“Guard and protect against the enemy”
Intro: Do we see that through the Word of God that Satan tries every way that he can to bring destruction into the life of men and women by taking control of their life. In the garden, Satan wasn’t after the elephant or even the lion. He understood authority and went after God’s man. He knew if he got the man he would possess all that he ruled over and cared for. Is Satan out to just get you? No, he is out for everything that we have and all that is connected with us. Don’t think that Satan is satisified with letting you off the hook.
Text: II Samuel 12:1-14 Isaiah 43:24-26
ILLUSTRATION: Two robins were sitting in a tree. "I’m really hungry", said the first one. "Me, too", said the second. "Let’s fly down and find some lunch." They flew to the ground and found a nice plot of plowed ground full of worms. They ate and ate and ate ’til they could eat no more. "I’m so full I don’t think I can fly back up to the tree," said the first one. "Me neither, let’s just lay here and bask in the warm sun", said the second. "OK", said the first. They plopped down, basking in the sun. As soon as they had fallen asleep, a big fat tomcat snuck up and gobbled them up. Do you know what that cat was thinking? "I love baskin’ robins."
We must understand that we are in the Kingdom of God and every kingdom is structured by rank and authority. The higher the rank, the more influence and authority. Satan knows that, this is why he is convinced in destroying the lives of men and women in Kingdom.
The same is within the Church and the family, He desires to start to work on the Leader of both. Some of the greatest disappoint-ments in the Church is a leader falling into sin. So when the enemy goes after the church, his primary target is the leadership.
I. GIVING OCCASION TO THE ENEMY
A. When people willfully transgress the commandments of God they are opening the door for Satan to take their authority and rule their life. What happens is when parents willfully transgress the commandments it is not long their children will be following their example. Through sin parents forfeit their position of authority in the spirit.
- - - - - - - - Ephesians 1:18-22 - - - - - - - -
B. This principle is illustrated in the life of David. The kingdom was strong and secure under his leadership. God had blessed him with several sons and daughters. Then David took for himself what God had not given him; he committed adultery with Bathsheba. She became pregnant.
- - - - - - - - - II Samuel 12:1-12 - - - - - - - -
C. The story is told that David then had to cover his sin by sending for her husband to return but he would not do anything, so David had him sent to the front of the battle field and he was put to death. But still God saw what had happen and soon Nathan the prophet exposed David’s sin and it was then that David confessed of his sin.
II Samuel 12:14 “However, because by the deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.”
D. Here is the sad part, that David repented and was forgiven and God released him from his transgression but it made his life and family vulnerable to the enemies of God, not just the natural but also the spiritual ones. His family and nation of Israel suffered greatly.
Galatians 6:7,8 “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”
“For he who sows to the flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”
E. Results of His sin: The child died. David’s oldest son, Amnon raped his half sister, Tamar. Absalom, son of David, took revenge and killed his half brother Amnon. Absalom turned the hearts of many of the men of Israel against David. Three of David’s sons died because he had exposed his family to the enemies of God by his transgression.
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.”
II. RUNNING FROM OCCASION OF ENEMY
A. There are many that face things that come into your life and then they keep coming back and if we do not confront them, it will never change. As Christians we must earnestly contend for the faith, not just to hope for the best but to fight and wage war on the enemy.
Jude 3 “Beloved while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”
B. Paul strengthened Timothy with telling him that he must take on the attitude of a soldier. We are engaged in warfare, we must not back down from evil but to overcome this evil with good. If we do not confront the things in our life, we will end up being intimidated with fear and we will not have any joy in our life whatsoever. Where there is fear there is no peace. God wants you and I to be liberated.
II Timothy 2:3,4 “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”
“No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”
C. Just take a look at Joseph, instead of giving into the occasion of the enemy, he ran from the thing that was trying to destroy him. He could have easily given in but he was determined not to allow the enemy to have control and authority over his life.
ILLUSTRATION: In the fifties the major discipline problems in our public schools were cigarette smoking,skipping class, running in the halls, spit balls, chewing gum, and whispering in class.
Today - the major problems are deadly weapons - kids carrying guns, knifes, and even assault weapons. This is followed by arson, drugs, vandalism, and drunkenness.
Recently in Florida a high school teacher observed a number of boys in the corner of the gymnasium on their hands and knees. Rushing up to the boys, the teacher demanded, " What are you doing?"
One of the boys looked up and answered, " We’re shooting dice!"
The teacher responded with, " Oh, thank goodness. I thought you were praying."
