A Lion On The Loose

’A LION ON THE LOOSE’

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Several years ago, one of our state paper had an article in it which said, "there’s a mountain lion loose in the NW part of our county. It is killing rabbits, dogs and even attacking horses." When I read that article, I thought, yes and there is a lion on the loose in our world, He’s not a mountain lion, but the devil and he’s attacking Christians, and attempting to destroy everything that is good.

In our text, the devil is compared to a wild vicious lion stalking about looking for victims who he can destroy.

In one survey of 1500 preachers back in the 70’s, 50% of them said, they did not believe in a personal devil. Well some preachers might not believe in him, but God warns us to beware of him. 2 Cor.2:11

Let us notice some ways that the devil attempts to attack Christians.

I-THE DEVIL ATTEMPTS TO DISTORT YOUR THINKING:

1-He does not want us to get a picture of his true character. He wants us to think he is just a big joke.

2-Flip Wilson used to say, "the devil made me do it". But the fact is, the devil is no laughing matter.

3-But on the other hand, sometimes, we give him to much credit We make him too powerful.

4-Writing in Moody Monthly, Carl Armerding recounted his experience of watching a wildcat in a zoo. "As I stood there," he said, "an attendant entered the cage through a door on the opposite side. He had nothing in his hands but a broom. Carefully closing the door, he proceeded to sweep the floor of the cage." He observed that the worker had no weapon to ward off an attack by the beast. In fact, when he got to the corner of the cage where the wildcat was lying, he poked the animal with the broom. The wildcat hissed at him and then lay down in another corner of the enclosure. Armerding remarked to the attendant, "You certainly are a brave man." "No, I ain’t brave," he replied as he continued to sweep. "Well, then that cat must be tame." "No," came the reply, "he ain’t tame." "If you aren’t brave and the wildcat isn’t tame, then I can’t understand why he doesn’t attack you." Armerding said the man chuckled, then replied with an air of confidence, "Mister, he’s old--and he ain’t got no teeth."

5-Well the devil has some teeth, he has some power, but only God is all powerful.

6-If the devil had all power, he would destroy every Christian this very moment.

7-God has all knowledge, but the devil doesn’t. God has all presence, but the devil doesn’t.

II-THE DEVIL ATTEMPTS TO DESTROY YOUR PEACE:

1-There is nothing like peace, to have that feeling that everything is all right.

2-I heard a man on TV from the middle east say, he would like just one year of peace. He would like to go to bed one night in peace and not fear.

3-The devil doesn’t want us to have peace with God. Thus he trys to deceive us and get us to sin. When we fall into his trap, we have the peace of God taken away. The only thing that will restore it is that we follow David’s formula in Psalms 51.

4-Monkey trappers in North Africa have a clever method of catching their prey. A number of gourds are filled with nuts and firmly fastened to a branch of a tree. Each has a hole just large enough for the unwary monkey to stick his forepaw into it. When the hungry animal discovers this, he quickly grasps a handful of nuts, but the hole is too small for him to withdraw his clenched fist. And he doesn’t have enough sense to open up his hand and let go in order to escape, so he is easily taken captive.

This is a picture of many Christians. The devil with his crafty devices tried to ensnare them. He appeals to the appetites of the flesh which can lead to their spiritual downfall. As long as they hold on to worldly bait, they cannot escape from Satan’s trap. But he keeps on urging, "Don’t let go! Enjoy the pleasure of your sin just a little bit longer!" So, listening to the tempter’s alluring voice, they continue in their evil way.

Dear friend, are you caught up in sinful practices that are destroying your testimony and preventing you from growing in grace? Stop and think it over. Get out of Satan’s trap now while you can. 1

III-THE DEVIL ATTEMPTS TO DENY YOUR FAITH:

1-He doesn’t want you know for sure that your are saved. He wants you be miserable in not knowing for sure whether you are saved or not.