Keep On The Firing Line

Illus: For those who will say such a thing someone said:

• “When you meet the devil, you know you are not going his way.

• If you never meet him, you must be going in the same direction.”

The reason some do not believe in the devil is because they are going the same way he is going, but the children of God meet this rascal every day of their life.

It is difficult to believe anyone could not believe in the existence of Satan if they read the daily newspaper or watch the news.

For example, basically in the same week some time back, look at what we have read in our newspaper:

• WE READ OF AN ATTACK BY HIM ON THE SANCTITY OF LIFE, in the beautiful city of SARASOTA, Fla. (Feb. 6), the body of an 11-year-old girl was found after a man in his 30’s brutally raped and killed her.

• WE READ OF AN ATTACK ON DECENCY, when Janet Jackson exposed herself to 100 million viewers at the Super Bowl half-time show.

• WE READ OF AN ATTACK ON THE SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE, when the homosexuals filed a lawsuit stating they wanted the right to be recognized the same as HETEROSEXUALS. They want to deny that God created marriage for a man and a woman.

When we read of these constant attacks of Satan, how can anyone say there is NO DEVIL!

The Word of God says there is a DEVIL.

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

Notice THREE things God wants us to consider in this verse of Scripture.

1. God’s Word says, “Be sober”. This means to think rationally, not foolishly.

2. God’s Word says, “Be vigilant”. This means to be alert, take appropriate steps to make certain that we do not stumble

3. God’s Word also says that Satan goes about, “like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.”

The Bible not only tells us he exist the Bible list many characteristics of the devil.

For example…

(1)He has the Ability to Organize

Look at Revelation 20:7-8, we read, And when the thousand years are finished, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison and will come out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, in order to gather them for battle; they are as numerous as the sands of the sea.

The fact that he can organize his forces shows that he exist

(2) He has Knowledge

when he is thrown down to the earth during the Great Tribulation period, in Revelation 12:12 the Bible says the Devil knows his time is short. The fact that he has this knowledge reveals he is a personal being.

(3) He has Intelligence

Satan is able to form plans, use cunning, and deceive people.

We read in II Cor. 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ.

(4)He Can Reason

The fact that Satan quoted Scripture to the Lord Jesus during the temptation, shows that he is a personal being. He was able to reason with Jesus by quoting an obscure verse of Scripture out of context.

(5) He Has Choice

Satan has the power of choice. In the beginning he chose to rebel against God, and he has been making that same choice ever since. Choice is an obvious sign of personality.

(6)Satan Has Emotions

The Bible speaks of the Devil showing emotions. He has shown the emotion of hatred for the things of God.

Among the emotions he shows is burning anger.

Revelation 12:12 we read Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you that dwell in them. Woe for the earth and for the sea: because the Devil is gone down unto you, having great wrath, knowing that he has but a short time.

The Word of God tells us HE EXIST and the Bible gives us a list of his attributes.

We can’t do much for people who do not believe what the Bible teaches about the existence of Satan, but I believe you who have come to this worship service believe what the Bible teaches about his existence.

HOW DO WE AVOID HIS TRAPS EACH DAY?

There are many things we can do, but I want to give you TWO things to consider:

I. WE MUST NOT STRAY

Look at Psalm 119:67, “Before I was afflicted I WENT ASTRAY: but now have I kept thy word.”

When we do not keep His Word we are going to stray from His Word.

Satan realizes Christians know he exists, so he knows he is wasting his time attacking His existence.