THE DEVIL’S NIGHTMARE
Matt. 16:17
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR: Cajun Magic Trick
1. Thibodeaux and Boudreaux entered a chocolate store. As they were looking at the candy, Thibodeaux stole 3 chocolate bars. When they left the store Thibodeaux said to Boudreaux, "I'm the best thief, I stole 3 chocolate bars and no one saw me put them in my pocket. You can’t beat that.
2. Boudreaux replied: "You want to see something better? Let's go back to the shop and I'll show you real stealing." I'll steal while the shopkeeper is watching me and he won't even know.
3. So they went to the counter and Boudreaux said to the shopkeeper: "Do you want to see a great magic trick?" The shopkeeper replied: "Yes."
4. Boudreaux said: "Give me three chocolate bars." The shopkeeper gave him three chocolate bars and Boudreaux ate all three.
5. The shopkeeper asked: "But where's the magic?" Boudreaux replied: "Look in Thibodeaux's pocket."
B. DEVIL’S NIGHTMARE
FIRST A GOOD DREAM
1. One night the devil laid down to sleep. He had worked his day’s mischief and was satisfied with the number of souls he had damned to hell. He put on some hellish alternative music to sooth his nerves. He felt those warm fuzzies and soon was fast asleep.
2. He immediately began having good dreams:
a. Boys smoking their first cigarette
b. Teenagers trying drugs for the first time (hateful joy filled him – he chuckled in his sleep).
c. Thought of College Professors filling the minds of students with Atheism, Evolution, Situation Ethics…
d. Thought of the Mass Media indoctrinating the masses with Abortion, Pornography, Euthanasia, and Homosexuality.
e. With sinister glee he dreamt of preachers stumbling into sin and his joy in exposing them.
f. Thought of millions of church members – eating, drinking, marrying, etc. – focusing on earthly life.
g. And then his mind wandered back to Adam and Eve and their fall; how he tripped up the various leaders of Israel and the Patriarchs.
h. And Then (he smiled in his sleep) to the Greatest Day of his long life; when he killed the Son of God, the Light of the World! But he had put it out (ha ha ha! ) No more light now.
3. Darkness rules. “I rule this world”, he thought, “I always will!”
4. The Devil Went on Dreaming – seeing his army of servants march by – the Attilas, the Hitlers, the Stalins, the Khrushchevs, the Czars, Pol Pot, Osama ben Laden….
TURNS TO A BAD DREAM
1. His Mind Wandered to a Scene somewhat unpleasant – the Son of God talking to Peter. What had He said? The words wouldn’t come… Something about “Building”. That was it: “I will build My Church”. Well, if He was, He wasn’t doing too good of a job.
2. Then, in his mind’s eye, he saw believers praying; being filled with the Spirit, reading Bibles and obeying what God said.
3. He saw the world all dark except for a small light on the horizon. The words sounded in his ears, “I Will Build My Church!”
4. As he watched the light grew in intensity until it was like the Sunrise. The whole world was lightened with it. Then his mind recalled the Scripture, “WHO IS THIS THAT COMES LIKE THE SUNRISE? FAIR AS THE MOON, BRIGHT AS THE SUN, AND TERRIBLE AS AN ARMY WITH BANNERS?”
5. Then the Devil saw his Kingdom crumbling and he himself bound, and he saw himself falling into a lake of fire. He unconsciously jumped and woke up screaming!
6. Title: “The Devil’s Nightmare.”
C. TEXT: Mt. 16:13-18
13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 14They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it.
I. THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH
A. IMPORTANCE OF THE CHURCH
1. Is the church just the invention of religious men, and fairly irrelevant next to the power structures of government and media? No! THE CHURCH IS NO SIDESHOW, BUT THE MAIN PROGRAM OF GOD FOR THE AGES. Jesus said, “I will build my church!” It is a church so important that He “purchased it with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). Who is going in the rapture? The Church!
2. Paul reveals that God has a purpose for the church even regarding the Angels, “His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord” Eph. 3:10-11.
3. The Church is called “Ecclesia” – the called out ones; The “Body” of Christ, of which He is the head; The “Household of faith”; “God’s Building”; the “Bride of Christ”; “Army/Soldiers.”
B. USAGE OF THE WORD “CHURCH”
1. Matthew 16:18 is the ONLY PLACE where Christ mentions the Church and tells what the church is supposed to be doing.
2. How does Jesus picture His Church?
a. A Church… trying to “hold on” until He Comes?
b. A Church… which is intimidated?
c. A Church… struggling to overcome worldliness?
d. A Church… struggling to stay alive?
3. NO! Rather, a Victorious Conquering Church! His statement outlines the Mission of the Church.
II. MEANING OF THE “GATES OF HELL”
A. TRIUMPH OF LIFE OVER DEATH
1. Some believe that Jesus’ meant that since Jesus had conquered the realm of the dead by His resurrection, hell would no longer have power over the Church.
2. Life had triumphed over death. That’s what Jesus was saying. This is true, but that’s not all the Lord meant.
B. PLACE OF COUNSEL/ STRATEGIES
1. Other scholars believe that since a cities’ gates were the place where the judges and wise men gave counsel, that “Gates of hell shall not prevail” represents the evil plans of the powers of hell to overthrow the Church.
2. It’s NO QUESTION Satan is out to destroy you! He has definite plans. (John 10:10)
a. Might be drugs, alcohol, illicit sex.
b. It might be fear, turmoil, depression.
c. It might be unforgiveness or pride, or jealousy.
3. If the devil can’t destroy you, he’ll try to make you ineffective for God: to fall into temptation, have a poor self image, fear what people will think.
4. But, “Praise God,” The Gates – or wisdom – of Satan Shall Not Prevail against you!
a. No weapon formed against you shall prosper. Isa. 54:17
b. Greater is He that is within you…
c. Not by might, Nor by power, but by my Spirit…
5. This is certainly true, but that’s not all Jesus meant!
C. LITERAL MEANING: “GATES” = GATES!
1. The stronghold of Satan – Hades – is described as having gates (Job 38:17, Isaiah 38:10, Psalm 107:18).
2. Matthew 16:18 means that Not only did Christ assault hell, but He prophesies that the Church too would assault hell, breaking down its gates and ransacking it.
3. It speaks of the Church as “Super-Conquerors” who vanquish the Foe utterly. This is Christ’s vision of the Church and is therefore its mission.
III. HOW THE CHURCH IS STORMING THE GATES OF HELL
Every day another 74,000 people across the globe come to faith in Christ. On average of 3,500 new churches opened every week around the world. Within 10 years, the number of born-again believers in the world doubled! Listen to these outstanding stories…
A. AFGHANISTAN
A 2013 article declared the Afghanistan government was troubled by the number of conversions to Christianity. They were afraid its influence was becoming too great.
B. BRAZIL
In 10 years, the evangelical population of Brazil doubled. Goals have been set for 250,000 congregations. Over 100 mission agencies have emerged, sending more than 2000 Brazilian missionaries to 85 countries.
C. CHINA
In 1950, when China closed to missionaries, there were about one million Chinese believers. Today there are an estimated 100 million believers and 28,000 new Christians in China every day. There are as many followers of Christ in China as in North America.
D. INDIA
In East India 95% of Nagaland’s 3 million people confess Jesus as Lord. The Nagaland church recently vowed to send out 10,000 new missionaries to India and beyond. Those once unreached are now becoming senders.
E. IRAN
More Iranians came to Christ between 1980 and 2005 than in the previous 1,000 years combined. Today, there are at least 600 churches for 250,000 Christians in Iran.
F. ISRAEL/JEWS
More Jews have embraced Jesus/Yeshua as Messiah since 1967 when the Jews took control Jerusalem than in all the years between A.D100 and 1967. "Today the latest reports estimate almost 20,000 and 150 congregations in “the Land” (as Eretz Yisrael is called), while globally the reports range as high as 300,000 Messianic Jewish believers."(Charisma Magazine October 29, 2013).
G. KOREA
Once deemed “impossible to penetrate” by missionaries, Korea has experienced dramatic church growth in the last century. Today Korea is 30% Christian with more than 3,000 churches in Seoul alone. Several of these churches have more than one million members each!
H. NEPAL
In the early 1980s there were only 75 known Nepali believers. Today there are an estimated 500,000 believers. From almost no churches 20 years ago there are more than 6000 churches and house fellowships today.
I. SOUTHERN AFRICA
20,000 new African believers every day. 3% Christian in 1900, today Africa is more than 50% Christian in some countries. The church in Africa is growing four times faster than the general population. Sub-Sahara Africa is becoming a sending base for missionaries to Islamic north Africa.
J. SOUTHERN SUDAN
In 1990 only about 8% of Southern Sudan was Christian. Today, after decades of terrible warfare and persecution, the figure is close to 60% Christian (over 6 million).
IV. YOUR PART IN BREAKING DOWN THE GATES
A. GET AGGRESSIVE!
1. The Lord points out that we must be aggressive. In Jesus’ vision, the church goes out and besieges hell!
2. Stop sitting on the sidelines & get into the game!
3. A Christian who doesn’t go to war against the devil will end up like David, who ended up getting into sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:1). Get mad at the devil!
4. Ways the Devil gets on your Back (Attacks you)?
a. Devours our prosperity.
b. Brings trouble to your home.
c. Attacks your body with sickness.
5. COUNTER-ATTACK!!!
B. HOW TO BREAK DOWN THE GATES:
1. SOUL WINNING. “To turn them from the power of Satan to God” (Acts 26:17).
2. INTERCESSION. Ephesians 6:10-12. Do spiritual warfare; overthrow a stronghold; bind and loose.
3. SPEAK UP FOR JESUS IN PUBLIC. Do not tire of representing your King; you’re an ambassador. Speak out on issues relative to the Bible and morality.
4. HELP MARSHALL STIR UP OTHERS TO ADVANCE THE KINGDOM.
5. You are an Overcomer/ Conqueror. Act like it! Satan is under your feet! Don’t you love it when the devil panics? He trembles at the church. He thought he had killed Christ. Then came the Resurrection and then the Church!
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION
1. When John Mayes was in the Bahama’s, a man walked up to him and said, "Would you like to buy some cocaine? You can tell everyone how much you really enjoyed the Bahama’s." After he said "No!" and got over the shock of that man’s boldness, he wondered how Jesus would have responded if someone came up to him selling drugs. Later that day, someone else came up to him selling drugs and that gave him another chance to answer.
2. After he told me that he had the "good-stuff", I asked him, "What have you got?" Once he said "Cocaine!" I said: Is that all you have? I’m disappointed! I was hoping you would have something better than that. You see, I’ve got the real thing! What I have is all natural, pure and very powerful. And it makes me feel great all day and all night. And get this, it may be illegal in some countries, but not in this one, so you can’t get arrested for having it!
3. By this time the man was very curious and asked me what is this incredible "stuff" I was talking about. I said, "I’m talking about having Jesus in your heart! It’s awesome what he will do for you when you get him inside of you! No drug in all the world is as good as having Jesus in you." The man stopped smiling and got this real serious look on his face and said, "I want what you have. How do I get it?"
4. John Mayes went from being a Victim of a drug pusher to a Victor who led a starving soul to Christ.
5. “Some want to live within the sound of church or
chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.” C. T. Studd
B. ALTAR CALL
1. Accept Christ.
2. Commit yourself to winning souls.
