The Enemy Wants You On A Silver Platter

I. World of trouble.

A. It is no secret that we are living in a “World of trouble”, just step outside and look around, open a magazine or newspaper, turn on the TV or radio or just stand in line at Wal-Mart and it want take long to see and hear bad news. We are surrounded by hurt and hurting people. It’s a tough to live in this day in age. The “good ol days” seem like a fairy tale compared to today.

1. The days of old are gone, now we are a fearful society. Always watching our backs and looking over our shoulders. Americans alone spend billions in preventive products from healthcare and home security to simple things like hand sanitizer.

2. We are always on the lookout. We are always looking for ways to prevent the “what if’s” in life. What if I… (ex.). We can keep ourselves up all night long thinking about the “what If’s”

B. The Bible tells us that we are living in difficult times.

1. PERILS Luke 21:9-11, 25-26 We can discern that we are living in the last days by perils that we can see in the world such as wars, great earthquakes, famines, pestilences, fearful events, perplexity of the nations.

2. PEOPLE II Timothy 3:1-5, I Timothy 4:1-3, II Peter 3:3 We are living in the last days by the kind of people who live in the world today. People who are selfish, covetous, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasures etc .

3. PERSECUTION Luke 21:12, 16-17 We are living in the last days by the persecution that God’s children are experiencing today all over the world. Even in countries where there used to be freedom for evangelism there is persecution today.

4. PROBLEMS Luke 21:34 Luke 17:26-30 We are living in the last days by the problems facing today’s society such as surfeiting, drunkenness and cares and fears and worries .Jesus revealed such a condition will prevail during the last days and warned His children not to allow themselves to be drowned in the cares of this life lest the day of His coming come upon them unawares.

C. Such problems are evident in the world but they here in the church as well. The atmosphere of defeat that lingers in the world has also made its way to the church. The house of God has become a broken home for the saints of God.

II. The enemy wants to serve you up cold

A. John was a forerunner for Christ fulfilling Isa 40:3 ¶ The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (4) Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: (5) And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see [it] together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken [it].

B. He did not look like everyone else. Wild looking (long hair and beard) wore camel’s hair. Lived in the desert.

C. Ate locust and wild honey

D. Preached the truth.

E. The enemy looks for trouble makers, those that shake up his kingdom.

F. He takes notice of those that are always preparing for the Presence of the Lord.

G. He will try to shut you down. Just as John was beheaded for making way for the Lord the enemy seeks our heads as well.

III. Fighting a 3-D battle for your head

A. The enemy in Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: Joh 8:44 he is a liar and a murderer. In 1 Pe 5:8 he is like a lion walking about looking for his victims.

B. Satan will do whatever it takes, he will attack you with 3-D tactics, and that is to discourage, deceive, and destroy you.

C. He wants your head. If he gets your head he gets control. He wants the headship of the church and family. 2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

1. Issues of the mind hold you in bondage to yourself; it places a fear upon you that keeps you from moving forward. Every time you are ready to take a step forward here this issue is keeping you from enjoying life. It has become a reminder of a life you can’t have.

2. This battle can debilitate you into a lifestyle of defeat. It can drain you of every ounce of faith; and deplete your spiritual bank account. The enemy wants you at a mental melt down; where you don’t know your down from your up and your left from your right; he wants to get you to a place where you are running here and there.