Thursday, September 1, 2011

What To Do When Satan Has His Bulls Eye on You (Dodge Ball with the Devil)

Sermon Notes
August 20 &21, 2011

Sermon: What To Do When Satan Has His Bulls Eye on You (Dodge Ball with the Devil): An Unlikely Deliverance


Sermon Text:
Luke 22: 31-34 (NKJV)

31And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” 33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” 34 Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”

Context:
Jesus is hours from trial. The Lord’s Supper has been given. Jesus is now teaching them what they would need to know after He’s gone. He tells Peter that Satan wanting to sift him like wheat and then tells him that He will pray for him. Have you ever felt like Satan was out to get you? Jesus has a process for making or breaking you and Satan has a part in that plan. When you play dodge ball with the devil, he intends to take you out. Satan may have it out for you, but remember this is a part of God’s plan for your life. God intends to use this as a way of refining you. It’s time you learn to play dodge ball with the devil…and win.

Point 1: Denial is Not Your Dead End (vs 34)
We must remember that just because we are denied something doesn’t mean it is the end. What is said to you can catapult you or stop you in your tracks. When we hear what Jesus says to Peter we believe this may be the end of Peter’s career with Jesus. However, peter’s faith is not shaken just because Jesus gave him a hard word. Remember, Jesus isn’t always going to tell you what you want to hear. He isn’t a lottery machine. Every now and then He will have a hard word for you. What may seem like a hard word to you may be the very thing to get you out of your situation. Peter pressed through, so should you.

Point 2: Delay is Not Your Demise (vs 34)
Just because you didn’t get what you wanted right now does not mean it will be the demise of you. When Jesus tells Peter he will deny him three times Peter’s aspirations are delayed. He now knows delays are a part of the journey. Because we live in a fast-paced society we have issues with waiting; we want things when we want them. We get tired of the journey. This is when you make bad decisions and the enemy comes in. Here are reasons you should not get tired:
1. Being tired is a sign that you are almost there. (Rev 3:11)
2. Tired means you have stopped doing things in your own strength and you are now relying on God. (Eph 3:20)

Point 3: Disaster is Your Delivery (vs 34)
Sometimes we mistake disaster for the end when it is your deliverance in a disguise. Peter had a disastrous mouth. The mouth that was once used to create disasters was transformed and began to preach the gospel.


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