A Sermon by Reverend Hollis Ray Mathis

reetings, holy children of God, in the wonderful name of our lord and saviour Jesus, the Christ. The sermon subject for today is:

The Enemy, Satan

We, the children of God, are at present in a life, and death struggle with an enemy that is cruel, malicious, treacherous, cunning. In this century he has reigned death on millions of men, women, and children. In world war one, Satan found a man, and that man bewitched a people; a strong nation. And they waged war against their neighbors, and millions of people lost their lives. In world war two Satan found a man, and that man bewitched a people; a strong nation, and they waged war against their neighbors, and millions of people lost their lives. During the darkest days of that war, the enemy was reigning destruction upon England, men, women, and children were being destroyed by the thousands. Homes, and factories, were being destroyed, and it appeared to be no end of the destruction. But I believe that God raised up a man, to rally a nation. I would at this time like to read a part of one of his speeches. I quote, Mr. Winston Churchill: "in this crisis I think I may be pardoned if I do not address the house at any length today, and I hope that any of my friends and colleagues or former colleagues who are affected by the political reconstruction will make allowances for any lack of ceremony with which it has been necessary to act. I say to the house as I said to ministers who have joined this government, I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat, we have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many months of struggle and suffering. You ask, what is our policy? I say it is to wage war by land, sea, and air. War with all our might and with all the strength God has given us, and to wage war against a monstrous tyranny never surpassed in the dark and lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word. It is victory, victory at all cost victory, however long and hard the road may be, for without victory there is no survival." Beloved of God, I read to you this battle cry for I know of no other way to get your attention to what is taking place.God has a hedge about this nation, and should God remove the hedge destruction will reign. Job l: 6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the lord, and Satan came also among them. 7. And the lord said unto Satan, whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the lord, and said, from going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.8.and the lord said unto Satan, hast thou considered my servant job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the lord, and said, doth job fear God for naught? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the lord said unto Satan, behold, all that he hath is in thy power: only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the lord. And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking in their eldest brother's house: And there came a messenger unto job, and said, the oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: And the sabeans fell upon them, and took them away: yea, they have slain the servants with edge of the sword: and I only am escaped to tell thee.l6.while he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, the fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them: and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.l7.while he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, the Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword: and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.l8.while he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking in their eldest brother's house.l9. And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead: and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.20.then job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped. And said, naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the lord gave, and the lord hath taken away: blessed be the name of the lord.22. In all this job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. Beloved, Satan either took job's personal possessions, or destroyed them; he also killed job's children. Think on this, when you see men carrying a person to the cemetery, it is Satan our enemy that is the cause of the death. When men and women lose their possessions, it is because of Satan. Is it possible to wage war against Satan the devil? Yes, the apostle Paul said these words, II timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8.henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. Saints of God, we the children of God do not fight against flesh, and blood, but we fight against spiritual wickedness in high places. We, Christians are at peace with all mankind, but we are at war against the devil. If you are a new convert to the Christian religion you may not know how we war against the prince of the power of the air, the devil. A person may fight against the children of Satan with, planes, and tanks and guns. But if you want to wage war against the devil you must, you absolutely must put on the armor of God. Ephesians 6:l0 finally, my brethren, be strong in the lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.l3.wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.l4.stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breast plate of righteousness: l5.and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace: l6.above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.l7.and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.l8.praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. Saints of God, once you have been called to repentance, justified, glorified, baptized out of the world and into the body of Christ, and received the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the holy ghost, and have by prayer: placed upon yourself the armor of God. You are ready to wage war against Satan. The first piece of armor that we as Christians put on is, to girt up our loins with truth. And one of the great truths is, if you resist the devil he will flee from you. James 4:7 submit yourselves therefore to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Brothers and sisters in Christ submit yourself unto God, whatsoever the lord commands you to do in the Holy Scriptures, do it. Then when Satan is trying to give you a cold, do not wait until you have pneumonia before you rebuke Satan, and command him to flee from you in the name of Jesus Christ. The bible says in the latter days will be perilous times, and there has never been a time when men had the power to rain such devastation as they do this day. With powerful rockets, and the h-bomb it is possible to annihilate whole nations by their blast, and the poisoning of the atmosphere. If we as Christian people live the Christian life we just might save this nation from annihilation, remember that if God could have found ten righteous men in Sodom and Gomorrah those cities may have been there until this present day. We the children of God may be weak, but we serve a powerful God. Able to create the sun, and the moon, and the stars and place them in space in one day. And when we kneel and pray unto our father, and ask in the name of Jesus Christ we come into this promise. In these verses of scripture Jesus is speaking, and he says, St.John l4: l3 and whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the father may be glorified in the son.l4. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.l5.if ye love me, keep my commandments. The second piece of armor mentioned was the breastplate of righteousness. When we as children of God place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ, for our salvation, and place our faith and trust in the blood that he shed on Calvary's cross, God the father allows us, the children of God, to declare the righteousness of Jesus Christ: which is a perfect righteousness. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God: 24. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25.whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God: beloved the third piece of armor the lord commands that you put on is: to shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of piece. Preach the word, be instant in season, out of season: but how can you preach, or teach, or live the Christian life except you study the holy scriptures if you are planning on making heaven your home study. Have you ever seen a football player with great effect carry the football across the goal line? Only to have one of the officials throw a yellow flag down on the ground; there had been some infraction of the rules. The man had run in vain. You also, saints of God must strive lawfully. II Timothy 2:5 and if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. Come into this knowledge, saints of God, Satan in his war against humanity has infiltrated the physical churches, and placed his men, and women in key positions, and with much propaganda, and heresies has caused many divisions in the physical church. And I believe have lead many astray. But child of God take the shield of faith. That you may defend yourself and your families against the fiery darts that Satan will hurl. When someone says that they are sick be instant in prayer. When people, especially your love ones lose employment, or possessions be instant in prayer. The fifth piece of armor is the helmet of salvation. Encourage all to repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus that they may be baptized out of the world, and into the body of Christ. For eternal life is in the body of Christ. And the receiving of the Holy Ghost is the earnest of our inheritance. We as children of God are to inherit such lavish gifts as eternal life, and immortal body, and to be heirs and joint heirs with Jesus in the kingdom of God. And take the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, the Holy Scriptures is the word of God: use the scriptures to wage war against Satan. But Jesus Christ, our God, our creator, our king, our friend is also the word of God, always be conscious that you are in him, and he is in you. And there is power in his name.


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