that person comes in says hey?
And just walks away just nothing happens
And I think one of the best examples of this in the Bible is David
Because when David was going back and forth with Saul it got to a point where Saul finally say you know what I'm not gonna
Try to kill you anymore. I'm not gonna come after you you spared me so many times
and he walked away, and then David's all I shall one day now die by the hand of Saul and
So he flees into the country of the Philistines because that was in his heart
He says I he said in his heart. I will one day die by the hand of Saul
And it caused him to make this hasty decision to go into the land of the Philistines for like over a year
And essentially to get out of God's will for like a year because God didn't want him in the land of the Philistines
But what was it it was just something that he said in his heart
And we're all susceptible to this
I'm just trying to explain to you that you
need to develop the discipline of
casting down imaginations
and
You know what I'm not just talking about in the spiritual sense as our church, but especially in 2024. This is election year and
I'm preaching this also because of the fact that some of you might be losing your minds in the next month or so I
Mean when I brought up the whole, you know, no media November the political the political people in our churches like no way
I can't do that. I
Need to know about the election fraud. I need to know who's gonna become president
Well, if you don't tune into social media in the month of November, don't worry that you'll find out who the president is in December
And you know if it's if you find out that it's Kamala it's okay
You'll find out that your life is gonna be miserable in December because of that
It's not gonna change
Some people just love being stressed out though
There's people who are just addicted to being stressed
Listen to all the podcast all the conspiracy theories
All of the Alex Jones and look listen Alex Jones just stressful period even if he's not even talking about anything
Like that's gonna happen. Just listen to him talk stresses you out
The water's turning the forest gay and it's just like
Stresses you out
And then people wonder like man, maybe I got to stop drinking so much caffeine
No, you just got to stop listening to Alex Jones
And that'll reduce your anxiety by like 60%
Captivate your thoughts
Be a people who has control over their minds. Listen to me burn up the loins of your mind the Bible says
Meaning you wake up and you turn up those loins with the Word of God. You don't allow just anything to come in
Careful with the information you put in
Careful with the information you put into the eye gate or through the ear gate and if something slips in you take captive of it
And say this does not match up with this. Therefore. I'm discarding it. I'm gonna cast it down
Why because if you don't it becomes a stronghold in your brain in your mind
It can affect you in the future. It could cause you to doubt God's Word
It can cause you to be faithless it can cause you to be hindered as a Christian
Cast down in your imaginations every high thing that exalted itself against the knowledge of God
The Bible says in Proverbs 4 23 keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life
What's it saying? You need to protect what's going inside?
You know, your heart is deceitful
Desperately wicked above all things who can know it so we don't need to help it
To like be even more deceitful and wicked
But you know, if you just constantly just letting whatever in you're just constantly letting whatever in through YouTube through Instagram through Facebook
Through rumble no one listens to rumble, you know through all these other
You're just filling your heart with these things and it's gonna cause you to make some unbiblical choices and unbiblical decisions and have an unbiblical
mindset
So then what am I supposed to do Bible says in Proverbs 16 verse 3 commit thy works unto the Lord and thy thought shall be established
Take captive your thoughts work for Christ and you know what your thoughts will be established you want to be a level-headed Christian
Go to Ephesians chapter 6 if you would Ephesians chapter 6 and we're gonna finish here
Satan will take what he can get from you. I don't want to scare you but he's probably doing it right now
He's probably working right now
Throughout this week. He's been working sowing seeds
Sowing see you say well, you know, I don't really think I have any problems. But you know what one thing that I've noticed
over the last 17 years is
one of say one of Satan's devices one of Satan's tactics is he tries to always create a wedge between
Their a person's authority and themselves
Obviously
The authority of God's Word that's one of them right create a wedge between us and the authority of God's Word or us and our
parental authority
right or
us and our our boss at work or
You between me
That's one of the greatest ways that he can you know
I've said this before the attacks from without strength of strengthens us from within
But attacks from within can weaken us
One of the greatest ways he can weaken our church is by creating a wedge between you and me
Trying to convince you to think that I'm somehow your enemy
Or my judgment is not correct or I'm faltering in my position as a pastor
He can he can do that and you may think to yourself. Yeah, but I might have that opinion
But it's not gonna really affect me in any way. Well, here's the thing when a seed is sown. It doesn't grow overnight
When
A seed is sown it takes years and man one thing about Satan. He's so patient. He's so patient
Why cuz he'll take what he can get
he'll sow that seed of doubt he'll sow that seed of
Distance between your and your pastoral authority and you'll wait a couple years
Until it actually grows out to be something a root of bitterness springing up trouble you
See things willing to wait
I
Don't want there to be distance between you and me
I hope you don't feel that way. I know a lot of people don't feel that way
But you know, I need to say that from time to time
Because you know what? I'm not your enemy. I'm gonna tell you the truth sometimes, but that doesn't mean I'm your enemy
You know, I might rebuke you I might reprove you I might admonish you but that doesn't mean I'm your enemy
It means I it means I love you. It's mean it means I'm your friend
I'm your earthly shepherd
Don't allow Satan to create any wedge between us
Because that's one way that he can get you out in the long run get you out from biblical authority
I'm not your enemy. I pray for you. I think upon you. I
Preach to you. You are my life
This church is my life
This is how I serve God. This is you are the people that I constantly think, you know
This is not something I just do on Sundays and Thursdays
This is something that I think about all the days of every single week of every single month you're in my thoughts all the time
And one thing that I've been burdened over this lot this past week is
You know the possibility that Satan has been trying to create a wedge between me and my members
Now if you hate me then let's let's let's let's lengthen that wedge
Let's let's create such a space between us that it just shoves you out the door
Because why would I want anybody to be in our church who hates me? That's weird
You know, if you just despise me then let's hear I'll help you create that wedge, you know, we'll create distance for sure
But if you love me as I love you
Then you know, let's let's minimize that wedge
Say how would you be honest with me?
Just talk to me
You know cuz sometimes people can create a wedge unknowingly because they're not transparent with their pastor about a specific opinion a
Thought that they're struggling with maybe some resentment that they may have
Maybe an offense that they have and they think to themselves
Well, I can't bring this to pastors attention because I don't want to offend them
But but let me just tell you that I don't get offended very easily
You know, I get offended if people don't come to me and talk to me about stuff
So
You know minimize that wedge come talk to me and
I'm not you know, high and mighty where it's just you can't talk to me and you can't discuss things with me
That's why I'm here for
I'm here to talk to you
I'm here to like minister to you and one of the best ways to just completely remove the distance and just
Minimize it and remove the wedge. It's just by getting things out in the open
Just being transparent it's the it's like the healthiest thing to do is just bring things to light just say
Pastor I did hate you. I'm just gonna be honest with you, but I don't hate you anymore
But I was angry about this and and you know what you'd be surprised how relieved you feel
When you just let it all out
That's how it is
You say I don't know I don't think I'm gonna do that that's because Satan is taking what he can get from you
You might remain in our church. But one thing he succeeds at if that's the case
This is keeping that wedge between you and me. I
Understand there's certain people here that I'm closer to than others. But in general, I'm just being 100% honest with you
I love all our people here. I have a lot of love for our church
And showed there should be no wedge between us
Here's the last point is that in order to fight this
We need to arm ourselves
Let me briefly go over this written. Look at verse 6. Excuse me chapter 6 verse 11
It says here put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil
So what is this telling is telling us that like if we're gonna be in a spiritual battle
We have to make sure that we're conscientiously putting on the spiritual armor upon ourselves because apparently whatever attacks are coming our way
Can create some pretty significant damage
thereby God
Constructing this armor for us to withstand that he says verse 12 for we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities against powers
Against the rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickedness in high places
Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God not partial
Not a fraction of it whole armor
That you may be able to withstand in the evil day having done all to stand in other words if you're gonna withstand the temptations
of Satan if you're not gonna give them an inch or a foot if you're not gonna give them anything you
have to wear all this armor here in
Order for you to stand in the evil day
Verse 14 stand therefore having your loins gird about with truth
Now, what does that mean the loins good about with truth is referring to your core values that are founded upon the Bible
I hope you know what you believe. I
Hope you know what you believe about salvation
I hope you know what you believe about God about the Bible about biblical authority these core values
Need to be girded on you spiritually in order for you to withstand in the evil day
In other words, you know what a core value that I have is I'm just never gonna get out of church. I
Will be in the house of the Lord all the days
I'd rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness
For a day and night courts are better than a thousand that's a core value that you have and you need to keep that on
you
Because it'll stabilize you no matter what happens
It's like you're always gonna be in this thing because of these core values these core beliefs that you have
He says stand therefore having your loins gird about with truth and having on the breastplate of righteousness
What is the breastplate of righteousness?
righteous living
Intentionally keeping sin out of your life
Why is it a breastplate will keep my heart with all diligence rather than all the issues of life
Keeping sin out of your heart
Living, you know just a Christian life
Living, you know having godly conduct and conversation
Not only that look at verse 15 and your feet shot with the preparation of the gospel of peace
So as you're fighting, what do you have to do? You have to gird your loins about with truth your convictions
You have to live righteously keeping sin out of your life, but also go preach the gospel
Go soul win go lead someone to Christ. Why cuz that keeps you eternally minded
And it reminds you that you have a purpose in this life and that purpose is to get people saved and save people out of
Hell look at verse 16 above all
Taking the shield of faith wherewith you may be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked
What is what is that referring to the shield of faith? It's unwavering faith in his provinces
Because you know that when Satan throws these darts at you
fiery darts
They can create a lot of damage
Satan is a master of deception. He's the father of lies
And he can just throw one dart after another one dart after another using circumstances and situations
And you know if you don't have that shield of faith knowing the promises of God that'll take you down
But
You know what we have to make sure we don't stagger at the promises of God through unbelief we need to be strong in faith
Knowing being fully persuaded that what he had promised he is able also to perform
Put that shield of faith and you just say like
pretty convincing
kind of hot
But I'm not gonna believe it cuz this is what the Bible says and
Just just allow that shield to just quench the fiery darts of the wicked
and just like it you you're gonna feel that shield getting hot too, and you're gonna feel the
Impact, but it'll never get through as long as you know the promises of God
Verse 17 take the helmet of salvation
I do believe that this is actually referring to not the salvation of our souls
But I think it's referring to the deliverance of our imaginations making sure as we were talking about before
casting down imaginations
Removing those strongholds delivering your mind saving your mind from the wiles of Satan
Filling your mind with godly things
He says take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God
Obviously amongst all these things you've got to make sure you're reading the Bible every single day
And here's the last thing and I think this is the thing that everyone forgets about
Even if they get everything else
Here's one thing that people neglect
Myself included from time to time verse 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit
watching there unto with all perseverance and supplications for all sins
Can I ask you a question real quick before I finish?
Have you prayed this week enough
Think about like your greatest concern this week think about the thing that you struggle with the most
Think about the most difficult imagination that you've had this week
Now think about this how much time have you spent praying about that I
Would I would probably guesstimate that the majority of people probably say I've spent very little time praying about that
I've actually spent more time thinking about it than praying about it
You know, that's our fault
That's where we mess up
We don't pray enough
and often we get these stresses anxieties and tribulations and we just want to pull up our bootstraps and just fix it ourselves and
Just kind of intellectually fix it with how we know and the knowledge that we have and the wisdom we have
But rarely do we ever actually just go to the Lord and say Lord give me wisdom
Give me prudence. Give me discernment. Give me judgment. Give me strength. Give me power
How many be filled with your spirit to discern what decision I need to make?
Help me Lord and then and then guess what doing it again and again and again and again and again and again and again
You really you'll find out that if that's you make that a common practice of yours of praying
You realize that those imaginations dissipate
you'll have the peace of God that passeth understanding and
You'll be able to withstand in the evil day
Gotta have the armor, but you better be praying through it, too
And you know what I want our church to be a biblically sound church
But you know what? I also want our church to be a praying church, too
You better be praying for your spouse
I'm gonna be praying for your kids
You better be praying for me
Please please pray for me
You better be praying for one another
And you know what? You don't need to just get down on your knees to do it. You can do it anywhere
Don't be all weird about it
Well, you know you can you can pray quietly silently as you drive
You know instead of listening to music you can turn off the music and pray
in
The shower you can pray make sure you're showering
pray
As you're taking walks you can pray
pray
We don't want to miss this element of prayer
You need to pray I
need to pray
What's the point that I made the point that I'm making here?
Is that you know I just don't want Satan to get a foot or an inch from us
Unfortunately he will though in some people because I can't control the actions of people
But I hope this sermon provokes you to realize that if you've given him an inch or a foot. I hope you take it back
And realize like I know the battle now I know the strategy I know the methodology and I want to resist that
I don't want to give in to that. I don't want to make any hasty decisions
I need to pray I need to read my Bible and to be in the spirit
I need to resist the devil. I need to put on the whole armor of God
Lord I'm thankful first works Baptist Church. I'm thankful for the people here and Lord
I pray that you'd help us to walk with you and throughout this week
May we not soon forget the principles that we learned this morning. We love you. We thank you pray these things in Jesus name. Amen