The Enemies of Man

Matthew 3:1-12

1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

4 And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

There is a wrath to flee from (this is not allegory):

·                    The end times include 7 years of tribulation.

·                    The Lord and the Antichrist shall pour out their wrath.

·                    The reality of Hell for those who die without Christ.

·                    Judgment (disappointment) and the Lake of Fire as well.

With this threat of destruction, we must recognize the enemy:

·                    Is it God, who promises eternal damnation for the wicked?

·                    (Who ever resented a government for punishing evil-doers?)

·                    No, but there are enemies who want to ensure our destruction.

·                    They want us to think that they are our friends, who are they?

1.                 The World

James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

2 Peter 2:20 For if after they have escaped the polutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

1 John 2:15-17

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

We are instructed to LOVE NOT THE WORLD:

·                    It is possible to be corrupted by the lust it presents.

·                    These are called pollutions because of the effects they produce.

·                    Lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life.

·                    These appeal to an even closer enemy of our spirit.

2.                 The Flesh

Romans 8:1-13

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Your flesh is like a mouse that roars:

·                    When it is satisfied, it promises to provide no trouble.

·                    When it is hungry, it struggles against the spirit to be pleased.

·                    It is deceptive, cunning, selfish, greedy, wicked and YOU!!!

Adam did not have this sinful nature, but he introduced it in the Garden of Eden

You are in sad shape if you and your flesh are buddies:

·                    Have you denied your flesh any conveniences for God’s sake?

·                    Have you prayed, fasted, or refused something that wasn’t godly?

·                    Do you find yourself always encumbered keeping the body happy?

When you fast – you will discover how much time you waste on this flesh.

The instructions are, MORTIFY THE MEMBERS OF YOUR BODY!!!

3.                 The Devil

This was the first enemy that came to mind, wasn’t it?

·                    We may not have the attention of Satan himself, but he has much help.

·                    Demons will use those around us to provide difficult situations.

·                    Demons can even plant wicked thoughts into our lazy, idle minds.

·                    We cannot fight the devil (o), we can only RESIST THE DEVIL (d).

Matthew 4:3-4

3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Ephesians 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.

Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

1 Timothy 3:7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

This is a 3-fold battle that cannot be won in the flesh:

·                    Hitler could not win a battle with two fronts, who do we think we are?

·                    We need to begin by submitting to God: Repent, Baptized, Holy Ghost

·                    Once we have the Holy Ghost inside, only then we can begin the battle

·                    Love not the World ~ Mortify your Bodies ~ Resist the Devil.