Trinity Assembly
Next Stop, The Twilight Zone
Intro: The Twilight Zone
A. Today we're going to talk about an episode on the "The Twilight Zone."
B. There's this American who is taking a walking trip through Europe, and he suddenly gets caught in a killer storm. As he stumbles and staggers through the blinding rain, he discovers he is right outside a huge medieval castle. Turns out it's the home to a group of monks (the really religious guys who wear hoods and ring bells). He begs them to take him in for the night, and they reluctantly allow him. Later that night, the American discovers a cell with a man locked inside by an ancient wooden staff that bolts the door. The prisoner claims he's being held captive by the 'insane' head monk, Brother Jerome and he pleads for the American to release him. At first he doesn't want to, but the prisoner has a kind face and gentle voice that eventually wins him over. So the American confronts Brother Jerome, who declares that the prisoner is actually none other than Satan, who the Bible calls 'the father of lies', and he is being held captive by the Staff of Truth, the one barrier he cannot pass. Well, this incredible claim is all it took to convince the American that Jerome really is nuts, so as soon as he gets the chance, he releases the prisoner who immediately transforms into a hideous demon and vanishes in a puff of smoke! The stunned American is horrified at the realization of what he has done. Jerome responds to him with pity and says, "I'm sorry for you, my son. All your life you will remember this night and whom you have turned loose upon the world." "I didn't believe you," the American replies. "I saw him and didn't recognize him," to which Jerome sadly observes, "That is man's weakness and Satan's strength."
C. The episode of the Twilight Zone relates to spiritual warfare?
D. There is a battle that goes on every day.
E. Man's weakness & satan's strength is the fact that we don’t see or recognize him
1. It’s not the Twilight Zone, it’s today
A. Every day we make the choice to keep Satan prisoner or let him loose in our life.
B. The enemy deceives you, entices you, tempts you
C. Of course what he says sounds good, that’s why it’s tempting
D. Of course it sounds right, that’s why it’s deceiving
E. The enemy slowly destroys us one kind thought after another, you deserve this, it’s what’s owed you, it’s not your fault anyway
F. We are deceived by his kind face and gentle voice
2. Take every thought captive
A. Here’s the "secret" to spiritual warfare.
B. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 – We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.
C. We take every thought captive, & make it line up to God’s word.
D. This is the 'staff of truth' that keeps the door shut & satan, out of your mind & life.
E. The mind is most often where satan attacks.
G. If he can get you to think evil thoughts, the evil behavior won't be far behind.
H. Paul is saying, Identify, capture, & kill any & all thoughts, that are tempting you in any way to disobey God."
3. Capture thoughts with God’s word (Sword of the Spirit)
A. When your mind is coaxing & directing you to lustful sites on the internet...
B. Job 31:1 – “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman.
C. Matthew 5:28 – I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
D. When your brain is urging you into finding a new relationship with a so called “friend”...
E. 1 Corinthians 6:18 – Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.
F. When tempted with gossip, hateful, unforgiving, self-righteous thoughts...
G. Philippians 4:8 – And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
H. God’s word is the way to keep satan from stealing your joy, killing your body, and ultimately destroying your life.
I. It’s not your words, it’s God’s word. It’s not your promises or power, it’s God’s. His power is limitless!!!
J. "Bible 911 index", pick out a few to read and memorize this week. Learning God's word, is how we learn to recognize & not be fooled by the enemy
Bible 911 Index
· When in sorrow, read John 14.
· When men fail you, Psalm 27.
· If you want to be fruitful, John 15.
· When you have sinned, Psalm 51.
· When you worry, Matthew 6:19-34.
· When you are in danger, Psalm 91.
· When God seems far away, Psalm 139.
· When your faith needs stirring, Hebrews 11.
· When you are lonely and fearful, Psalm 23.
· When you grow bitter and critical, 1 Corinthians 13.
· For the secret to happiness, Colossians 3:12-17.
· For idea of Christianity, 1 Corinthians 5:15-19.
· When you feel down and out, Romans 8:31-39.
· When you want peace and rest, Matthew 11:25-30.
· When the world seems bigger than God, Psalm 90.
· If you need Christian assurance, Romans 8:1-30.
· When you leave home for labor or travel, Psalm 121.
· When your prayers grow narrow or selfish, Psalm 67.
· For a great invention/opportunity, Isaiah 55.
· When you want courage for a task, Joshua 1.
· How to get along with fellow men, Romans 12.
· When you think of investments/returns, Mark 10.
· If you are depressed, Psalm 27.
· If your pocketbook is empty, Psalm 37.
· If your losing confidence in people, 1 Corinthians 13.
· If people seem unkind, John 15.
· If discouraged about your work, Psalm 126.
If you find the world growing small, and yourself great, Psalm 19