A 'D' Sermon gets an A+

Yes, it was a sermon full of 'D's': The Darts of the Devil.
Our guest speaker, Benjamin Devadason, a pastor of Sri Lankan descent, delivered a power-packed sermon reminding us of not only how the devil attacks us, but also of the weapons that we hold to throw those demonic darts off-kilter. If you would love to hear a Sri Lankan accent laced with Sril Lankan humour, and full of God's truth, then please download the sermon here.

Summary:
7 Facts about the Devil:

• Dangerous (like a wanted poster, he is armed and dangerous, prowling like a lion)
  
• Diabolical (shrewd, cunning)
  
• Desperate (tries every way to discredit believers)
  
• Determined and Defiant (not a quitter)
  
• Destructive (seeks to kill and destroy)
  
• Defeated/Defanged/Disarmed (Christ's death and resurrection)
  
• Doomed (Hell was prepared for him and his army)**

(**When the devil reminds you of your past, remind him of his future.)

10 Successful Darts of the Devil:
1. Dart of Doubt. (Does God really love me...is the Bible trustworthy?)
2. Dart of Deception. (misleading.)
-Self-deception (tainted discernment)
-Doctrinal deception (demonic imitations, e.g. The Third Christ by Deepak Chopra)
3. Dart of Discouragement. (besetting sins, criticism, fear...)
4. Dart of Disobedience. (delayed, partial/selective obedience - buffet style)
Jesus says Today is the day of salvation - Satan whispers 'tomorrow is better'.
5. Dart of Defection. (walk away.)
6. Dart of Division. (relational, doctrinal)
7. Dart of Discontentment. (more...more)
God is most glorified when we are most satisfied with God. (John Piper)
8. Dart of Denial. (deny by silence- this age deems our gospel -Jn.14:6-is unpalatable.)
9. Dart of Defilement. (moral pollution; marred and scarred)
10. Dart of Distraction / Detour.

BUT...
We already hold the Victory in the battle...
-Rely on God's power (Eph. 6:10).
Appropriate God's power daily through prayer.
-Resist the devil (James 4:7).
Confront his lies with God's truth.
-Renounce all sin / Run from sin.
Every time we sin we give the devil a foothold in our life, so keep short accounts.
-Receive God's armor (Eph.6:10 -18)
"In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." (Eph. 6:16)

Prayer to put on the armor of God (Charles Stanley)

Good Morning, Lord.

Thank you for assuring me of victory today if I follow Your battle plan. So by faith, I claim victory over my ------------- ( things you know you will be faced with today).

To prepare myself for the battle ahead, by faith I put on the Belt of Truth. The truth about You, Lord - that You are a sovereign God who knows everything about me - my strengths, my weaknesses. Lord, You know my breaking point and what I can bear. The truth Lord, is that I'm a new creature in You, and have been set free from the power of sin. I am indwelt with the Holy Spirit who will guide me, and warn me when danger is near. I am Your child, and nothing can separate me from Your love. The truth is that You have a purpose for me this day - someone to encourage, someone to share with, someone to love.

Next Lord, by faith I put on the Breastplate of Righteousness. Through this I guard my heart and my emotions. I will not allow my heart to attach itself to anything that is impure. I will not allow my emotions to rule in my decisions. I will set them on what is right, good and just. I will live today by what is true, not by what I feel (lies).

Lord, next I put on the Sandals of the Gospel of Peace. I am available to You. Send me where You will. Guide me to those who need encouragement or physical health. Use me to solve conflicts where ever You place me. I will not be hurried or rushed, for my schedule is in Your hands. I will not leave a trail of tension and apprehension. I will leave tracks of peace and stability everywhere I go.

I now take up the Shield of Faith. My faith is in You and You alone. Apart from You, I can do nothing. With You, I can do all things. NO temptation that comes my way can penetrate Your protecting hand. I will not be afraid, for You are going with me throughout this day. When I am tempted, I will claim victory out loud ahead of time, for You have promised victory to those who walk in obedience to Your Word. So by faith I claim victory, even now because I know there are fiery darts headed my way even as I pray. Lord, You already know what they are, and have already provided the way of escape.

Lord, by faith I put on the Helmet of Salvation. You know how Satan bombards my mind day and night with evil thoughts, doubt, and fear. I put on this helmet that will protect my mind day and night with evil thoughts, doubt, and fear. I put on this helmet that will protect my mind. And with the helmet of salvation those thoughts will get no further. I elect to take every thought captive; I will dwell on nothing but what is good and right and pleasing to You.

Last, I take up the Sword of the Spirit, which is Your Word. Thank You for the precious gift of Your Word. It is strong and powerful and able to defeat even the strongest of Satan's onslaughts. Your word says that I am under no obligation to the flesh to obey its lusts. Your Word says that I am free from the power of sin. Your Word says that He that is in me is greater than he that is in the world. So by faith I take up the strong and powerful sword of the Spirit, which is able to defend me in time of attack, comfort me in time of sorrow, teach me in time of mediation, and prevail against the power of the enemy on behalf of others who need the truth to set them free.

Thank you Lord that you have chosen me to represent You to this lost and dying world. May others see Jesus in me, and may Satan and his hosts shudder as Your power is made manifest in me. In Jesus' name. Amen.