The Rules of Engagement Sermon Series - Pastor Stacey Shiflett
- Pastor Shiflett
- Oct 29, 2023
- 22 min read
Updated: Nov 27, 2023
Rules of Engagement Sermon Series
Part 1 Introduction
Ephesians 6
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 1
3 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Intro: Of the most misunderstood elements of Biblical Christianity is the aspect of warfare and being a soldier.
In a society that is heavily influenced by pacifists and snowflakes, the concept of warfare has become distorted and, in some cases, completely obliterated.
Make no mistake; warfare is a crucial part of Christianity.
I’m sick and tired of the pacifist narrative that has been perpetrated by independent Baptist pastors.
· They are more interested in DIPLOMACY than they are DEFENDING the faith.
· They talk more about being TACTFUL than they do being TRUTHFUL.
· They are more comfortable with COMPROMISE than they are CONFRONTATION.
· They are producing a generation of WEENIES instead of a crop of WARRIORS.
· They get more worked up about following the mandates of Dr. Fauci than the God of Heaven.
It’s time to stop tiptoeing through the tulips.
In fact, Exodus says:
Exodus 15:3 The LORD is a man of war:
Matter of fact, the first recorded song found in the battle is a song of the battle heroics of our God
· SEE Exodus 15
Some of the greatest characters in the Bible were warriors and soldiers.
Abraham armed and trained his servants to fight; and they did in Genesis 14.
· Genesis 14:14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.
Joshua led soldiers into battle while serving under Moses.
· Exodus 17:9 And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.
David was a warrior from a young age; a mighty man of valor.
· 1 Samuel 16:18 Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, [that is] cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD [is] with him.
Nehemiah was an amazing leader that knew the importance of building and battling.
Nehemiah 4
· 15 And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.
· 16 And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.
· 17 They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.
· 18 For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded.
Those are just a few. We could name countless others.
I. Our Identity
· 2 Timothy 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
We are called soldiers.
We are called to be soldiers.
We are called to conduct ourselves like soldiers.
· 2 Timothy 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
II. Our Instruction
A. To Defend
· Philippians 1:7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
· Philippians 1:17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
B. To Contend
· Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
C. To Upend
· Jeremiah 1:10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.
D. To Apprehend - to seize upon, take possession of; to lay hold of
Philippians 3
· 12Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
· 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
· 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
III. Our Involvement
We are either fighting the fight, or running scared.
We are either confronting the enemy, or we are conforming to the enemy.
We are either advancing, or we are retreating.
We are either gaining ground, or we are losing ground.
We are either earnestly contending for the faith, or we are renouncing the faith.
If we don’t fight for what we believe in, our children and grandchildren have no hope!
We are going to look at a prime example of the kind of battle we are in, only of a spiritual nature.
TURN to Esther 3:8
A. The Reason for the Opposition – Esther 3:8
B. The Reaction to the Opposition – Esther 4:1-4
C. The Realization in the Opposition – Esther 4:13, 14
D. The Readiness to the Opposition – Esther 8:10-14
E. The Response to the Opposition – Esther 9:1-5
NOTE: Every one of us should be – needs to be ENGAGED IN THIS BATTLE!!
· The church of God is under attack.
· The homes; our marriages; our children are under attack.
· The people of God are under attack.
· Everything we believe in is under attack.
What are you going to do?
· 1 Corinthians 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
QUIT: to make a man of or make brave
What is your involvement in this fight?
We are in a battle! We are on a battlefield.
What are you doing?
Rules of Engagement - Part 2
The Power to Engage
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Intro: Multiple times in Ephesians 6, we are commanded to engage.
Nowhere do I find that this is optional.
But the first thing that is commanded is found in verse 10: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might...”
I. The Emphasis that is Prioritized
The first thing that a soldier must do in order to engage the enemy is to become strong.
This is where many Christians are losing the battle.
They have not developed their spiritual muscles in order to engage the enemy.
Bootcamp is designed to train and develop soldiers for the reality of warfare.
It is my opinion that as a whole:
We have the weakest generation of Christians since Bible times.
We have the weakest churches since the book of Acts.
We have the weakest preachers and pastors in our nation’s history.
We have the weakest crop of Bible college graduates since the Old Testament school of the prophets.
We have the weakest generation of young people I’ve seen in my lifetime.
Nobody wants to engage in the battle.
Part of the problem is they are not strong.
Satan is running roughshod through our homes, our churches and our nation.
Weak leaders cannot engage in the battle.
Rule Number One for leaders is that they be strong!!
Luke 11:21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:
Mark 3:27 No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.
The Bible is filled with admonitions to be strong.
Ephesians 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
Colossians 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
Revelation 3:2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
II. The Empowering that is Paramount
But the fact is – we cannot engage in our own power.
We desperately need to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
III. The Evidence that is Proven
A. Evident by the Undergirding of the Spirit
2 Corinthians 12
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
B. Evident by the Unveiling of the Scripture
The only weapon we have is found in our text; Ephesians 6:17.
Knowing your Bible is CRITICAL!
Without a love for the Word of God, you cannot be strong.
1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Acts 18:24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
1 John 2:14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
C. Evident by the Understanding of Supplication
There’s no greater evidence of a Spirit-filled life than answered prayer!
There’s no greater demonstration of the power of God than a power-filled prayer life.
Learning how to get ahold of God through prayer is ESSENTIAL to spiritual warfare!
Mark 9
· 28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?
· 29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
Most people fail to understand the role that prayer plays in this battle that we are in!
· Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much!!
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
You get stronger by doing it!
You build up yourselves by praying in the Holy Ghost.
We have weak Christians because we are not praying!
Praying Christians are blessed with a power that is not found any other way!
Rules of Engagement Part 3
The Preparation to Engage
Ephesians 6:11-13
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
I. A Strategic Approach
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
The Rules of Engagement allows the believer to suit up.
We don’t have to engage the enemy defenselessly.
God never intended for us to walk onto the battlefield vulnerable.
Most Christians have no idea what it means to live the Christian life with a strategic approach to it.
The putting on of the armour of God involves:
A. A Deliberate Act – put on.
Put on. That’s something you must do.
Nobody can do it for you.
Parents cannot do it for their children.
Children cannot do it for their siblings.
Pastors cannot do it for their members.
It is a deliberate, purposeful, conscience act of every believer.
The armour is available. Put it on!!
B. A Divine Arsenal (the armour of God)
2 Corinthians 10
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
C. A Dedicated Acquisition – the WHOLE armour of God.
Put on the WHOLE armor of God.
Not just one or two pieces. Put it ALL on!!
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
This strategic approach means you value every possible resource that is available.
The Christian life is not a half-hearted commitment.
This battle calls for putting on ALL the armour; the WHOLE armour of God.
The problem with many Christians is they stop short of achieving success.
They fail to implement the tools that God has made available.
Which brings us to the next point.
II. A Superior Advantage
11b …that ye may be able to stand against
13 “…that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
We have said it before, and we will keep saying it – we don’t have any excuse for being defeated.
Over and over in Scriptures, we have been promised that we have the superior advantage.
Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
Psalm 47
1 O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.
2 For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.
3 He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet
Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
1 John 2
13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him [that is] from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him [that is] from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
III. A Sobering Admonition
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,
It is essential that we do not forget this.
Our enemy is not other people.
The devil would love nothing more than for us to forget this sobering admonition and spend our time fighting people.
Don’t fall into the trap of fighting with people.
2 Timothy 2
23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
God says that they oppose themselves. Don’t forget that.
They are in the snare of the devil.
They are not the problem.
They have been taken captive by him at his will.
They are not the ones we are supposed to be fighting.
IV. A Satanic Adversary – vs. 11c “…the wiles of the devil.”
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
We will dig down on this verse in the next message.
But we need to understand something that is crucial, vital information.
We are up against THE DEVIL!!
1 Peter 5
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Part 4
The Prompting to Engage
Ephesians 6
· 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
· 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Intro: Last week, we left off with Satanic Adversaries.
RECAP: 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
We are up against THE DEVIL!!
In case you didn’t know it, we are living in an evil day!
This “evil day” that Paul is talking about is intriguing to me.
There are several things I want to point out about this “evil day.”
This “evil day” I believe is referring to:
I. A Satanic Dominion
A. Evil Agenda – “but against principalities…”
PRINCIPALITIES: beginning, origin
2) the person or thing that commences, the first person or thing in a series, the leader
3) that by which anything begins to be, the origin, the active cause
We live in a society where evil is being introduced on so many levels it is impossible to list them all.
· Romans 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
B. Evil Atmosphere – “…against the rulers of the darkness of this world…”
This could include a wide variety of organized evil.
We understand that Satan is ultimately behind it:
· 2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
But there are those that have committed their life to furthering Satan’s agenda.
Those that invent, devise and spread the darkness.
Those that contribute to the blinding of eyes, ears, hearts and minds.
C. Evil Authorities – “…against powers…against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
We live in a day where the powers that be and the government authorities are predominantly evil.
The church of God has been targeted by spiritual wickedness in high places for thousands of years.
II. A Specific Day
There is no question about it – Paul was referring to a very specific day in a person’s life.
I believe with all my heart that every child of God will face AN EVIL DAY; many of us will face more than one.
I personally can name off a list of evil days that I have encountered in my life.
Many of them I would love to forget about.
Some of the greatest Bible characters had AN EVIL DAY. For example:
Job
· Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
· Job 1:13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house:
Joseph
How many evil days can one man have? The day his brethren sold him into slavery.
The day Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him.
Genesis 39 says it happened repeatedly.
· 10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
What about the day he was cast into prison and falsely accused?
Joseph was ready for “the evil day.”
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
Daniel 3 – the confrontation with the king over the golden image.
Daniel
Daniel 6
· 9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
· 10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
· 11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
In each of these cases, God gave these men victory over the principalities, powers, rulers and spiritual wickedness in high places.
III. A Spiritual Defense
· 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
WITHSTAND: to set one’s self against, to withstand, resist, oppose; to set against
· James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
1 Peter 5
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Part 5
The Perception to Engage
· Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
· Ephesians 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.
Intro: We have been looking at various aspects of this spiritual battle that we are engaged in as Christians.
Tonight, we will look at the importance of spiritual discernment as it relates to the WILES OF THE DEVIL.
We will look at several Bible verses that emphasize the key role that discernment and Holy Ghost perception plays in the Christian life, especially in our encounters with spiritual warfare.
We will look at Satan’s plan for you and me and how through Holy Ghost discernment, we can overcome it.
The WILES of the devil: cunning arts, deceit, craft, trickery
Satan is a master at tricks and deceit and wiles.
SNARE: snare, trap, noose; of snares in which birds are entangled and caught
The pastors are warned of the devil’s snares.
1 Timothy 3:7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Jeremiah 5
26 For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.
27 As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.
The Psalmist David wrote repeatedly about the snares that were laid in his path.
Psalm 140
4 Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.
5 The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.
I. The Agenda of the Devil
2 Corinthians 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
DEVICES: a mental perception, thought; an evil purpose; that which thinks, the mind, thoughts or purposes
The mind of the devil; the thoughts and purposes of the devil is mine and your utter destruction.
Jesus made that crystal clear.
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
From the Garden of Eden, Satan has had one agenda for man; complete and utter destruction.
II. The Advantage of the Devil
2 Corinthians 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
I want you to understand something tonight; it is possible for Satan to have the advantage.
If the devil can get you to side with him, he will get the upper hand.
A. Siding with the Devil about the Scriptures
Genesis 3:1b …And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
You are giving the devil the advantage when you do two things; the same two things that the devil did in Genesis 3.
1. When you question God’s word – vs. 1 "...yea, hath God said…?
2. When you deny God’s Word – vs. 4
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
The best way to stay safe from the wiles of the devil is to stay in His Word!
Proverbs 13:14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
Psalms 119:110 The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.
B. Siding with the Devil about the Savior
Satan denied the Lordship of Christ.
He tried every tactic in the book to get Jesus to discredit Himself.
You know what Satan did to Jesus? He tempted him.
Matthew 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
Did you know it is possible for you as a Christian to tempt Jesus?
Turn to 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
NOTE verse 9 - Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
C. Siding with the Devil about the Sanctuary
In case you need reminding, the devil HATES the church.
Jesus warned us that the very gates of hell would come against the church.
Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Siding with the world and following after the ways of the world will bring a snare and a trap of Satan!
Psalm 106
34 They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them:
35 But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.
36 And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.
III. The Awareness of the Devil
1 Peter 5:8
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
God has instructed the believer over and over again to be sober and to be vigilant.
If we don’t, we give the devil an advantage.
Soberness is listed with literal armor for the believer:
1 Thessalonians 5:8But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
For argument’s sake, notice how many times Paul emphasized soberness:
The Pastor: Titus1:8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
The deacon’s wife: 1 Timothy 3:11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
The old men: Titus 2:2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
The young women: Titus 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
The young men: Titus 2:6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.
Conclusion: We need discernment, perception; open eyes and discerning hearts to overcome the devil.
· 1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
Part 6
The Principles to Engage
Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Intro: Quick review:
· The Power to Engage – vs. 10
· The Preparation to Engage – the whole armor of God – vs. 11, 13
· The Prompting to Engage – the spiritual warfare of “the evil day”
· The Perception to Engage – the wiles of the devil; trickery; traps
· The Principles to Engage – be able to withstand
Tonight, we will examine what it means to withstand, and what it takes to do it.
I. The Definition of Withstand
First Mention Principle:
Numbers 22:32 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:
Hebrew: WITHSTAND - 07854 שׂטן satan saw-tawn’
AV-Satan; adversary; withstand; adversary, one who withstands
The angel of the Lord literally made himself an adversary of this prophet.
The story is of the angel of the Lord trying to oppose the prophet Balaam.
Balak asked Balaam to curse God’s people. Balaam told them he would pray about it.
The Angel of the Lord stood in his way, because his way was perverse
He was hesitant to stand against the enemy.
He entertained the thought of cursing God’s people.
He was slow to make up his mind about which side he was going to be on!!
The Bible says that the angel of the Lord WITHSTOOD him.
DEFINITION of WITHSTAND - resist, withstand; to set one’s self against, to withstand, resist, oppose; to set against
Other places where we see this Greek word:
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
I Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
II. The Determination to Withstand
To withstand, you and I must not just be something – we have to DO something!
We cannot just duck and hide and ignore the evil in the evil day.
We have to go on the OFFENCE; we have to resist; we have to become adversarial.
We must impede Satan’s progress; we must hinder his work.
Question: What are you doing to WITHSTAND IN THE EVIL DAY?
Question: If you are withstanding, ARE YOU DOING ALL? Have you done all you can??
Withstanding in the evil day is not sitting down with your arms crossed.
Withstanding in the evil day is not just disagreeing with something.
Withstanding in the evil day is not just shaking your head saying “I can’t believe that!”
Withstanding in the evil day is not just talking about how bad it is to your friends.
Withstanding in the evil day is not just liking and not liking social media gifs.
Withstanding in the evil day is taking action to impede the advancement of the Devil.
Withstanding in the evil day is doing something to put a blockade in the devil’s path.
Withstanding in the evil day is getting involved in adversarial activity.
It’s not sitting back waiting on the rapture.
It’s not joining a church where the pastor withstands.
It’s not making friends with people that withstands.
It’s not reading books about famous people that withstands.
For you to withstand in the evil day, you are going to have to do something!
For you to withstand in the evil day, you are going to have to say something!
For you to withstand in the evil day, you are going to have to make some decisions!
For you to withstand in the evil day, you are going to have to break off relationships with evil doers.
For you to withstand in the evil day, you are going to have to get involved in things you’d prefer not to.
For you to withstand in the evil day, you are going to have to make yourself a target at times.
For you to withstand in the evil day, you are going to have to reject the calls for you to stay quiet.
For you to withstand in the evil day, you are going to have to ignore the name calling and insults.
For you to withstand in the evil day, you are going to have to pull out your sword and start hacking!
Withstanding means you’re going to get dirty.
Withstanding means you’re going to get bloody.
Withstanding means you’re going to rile up the wrong people.
Withstanding means you’re going to burn some bridges.
Withstanding means you’re going to make some enemies.
Withstanding also means that you will make a difference.
Withstanding also means that you might salvage a person’s life, or home, or marriage.
Withstanding also means that you’re fighting the good fight of faith.
III. The Dedication to Withstand
Paul understood that much of the Christian life is WITHSTANDING EVIL.
He knew more about the dedication that it takes to engage the enemy than any of us do.
ILLUSTRATION:
2 Timothy 3
· 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
· 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Acts 14
· 19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.
· 20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
2 Corinthians 11
· 23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
· 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
· 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
· 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
· 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
· 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
· 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
· 30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
Today, we have such a weak brand of Christianity that people are quitting on God because they got hurt in church.
Conclusion: Once you’ve done everything you possibly can do to withstand, then STAND!!
