The Enemy within!
Every one of us has felt the power of the enemy within us. The Bible tells us of many enemies that we must be aware of but, the Word of God describes this enemy 385 times in the King James Version. The Bible history of this enemy starts in Genesis and ends in Revelation. Every one of us knows just when it is stalking us . Anyone who says you never have felt its grip around your heart as your throat tightens up is a liar. As John says in 1 John 1:8 (ASV) 8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. This enemy is the same and if we say we do not know it then the truth is not in us.
Mary and I have been impressed by the Lord more and more lately that His return is very near. It may not be in my lifetime, but if I was a betting man I would wager it will not be beyond the next generation. But, this you can take to the bank my friends, Jesus' return is very close on the horizon. This realization of just how near the Lords return is, has again caused the old enemy within to raise it's ugly head in this pastor. But, praise the Lord, I have learned the secret of how to conquer the old beggar. We need to realize just how far below what the Lord has for us that each of us lives. We could have so much here on earth and in heaven if it was not for that old enemy within that controls us. That keeps us under it's thumb.
This enemy has caused wars, this enemy has stopped future great leaders from ever reaching their potential. This enemy has caused many a poor person to stay poor instead of getting ahead in this world. This enemy has caused many people to never get off drugs. This enemy has personally witness the down fall of truthful preaching of the Gospel of Jesus. This enemy has been at the bottom of the ruin of many a church denomination. This enemy has one aim and one aim only and that is to ruin the human race in anyway possible. I could go on and on about how this enemy has caused so many of the evils and problems in the world today. But the worst thing this enemy has done is condemn millions and millions of souls to Hell. This enemy is the number one single reason for so many souls dying in their sins. This enemy has personally sent many a poor soul to his or her grave without knowing the grace and love of Jesus our Lord and Savoir. It is the one enemy that can make a person go against what he knows is right. It is the one enemy that can make us abandon our common sense. It is the one enemy that every human being from Adam on has had to fight against. There is only one way to conquer this enemy and that is a 100% belief in the Word of God.
What is this enemy you ask? I think you already know! Deep down in your heart and soul you can feel it stirring right now. You know that knot in your throat feeling that is telling you exactly what I am talking about. That enemy that has such a great control over you is FEAR! The dictionary defines fear as the following. Fear is an unpleasant feeling of perceived risk or danger, real or not. Fear also can be described as a feeling of extreme dislike to some conditions/objects, such as: fear of darkness, fear of ghosts, etc. It is one of the basic emotions. You will notice that to be fear it does not even have to be real just perceived. But today I want to look at just one fear all Christians share. The fear of telling someone about Jesus and His Love. Be totally honest when was the last time you shared with some one about your Saviors love? Do you see how fear has condemned millions of souls to eternity in hell? Or as some religions believe a moment being burned up. (that is another complete teaching).
Now let's get to where the rubber meets the road. Last week, Monday through Friday, how many people did you see or talk to? Be totally honest, how many people did the Lord bring into your life last week? As a minister and in our business Mary and I run into an average of 10 to 20 people a day. Mary and I are not perfect but we have learned whom to fear and it is not that little voice that says "don't tell them of Jesus they may think less of you!" or worse it whispers "you could get fired for telling them of Jesus love." Listen to Jesus my friends, Matthew 10:28 (NLT) 28"Don't be afraid of those who want to kill you. They can only kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. See Jesus knew exactly how the old devil was going to attack Christians, with fear. That little feeling that starts to grow as you prepare to talk to someone about Jesus. That irrational fear that something will happen to you if you open your mouth to witness. Be honest you know exactly what I am talking about. You have felt it many times. If you are like this pastor and are totally honest you will admit it has even stopped you from telling others of your Savior's love. I only hope is has, like this pastor ripped your heart out in sorrow. Think about it, you may be the last person they will see before entering eternity. You may be their last chance to hear the words of the saving Gospel. If you walk by someone today that the Holy Spirit leads you to speak to and that person does not live to see tomorrow, How will you answer Jesus on Judgement day?
Let me tell you a true story. One day in Central Africa a missionary was visiting an outstation where the witch doctor, Kalamba had accepted Jesus. The implements of his craft, constitute a fortune to his people, he had publicly burned. When the missionary found him he was in sore fear and distress of his life. His heathen neighbors had told him that now that he had no "medicines" for his defense, he would die shortly. They said "Our medicines will eat you". In his dreams he had heard his wife say " I have dug your grave!". The missionary spent over an hour trying to talk the ex-witch doctor out of his agony of fear, but he could not the terror was still present. Finally, the missionary thought to turn in his Baluba Testament to Revelation 1:17-18. He showed Kalamba who could not read, the Saviors assurance. Revelation 1:17-18 (NLT) When I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, "Don't be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one who died. Look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave. The missionary had him put his finger on it and had him memorize it. He explained that those keys are held not in the hands of his enemies or of the dreams, or of hostile "medicines", but in the hand of his Savior, whose personal word to his is "Fear not Kalamba, I your friend and Savior have the keys of death!" This said and done Kalamba was lifted from his anguish and fear to where he should have been living in peace and joy in Jesus.
The demon of fear took over this man's life until he realized that Jesus holds the keys to death and hell. He knew whom to fear, DO YOU? Fear is the greatest enemy of mankind. Be honest with yourself, haven't you ever built up some crazy scenario concerning a situation your in. Mary and I are often guilty of this in our lives. The dreaded if they do this we will do this. Instead we should remember Jesus' words Matthew 6:25-26 (NLT) 25"So I tell you, don't worry about everyday life-whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn't life consist of more than food and clothing? Look at the birds. They don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. We must get back to basics and say "your will be done!" If it was good enough for Jesus it should be good enough for us. Solomon told us whom and only whom we should fear. Proverbs 1:7 (KJV) 7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. How does Solomon say God looks at those who fear others than the Lord God. AS FOOLS!
My friends, approximately 150,000 people die every day, 53 million people die each year and the majority of them are going straight to hell. Many by their own choices, many by their own false beliefs, but many are going to hell because people like you and I have let the enemy within, fear, stop us from telling them about their need for salvation and the gospel of Jesus. How many will die today that the Lord gave you a chance to talk to, a chance to witness to. In 1997 a study asked Americans what they are the most afraid of, 54% said they were afraid of being in a car crash, down to 23% saying that they were afraid of natural disasters. But, no one said they were afraid of going to HELL! Why, because we in the body of Christ are too afraid to tell them of their need for a Savior to escape for an eternity in Hell! Without you and I to bring the realization to mankind that they are sinners in need of salvation and that 10 out of every 10 people die, why would they fear hell? Unless we make them realize there are two eternal destinations, heaven or hell, why should they fear death? Jesus left a rag tag group of men behind to spread the Gospel. Just like you and I they were no one special but that they loved and believed in Jesus. If it was not for their willingness to die to the world we would not be saved now. Can we not give the world the same love as they did?
Think about it my friends are you letting the enemy within control you or are you looking to Jesus saying " I am not afraid of those who want to kill me. They can only kill my body; they cannot touch my soul. I fear only God, who can destroy both my soul and body in hell."
