Exposing the Enemy
Introduction: The famous hymn 'Onward, Christian Soldiers' begins:
“Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle see His banners go!”
Every person who enters in to Christ, enters into a war. The Christian soldier must fight hard for every step. Nothing comes easy when taking new ground, we are called to march forward not slide backward or run away. Jesus Christ is the captain of our salvation and we are to be good soldiers of Jesus Christ. In Ephesians 6:13 we are told to put on the full armor of God. We are told to take the sword of the spirit and the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, and the rest of the armor so that when the day of evil comes we will be able to take our stand. It would be foolish to put armor on and not go to battle but It would be deadly to go to battle without armor. Paul couldn't make it more clear for us, this morning, the world is a battlefield and our occupation is war.
Now that we are recruited into his army, it is time we know who the enemy is. The enemy is not your fellow Christians. The enemy is not your fellow man. If they are your enemy it is because their hatred is in conflict with your love. Your enemy is threefold: the world, the flesh, and the devil, but today we are exposing our enemy, the Devil. No one doubts there is a devil except those who are under his control.
Transition: This morning we are going to look into four scriptures that describes our enemy as a lion, a thief, a serpent, & angel. We learn four lessons from these four warnings that describe the devil and what he does, First, we learn our enemy...
I. The Devil devours like a Lion
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” I Peter 5:8 NIV
The devil is our adversary, he is our enemy. If you are not being harassed by your enemy, then you are NOT living for God. As the saying goes “you only take flak when you are over the target.” Nothing will win the hate of your enemy more than when you show him the truth. The devil is described here as a certain type of lion. Lets look at the three ways he is described.
First, as a roaring lion. Rutherford once said he preferred a Roaring lion to a sleeping lion. That seems like a strange and peculiar statement. I believe his point was its better to take comfort in knowing that we are doing something for Christ to provoke the devil to Roar against us, rather than doing nothing to appease the devil to leave us alone. I've read that lions sleep between 17 and 20 hours a day. If you are already spiritually dead, then there is no reason for any lion to kill you. The devil can sleep the day away and come back to the carcass at any time.
During one day this past October, I was walking back down hill to my truck after a long day of sitting in a deer stand and on the narrow road back I came across a copperhead, just laying in the middle of my way. I blinded it with my flashlight and slowly walked around him as he slithered forward into the tall grass. I went my way and he went his. Sometimes that is the way we treat the enemy, let him go his way and he will let us go ours. This is a dangerous concept and could be a deadly one. Its foolish to think that the enemy is going to tip his hat to you and leave you alone because you left him alone. I believe what Rutherford was suggesting is that if you are sliding down to hell there is no reason for devil to interfere with the progress. Eternal damnation is the highest price to pay for playing neutral.
So why is he called a roaring lion and not a sleeping one? There is nothing about you that worries him except He sees the light of his conqueror inside of you. That's what makes him “your adversary.” He certainly would be content to leave you alone but when he sees you putting your faith, your hope, your trust, and your love in Jesus, that is when this old lion will Roar! He roars with anger, jealous hatred, resentment, and with great bitterness. Note: No one is more determined and cruelly motivated to tear down others than someone who is bitter. And the devil is the most bitter of them all. He is fierce, he is cruel, and he is strong. He is a supernatural being that is stronger than any man, from any generation, but make no mistake while no man is a match for the devil, the devil is no match for Jesus! He knows this, so he devises way to get you 'not to know it' through cynicism, skepticism, confusion, and doubt. The devil may be the king of the jungle on earth but he must bow to the King of kings who reigns in Heaven. KING JESUS!
Secondly, he is prowling lion. A prowling lion is a hunting lion, always searching for food, its been observed that the lion has excellent night vision and can actually see better at night than he can in the day, therefore, lions prefer to hunt at night where he has the obvious advantage because his prey can't see him. Those who walk in sin walk in darkness. Those who walk in ignorance, walk in darkness, and when we don't heed (believe) the word of God, we are not only walking in darkness, we are walking in darkness alone. I would never go through a dense forest or a jungle at midnight without a light and walking alone. That is not bravery it is stupidity. How can we expect our enemy NOT to take advantage of our ignorance? We are safe while walking in the light, We have an advantage but we also have an advantage by staying together, in Hebrews 10:25 “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” The sheep are safest when they stay close together and stay close to the shepherd (Jesus). When we are in his arms there is no danger at all.
Thirdly, He is a devouring lion. “...seeking someone to devour.” He would devour all the sheep that the shepherd lays down in green pastures, if he could. In the time of Nero, Christians were literally fed to hungry lions. As Persecution increases, you will see more lukewarm Christians fall away and take sides with the world against the true church. Persecutors are worse than lions, because they prey upon their own kind. This prowling lion is relentless, he will not stop lurking! He will not stop hunting! He will not stop prowling after you! He is diligent and restless in his attempts to not only assault you, but to completely devour you. The word devour means 'to drink down'. In Revelation we read that the great harlot of Babylon was drunk from the blood of the saints. But here in 1 Peter we are told be “sober” or “sober-minded” or else we would be devoured also. Its our duty to be watchful about those things that are likely to intoxicate our mind! Walk circumspectly, always suspicious of the devil's activities, careful of salvation and aware of Satan's traps and temptations. (Watch what you read, what you hear and what you watch on t.v. and the internet.- be sober-minded)
Transition: We learn that we need to be alert because our enemy the devil will not only devour us like a lion but secondly we learn that our enemy...
II. The Devil destroys like a Thief
“The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” John 10:10 NIV
A thief is cold and calculating. There is absolutely no remorse, repentance, compassion or sympathy from the devil. He is pure hatred and pure evil. He has cased your house and knows it well. Just like an anatomy professor knows the human body, the devil knows the human soul. Like many professors today, the devil has more knowledge than wisdom. For all the knowledge he has gained over the years He hasn't an ounce of wisdom.
To this thief you are just another soul to be stolen and destroyed. He and his hordes have seen a thousand just like you come and go over the millenniums, and while no two people are ever exactly the same, he has had so much time and experience to study man's tendencies and proclivities that he knows what works best with you. He knows how to flavor his bait to his fish. Not because of omniscience but because of experience. The devil will look at a person who was as closely related to you in your personality, emotions, tendencies, habits, and desires, and realize that one particular sin has been more effective than others among those who share your qualities. “I have seen 512 people just like him and this vice has worked 344 times, I will try it again.”
The devil laughs at those Christians who think they can throw him down by their own righteousness. He easily uses spiritual pride to lead them astray. If you are a very humble Christian, he will bombard you with doubt and pummel you with thoughts that you are not saved. If he sees that you have had bouts of depression he will try to drive you to despair and if you are known to despair he will try to drive you to suicide. If you are a very lively, energetic, charismatic person he won't waste time with doubt or depression but might try to tempt you with lust or lead you away with arrogance. If you are proud he may try to torment you with envy of someone who is getting more acclaim than you, He will often try whatever sin is most agreeable to your nature.
Any chink in our armor is going to be exploited. Jehu's arrow pierced Ahab where the two plates of armor joined together. There was just enough of an opening for an arrow to slip in and kill him. Wherever there is an opening the devil invites himself in. The indestructible Achilles had his heel and the mighty Samson had his Delilah. And the devil looks for any advantage he can gain by your weaknesses as well. Anything unguarded is sure to be exploited by the thief that comes only to steal, kill, and destroy.
Kandy and I found what looked like a dead snake in the dryer a few weeks ago. The only explanation we can think of is that it crawled into the dryer vent and crawled up into the dryer, where the extreme heat killed it. That bizarre incident may be a timely one because it reminds us that any opening for temptation is an invitation for the devil.
Transition: Speaking of which we see thirdly, that not only does Satan devour like a vicious lion, or destroy like a cold and sinister thief, but we also learn that our enemy ….
III. The Devil deceives like a Serpent
“This great dragon--the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world--was thrown down to the earth with all his angels. Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, "It has come at last--salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth--the one who accuses them before our God day and night.” -Rev. 12: 9,10 NLT
The serpent was found in the beginning in Genesis deceiving Eve and now we see this deceiving serpent again in Revelation being thrown down with his angels. All his deception does not go unpunished and although he can deceive many he can not deceive God and He can not defeat the church, “for the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church,” and since he is limited in space and time in the modern age he has resolved to do as much damage to the world in general while he can. “Woe to the inhabitants of the earth”
He is called the “accuser of the brethren” The word accuse is derived from a word which signifies to 'strike through' or 'stab.' The name 'the devil' itself is literally “the slanderer.” The devil's poisonous lies are loaded in his fangs as he strikes out constant accusations against you night and day, even though he hates being in God's presence, he makes an exception to take his case against you like a crooked lawyer before God, the way he did against Job and Joshua the high priest. Therefore don't give him any evidence to use against you. take your case before the holy throne before Satan does. He is a liar. Jesus said “...there is no truth in him, when he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” Jn 8:44
We shouldn't be surprised by accusation no more than a soldier should be surprised for taking on fire during a firefight. It comes with the territory. While we may forgive others, we can't be surprised when others do not share the same kindness. The world never forgives a Christian. It hates him with a perfect hatred. If it can, it will search and search until a fault is found and will magnify it a thousand times in a thousand ways for a thousand days, the sinner will write it in stone and put it in the lockbox of his mind to always cherish, even when a greater wrong would have been quickly dismissed if anyone else had done it. There is no greater trophy for the wicked than to catch a Christian in a fault. This is why Jesus said before you point out the speck in your brothers eye remove the 20 ft beam in your own eye first.
The devil is the meanest, most vile, and evil accuser there is. but none of this is unexpected. But part of spiritual warfare is to fight. But how? Every time the devil tempted Jesus, Jesus parried with “It is written” The devil is a tempter and an accuser but we have the sword of the spirit, The word of God. That ole accuser says to the new Christian “You have sinned a great sin!” this is when you must say “yes, but he is a great savior. IT IS WRITTEN 'whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Then the devil says “But you have sinned beyond all hope and you know it!” then you must say “It is written: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” -I John 1:9 Then he waits and comes back again and says "I am going to take you and all your loved ones too." that is when you say "IT IS WRITTEN: " the gates of hell shall not prevail against (the church)." Every time he tempts or accuses throw the boiling hot Holy Word of God on him! Because we are given a promise in James 4:7 “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” He can't afford to spare time crossing blades with a veteran warrior when there is much easier victims to conquer.
Transition: If he devil can't win you by fear or by vice or by accusation he will try to win you by one of his most infamous tricks in the devil's play book, by false kindness. Finally we learn our enemy..
IV. The Devil disguises himself like an angel of light
“And no wonder for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” -2 Cor. 11:14
Satan is the prince of darkness but can disguise himself as an angel of light. He smoothly teaches false doctrine and error the whole time appearing to have a passion for righteousness and a zeal for holiness. Just as his ministers disguise themselves as disciples of Christ, he disguises himself as an angel of light. He would lead men away from the word rather than to it or he would pervert the word of God out of context for his own advantage but simple minded people who don't study the word for themselves would never know the difference. He knows the word of God too but preys upon those who don't know what it means.
In one of Aesops fables, there is an owl and a grasshopper. An annoying grasshopper is constantly singing an obnoxious song keeping the owl from her sleep. The owl asks him politely to go along but instead the grasshopper determines to sing all the more loudly. The owl then says “well if someone has to be kept awake, it is good to be kept awake by your beautiful music.” Then the owl said she was given a bottle of nectar and would gladly give the grasshopper a drop if he would come closer to sing her a song. He was so flattered that he immediately hopped up to sing her a song, when he was in reach the owl grabbed him, and ate and finished her nap in peace.
The devil knows that sometimes flattery works better than threats. Spurgeon said “The devil hates you when he seems to love you best.” Jesus was betrayed by a kiss, and like Judas to Jesus or Brutus to Caesar, it is not beneath the enemy to betray you under the pretense of friendship.
Matthew Poole said “none is tempted to evil under the appearance of evil, he moves the soul to evil under the appearance of good.”
Isaiah warned “Woe unto them who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” Isaiah 5:20 We know for sure that the prince of darkness masquerades as an angel of light. Replacing darkness for light is his specialty. Those who call evil good and good evil are walking in their father's footsteps. The devil's sympathizers are easily seduced by this angel of light and his logic, and then they act as his agents upon the earth spreading doctrines of demons and pushing out a false gospel in all its various forms.
Conclusion: In the face of such a malicious and insidious enemy we are taught to love others as ourselves. Why is such a simple command so hard to do? Because we are seeing an increase in wickedness and as a result the love of many is waxing cold.
All this can seem as if we are terribly in over our heads and we absolutely would be, IF we didn't have Jesus. Without Jesus we are totally completely and thoroughly defenseless. There is no hope for anyone at all without Christ. Only by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony did they overcome the devil. Paul told the Romans “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” 12:21 We overcome evil with good. "But I keep doing good and this person keeps doing bad to me." then forgive! "But I have forgiven them 5 times!" then forgive them 6 then 7 and 7 times 7. Make a determination regardless of appearance to be good and to talk good and to act good because . . . we overcome evil WITH good! The worst mistake we can make during a time of war is to underestimate the power of our enemy. But even worse is to underestimate the power of our savior.
I may be an enemy of the devil but I am a friend of God. The devil may be my adversary but Jesus is my advocate! When I go to him humbly and confess my sin, and ask forgiveness and seek his direction the power of the enemy is over. Done. Finished.
One of the greatest things to observe is when God plays the devils tactics against him. He wolf chases the sheep but sometimes God allows it so that they will run into the protective arms of the shepherd. The devil thought he was really doing the Son of God harm on the cross, when in fact God played him for the fool that he is and saved us all!
[prayer]
