The Antichrist - Part II - The Wiles of the enemy
In this message, Jerry emphasizes the need for Christians to be vigilant against Satan's attacks. He reminds listeners that while Satan is defeated, he continues to wage war on believers. Jerry uses the analogy of a cloaked enemy from Star Trek to illustrate how Satan often deceives us until it's too late. He then revisits various ways Satan tries to ensnare us—through our minds, bodies, consciences, oppression, strengths, environment, fear, exhaustion, hope, consecration, and prayer life. However, Jerry reminds listeners that God ultimately uses Satan's attacks for our good. He disciplines us, strengthens us, humbles us, and ultimately glorifies Himself through our trials. The key takeaway is the need to remain vigilant, resisting Satan's advances while humbling ourselves before God and making Him our refuge. Jerry concludes by urging listeners to make God their habitation, finding their security and strength in Him alone. He illustrates this point with a story about a man who rejects God until facing imminent danger, emphasizing that we cannot keep God at arm's length but must make Him central to our lives.
Outline of the Main Points:
Introduction
Prayer for guidance and strength against Satan's schemes
Satan's Continued Warfare
Reminder of Satan's defeat but ongoing war against believers
Analogy of the cloaked enemy: Satan's deception
Satan's Wiles and Attacks
Mind
Body
Conscience
Oppression
Strengths
Environment
Fear
Exhaustion
Hope
Consecration
Prayer life
God's Sovereignty and Purpose in Trials
God uses the enemy for our good: testing, discipline, destruction of self-life
God's use of Satan to glorify Himself (Job)
God's control over Satan's attacks (Peter)
The need for humility and trust in God's hand (1 Peter 5:6-11)
The Importance of Abiding in Christ (Psalm 91)
Dwelling in the secret place of the Most High
Finding refuge and protection under God's wings
Making God our habitation: our source of comfort, rest, and security
Conclusion
The importance of actively resisting Satan
The danger of keeping God at a distance
The need to make God our habitation and find our victory in Him
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
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.
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.
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: 8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. 9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
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. 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. 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: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. 21 But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things: 22 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts. 23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
To the Ephesians written from Rome, by Tychicus.
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. 14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
