Pastor Cho's Sermon Outline - Yoido Full
Gospel Church - Seoul, KoreaDrive Out the Seven Enemies Matthew 11:12 2002-09-22
Adam and Eve, our first ancestors, caused the tragedy and despair we face. God is Almighty and works for us to carry all of our burdens. He created the Garden of Eden for Adam and Eve, a paradise without blemish, with complete peace and rest-if they would fully obey Him. But Satan tempted Adam and Eve; they thought they could do the work and carry all the burdens. They rebelled against God, and He evicted them from the Garden. It was impossible for them to be independent; they faced calamity.
Three calamities came upon Adam. He experienced spiritual death-a breakdown of communication with God, and was a prisoner of sin (Isaiah 53:6; James 4:4). People become slaves to humanism and materialism when they depend on their own decisions and senses, rather than on God's guidance (1 Corinthians 1:18; John 3:36). Adam suffered from a circumstantial curse and was a slave to poverty. We don't have the power to be wealthy without working (Ecclesiastes 2:22,23). Conflicts throughout history have resulted from the want of more land and wealth (James 4:1,2). Adam suffered the death of the physical body (Genesis 3:19; Psalm 90:10; Romans 8:21,22).
Christ provided salvation. He is the ancestor to the new mankind, the Second Adam. Buddhists claim that Christian teachings are similar to the Buddhist teaching meaning that Christ was a disciple of Buddhism. Although there are certain similarities among all religions such as being moral, Christianity is different-redemption is provided! Mankind is helpless; we are made righteous only through Christ (Colossians 2:8; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:25). His redemption provides forgiveness of sin (Hebrews 10:10-14), freedom from the circumstantial curse (Galatians 3:13; 2 Corinthians 8:9), and divine healing and health (Isaiah 53:4,5; Exodus 23:25,26).
Drive out the seven enemies. In the Canaan of the Old Testament, the Israelites had to defeat the seven nations who occupied the land God gave them (Deuteronomy 7:1-4; 6:17-19; Acts 13:19). In the Canaan of the New Testament, our seven enemies are: sin, worldliness, illness, the curse, hatred, fear, and despair (Matthew 12:28,29). How can we drive out Satan and these seven enemies? Experience Christ's redemption (Ephesians 1:7), guard our hearts (Proverbs 4:23), believe firmly that the kingdom of heaven is within us (Colossians 1:12-14), stand firm in faith (1 Peter 5:8,9), submit to God (James 4:7), and thank God that we are His possessions (Ephesians 1:13,14). Christ has set us free (Galatians 5:1; Joshua 18:2,3). Let us stand strong and brave, and drive out the enemies one by one, in order to make our lives flow with milk and honey.
Heavenly Father, Adam brought calamity upon us. But through Jesus Christ, You have provided redemption and freedom from despair. Help our lives to be filled with milk and honey.