Psalm 23:5 NKJV
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
In less time than it takes to snap your fingers – If you’re not careful -the enemy canb pull up a seat at the table your shepherd has prepared for you. Suddenly, It’s not just you and God almighty at your table anymore. Now it’s you, God and the devil…
I. The enemy only needs the tiniest crack, the smallest window of doubt or uncertainty – and just like that, the devil is sitting at your table…
A. The
1. This is just
2.
3. Life is just so
4. I’m not sure how much I’m really
5. I just need more
B. Let me introduce you to the
Romans 8:10-12 NLT
10 And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit
gives you life because you have been made right with God. 11 The Spirit of God, who raised
Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. 12 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do.
You have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do…
Psalm 23:4 TPT
4 Even when your path takes me through the valley of deepest darkness, fear will never conquer me, for you already have! Your authority is my strength and my peace. The comfort of your love takes away my fear. I’ll never be lonely, for you are near.
II. These unwelcome guests at your table are often quiet at first – friendly even.
A. The devil doesn’t arrive with a brightly flashing
B. He doesn’t sit down with a
C. At first, it’s simply another person seated
The devil rarely comes to your table showing his true colors…
II Corinthians 11:14 TPT
That doesn’t surprise us, for even Satan transforms himself to appear as an angel of light!
D. Your enemy will use whatever devices are available to
into your brain…
Matthew 4:1-11 MSG
1-3 Next Jesus was taken into the wild by the Spirit for the Test. The Devil was ready to give
it. Jesus prepared for the Test by fasting forty days and forty nights. That left Him, of course,
in a state of extreme hunger, which the Devil took advantage of in the first test: “Since you are God’s Son, speak the word that will turn these stones into loaves of bread.” 4 Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.” 5-6 For the second test the Devil took Him to the Holy City. He sat him on top of the Temple and said, “Since you are God’s Son, jump.” The Devil goaded Him by quoting Psalm 91: “He has placed you in the care of angels. They will catch you so that you won’t so much as stub your toe on a stone.” 7 Jesus countered with another citation from Deuteronomy: “Don’t you dare test the Lord your God.” 8-9 For the third test, the Devil took Him to the peak of a huge mountain. He gestured expansively, pointing out all the earth’s kingdoms, how glorious they all were. Then he said, “They’re yours—lock, stock, and barrel. Just go down on your knees and worship me, and they’re yours.” 10 Jesus’ refusal was curt: “Beat it, Satan!” He backed his rebuke with a third quotation from Deuteronomy: “Worship the Lord your God, and only Him. Serve Him with absolute single- heartedness.” 11 The Test was over. The Devil left. And in his place, angels! Angels came
and took care of Jesus’ needs.
E. Often the devil appears
Genesis 3:1-5 MSG
The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal GOD had made. He spoke to the Woman: “Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?” 2-3 The Woman said to the serpent, “Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. It’s only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, ‘Don’t eat from it; don’t even touch it or you’ll die.’” 4-5 The serpent told the Woman, “You won’t die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you’ll see what’s really going on. You’ll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil.”
F. Let me outline what is behind empathy:
- He wants to gain access to your
- He wants to get inside your
- These thoughts unchecked will spill out into
- He wants you to be overtaken by
- He wants to steal everything that is
- He wants to cause
The devil is not gentle – not in the long run…
John 8:44 NIV
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
II Timothy 2:23-26 TPT
23 Stay away from all the foolish arguments of the immature, for these disputes will only generate more conflict. 24 For a true servant of our Lord Jesus will not be argumentative but gentle toward all and skilled in helping others see the truth, having great patience toward the immature. 25 Then with meekness you’ll be able to carefully enlighten those who argue with you so they can see God’s gracious gift of repentance and be brought to the truth. 26 This will cause them to rediscover themselves and escape from the snare of Satan who caught them in his trap so that they would carry out his purposes.
I Peter 5:8-11 TPT
8 Be well balanced and always alert, because your enemy, the devil, roams around incessantly, like a roaring lion looking for its prey to devour. 9 Take a decisive stand against him and resist his every attack with strong, vigorous faith. For you know that your believing brothers and sisters around the world are experiencing the same kinds of troubles you endure. 10 And then, after your brief suffering, the God of all loving grace, who has called you to share in His eternal glory in Christ, will personally and powerfully restore you and make you stronger than ever. Yes, He will set you firmly in place and build you up. 11 And He has all the power needed to do this —forever! Amen.