A If your life is being lived in the Will of God it will always be on a collision course with agenda of Satan.
1 He was once a prince but now he is an unsurper, a pretender to the throne of the earth.
a Satan rebelled before Adam was created and was cast from heaven.
aa Science & Scripture agree that there was a great cataclysm that brought ruin & death to this world before Adam.
bb Lucifer became the malicious Satan lurking the body of a snake in Eden.
b Satan is defeated.
aa He is awaiting his final sentence, just like those of the human race who will be be sent to hell with him.
bb Jesus created hell for the devil, demonic minions . . . and it is a real place that those who reject Christ will spent eternity.
2 Until Satan is cast into the lake of fire, he remains in our solar system as the “prince of the power of the air.”
a He has permission to operate in the disobedient, roams the planet seeking to pounce.
b For the Christian, earth isn’t a playground but a battleground.
B Psalm 56 is called a michtam, which means “golden song” or “precious song.”
1 It’s a song that shows the longings of David’s heart to be with God.
a This Psalm reaches back to Ps. 55.6.
b The Psalm was penned when David was running from Saul and he fell into enemy hands (Philistines).
aa He longed for the days before the haunting responsibility of leadership fell on him.
bb He had been anointed king, yet instead of a throne, he had war!
2 You may be thinking you and David have nothing in common, but you’d be surprised.
a We come to Christ, are anointed by the Holy Spirit, and then the enemy declares war!
b Yet we know that the victory is ours!!! We still are hounded, attacked, pursued by the enemy.
I The Enemy Oppress us in Four Ways (He’ll seek to oppress you on every side, IL. Of Lion Tamer)
William H. Hinson tells us why animal trainers carry a stool when they go into a cage of lions. They have their whips, of course, and their pistols are at their sides. But invariably they also carry a stool. Hinson says it is the most important tool of the trainer. He holds the stool by the back and thrusts the legs toward the face of the wild animal. Those who know maintain that the animal tries to focus on all four legs at once. In the attempt to focus on all four, a kind of paralysis overwhelms the animal, and it becomes tame, weak, and disabled because its attention is fragmented
A Satan will surround us with people who seek to distract us.
1 Ps. 56.2, (Bible in Basic English translation, NIV, NCV)
a David feels hounded by his enemies like a pride of lions.
b There are people whose main goal in life is to distract you, waste your time, criticize you, or confuse you.
2 Peter tried to “help” Jesus by denying the need of the cross. (Matt. 16.21-23, NASB)
B Satan will surround you with people who will directly attack you. (Ps. 56.1)
1 Swallow means “to beat, to curb, or swallow.”
a Sometimes the enemy wants to swallow you up, crush your purpose!
b Leave your for dead along the road near calvary.
2 “ . . . all day . . .” means “all the time; the total of everything.”
a Literally means that Satan attacks the totality of my life’s purpose all the time.
b He never gives up. (We get revived and we wonder why the revival doesn’t last . . . SIN!)
c Remember the term of the Gulf War “Shock and Awe”.
aa Described an air attack that went on for days designed to crash the will of the ones attacked.
bb Our enemy tries this same approach as the prince of the power of the air.
C Satan will use slander to defeat us and turn us away from victory. (Ps. 56.5)
1 Satan is the accuser!
a His whole goal is to lie about you, lie to you, and bring ruin into your life.
b “distort” NASB; “Twist” NIV, TLB, NLT.
aa Means to “fabricate, to carve, to cut up, to inflict pain.”
bb He will take what you do/say and fashion it into something that causes pain, misrepresents you and what you believe.
2 Not just your words, actions but your thoughts as well.
a “Thoughts” means “to weave or fashion.”
b These thoughts lead us to wrong judgements, beliefs in an attempt to thwart God’s purpose for our lives.
D Satan stalks believers to hinder their faith (Ps. 56.6).
1 Notice that more often than not Satan uses people, even believers, to do his dirty work.
2 Sometimes the accuser of the brethren uses the brethren to do the accusing.
II Seven winning responses to Satan’s Challenge (Ps. 56.9)
A First, Trust the Lord as the Psalmist did. (Ps. 56.3)
1 “Trust” means to be “confident, secure, safe, trust.”
a The ancient root of the word means “to be stretched out.”
b When you stretch something the wrinkles come out: wrinkles of worry.
2 (Spiritual botox!)
B Second, Trust the Lord’s Word (v. 4).
1 David takes refuge in God and God’s Word.
a Shouts out “hallel” for the Word in the middle of the attack because he has received a word form God.
b Even while the battle is raging he trusts in God.
C Third, Take refuge in a God who cares for and loves you. (56.8).
1 Every other religion in the world has worshipers trying to enter God’s presence while Children of the Living God persue the God is inviting us to enter His presence.
a We’ve already got His heart, caught His eye, fallen in love with us!
b “number” is to “keep score in order to celebrate later.”
aa God will celebrate our victory with us!
bb You overcame, didn’t you?
2 “Wandering” is “exile.”
a The enemy tried to evict David from his land, feel humiliated . . . but God is keeping score!
b We will get back all that the enemy has taken.
aa Our tears are being kept in a wineskin (bottle).
bb That which is bitter God will turn to fine wine . . . He will take our tears and turn them to joy!
D Fourth, Pray (Prayer brings God’s resources to the scene.) (56.9) NIV, KJV, Bible in Basic English
1 This is bold, loud, demanding prayer.
a Ever heard a 9-1-1 tape call?
aa impassioned, frantic, emotional
bb David is passionately praying, crying out to God in the face of the enemy!
b God will those prayers offered in urgency.
2 Some people don’t much stake in death bed conversions because it is offered under duress. (Most of the prayers I pray I offer in duress!)
E Fifth, Rest in the assurance of God. (56.9)
1 God is on your side. “Wow!”
a The believer is on the Lord’s Side and the Lord is the believers side!
b What a shield to lift up against the enemy.
2 Romans 8.28 (God is for you . . . believe it! Live it!)
F Sixth, When we honor our promises, God will protect us. (56.12) NASB, NIV, TLB, NLT
1 The literal translation, “I will fulfill my prosmises to you, O God, even as I lift my hands in praise.”
a Towdal means “to lift the hands while praising God.”
b Lifting our hands is an expression of worship, surrender but even more is revealed in this verse.
aa In a court of law the witness puts one hand on the bible and the other raised as they make an oath, promise.
bb God sees us lifting our hands and sees it as a solemn promise from us to keep our vows!
c When you what you promised, victory is guaranteed
2 Ecc. 5.4-5, we see a warning about vows/promises.
a The devil comes after broken promises to the Lord.
b Prov. 20.25
G Seventh, We give witness/testimony of God awesome power. (56.13) NASB, KJV
1 God rescues our lives, keeps us from falling.
a “falling” or “stumbling” means to be pushed.
b “feet” is journey.
c IL. Pic of sheep on wall in Mesada.
2 God will not allow the enemy to push us down or offa cliff on our journey; we will make it home!!!!
Conclusion:
A Ps. 56.13, “So that I may walk before God In the light of the living.”
1 “Living” means fresh flesh.
a God gives us a fresh, new start; He renews our lives on Earth as we walk before Him in the light/daylight.
b Speaks of new beginnings & this is how life is supposed to be lived!
aa Not in yesterday’s mistakes, heartbreaks, sin, failures.
bb But walking in the light of the living today!
2 Here is a proclamation to turn back the enemy:
a I nullify every satanic prayer by the blood of Jesus, in Jesus’ name.
b I nullify every satanic challenge by the blood of Jesus, in Jesus’ name.
c I nullify every satanic decree against my life, in the name of Jesus.
d I nullify every satanic desire upon my life by the blood of Jesus, in Jesus’ name.
e I nullify every satanic expectation concerning my life, in the name of Jesus.
f I nullify every satanic decision taken against my life, in the name of the Jesus.
g I nullify every satanic agreement standing against my life, by the blood of Jesus.
h I nullify every satanic conspiracy in the heavenlies against my life in the name of Jesus.
i I nullify every satanic conspiracy on Earth against my life in the name of Jesus.
j I nullify every satanic plan and program for my life in the name of Jesus.
Notice to Sermon Central Users:
My name is Mike Fogerson, and I pastor a Southern Baptist Church in Chester, Illinois. I have been a long-time user of Sermon Central and truly appreciate its content and contributors. Some of the best sermons I’ve ever preached have been reworked material from this website. As you use the material from my sermon bank, understand that it is work that has been done from not just myself, but from hundreds of other pastors as well. If you see part of your message, or a bunch of your message with my name on it and this upsets you, please email me and I will quickly respond and cite you as the main source. My intent is not to claim someone’s work as my own. I am disclaiming up front that I use the resources from Sermon Central and appreciate the tool. I simply want all those who use my work to know that some of these messages were inspired by the Holy Spirit working through other pastors. Because I do use the messages of other pastors I waive all claims of originality or origin of creativity for the messages posted under my messages. I pray God blesses your preaching ministry for the glory of His Kingdom.
Respectfully,
Mike Fogerson
