Ministering: Pastor Uche Onochie
Topic: The Enemy at the Gate
Texts: Mark 5:1-8, 17-20 (NKJV), 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NKJV)
The gate to a city is very important. It is a place of access, transactions, trade authority, etc. (Job 29:7)
The gate is the lifeline of a city (Joshua 6:1). It is an escape route in time of war.
The mad man of Gadarenes accosted Jesus immediately He came out of the boat. Having a mad man at the entrance of a city is very disturbing. Satan does not attack anything without potential; there must have been something about that city that the devil was after. That one man had a legion of demons in him and he would roar and release fear, terror and threats into the hearts of people; crippling businesses and movements. The city was under siege.
Isaiah 55:8,9 – God’s thoughts and ways are far from ours. We may not see things as they really are.
When there’s an enemy at the gate, don’t view things at the surface or call them what you think they are.
If you’re catching hell right now, perhaps you’re the equivalent of the Gadarenes. You are a candidate for Christ’s visitation. Your deliverance is coming today!
Jesus knew he had to deliver that city and region. That was the only thing He did in that city because He did not stay. By the time Jesus was through with the mad man, He left him there as an evidence to the city and surrounding cities, a completely changed man.
Satan is a big bully. He can’t take your blessing from you but he can wear you out and delay you from contacting your heritage.
The mad man was a type of Goliath – roaring and projecting fear, promoting the kingdom of darkness in the land and the idea that the devil is powerful.
The devil works by fear and manipulation, using your own power against you, but if you resist him he will flee. (James 4.7)
Isaiah 8.12 – Do not be afraid of Satan’s threats. Don’t be too quick to judge situations or conclude on people.
The opposite of the enemy at the gate is the glory at the end.
– Jesus endured the cross and is today seated at the right hand of the Father.
– Abraham suffered barrenness but today is the Father of many nations.
– Joseph endured slavery but later became the Prime Minister of Egypt and Deliverer of Israel from famine.
1 Pet 5.10 – God will strengthen you after you have suffered a while.
What is Your Own Enemy at the Gate? (City, family or individual gates)
The Enemy at the gate can be
– Lack and poverty
– Barrenness of the body/mind
– Fear or intimidation
– Failure at the edge of success
– Sickness and disease
Psalm 24:7-10 – Jesus never leaves us alone and empty handed. We have been given the power to engage. It’s not enough to know all the scriptures, we should be willing to engage the power and authority that we have been given by God. (Book Recommendation; The Triumphant Church by Kenneth Hagin)
The Power to Engage:
– The power of the Holy Spirit
2 Peter 1:3 – Dunamis; the miraculous power of God.
John 16:7,13 – The Holy Spirit is here to empower and guide us.
Romans 8:11 – The Holy Spirit brings dead things back to life.
Romans 8:14,16 – We cannot be confused because we have the Holy Spirit to lead us.
He enables us to do what we need to do, beyond our natural abilities.
– The power to engage
Luke 10:19, Mark 16:17,18 – Exousia; Capacity. God has delegated His authority/influence to us.
Matthew 16:19 – Power to bind and to lose.
– Power (dunamis) for the miraculous (Acts 10:38 ). The power for healings, signs and wonders is activated whenever the Word is preached (Luke 9:1,2; Matthew 10:7,8; Luke 10:8,9; Mark 16:20).
– The power for evangelism (Acts 1:8).
– The power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18). Koach – the ability, vigour, capacity, means to produce and create wealth.
– Power (dunamis) to quell fear which the enemy uses against us (2 Timothy 1:7).
Begin to walk in the consciousness that you have this power. Declare “I HAVE IT!”
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 –
Beyond spending long hours in prayer, build a relationship with the Holy Spirit.
What you feed your mind and imagination is very key.
If you want to have a safe house ensure you stop the enemy at the gate.
Cast down wrong thoughts once they pop up. Don’t think them through – they’re not your thoughts, don’t own them. If wrong thoughts are not checked, they become stronger each day until they become strongholds. The devil starts with small things but does not end with small things. Watch your thoughts and imaginations. Your mind is not your friend. It’s a war of words. Turn your thoughts around.
The enemy is no longer at Gadarenes, but now in your mind.
The enemy has come to steal, kill and destroy but Jesus has come to give us life (John 10:10).
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