Sermon Tone Analysis

Previous: August 20, 2000 AM Taking Back What Has Been Stolen

Text: John 10:10 _The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.

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I. Introduction

We face a real enemy.

We need to see him as the Bible tells us about him.

Not as the world portrays him:

As a friendly, if mischievous, make-believe character in carrying a pitchfork

Or the horror of scary movies.

The world says these things about the enemy, all the while making fun of Bible-believing Christians, who according to God’s Word, believe he is a real enemy who must be resisted.

Rather, our enemy is what our text says He is:

A thief who has come to steal, kill and destroy.

1 Peter 5:8–9 (NLT) Stay alert!

Watch out for your great enemy, the devil.

He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith.

…

Yes, our enemy goes by a variety of names:

The devil

Satan

The dragon

Lucifer

But, as we battle him we need to remember first and foremost:

1 John 4:4 (NASB95) You are from God, little children, and have overcome them [false prophets of vs. 1]; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

We need to remember what I have been displaying on the digital signage in the foyer and the Connect:

Digital Signage: The same authority Jesus gave the seventy in Luke , He gives to us Luke 10:19 (NIV) I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy ...

As Jesus' disciples proclaim the gospel, they WILL (no maybes about it!)

encounter demonic resistance, so they need to understand their authority over Satan.

Satan has more power than the strongest Christian, but less authority than the weakest Christian.

We stand in the authority of Jesus.

We defeat and destroy the power of satan through the authority of the Name of Jesus.

Some of the Enemy’s Strategies

A. In the book of Nehemiah, we see some of the human enemies’s strategies to hinder the building of the wall of Jerusalem.

What those human enemies did was inspired by the devil.

The devil hates the City of the Great King (Psalm 48) — called that by JESUS in Matthew

He hates for God’s people to experience God’s protection and security

He revels in instilling fear.

He knows that as _________ says: Romans 8:15–16 (NASB95) For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba!

Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,

The enemy hates when God’s people stand up to him by recognizing who we are — children of the King!

B. The strategies used by the human enemies of Nehemiah and the people of God to rebuild the Temple and rebuild the walls around Jerusalem are the same types of strategies that the enemy of our soul will use on us:

1. Criticism, harassment, discouraging words.

2. Failing at that the enemy will attack physically _ to kill and to cause confusion.

C. Like Nehemiah of old, we must stand in the wisdom and proficiency of the Holy Ghost

Aware OF and prepared FOR his tactics.

When the enemies threatened the building of the wall with physical force… Nehemiah 4:18 (NASB95)

As for the builders, each wore his sword girded at his side as he built, …

D. The reality is not only that the devil WANTS to attack us, he ALREADY HAS done damage to many lives.

According to John 10:10: The thief, that is, the devil has [already] come in to steal, to kill and to destroy.

2. But, Jesus has come to redeem the losses of theft and destruction and give back MORE than was stolen.

Like Job, also of the old Testament:

The LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the LORD increased all that Job had twofold.

Job 42:10 (NASB95)

Job 42:12 (NASB95) The LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; …

In the same way, Jesus comes into our lives to restore and miraculously resurrect what the devil has killed.

F. Let’s see how Jesus does that through the illustration of the real-life account of David in:

Turn and read with me:

1. 1 Samuel 30:1‑19

David’s Story of Loss

A. As we think about what we have read, we understand that:

First of all, David lost:

1.

His wives

2. His Stuff

3. His peace

4. His joy

5.

The allegiance of his men

B. His men lost:

1. Wives

2. Children

3. stuff

4. Their peace their joy

5. Their respect for David (a great leader _ a great man of God)

C. It remained to be seen who the enemy had killed or would kill because the enemy had taken their loved ones, their wives, their sons, their daughters, captive.

These loves ones were captive to the power of the enemy.

A precarious position!

One that too many in the church understand TODAY.

D. Destruction?

1. Ziklag has been destroyed by fire.

2. David’s home — his refuge.

3. His men’s homes.

E. David’s reaction (this is key):

1.

He looked to God and received strength (Vs.6)

2.

He sought God’s will (Vs.8)

3.

In verse 9 He obeyed God’s will.

i.

Even though it was hard (fighting is never easy)

ii.

Even though it was inconvenient (he was tired — he lost 200 men to fatigue)

iii.

Even though his army was small (and got smaller)

He recognized what WE need to recognize:

Romans 8:31 (NASB95) What then shall we say to these things?

If God is for us, who is against us?

a.

The battle belongs to the Lord.

Deuteronomy 3:22 (NASB95) ‘Do not fear them, for the LORD your God is the one fighting for you.’

b.

To those who obey His Word, God promised in: Leviticus 26:7‑8 You will chase your enemies, and they shall fall by the sword before you.

8 Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall by the sword before you.

c. 1 Samuel 14:6 Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us.

For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few.”

d. 2 Chronicles 14:11 And Asa cried out to the Lord his God, and said, “Lord, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude.