For Those not Familiar with an Anglican Service there are 4 Scripture readings before the message is given. Today's Scriptures were Deuteronomy 26:1-11 ; Psalm 91:1,2,9-16 ; Romans 10:8-13 and Luke 4:1-13
One gentleman commented, ... "I wouldn't be tempted ... if temptation .... wasn't ... so tempting".
Oscar Wilde ... an Irish writer from the 1800's ... described it with these words ... "I can resist anything.... but temptation." (Long Pause)
A story about a little boy in a grocery store .... I believe illustrates ... the nature ... of temptation.
The boy was standing near an open box of peanut butter cookies.
"Now then, young man," ... said the grocer as he approached the young boy.
"What are you up to?"
"Nothing," replied the boy:
"Nothing." ... "Well it looks to me ... like you were trying to take a cookie."
"Oh you're so wrong, mister, .... I'm trying not to!" (Pause)
Now Beloved ... that's temptation!! ... I'm trying not to.
How many of us have shrugged our shoulders... and in jest ... may have said: "The Devil made me do it!"
And used that as an excuse ... when caught doing something ... that we should not have been doing ... in the first place?
Granted it is a convenient defense. ... But there is just one problem:
The Devil cannot make you do ... anything.
He may be clever, ... but he is not ... all powerful.
Yet it may feel like Satan is all powerful, .... when we are dangling ... on temptation's hook.
Satan has a tried-and-true strategy for luring each of us .... into his net.
Have you ever thought about the schemes ... of the devil? (Long Pause)
Were you aware ... that all the warnings in the New Testament ... concerning conflicts with Satan and his demons ... are addressed ...only ... to believers?
Why? ... Because Jesus made it very clear .... that he is ... the only way ... to the Father. I am the way....
Since Jesus is the only way, ... the enemy wants to do everything possible ... to keep us from believing ... ... that this reality ... is the truth.
Our enemy is committed to doing everything possible ... to make us ineffective ....in our personal lives ... and in our personal ministries.
If we are ineffective, ... we hurt others; .... we hurt the church ....... and in essence ... we help the enemy!
Satan knows full well ... that he has already been defeated at the Cross .... that his time is limited.
Only eternity will reveal ... the number of Christians ... who have led unproductive lives ... because of their
unwillingness ... to fight evil ... in the spiritual realm.
Only eternity will reveal ... the number of Christians ... who have forsaking their ministries ... due to the attacks .... of the enemy.
Peter informs us BIBLE "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil ... prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. Resist him, ... standing firm in the faith..." END (1 Peter 5:8-9,)
Yet ... far too many ... have the wrong idea ... concerning the word ... "Resist".
Somewhere along the way ... resisting Satan ... was changed to ... ignore Satan ... or the belief ... that he does not exist at all!
Where did we ever get the idea ...that the best approach to dealing with the enemy ....is to dismiss and ignore him as nothing more than a fantasy ... or theological myth?
Passive neglect ... is a poor tactic ... to use ... against any adversary.
Standing against the enemy's challenge to combat .... is not a task ... to be taken lightly?
Satan is a cunning .... a relentless adversary.
His mastery of evil ...enables him to fashion lewd temptations .... or fling fiery darts ... with amazing accuracy.
Job, Joshua, Daniel, David ... the apostle Paul ... were men who had real .... and convincing experiences ... that proved that they were not immune ... to the wiles ... of a very real ... Devil.
If these great saints of the Bible were vulnerable to Satan and his demonic army ...why would we think .... that we should expect ... anything less?
Unless we have already forsaken ... the Good Fight.
The greatest example of all ... is the audacity of Satan ... to tempt the son of God .... in the wilderness.
If Satan is brazen enough to get in the face of the Son of God ... why should we expect him or his army to steer, clear ... of us?
The writer of Hebrews lays before us this truth: BIBLE "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weakness, but was in all points tempted as we are, ... yet without sin." END (Hebrews 4:15)
Satan wants to keep you ... from fulfilling the purpose ... for which ... you were created.
He wants to keep you ... from using the power of God ... to overcome ... his attacks.
He wants the human race ... to stay in bondage ... and in defeat.
Christians are called to be the spiritually commissioned and empowered ... army of God; ... demonstrating the power of God ... by living: victorious, ... fruitful, ... and godly lives.
Satan and the evil forces in the heavenly places ... are seeking to neutralize the followers of Christ ....at all cost.
This is the reason why Satan is on the attack against Christians, ....... especially those Believers ... who are responding to God's call.... Those that are pressing the spiritual battle ... on the front lines.
Although we will never be immune from the attacks from the enemy; .... there are things we can do ... to be prepared ... to do battle ...in the spiritual realm.
First, (1 Finger) we must cultivate humility and obedience.
The Scriptures ...present humility as a divine requirement ... an endearing characteristic ... for all Christians.
The prophet Micah ... shares this truth BIBLE "... The Lord has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." END (Micah 6:8)
Pride was the lethal poison ... that sent Lucifer falling from the sky .... like lightning. (Luke 10:18)
This is why, Peter warns us: ......... God abhors pride and is drawn to humility. (1 Peter 5:5)
If we want to resist the devil.... we had better first make sure ... that we are not putting "up" a barrier with God .... due to pride ... in our life!
Humility comes ... when we acknowledge that Satan's power is such .... that we cannot defeat him in our own strength....... Ever!
Humility comes .... When we acknowledge ... that Christ's power is such ... that Satan cannot defeat him ....in his own strength... Ever!
Under-estimating either of these two supernatural truths .... will lead you ... to certain defeat. (Pause)
And Beloved ... Humility ... must be combined .... with obedience. How can it not!
The prophet Samuel declared (Slow) "to obey is better than sacrifice" (1 Samuel 15:22)
Why?... For one simple reason: ... With sacrifice
(Slow) ... We decide ... what God ... will get.
With obedience, .... we give to God... What He has required us ... asked us ... to give.
To obey ... is better than sacrifice.
First, (1 Finger) we must cultivate humility and obedience.
(2 Fingers) And The second protection for the spiritual battle that lies before us... is our spiritual armor ... accompanied by ... spiritual accountability.
It is astonishing to hear ... how many Christians go throughout their lives .... without wearing their spiritual armor.
The most common reason ... seems to be .... simple carelessness.
People just do not think about ... putting on ... their spiritual armor.
Yet Paul is clear: ... Spiritual armor ... is not an optional .... accessory.
Those who choose to dismiss it .... do so ... at their own risk.
Paul summed up what we are called to do ... each day .... in four simple words.
(Slow - Hand) "I die every day!" (Repeat)
Putting on the full armor of God ... is Synonymous with dying to self, .... With dying every day, ....
With turning over our life daily ... to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Rather than visualizing literal helmets, ... breastplates and shields .... simply dedicate your first conscious thoughts each morning ... to the will ... of God.
Spiritual armor ... becomes a lifestyle ... when we choose to walk in .... the consciousness of God's presence.
Yet ... spiritual armor ... must be accompanied with ... spiritual accountability.
One of the unhealthiest habits of a Christian ... is trying to live As .... a spiritual ... Lone Ranger.
Those who adopt this mentality ... are only inviting Satan ... into the deepest recesses ... of their very being.
While we are entitled to our perspective on things, .... we must also be willing to admit .... that our view .... is limited.
By habitually rejecting counsel and insight, ... we become easy targets ... for the master of all deception.
Spiritual accountability with each other ... helps to establish guardrails, .... a safety line ....in case we stumble.
The Scriptures state this clearly in Hebrews: BIBLE "let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. END (Hebrews 10:24 -25)
Have Humility, ... Put on the Armor of God .... be accountable to one another.
And Lastly: a faithful prayer life ... must be a part of ... the battle plan.
Nothing of eternal significance .... is ever accomplished ... apart from prayer.
I am convinced ... that all .... or nearly all of our failures .... are prayer failures.
Prayer ... in a way ... is the fitness center for the soul.
We need to go ... and "workout" ... every day.
It has been said ... that "seven days without prayer makes one weak. ... That is: "W. E. A. K."
We need to stop praying ... generic and vague prayers.
Battlefield prayer ... requires us to move in faith to: ... "not my will, ... but thy will ... be done." (Luke 22:42)
Beloved ... we must take ... godly risks.
Many Christians overlook this .... because they think of "Risk" ... as something to protect ourselves ... against .... Something to be ... avoided.
When it comes to taking godly risks ... the real danger is often found lurking ... in the realm of ... the status quo.
If we are to succeed on the spiritual battlefield, ... we must learn to walk ... in Faith.
And for the Christian, Faith is not spelled "F-A-I-T-H" ... it is spelled ... "R-I-S-K."
Beloved.... If something is not a risk, ... Then it really does not require .... faith. (Repeat).
And The Scriptures are clear: .... "without faith... it is impossible ... to please God". (Hebrews 11:6).
A risk-free life ... is a victory free life.
It means a lifelong surrender ... to the mediocre, ... which in a way ... is the worst of all possible defeats.
It is time for Christians to break free of being mediocre... Of being stationary .... Of not growing ... in their faith.
Satan and his army ... are a present reality ... In our lives ... whether we believe it ... or not. (Pause).
Beloved, ... We are engaged in a spiritual war... A serious battle.
Paul told young Timothy: .... "fight the good fight of faith ... lay hold of eternal life." (1 Timothy 6:12)
The war we are involved in Beloved ... Is that good fight.
Are you prepared for the battle?
There is no time for idol sideline watching.
Satan and his army are scattering and destroying,
Jesus Christ ... is gathering and building.
Are you standing with Jesus?
Are you involved in building the kingdom?
It is impossible to be neutral ... in this spiritual war.
Beloved ... stand firm in the Faith.
Be willing to Risk ... be willing to be molded into the image of Christ.
Beloved, ... We are engaged in a spiritual war... A serious battle.
"fight the good fight of faith ... lay hold ... of eternal life." (1 Timothy 6:12)
Amen & Amen!
I received much insight from a sermon by Charles Mallory titled "Battlefield Protection". I commend it to you.
Help: I retired in November 2017 and am attempting to supplement my income by sharing on Sermoncentral. If this Message has been helpful to you, please consider a nominal gift: Send to The Rev. Jeff Smead 11725 Regent Park Drive Chardon Ohio 44024. Blessed To Be A Blessing.
Dear Reader: So I can better help you, if this Homily was not helpful and you rated it low, Please let me know what it lacked or why it was not helpful. You can search by contributor - Smead (Constructive Criticism is very helpful) and contact me there. Blessings Jeff.
