This Sermon is about why and when the Devil comes towards you and how its different in many ways for many people that walk and don’t walk with Jesus Christ .
Denzel Washington(appeal to a higher authority-like Jesus) has a great video where he describes a strong Truth: when the devil ignores you then your doing something wrong, you are not a threat. , Devil says to his demons leave him alone he is my favorite, he’s doing my bidding.
Conversely when the Devil comes at you maybe its because you’re doing Kingdom business….
Lets Break this down :
Let’s say you’re a born again Christian, gave your life to Christ, and you’ve been baptized and follow Gods commandments the best you can. You keep short accounts with God by daily confessing your sin. You are faithful in church attendance and tithing and you are growing in the fruits of the spirit. Galatians 5:22 People see your walk and are pointed to Him because your Light is shining Matthew 5:16l , Your walk is pure, Matthew 5:8 Blessed and happy are the pure in heart for they shall see God. So You listen to great teachers like Tony Evans, Louie Giglio and Dr Charles Staley and many others that preach from Gods word like I do as well, and you are encouraging others in their walk and participate in small group Bible study or mens or women’s clubs.
In short, you are reading God’s Word and growing in grace.
Good news, you are following the path, you are a disciple. Your life and work will be blessed. You can also expect the devils is going to come after you. Your obedient Christian Walk is a threat to the Devil and he and his demons need to distract you , deter you , get you angry and distract you away from what God is doing in your life. You are a threat. Remember what satan said to Eve” Did God REALLY say?” He twisted what God said, caused Eve to doubt God’s Truth and appealed to her pride”you will be like God.” If that sounds familiar it is because satan has not changed his tactics in 7000 years.
The more like Jesus you are, the bigger the threat and the more satan will use the flesh, money, other’s opinions to keep you from God’s best. Paul warns us in Ephesians 6 your adversary the devil walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Keep that picture in mind. He is your adversary, he seeks to devour your peace , your joy, your testimony. In John 8 Jesus calls the devil out: he is a murderer, a liar and a thief.
As you grow in your Christian Walk, as you reach new levels, you will find breath taking and amazing joy, but the devil is now obsessed with tripping you up. You want to know why the guys cuts you off in traffic? Devils ploy to take your eyes off your Savior. I can speak from personal experience, having been through this many times. Things get heated up when you get closer and closer to God.
Ok so what do we do pastor ? Well, if you want victory, you stay rooted in Gods word and grounded Colossians 2:7 you pray without ceasing 1 Thessalonians 5:17. You choose to hang out with the right crowd. People around you can pick you up or bring you down. Proverbs 23:7 says as man thinks in his heart, so he will become. Who who you hang with is who you will become !! I have told my children this since an early age. Our Heavenly Father gently reminds us of this truth so we are protected by choosing people that point you to Him Proverbs 27:17 says “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens his friend.
Surround yourself with people who will help you through these rough times and learn form the trials and storms you will go through. James 1 says the testing of your faith brings patience. But let your patience have it’s perfect work, that you may be complete, lacking nothing.
Jesus was a master story teller. Crowds thronged to hear him. One of his most famous stories was about a sower sowing seed. He speaks of those who hear the word gladly, maybe even profess Jesus as Lord, yet “thorns”/ the devil snatch away the Truth. Others fall away due to treasuring the world and money more than their newfound faith. What will people think? What will I have to “give up”? Nothing. You trade your sin for His forgiveness, His peace for your trouble, eternal life for your lost state. Jesus said in John 8,”You will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free. Yet, that crafty serpent of old, satan cannot accept your New Life in Christ 2 Corinthians 5:17″If any one be in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has passed away and the new has come.” This “falling away” is called backsliding, forgetting your first love. Rev 2 Backsliding means forgetting who we are and what we were saved from, a failure to embrace God’s best for our life. Allowing satan to deceive and the world to take Gods rightful place as “our utmost for His highest.” Gods commandments and love are superseded by the cares of this world, old habits and ways of the world return. In this state, God will allow adversity to bring you back. Hebrews 12″ whom the Lord loves, He disciplines”
Ok So pastor what can this person do to turn this around and get back on correct path with Jesus? Well you need to examine your lifestyle and ask yourself since I gave my life to Christ have I really made the changes Jesus wants and expects from me ? Have I lost the joy of my salvation? Do I remember what I am saved from? Am I seeking relationship, reading His Word, fellowshipping with His people?The Bible says turn away from your old ways and be born again John 3, and a new creation , If old friends cannot see what God has done in your life, if you have not been “transformed by the renewing of your mind” Romans 12:2, then you have to ask yourself: am I in Christ? am I backslidden from His ways and walk? There is an old saying, God’s Word will keep you from sin, or sin will keep your from God’s Word. The best indicator of your spiritual life is your time with Him in His Word and prayer. A baby needs nourishment to grow.
So does the believer.Your missing out on Gods best for your life and if truly saved, you will go to heaven and your salvation is sealed but you missed God’s best. Life on earth will be much rougher and adversity will find you since you’re far from Gods protection and blessings and Gods purpose and destiny for your life. Jeremiah 29:11 says,”I know the plans I have for you, plans to bless and prosper, to give you a future, and hope. Psalm 139 says God knew us from before you were in your mothers womb. So how do we fix this? Surrender your life to Him, seek Him thru prayer and Bible reading, change your friends and job if you need to. I guarantee your life will change in ways you never imagined .In the Bible it says Isaiah 55:8,9″ For My ways are not your ways, and My thoughts are higher than your thoughts. God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life Allow the Author of Life and Truth to write your story, you will be glad you did.
If you are not a Christian or a follower of Jesus Christ , your life can go one of 2 ways or combination of both .Here we go lets unfold this now. ( Quote from the movie Gods Not Dead Lady in wheel chair with Dementia these arepowerful words she says ) Sometimes the Devil allows people to be free of trouble because he wants to keep their eyes off their sin problem and turning to God . Sin is like a jail cell its all nice and comfortable and doesn’t seem to be a need to leave the door is wide open until one day time runs out , the cell door slams shut and suddenly its too late .What is really happening here is the enemy keeps your life calm so he can control you and make sure your not searching for God and makes sure you don’t try and leave life the life enemy created for you in sin. See the door to cell is open but when everything in life is perfect its grand and you have no need to pray or reach out to God this keeps you captive under devils power and strong holds .
What seems so calm and clear and perfect is really a alarm clock waiting to ring and when enemy is done with you then he pulls carpet out from under you and sometimes this is by death and the cell door now is closed and you don’t have that chance to reach out to God. It’s too late. Other times he pulls carpet out from you because he wants to undo things he gave you and treat you like a rag doll and throw you around and make your life a living hell on earth. Remember Jesus called him a murderer, thief and liar.. He will kill your soul, steal your future and lie about God. Either way its baiting you and playing with your life Paul said Galatians 2:20 ,”I am crucified with Christ, It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me. Unpacking this verse means that I identify with Christ, surrender to His Lordship and break free from these chains the enemy has put around you. Romans 6:23″The wages of sin are death, but the gift of God is salvation thru Jesus Christ our Lord.” By asking Jesus Christ into your life He will save you from those sins and be your way maker and he can remove the chains and give you a life of joy and happiness and eternal life ahead when you pass through this life and onto the next .
