Eating with the Enemy

Eating with the Enemy

Message 1

Ps 23

Me:

Three hats of leadership

The Start-up Hat

i. These leaders love to start new things

ii. They see it as fun and challenging

iii. Like starting a church in your living room

The Fix it up Hat

i. Every organization, no matter how well run, will eventually need fixing.

ii. Great organizations are successful not because they are without problems but because their leaders immediately and effectively address their problems.

iii. This side of leadership is messy

iv. Many leaders love to envision new possibilities, but they do not like administering what they have.

The Forward Hat

i. You have done the preparation

ii. Most of the problems are solved

iii. Time to hit the road and enjoy the fruit of your labor

I’m at the fix it up stage

i. I love the start-up stage

ii. I would not mind the forward stage

iii. I am not a fan of the fix it up

1. I have let the problems overwhelm me.

2. Doubt has creeped into my head.

3. The greatest casualty has been my own peace

4. I’ve worried, felt edgy, anxious, and have given in to fears and doubts

iv. But something happened

v. I did not see until last weekend

vi. Let me show you what I mean (A table set up on stage with three seats)

e. I allowed the enemy to have a seat at my table.

Friend

Foe

i. Not on purpose

ii. I was lied to

We:

The battle we fight

a. Every day we fight a battle against an enemy who wants to wage war in our minds.

i. We fight this battle at home and at work, at school and at church, in our neighborhoods and in our communities.

ii. We are faced with a barrage of demands, distractions, responsibilities, obligations, and perspectives.

We lose our peace our joy our hope

i. We worry, we are on edge, our anxiety is at an all-time high

ii. We seek comfort in old habits

iii. To add insult to injury

iv. We feel guilty about feeling this way

1. If we only had stronger faith

v. When we look in the mirror, we see someone that can’t measure up.

vi. This only makes us feel worse and leaves us feeling more weary, uncertain, and frustrated.

vii. This how we feel when we allow our enemy to join us at the table.

Friend

Foe

God:

The Good News

a. We don’t have to live in this mental war zone!

i. We have been given a power that comes through Jesus Christ

ii. We can take back our freedom

iii. We can overcome feelings of fear, despair, and frustration.

iv. We have been invited into an intimate relationship with the Almighty. The King of kings

What a friend we have in Jesus

Matthew 11:28 NLT

28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

The Lord is my Shepherd

i. Probably the most famous passage in the bible

ii. We know the first part really well

iii. Write this down The Shepherd – Guides – Provides – Protects (We will be coming back to this again.)

iv. Here’s something maybe you skimmed over

The Shepherd prepares a table

Psalm 23:5–6 NLT

5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. 6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

It’s a table for two.

Not three

1. Our enemy, the devil, is not intended to join us there.

2. That’s why we can’t give the enemy a seat at our table!

You: Action

Dark valleys and Green Pastures

a. God as our Good Shepherd

i. When you allow God to you walk you through the dark valleys into the green pastures and quiet waters something specials happens.

ii. God prepares a banquet for you.

iii. His invitation is to linger at this table.

iv. To find nourishment, rest, deep intimacy with the King of kings.

v. Enjoy the bounty of His goodness

Uninvite the enemy

James 4:7 NLT

7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

MOVE The FOE

ii. I’m going to teach you some ways to do this

iii. But for today just say not today devil

Just imagine:

The Battles we Win!

There is a battle being fought in your mind

Jesus says we can bring every thought captive

ii. Are you ready?

I am!