Welcome to Faith Chapel, my name is Sandy Smith; 00:00:30.75\00:00:34.27 I'm the Founder and Speaking Director 00:00:34.53\00:00:37.18 for Layman For a Finish Work. 00:00:37.37\00:00:38.85 At the present time I am also the 00:00:39.61\00:00:41.54 Recreational Director for Atlantic 00:00:41.75\00:00:43.97 Union college in Lancaster, Massachusetts. 00:00:44.17\00:00:47.15 What an honor to be a spokesman for God, 00:00:47.89\00:00:50.49 yet what a humbling experience. 00:00:50.70\00:00:53.37 People worldwide are scratching their heads 00:00:54.79\00:00:57.91 and wondering what's going on in this world, 00:00:58.12\00:01:01.45 they're saying all types of events taking place. 00:01:02.87\00:01:05.01 I know, when I left North Carolina 00:01:06.94\00:01:08.77 and moved to Boston, the Boston area 00:01:08.99\00:01:11.51 I was told that you will experience 00:01:13.10\00:01:15.06 some of the worst weather in your life. 00:01:15.27\00:01:18.11 But yet the past winter was not really 00:01:19.47\00:01:22.78 a bad winter at all, I was told that it was the 00:01:22.99\00:01:26.38 warmest winter in 32 years, strange signs. 00:01:26.60\00:01:30.92 Many are thinking that these signs perhaps 00:01:32.99\00:01:34.82 are the signal of a stupendous event 00:01:35.03\00:01:39.49 that will take place in the world very soon. 00:01:39.72\00:01:42.46 My sermon today is entitled Satan's greatest fear 00:01:43.91\00:01:47.72 which will deal with some of these concerns, 00:01:47.94\00:01:50.64 but let us pause for prayer. 00:01:50.87\00:01:53.35 Holy Spirit, we thank you for this opportunity, 00:01:54.70\00:01:56.90 we ask that you might manifest 00:01:57.13\00:01:58.49 yourself here in Jesus name, Amen. 00:01:58.77\00:02:02.34 God's owns mankind twice, once physically every man, 00:02:04.08\00:02:11.61 woman, boy, girl born in this world was born 00:02:11.81\00:02:17.91 by the loving hands of a loving creator. 00:02:18.14\00:02:21.91 But then they are those who have experienced 00:02:23.26\00:02:27.47 a second birth that is they have accepted Jesus Christ 00:02:27.69\00:02:34.31 as their Lord and Savior and they have experienced 00:02:34.51\00:02:38.08 recreation or the rebirth or redemption. 00:02:38.28\00:02:40.71 They are born again, please turn with me 00:02:41.69\00:02:45.71 in your Bibles to Second Peter the first chapter 00:02:45.93\00:02:50.13 and we will read together verses 3 and 4 00:02:51.12\00:02:53.77 "According as His divine power hath given unto us 00:02:56.38\00:02:59.39 all things that pertain unto life and godliness, 00:02:59.59\00:03:02.87 through the knowledge of Him that hath 00:03:04.28\00:03:06.51 called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given 00:03:06.71\00:03:10.03 unto us exceeding great and precious promises; 00:03:10.24\00:03:13.00 that by these ye might be partakers of the 00:03:13.72\00:03:17.50 divine nature, having escaped the corruption 00:03:17.57\00:03:20.33 that is in the world through lust." 00:03:20.57\00:03:22.81 God is the King of the universe 00:03:24.26\00:03:26.18 He is the Spiritual sojourn of Heaven and earth, 00:03:27.22\00:03:30.81 He owns everything, the gold, the silver, 00:03:32.00\00:03:33.58 the diamonds, the rubies, the oil, 00:03:33.81\00:03:35.75 at the cattle upon a thousand hills. 00:03:35.96\00:03:37.70 As the Spiritual sojourn that means that He looks out 00:03:38.75\00:03:43.91 for His subjects, He defends His subjects. 00:03:44.12\00:03:48.83 And in turn His subjects defend Him 00:03:50.00\00:03:51.99 and they look out for Him, 00:03:52.22\00:03:53.19 where atheists or Christian, 00:03:55.02\00:03:57.54 all owe their existence to God, 00:03:57.79\00:04:01.37 if we have accepted Him as our Lord and Savior 00:04:02.46\00:04:05.14 then we share His commonwealth 00:04:05.77\00:04:08.05 and belong to God's commonwealth. 00:04:09.43\00:04:11.68 If we have completely surrendered our wills to God, 00:04:13.24\00:04:16.23 He makes himself completely responsible 00:04:17.22\00:04:20.10 for our every need protection and guidance. 00:04:20.33\00:04:23.14 Please turn with me in your Bibles to Philippians 00:04:24.27\00:04:27.95 the 4th chapter and begin reading at verse 13: 00:04:28.16\00:04:32.67 I can do all things through Christ 00:04:35.46\00:04:38.08 which strengtheneth me. And then verse 19: 00:04:38.30\00:04:42.62 But my God shall supply all your needs according 00:04:45.10\00:04:49.21 to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 00:04:49.97\00:04:53.30 Satan is trying his best to thwart God's plan for us. 00:04:54.68\00:04:58.55 Please turn with me to First Peter 00:04:59.57\00:05:01.77 the 5th chapter verse 8 as we verify this, 00:05:02.39\00:05:06.20 the Bible says: Be sober, be vigilant; 00:05:08.80\00:05:10.93 because you are adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, 00:05:11.92\00:05:15.81 walketh about seeking whom He may devour. 00:05:16.02\00:05:20.61 God has limited Satan's powers, 00:05:22.66\00:05:26.81 Satan does not have unlimited power 00:05:28.16\00:05:30.37 when it comes to human beings if he did, 00:05:30.59\00:05:32.33 he would totally overwhelm us. 00:05:32.94\00:05:34.58 I would like to think of Satan in comparison 00:05:35.91\00:05:39.16 to God as a lion in the zoo, 00:05:39.37\00:05:42.76 now I've been to the San Diego Zoo which is 00:05:43.44\00:05:45.48 reputed to be the number one zoo in the country. 00:05:45.92\00:05:47.88 And I want you to picture a lion at the zoo 00:05:48.83\00:05:52.41 in his steel cage and as you stand gazing at him 00:05:53.47\00:05:58.36 behind the fence and he's in there 00:05:58.56\00:06:02.89 on a short leash or chain. 00:06:03.09\00:06:05.38 His teeth have been, have been extracted 00:06:05.60\00:06:08.93 and his claws removed and so with God and Satan 00:06:09.96\00:06:14.83 God has limited him whereby he cannot do 00:06:16.30\00:06:20.57 what he wants with us. 00:06:20.78\00:06:22.08 Just as the lion could not get to you 00:06:22.33\00:06:25.02 unless you jump the fence, open his cage 00:06:25.23\00:06:28.13 and went in and laid down before him. 00:06:28.34\00:06:30.25 So, Satan cannot harm you, but I remember once being 00:06:30.83\00:06:34.62 at a zoo and when it came time to feeding the lion, 00:06:34.82\00:06:37.82 he had such a furious roar, roar that it scared 00:06:39.34\00:06:42.89 the people in there so does Satan. 00:06:43.09\00:06:44.72 He has a very loud roar that causes you to fear him, 00:06:45.66\00:06:50.06 we have nothing to fear but fear itself. 00:06:51.21\00:06:53.26 I ask you the question, why is there hatred and racism 00:06:54.52\00:06:59.52 and prejudices and divorce and pain and suffering, 00:07:00.10\00:07:03.84 death, earthquakes, volcanoes, 00:07:04.34\00:07:07.60 hurricanes, wars and terrorism. 00:07:08.34\00:07:10.81 What about mental illnesses and Alzheimer's disease, 00:07:11.70\00:07:14.97 cancer, where did it all start. 00:07:15.19\00:07:18.11 You ask me preacher, 00:07:18.63\00:07:21.06 if the God you serve is a God of love, 00:07:22.38\00:07:24.29 then why does he allow such things to happen, 00:07:24.99\00:07:27.62 such as divorce and prejudices 00:07:27.81\00:07:29.31 and earthquakes and suffering and pain. 00:07:29.50\00:07:31.23 Why doesn't he put an end to these things you say, 00:07:32.63\00:07:35.60 maybe he is responsible for them? 00:07:36.42\00:07:38.50 These are relevant questions 00:07:39.61\00:07:40.73 that deserve relevant answers. 00:07:40.79\00:07:43.52 Let me take you on a journey that will explain 00:07:44.03\00:07:47.23 this dilemma, eons and eons ago before there were 00:07:47.99\00:07:52.92 any human beings or any beings in the universe, 00:07:53.12\00:07:55.71 the trinity lived or existed out in space somewhere 00:07:56.41\00:08:00.33 and because of their magnanimous love 00:08:01.88\00:08:03.50 they decided to create beings 00:08:03.70\00:08:05.05 that they could have a reciprocal relationship with, 00:08:05.28\00:08:08.69 that is beings that they could love 00:08:08.89\00:08:10.93 and who would love them in turn. 00:08:11.14\00:08:12.90 And they created the angels first 00:08:14.71\00:08:16.94 and other worlds came into existence, 00:08:18.97\00:08:22.02 these beings did not have Ten Commandments. 00:08:23.73\00:08:26.54 They didn't have written laws on stones 00:08:27.79\00:08:30.07 or notebooks or pages, but God wrote 00:08:30.30\00:08:34.09 these laws in their beings, 00:08:34.29\00:08:36.10 in their hearts, they were all happy. 00:08:37.61\00:08:39.46 Everybody lived in total bliss, 00:08:40.31\00:08:43.19 then there was the one angel who was believed to 00:08:44.83\00:08:47.17 be the first created being in the universe, 00:08:47.39\00:08:49.76 whose name was Lucifer. 00:08:50.30\00:08:51.71 Lucifer was the choir director, he was brilliant. 00:08:52.63\00:08:57.26 He was the covering cherub before God's 00:08:58.24\00:08:59.99 throne and that's why his name Lucifer means the, 00:09:00.20\00:09:05.12 the shinning one, the bright one, 00:09:05.32\00:09:06.84 the anointed one, the morning star, 00:09:07.06\00:09:08.97 because he stood with outstretched arms 00:09:09.21\00:09:12.44 right in front of the throne of God 00:09:12.66\00:09:14.18 and all of the brilliance of God shown on him. 00:09:14.84\00:09:17.98 To be in the presence of God is, 00:09:19.09\00:09:20.91 is beyond words unapproachable light, 00:09:21.13\00:09:24.96 but after perhaps eons and eons, we don't know, 00:09:25.99\00:09:30.04 a strange thing happened in Heaven. 00:09:31.00\00:09:33.62 Lucifer thou having this exalted position 00:09:34.63\00:09:38.39 somehow became jealous of Jesus God's son 00:09:40.58\00:09:45.41 and Lucifer began spreading falsehoods about Jesus. 00:09:46.64\00:09:51.27 You know how it goes, mystery loves company. 00:09:51.48\00:09:53.99 He started saying things about Christ that was, 00:09:55.53\00:09:58.57 there were not true. 00:09:58.78\00:10:00.04 He started just laying little seeds of doubt 00:10:00.90\00:10:02.89 in the angels' minds concerning Jesus Christ, 00:10:03.12\00:10:06.01 Jesus bore with Satan 00:10:07.35\00:10:09.34 for a long time not confronting him. 00:10:09.54\00:10:11.34 But then after a long period of time, 00:10:12.35\00:10:14.35 Jesus patience even wore thin 00:10:15.31\00:10:18.22 and he called Lucifer aside and said to him, 00:10:19.31\00:10:22.05 Lucifer, I realize what you're doing, 00:10:22.61\00:10:24.76 I've been watching you the whole time. 00:10:24.97\00:10:27.43 And you have been spreading falsehoods 00:10:27.91\00:10:30.19 concerning me and I'm asking that you repent, 00:10:30.38\00:10:32.58 we love you Lucifer and we want you 00:10:33.71\00:10:36.03 to remain the covering cherub, 00:10:36.25\00:10:37.85 but we just want you to be truthful. 00:10:38.05\00:10:39.63 But Lucifer refused to repent 00:10:40.62\00:10:43.45 and then the God head allowed Lucifer 00:10:44.28\00:10:46.85 to maintain his present position 00:10:47.04\00:10:50.11 as the covering cherub. 00:10:50.32\00:10:51.41 And after a longer period of time then God the Father 00:10:52.59\00:10:56.76 summons all of the angels to His throne 00:10:57.92\00:11:00.80 and He explained to the angels 00:11:01.00\00:11:04.18 that Jesus was not like them, 00:11:05.70\00:11:07.23 even though He was among them 00:11:07.45\00:11:10.08 and He appeared to be a created angel, 00:11:10.31\00:11:12.92 He was their creator. 00:11:13.12\00:11:14.62 And that He was as much God as the Father, 00:11:15.59\00:11:18.57 and Lucifer again refuse to repent, 00:11:20.19\00:11:23.46 He refused to accept the council of Jesus 00:11:24.36\00:11:27.42 and He also refused to accept 00:11:28.00\00:11:30.33 the council of God the Father. 00:11:30.89\00:11:32.54 This is a mystery, how can a perfect being, 00:11:34.32\00:11:38.75 living in a perfect environment 00:11:39.56\00:11:41.41 with the perfect God, 00:11:42.07\00:11:43.37 with perfect angels commit iniquity, 00:11:43.63\00:11:47.53 who did he copy it from? Where did he see it? 00:11:48.08\00:11:50.95 It's called the mystery of iniquity, 00:11:51.46\00:11:53.35 the mystery of sin. 00:11:53.55\00:11:54.79 Please turn with me in your Bibles 00:11:56.08\00:11:57.46 to Revelation the 12th chapter 00:11:57.97\00:12:02.28 and we want to read verses 00:12:02.50\00:12:05.42 7 through 9 and the Bible says: 00:12:06.20\00:12:11.56 "And there was war in heaven: 00:12:11.78\00:12:13.19 Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; 00:12:13.76\00:12:16.74 and the dragon fought and his angels. 00:12:16.94\00:12:19.68 And prevailed not; neither was their place 00:12:20.31\00:12:23.05 found any more in heaven. 00:12:23.25\00:12:24.57 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, 00:12:25.08\00:12:29.30 called the Devil, and Satan, 00:12:29.50\00:12:31.73 which deceiveth the whole world: 00:12:31.94\00:12:34.25 he was cast out into the earth, 00:12:35.08\00:12:36.94 and his angels were cast out with him. 00:12:37.15\00:12:40.40 And then verse 4, the same chapter, the Bible says: 00:12:40.96\00:12:45.72 And his tail drew the third part 00:12:46.37\00:12:48.89 of the stars of heaven, 00:12:49.10\00:12:51.43 and did cast them to the earth: 00:12:52.13\00:12:53.61 and the dragon stood before the woman 00:12:54.30\00:12:56.14 who was ready to be delivered, 00:12:56.35\00:12:58.03 for to devour her child as soon as it was born. 00:12:58.66\00:13:02.11 Lucifer's name was changed to Satan, 00:13:02.78\00:13:05.61 he was no longer called the shining one, 00:13:06.21\00:13:08.94 the anointed one, the brilliant one 00:13:09.16\00:13:10.94 but he was called Satan which means 00:13:11.14\00:13:12.66 the adversary, the enemy of God. 00:13:12.86\00:13:14.87 He and one third of his angels 00:13:15.06\00:13:18.45 were booted out of Heaven by Jesus 00:13:18.65\00:13:20.96 and His two third of the Holy Angels. 00:13:21.17\00:13:23.49 Satan and His cohorts are forever banned from Heaven 00:13:24.13\00:13:27.42 and the other worlds and they are now occupying 00:13:27.62\00:13:31.12 planet earth where you and I live 00:13:31.32\00:13:34.23 and where they have brought their evil 00:13:34.43\00:13:37.07 machinations and their schemes and temptations. 00:13:38.12\00:13:41.40 Adam and Eve were created 00:13:43.48\00:13:45.49 and they lived in the beautiful Garden of Eden, 00:13:46.13\00:13:48.43 most people think that the Garden of Eden 00:13:49.23\00:13:50.74 might have been just a small area, 00:13:50.95\00:13:52.32 it could have been miles we don't know. 00:13:52.55\00:13:54.32 But they were placed in the Garden of Eden 00:13:57.39\00:13:58.36 and they were told to be on guard for Satan, 00:13:58.37\00:14:01.03 the Father and Son visited Adam and Eve 00:14:01.62\00:14:05.00 in the cool of the evenings, the Mediterranean breeze 00:14:05.21\00:14:10.01 blowing they were happy all of their needs were met, 00:14:10.21\00:14:13.66 there was nothing that they stood in need of. 00:14:13.88\00:14:17.47 The Bible says that they were naked, 00:14:18.53\00:14:19.99 but they didn't know that they were naked 00:14:20.68\00:14:22.18 because they were covered with a light, 00:14:22.39\00:14:25.37 beautiful light of God, the righteousness of Christ. 00:14:26.25\00:14:29.66 They were given conditional eternal life 00:14:30.54\00:14:33.27 and placed on probation that is if they pass 00:14:34.13\00:14:38.40 the mild test that God setup for them 00:14:38.68\00:14:41.81 and placing the tree of life in the middle 00:14:42.02\00:14:45.04 of the garden which if they partook 00:14:45.23\00:14:47.01 of they would continue to have eternal life, 00:14:47.21\00:14:50.30 but then there was the tree of the, 00:14:50.50\00:14:52.17 the knowledge of good and evil. 00:14:52.38\00:14:53.60 God, specifically told them that on the day 00:14:54.43\00:14:56.66 that they ate from that tree, 00:14:56.86\00:14:58.27 they would surely die, 00:14:58.47\00:15:00.84 but if they could pass this test and they would 00:15:01.08\00:15:03.65 receive unconditional eternal life and live forever. 00:15:03.85\00:15:07.02 Please turn with me in your Bibles to Genesis 00:15:07.70\00:15:11.03 the third chapter and we want to begin 00:15:11.24\00:15:14.68 reading at verse 19, no that's verses 1 through 19 00:15:14.88\00:15:21.64 excuse me, the Bible says very plainly: 00:15:21.86\00:15:24.42 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast 00:15:24.63\00:15:27.98 of the field which the Lord God had made: 00:15:28.18\00:15:30.71 and he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, 00:15:30.92\00:15:34.34 Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 00:15:34.54\00:15:36.75 And the woman said unto the serpent, 00:15:37.58\00:15:39.24 We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden, 00:15:40.10\00:15:42.54 but of the fruit of the tree 00:15:43.28\00:15:44.75 which is in the midst of the garden, 00:15:44.97\00:15:46.26 God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, 00:15:46.99\00:15:49.40 neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 00:15:50.27\00:15:52.82 And the serpent said unto the woman, 00:15:53.73\00:15:55.08 Ye shall not surely die, for God doth know, 00:15:56.10\00:15:59.30 that in the day ye eat thereof, 00:15:59.53\00:16:01.15 then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall 00:16:01.87\00:16:04.97 be as Gods, knowing good and evil. 00:16:05.17\00:16:07.69 And when the woman saw 00:16:08.31\00:16:09.44 that the tree was good for food, 00:16:09.68\00:16:11.54 and that it was pleasant to the eyes, 00:16:11.79\00:16:14.48 and a treat to be desired to make one wise; 00:16:14.71\00:16:17.34 she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, 00:16:17.95\00:16:20.18 and gave also unto her husband 00:16:20.41\00:16:22.56 with her, and he did eat. 00:16:22.78\00:16:24.72 And the eyes of them both were opened, 00:16:25.37\00:16:27.36 and they knew that they were naked: 00:16:27.92\00:16:29.83 and they sewed fig-leaves together, 00:16:30.42\00:16:32.55 and made themselves aprons. 00:16:33.17\00:16:35.40 And they heard the voice of the Lord God 00:16:36.03\00:16:38.22 walking in the garden in the cool of the day, 00:16:38.48\00:16:41.07 and Adam and his wife hid themselves 00:16:42.37\00:16:44.86 from the presence of the Lord God 00:16:45.08\00:16:47.50 amongst the trees of the garden. 00:16:48.24\00:16:49.82 And the Lord called unto Adam, 00:16:50.36\00:16:52.26 and said unto him, Where art thou? 00:16:52.47\00:16:54.72 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden: 00:16:55.27\00:16:58.02 and I was afraid, because I was naked; 00:16:58.34\00:17:01.19 and I hid myself. And he said, 00:17:01.58\00:17:03.77 Who told thee that thou wast naked? 00:17:03.99\00:17:07.83 Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded 00:17:08.47\00:17:12.07 thee that thou shouldest not eat? 00:17:12.29\00:17:14.32 And the man said, The woman, whom thou 00:17:14.54\00:17:17.78 gaveth to me, to be with me, 00:17:17.98\00:17:19.73 she gave me of the tree and I did eat. 00:17:20.56\00:17:22.82 And the Lord said unto the woman, 00:17:23.42\00:17:25.69 What is this that thou hast done? 00:17:25.91\00:17:28.35 And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, 00:17:29.57\00:17:32.66 and I did eat. And the Lord said unto the serpent, 00:17:32.90\00:17:36.23 Because thou hast done this, 00:17:36.80\00:17:39.32 thou art cursed above all cattle, 00:17:39.91\00:17:42.40 and above all beast of the field, 00:17:42.61\00:17:44.19 upon thy belly shalt thou go, 00:17:44.41\00:17:47.05 and thus shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 00:17:47.61\00:17:50.70 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, 00:17:51.96\00:17:54.68 and between thy seed and her seed, 00:17:55.27\00:17:57.17 it shall bruise thy head, 00:17:57.68\00:17:59.57 and thou shalt bruise his heel. 00:17:59.87\00:18:01.72 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly 00:18:02.35\00:18:05.67 multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; 00:18:05.88\00:18:08.21 in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children: 00:18:08.86\00:18:11.25 and thy desire shall be to thy husband, 00:18:11.48\00:18:14.08 and he shall rule over thee. 00:18:14.30\00:18:16.08 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast 00:18:16.62\00:18:20.45 hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, 00:18:20.70\00:18:22.48 and hast eaten of the tree of which I commanded thee, 00:18:22.70\00:18:25.73 saying, Thou shalt not eat, eat it, 00:18:25.97\00:18:32.80 cursed is the ground for thy sake, 00:18:33.05\00:18:34.02 in sorrow shalt thou eat of it 00:18:34.03\00:18:35.00 all the days of thy life; 00:18:35.15\00:18:36.40 thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; 00:18:36.63\00:18:39.61 and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 00:18:40.56\00:18:42.88 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, 00:18:43.08\00:18:46.06 till thou return unto the ground; 00:18:46.27\00:18:49.23 for out of it was thou taken, for dust thou art, 00:18:49.99\00:18:54.44 and unto dust shalt thou return. 00:18:55.28\00:18:57.60 Satan had deceived one third of the ones 00:18:58.66\00:19:02.35 Holy Angels in Heaven and now he moved his program 00:19:02.56\00:19:06.56 to earth with Adam and Eve and he caused them to fall, 00:19:06.77\00:19:11.85 they took his lie and accepted it as the truth. 00:19:12.55\00:19:16.56 They believed Satan over God, 00:19:17.19\00:19:19.69 now all communication between God the Father 00:19:19.93\00:19:24.41 and Adam and Eve would be ended, 00:19:24.62\00:19:28.33 all communication now would be 00:19:28.56\00:19:30.94 through His son Jesus Christ. 00:19:31.17\00:19:32.98 This is what we mean when we think of the dream 00:19:34.25\00:19:38.48 that Jacob had in the book of Genesis where he saw 00:19:38.68\00:19:42.06 a ladder that reached into Heaven 00:19:42.28\00:19:44.15 and rested on the earth. 00:19:44.37\00:19:46.22 This was to illustrate that the communication 00:19:47.53\00:19:49.31 between God and man would be through Jesus 00:19:49.57\00:19:53.13 who represented that ladder and so we find 00:19:53.35\00:19:57.40 that sin is not something to be trifled with, 00:19:57.65\00:20:00.90 it's serious. Satan's main objective is to cut off 00:20:01.13\00:20:05.26 mankind's communication with God, 00:20:05.47\00:20:08.14 how does he accomplish this? 00:20:08.99\00:20:10.67 By enticing people to accept 00:20:11.35\00:20:13.95 his thoughts, ideas, and suggestions. 00:20:14.17\00:20:17.40 Let me repeat that again, by enticing people 00:20:18.05\00:20:21.43 to accept his thoughts, ideas and suggestions 00:20:21.65\00:20:25.70 that he sends to cause them to be 00:20:25.93\00:20:28.26 confused, discouraged and hopeless. 00:20:28.46\00:20:31.35 Every created being whether in Heaven 00:20:31.56\00:20:34.67 or in other worlds or human beings on this earth 00:20:34.86\00:20:37.10 must decide who they will give their 00:20:37.30\00:20:40.63 allegiance to or who they will obey? 00:20:40.83\00:20:43.21 And I'm sure they are those listening who would say 00:20:44.33\00:20:46.45 well that's an easy question to answer. 00:20:46.64\00:20:49.17 Of course, I'm going to give my allegiance to God, 00:20:49.38\00:20:51.35 but if we are going to accept God 00:20:52.94\00:20:55.76 it has to be on a volunteer basis. 00:20:56.37\00:20:58.90 God will not force, he will not pressure, 00:20:59.46\00:21:01.76 he will not used deception or lies or pressure 00:21:01.98\00:21:05.22 to cause people to worship Him or accept Him. 00:21:05.84\00:21:08.96 But on the under hand, Satan uses any method 00:21:09.56\00:21:13.11 as possible, he will lie, he will cheat, 00:21:13.30\00:21:16.38 he will twist the truth, anything he can 00:21:17.08\00:21:20.29 to cause people to follow him. 00:21:20.52\00:21:22.22 Satan's greatest fear is that you and I 00:21:22.78\00:21:26.93 will wake up and smell the roses and realize that 00:21:27.15\00:21:31.75 he is a liar and the father of lies, 00:21:31.97\00:21:33.99 that he is out to destroy us. 00:21:35.03\00:21:36.69 And that Jesus is our only hope, 00:21:37.27\00:21:39.22 this he wants to keep away from you, 00:21:39.83\00:21:41.51 Satan is fully aware that Jesus is stronger than him. 00:21:42.16\00:21:45.38 That he can't defeat Jesus, 00:21:45.96\00:21:47.71 when I think of Jesus versus Satan it's like 00:21:48.34\00:21:51.64 thinking of an elephant and an ant. 00:21:51.86\00:21:53.48 There is no comparison, if we obey and trust Jesus, 00:21:54.09\00:21:58.76 this devil cannot defeat us, it's an impossibility. 00:22:00.91\00:22:04.79 Satan's only chance of success is to cut off 00:22:05.40\00:22:09.13 our communication with Heaven, 00:22:09.56\00:22:12.22 by encouraging people to stop praying, 00:22:12.47\00:22:16.34 to stop studying and to stop witnessing 00:22:16.96\00:22:21.36 and to have half heartedly due to three. 00:22:21.57\00:22:24.21 They don't have to stop all together, 00:22:24.87\00:22:27.08 all Satan wants you to do is to cut it, 00:22:27.30\00:22:29.59 I can remember being unemployed not too long ago. 00:22:32.22\00:22:37.96 And it was one of the worst experiences 00:22:38.96\00:22:41.16 that my wife and I and family ever had. 00:22:41.37\00:22:43.65 I can remember working on the East coast 00:22:44.27\00:22:46.23 at a college as a Athletic Director 00:22:46.46\00:22:49.25 and upon being employed at this college 00:22:49.84\00:22:54.08 the situation was a very challenging one. 00:22:54.29\00:22:56.35 And after three years the Lord really blessed me 00:22:56.99\00:23:00.54 to turn the program around, but because of some 00:23:00.77\00:23:03.84 unfortunate decisions my job was eliminated. 00:23:04.06\00:23:08.15 And so my family and I returned from the 00:23:09.56\00:23:12.24 Washington DC area and we returned to North Carolina 00:23:13.22\00:23:17.60 where I had just unemployment benefits 00:23:18.35\00:23:20.48 and severance pay and it wasn't long 00:23:21.22\00:23:23.85 before all of that was gone. 00:23:24.06\00:23:25.64 And now the devil was really going to work on me 00:23:26.71\00:23:28.91 with his thoughts and ideas and suggestions. 00:23:29.12\00:23:31.14 I thought well maybe I'm not praying enough, 00:23:31.77\00:23:34.10 maybe God is punishing me for our past sins 00:23:34.69\00:23:39.49 but then I remembered the Bible verse that says: 00:23:39.73\00:23:41.86 "If we confess our sins, God is faithful 00:23:42.08\00:23:44.32 and just to forgive us from our sins, 00:23:44.52\00:23:46.45 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 00:23:46.67\00:23:48.52 And after fifteen months of putting in over 00:23:49.08\00:23:51.37 three hundred applications and or resumes 00:23:51.58\00:23:54.29 I came back with zero results. 00:23:55.08\00:23:57.36 Now we were out of money, 00:23:57.94\00:23:59.99 we're not sure what we would do. 00:24:00.64\00:24:02.68 Satan was trying his best to cut us off 00:24:03.29\00:24:06.33 from God but we refused, we prayed and God 00:24:07.15\00:24:10.04 blessed me with a job at Atlantic Union College 00:24:10.27\00:24:12.66 whereby I received the same job, a better pay, 00:24:13.22\00:24:16.67 more responsibility and I'm very happy 00:24:16.89\00:24:20.85 and so for those of you listening, 00:24:21.48\00:24:23.50 the devil is going to attack, 00:24:23.71\00:24:25.11 believe me he will attack. 00:24:25.84\00:24:27.16 But you must trust God regardless 00:24:27.77\00:24:29.68 even if it appears that God has deserted you, 00:24:30.43\00:24:32.62 abandoned you, you must hold 00:24:32.85\00:24:34.87 on to the unchanging hand of God. 00:24:35.08\00:24:37.61 There was an African that I'm told 00:24:38.20\00:24:41.11 who was in prison because of his faith 00:24:41.31\00:24:43.14 and he was going to be executed because he 00:24:44.19\00:24:48.68 refuses to recant and to give up his faith. 00:24:49.29\00:24:52.61 And when he was executed this is the note 00:24:53.79\00:24:56.67 that was found at the spot where he laid. 00:24:56.89\00:24:59.66 It's called The Fellowship of the Unashamed, 00:25:01.13\00:25:03.38 he starts by saying: 00:25:04.08\00:25:06.52 I'm a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. 00:25:06.73\00:25:08.53 I have the Holy Ghost Power. 00:25:08.77\00:25:10.73 The dye has been set. I have stepped over the line. 00:25:11.31\00:25:15.42 The decision has been made. I am a disciple of His. 00:25:16.00\00:25:19.55 I won't look back, let up, slow down, 00:25:20.14\00:25:22.26 and back away for my past is redeemed, 00:25:22.48\00:25:24.70 my present makes sense, and my future is secure. 00:25:24.92\00:25:27.92 I am finished and done with low living, 00:25:28.66\00:25:30.79 sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, 00:25:31.01\00:25:34.13 colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, 00:25:34.35\00:25:38.06 chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals. 00:25:38.29\00:25:40.31 I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, 00:25:40.90\00:25:43.44 position, promotions, power or popularity. 00:25:43.66\00:25:47.38 I don't have to be right, first, tops, 00:25:48.86\00:25:52.07 recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. 00:25:52.27\00:25:55.09 My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, 00:25:55.70\00:25:58.71 my road is narrow, my way is rough, 00:25:58.93\00:26:01.33 my companions few, my guide is reliable, 00:26:01.55\00:26:05.07 my mission I cannot be bought, 00:26:05.28\00:26:06.95 compromised, deterred, lured away, 00:26:07.16\00:26:09.31 turned back, diluted, or delayed. 00:26:09.52\00:26:11.57 I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, 00:26:12.15\00:26:14.46 hesitate in the presence of adversity, 00:26:14.69\00:26:16.43 negotiate at the table of the enemy, 00:26:16.65\00:26:18.61 ponder at the pool of popularity, 00:26:18.83\00:26:20.90 or meander at the maze of mediocrity. 00:26:21.12\00:26:24.31 I won't give up, shut up, let up, slow up, 00:26:24.88\00:26:27.34 until I've lifted him up, prayed him up, paid up, 00:26:27.54\00:26:30.54 stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ. 00:26:30.76\00:26:32.93 I am a disciple of Christ. 00:26:33.14\00:26:35.97 I must fight while there is time, give until I drop, 00:26:36.19\00:26:39.55 share all I all know, and serve till He comes. 00:26:39.76\00:26:41.87 And when He does come to get His own, 00:26:42.10\00:26:44.08 He will have no problem recognizing me. 00:26:44.31\00:26:46.57 Recognizing my colors, because they will be clear. 00:26:47.16\00:26:50.68 And so as we end this broadcast my admission 00:26:50.90\00:26:54.73 to those who are listening and those who might 00:26:54.95\00:26:58.48 be going through problems at the point of giving up 00:26:58.67\00:27:02.32 and in despair trust God no matter what comes. 00:27:02.54\00:27:07.16 Trust God because God would empty all of Heaven 00:27:07.38\00:27:11.89 to come to your rescue before He would allow 00:27:12.10\00:27:14.53 Satan to defeat you, let us pray. 00:27:14.74\00:27:18.28 Father in Heaven, we thank you 00:27:18.50\00:27:20.31 so much for this sermon, 00:27:20.52\00:27:22.26 we thank you so much for your love, 00:27:23.23\00:27:24.85 we know that Satan's greatest fear is that 00:27:25.07\00:27:29.09 we will wake up and realize that 00:27:29.32\00:27:31.15 you don't send these calamities 00:27:31.37\00:27:33.34 and these problems, but he does, 00:27:33.55\00:27:34.78 we love you and thank you, in Jesus name, Amen. 00:27:34.99\00:27:38.73 We thank you for listening today 00:27:38.96\00:27:41.56 and we ask that you will tune in again, 00:27:43.04\00:27:45.10 may God continue to bless you as you trust Him 00:27:45.87\00:27:48.63 and as you continue to know that He will save you. 00:27:49.44\00:27:54.49