Defeating
the Enemies of the Soul
Series – Part 7
The
Jebusite
Gtcotr/ss032518
Production Note: (Show the threshing video in a loop until I asked for it to be stopped. https://youtu.be/b4Kj960o_Co)
Today
we will conclude our series on Defeating the Enemies of the Soul. The video you
just watched will figure into the last enemy in this series. For now, let’s
read from:
2 Samuel 5:6 And the king and
his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land,
who spoke to David, saying, “You shall not come in here; but the blind and the
lame will repel you,” thinking, “David cannot come in here.”
Who
would send anyone to war without first defining the enemy? God has not left us
without knowledge as to the enemies we will face in this life. He has shown us
their nature and called them by name. During the past 7 weeks we have
established that the Old Testament was not written as merely a historical
record of the exploits of the Children of Israel. Rather, these accounts
provide us with a prophetic roadmap for our lives. The enemies faced by the
Children of Israel in the Promise Land are the same spiritual enemies we face
today in our walk with Christ.
Here
is a recap of these Six Enemies of the Soul – Each enemy provides a
formidable temptation. The goal of the enemy is to keep us out of the Promise
Land. You can find these enemies listed in Exodus 3:8.
1. The Canaanite – Compromise
a.
We
cannot live a victorious life with one foot in the kingdom and one foot in the
world
b.
The
Church should not mimic the world but the Kingdom.
2. The Hittite – Dismayed
a.
To
be terrorized and paralyzed
b.
Unsettled,
confused
c.
To
lose it and go to pieces
3. The Amorite – Opinion Driven
a.
Stubbornly
Opinionated
b.
Be
unwilling to go to war with family and friends
4. The Perizzite – Anything Goes
a.
Without
walls; no standards; no boundaries
b.
There
is a point, beyond which, tolerance ceases to be a virtue.
c.
You
must be born again!
5. The Hivite – Selfishness
a.
Blaming
others for the pressure or problem
b.
It
doesn’t have to be a bad heart to be a bad habit.
6. The Jebusite – Threshing Place
a.
To be beat down
b.
Rejected
c.
Lowly Esteemed
d.
Trampled under foot
e.
Tempted to feel worthless, discarded and of no value.
The
devil wants you to believe you are worthless chaff when really, you are the
precious seed of God. The Jebusite spirit comes to us at the worst moments of life;
times when we are struggling or going through pressured circumstances, feeling
alone, disappointed or afraid. This devil attempts to validate his lies using common
circumstances to make us feel rejected. Rejected by God, rejected by family and
friends; rejected by life. Have you ever felt beat up or beat down? The
Jebusite will use anything he can to try and make you feel worthless and helpless.
Things like:
·
Sickness
·
Sin
·
The
loss of a loved one
·
Unemployment
·
Retirement
·
Failure
·
Disappointment
·
Mental
pressures
·
PTSD
·
Economic
downturns
His
attacks seem constant, aggressive, relentless and unfair.
Production Note: (Stop Video Here)
However:
2 Corinthians 4
17 For our light affliction,
which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and
eternal weight of glory,
18 while we do not look at
the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things
which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are
eternal.
The
threshing floor is a place of no peace. The hammer just keeps coming down, blow
after blow. It seems as if everything is lost. The Jebusite whispers, “You’re
worthless, without help, without hope, despised and rejected. Everyone has felt
rejection at some point, even Jesus.
Isaiah 53:3 He is despised
and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as
it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
Jesus
was despised and rejected. He was beaten for us and His accusers saw no value
in either Him or His sacrifice. But, the Apostle Peter said:
1 Peter 2:7 Therefore, to you
who believe, He is precious; but to those who do not believe, “The stone
which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,”
Remember
the verse we read at the beginning of today’s lesson?
2 Samuel 5:6 And the king and
his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land,
who spoke to David, saying, “You shall not come in here; but the blind and the
lame will repel you,” thinking, “David cannot come in here.”
Well, here is the rest of the story …
7 Nevertheless David took the
stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David).
The
Jebusite may say you are weak and worthless, a man of sorrows and used to being
disappointed … But … that’s not the end of the story! He may say you shall not
possess the Promises of God … Nevertheless …
Romans 8 NKJV
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
What
is your true value? God gave His only begotten Son in exchange for you. God has
valued you above the blood of Christ. He gave everything to purchase your soul.
The
Jebusite is a liar. Life may have some disappointments, troubles and
afflictions might come and it could feel like a thrashing … but … the Lord will
deliver His Children from them all! No weapon formed against a Child of God
shall prosper and every enemy that rises against a Born-Again Believer shall
fall at their side.
What
truth has this series confirmed? Over and Over we have found that:
·
Neither
satan nor the circumstances of life can conquer a Believer in Jesus by
conquest. For a child of God to be defeated, the enemy must have the Believer’s
consent. Don’t give it!
·
Trust
in God and His Word above every problem and through each temptation. The Word
will see you through.
·
Jesus
is the answer to every need, both now, and forever!
If
the Jebusite tries to beat you down and destroy your self-worth or tells you
God has no great plan for your life, that is the voice of the devil. Rise up
and go forward in the Name of the Lord and watch God drive your enemies out of
your life. You are more than a conqueror …
No
enemy of the soul has any power over a Born-Again Believer in Jesus Christ who
is living a life pleasing to God.
Have
you been Born-Again?
Are
you living a life that is pleasing to God?
Wednesday
night, April 11, we will begin a new series entitled: Home Improvement –
Building Better Lives in Christ. This seven-week series will teach you how to
build your marriage, finances, families, and a future you are proud of. We
begin on the 11th with Building Better Habits. You want to get right
and stay right with God? I’ll see you Wednesday nights …
