(Clip) The Enemy Wants You For Himself
David Ravenhill emphasizes the spiritual battle between God and the enemy over believers' lives, urging vigilance and faithfulness in resisting the adversary's attacks.
This sermon focuses on the theme of faithfulness, drawing parallels between the invasion of Judah by Sennacherib and the spiritual battle believers face between God and the enemy for their lives. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing the adversary and the need to stand firm in faith amidst challenges and attacks.
Full Transcript
Faithfulness. Sennacherib the king of Assyria came and invaded Judah, besieged the fortified cities and thought to break into them for himself. The enemy and God both want your life.
God wants you for himself, the enemy wants you for himself. And the enemy will do everything he can to undermine what God is doing in your life and try and reclaim you, if you like, for his purpose. Now notice the enemy has already invaded Judah.
He's already besieged certain fortified cities. In other words, he's already got a track record amongst the people of God. And now he is heading towards Jerusalem where Hezekiah lives.
So what does Hezekiah do? Verse 2, now when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he intended to make war, so the first thing he recognizes is, number one, he's got an adversary, he's got an enemy. You and I need to take seriously the fact that you have an adversary. Doesn't matter how old you are spiritually, there is an adversary.
Your adversary, the Bible calls him, goes around as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. And his whole job is to undermine, again, the grace of God.
Sermon Outline
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I. The Reality of the Enemy
- Sennacherib's invasion as a metaphor for spiritual attack
- The enemy's intent to claim believers for himself
- The adversary's ongoing activity among God's people
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II. Recognizing the Adversary
- Hezekiah's awareness of the enemy's approach
- The necessity of acknowledging spiritual opposition
- The enemy as a roaring lion seeking to devour
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III. The Battle for Your Life
- God's desire to protect and claim believers
- The enemy's efforts to undermine God's grace
- The call to faithfulness and vigilance
Key Quotes
“The enemy and God both want your life.” — David Ravenhill
“Your adversary, the Bible calls him, goes around as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.” — David Ravenhill
“The enemy will do everything he can to undermine what God is doing in your life.” — David Ravenhill
Application Points
- Recognize that spiritual opposition is real and be alert to the enemy's tactics.
- Remain faithful and trust in God's protection during times of spiritual attack.
- Understand that both God and the enemy desire your life, so choose to align with God's purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the enemy mentioned in the sermon?
The enemy refers to Satan, the spiritual adversary seeking to claim believers for himself.
What does the enemy want from believers?
The enemy wants to undermine God's work and reclaim believers for his own purposes.
How does the sermon suggest believers respond to the enemy?
Believers should recognize the reality of the adversary, remain faithful, and rely on God's protection.
What biblical example is used to illustrate the spiritual battle?
The siege of Judah by Sennacherib and King Hezekiah's response is used as an example.