Fending Off The Flaming Darts

Four ways to build spiritual strength below the waterline:

1. Thirst After God- (Ps.42:1) ” As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. 2. Relinquish Your Will to God’s Will- “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” –Ephesians 5:17

3. Leave No Place Undefended- “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” –1 Peter 5:8 (ESV)

4. Throw off Everything That Hinders- “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” –Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)

TITLE: FENDING OFF THE FLAMING DARTS

TEXT: 1 PETER 5: 8 “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

EPH. 6:16 “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;”

In this verse we see that Satan is attacking something specifically in the believer’s life. They are “flaming missiles,” “fiery darts” (KJV) and are dangerous in the hands of Satan. He has a target, and that target is your faith. In warfare, a dart would be lit so that when it hit its target, the fire would spread and destroy, thus a flaming dart.

A dart is something external, from without. Satan orchestrates circumstances to attack your faith. A dart suggests speed. Satan attacks suddenly, without warning. He shoots his darts at you during those times when you least expect it, at times when you are most vulnerable or most victorious.

Why does he target your faith? Faith pleases God (Hebrews 11:6). Satan doesn’t want you to please God. It is your faith that overcomes circumstances and brings victory. Satan wants you to be defeated. It is your faith that brings answer to prayer. Satan doesn’t want you to pray and get answers from God. Faith brings hope. Satan wants you to be discouraged. Faith invites God into your situation. Satan doesn’t want God to be involved. That’s why he attacks your faith. Faith here is practical. It speaks of your dependence upon God. Faith is standing on God’s Word believing that He will do what He said He would do.

I. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FLAMING ARROWS?

1. Worry- (Phil. 4:6-7) “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

2. Fear- (Isa. 41:10) “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

3. Doubt- (James 1:6) “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

4. Discouragement- Josh 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

5. This one is more than an arrow, it’s more of a nuclear bomb… Offense

II.THE SPIRIT OF OFFENSE IS A MAJOR WEAPON THE ENEMY USES TO DESTROY OUR FAITH AND TO DISRUPT RELATIONSHIPS.

.What is the spirit of offense?

A spirit of offense is feeling resentful because of an actual or perceived insult. Sometimes it is an actual insult and other times it is an unintended slight that we misinterpret. Regardless of intent or not, we still have to deal with the issue of our hurt feelings.

There are many opportunities to offend others and be offended. Offense becomes a problem and moves into a spirit of offense when we don’t process the hurt and let it go; we begin to nurse our offense. At some point it can start to consume our thought life and affect our ability to walk out our God given purpose.

B. What causes a spirit of offense? There are too many factors to list that cause us to be hurt and develop a spirit of offense. Here is a list of four that contribute to people feeling hurt or offended.

1. Unrealistic Expectations- Dr. Bill McRae states that unrealistic expectations lead to many hurts in relationships.

2. Our own Wounded Spirit- When we understand who we are in Christ and surrender to a life following Jesus, we are able to start working through our wounds and not use them as a filter to judge others.

3. Holding on to Things too Long- Sometimes we are insulted and we just have to shake it off. Keep things in perspective. Friendships are valuable and it is helpful if we acquire the skill of letting things go.