"Caution - Lion Country!"
"Knowing Our Enemy" series - Part 4 of 7
Text: Eph. 6:10-12; 1Peter 5:8 & Selected
Cross Creek Community Church
July 16, 2000
God’s Word is Powerful, Relevant, and Up to Date!
Ephes. 6:10-12
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Who is Satan?
1 Peter 5:8
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
We are living in lion country! BEWARE
Survey
Nearly two out of three adults-62%-agreed that Satan "is not a living being but is a symbol of evil." This response has remained relatively consistent throughout the Nineties. Among the more surprising findings, however, are that a majority of born again Christians deny Satan’s existence (52%); nearly three-quarters of Catholics say the devil is non-existent (72%); and women are more likely than men to reject Satan’s existence (64% vs. 59%).
Barna Research Group, Ltd., Oxnard, CA
* We can believe whatever we want, even if its wrong. Our sole authority needs to be the Word of God.
1. He is a created supernatural angelic being. Ez. 28:12-17
2. He sinned in heaven and was cast to earth. Is. 14:12-15
3. He totally corrupted the human race with sin. Gen. 3
4. He is actively involved in our world today. 1Pet 5:8
Acts of Satan
*
* Lk. 10:18 He fell from a sinless high estate
* Gen. 3:1-14 He instigated sin in the garden
* Gen 6 He polluted the world with wickedness (flood)
* 1 Chr. 21:1 He energized David to evil
* Job 1:7-2:10 He accused and afflicted Job
* Zech. 3:1-9 He opposes unbelieving Israel
* Mt. 4:3 He is the tempter
* Mt. 12:24; Acts 10:38 He is the prince of the demons
* 1 Tim. 4:1-6 He instigates false doctrine
* Mt. 4:4; Lk. 4:10-11 He perverts the Word of God
* Mt. 12:22-29 He works in demon possession
* Zech. 3:1 He is Satan, the Adversary
* Lk. 4:13 He is the devil, the slanderer
* Jn. 13:2,27 He caused Judas to betray Christ
* Acts 5:3 He caused Ananias to lie
* 2 Cor. 4:4 He blinds people spiritually
* 1 Pet. 5:8 He seeks to harm believers
* Eph. 6:11-12 He heads a celestial hierarchy of evil
* Eph. 2:2 He indwells the unsaved
* Jn. 8:44 He was branded "a liar" by Jesus
* Jn. 8:44 He is called "the father of lies" by Jesus
* 2 Thess. 2:9 He works diabolic miracles
* Jn. 8:44 He is a murderer and abides not in the truth
* Jn. 12:31; 14:30 He is the prince of this world
* Lk. 13:16 He blinds people physically and spiritually
* Mt. 25:41 He is a fallen angel
* Mt. 13:38-39 He sows tares
* Mt. 13:19 and snatches away the Word of God
* Rev. 20:1-3 He will be bound during the millennium
* Mt. 13:39 He is "the enemy"
* Mt. 13:38 "the evil one"
* Eph. 6:10-20 He is routed by Spirit-directed prayer
* 1 Pet. 5:8-9 He is overcome by faith
* 1 Thess. 2:18 He hinders God’s will in believers
* Rev. 12:9 He is the deceiver
* Rev. 12:9; 20:2 He is the dragon, that old serpent
* Mt. 13 He mixes truth with error
* Lk. 22:31 He viewed Simon Peter as a target
* Rev. 2:9 He has a synagogue who deny God’s grace
* Jn. 3:8, 10 His children are unsaved people
* Rev. 20:10 His ultimate fate is Gehenna
* Mt. 25:41 Hell was prepared for Devil & his angels
* Rev 13 He performs great miracles and wonders
*
The New Unger’s Bible Handbook, Merrill F. Unger, Revised by Gary N. Larson, Moody Press, Chicago, 1984, p. 407
The Purpose & Strategy of Satan.
1. He intends to OPPOSE God.
* From his rebellion in Heaven to now - he hates God, he hates the Jew, he hates Christians.
* His goal is to keep human being from knowing God.
* Checkout History: Slaying of the firstborn, Nero’s persecution, Roman Inquisition, Hitler’s slaughter
* Today’s hate & bias toward God. How are Christians portrayed in TV & Hollywood?
2. He intends to hinder TRUE salvation.
1. Blinding the minds of the unsaved (2 Cor. 4:4).
2. Snatching away the good seed of the word (Matthew 13:19).
3. Lulling the unbeliever into a false sense of security under the guise of "religion" (Luke 11:21).
4. Laying snares for the unwary (2 Timothy 2:25-26).
5. Masquerading as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:13-14).
6. Deceiving those whose minds are not subject to the Word of truth (Rev. 12:9).
7. Mixing truth with error (Matthew 13:25-8). Our good works, going to church, being baptized, many ways to heaven, we all serve the same God, be confirmed, say certain prayers.
Satan is No Myth, J. O. Sanders, Moody, 1975, pp. 72ff
3. He intends to DESTORY believers and the Church.
* The great counterfeiter, deceiver - He tries to lead God’s people into ruin.
1. Completely destroy the church or neutralize its witness from within (Acts 5:1-6).
2. Bitterly hostile persecution from without.
3. Smother its witness by according it great popularity. Peaceful coexistence - wave the white flag. Christians are gullible because they do not know God’s Word.
4. Disturb the unity of the church by creating discord and division. "Little knowledge is dangerous" - we will become puffed up with pride, know it all, unteachable - and often very critical. (I’ve arrived, mentality).
5. Undermining or corrupting of the church through apostasy and heresy (2 Peter 2:1-2).
Satan is No Myth, J. O. Sanders, Moody, 1975, pp. 72ff
* Look around and discern what is taking place in the "church" today.
* We often don’t hear preaching on the blood, sin, devil or hell, judgment.
* We are seeing in the headlines the granting of gay marriages and gay churches,
* Under the banner of openness and tolerance. We’re see truth called a lie & lies called truth.
* Churches today are scary. Flippantly casting demons, laughing, jerking in the Spirit, unscriptural practices which often are not found in God’s Word.
True story
A Christian leader-we’ll call him Steve -was traveling recently by plane. He noticed that the man sitting two seats over was thumbing through some little cards and moving his lips. The man looked professorial with his goatee and graying brown hair, and Steve placed him at fifty-something. Sure the man was a fellow-believer, Steve leaned over to engage him in conversation.
"Looks to me like you’re memorizing something," he said. "No, actually I was praying," the man said. Steve introduced himself. "I believe in prayer too," he said. "Well, I have a specific assignment," said the man with the goatee. "What’s that?" Steve asked. "I’m praying for the downfall of Christian pastors." "I would certainly fit into that category," Steve said. "Is my name on the list?" "Not on my list," the man replied.
Common Ground, Vol. 10 No. 7
4. He intends to ESTABLISH his own kingdom. 2Thes. 2:3-12; Daniel & Revelation
* He maintains ranks and order in his kingdom - Rulers, authorities, powers, dominions, thrones, leaders, princes, world rulers - these are all from different Greek words God uses to describe Satan’s reign.
* Satan ultimately will possess a man called the antichrist and will attempt to rule the world.
* God has blessed America with one of the best forms of Government
* Most countries not like it is here, look at South & central America, Africa, Asia, Russia, Balkans, etc.
* Jesus said, there will be wars & rumors of wars, nation against nation... Mt. 24
* Satan pulls the political strings of many Government authorities - goal of disorder & confusion.
* We see evil, wickedness paraded in our White House, with a steady stream of lies & deceit.
* The masses of people say, It’s OK, it was done in private - Satanically inspired corruption.
* We often hear, abortion, living together, homosexuality, drugs, sex, violence, immorality is OK.
* If it feels good, then do it - situation ethics, amoral society -
* Society says there is no coming judgment of God. We evolved from monkeys, there is no creator.
* Satan has dubbed mankind into believing the great lie.
Luke 4:5-6
The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.
* We are in the last days - look around, be aware, something is happening.
* Technology explosion, world religions coming together, voice prints, palm & finger scans, retina scans.
* Transponder chip - "mark of the beast", One world Government - orchestrated by a man called the antichrist who is literally possessed by Satan.
Satan intends and is confirmed in scripture that he will establish a revival of the Roman empire, a new world order - (dollar bill illustration).
Knowing these truths, what do we do?
1. Be AWARE of our enemy.
* Anticipate his attacks - wherever the Lord is working, Satan and his demons are there to disrupt.
* Many of our church families have been under attack lately. Grow better not bitter.
* It is critical that we are aware of our enemy, his methods, lies, goals, etc.
* A good soldier will study his enemy. Don’t be caught off guard.
2. Be ASSURED Christ provides absolute victory.
1 John 3:8 "He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work."
Victory over:
* The world, the flesh, the devil, sin, death and the grave!
Illustration: Birds against my window
Satan has been defanged.
Rev. 20:10 "And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever."
3. Be BORN AGAIN, and become a child of God.
John 1:12 "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-"
John 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
John 3:3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
4. Be STRONG in the strength of the Lord.
1 Peter 5:8-9 "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith..." & 1John 5:4
* We walk by faith not by sight. In the righteousness of Christ, not ours.
* We serve the same God as Moses, Daniel, & Abraham - Our God hasn’t changed - trust Him!
* Walk in victory, walk in the full reality of being a "new creature in Christ"!
* 1 Peter 1:13 we read, "Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." Our minds must be protected from the influence of the enemy as he seeks to lead us away from the truth of God’s Word.
5. Be ACTIVE in serving the Lord. (NOT PASSIVE)
James 1:22 "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
* Being obedient to His Word and Prayer trusting in His Holy Spirit to work - the power!
* Over 58 times the concept of a ministry to "One another". - Every member a minister
* Fleshing out your Spiritual life - walking in victory over your adversary the devil.
* Making an impact in the world around you
Acts 26:18 "I am sending you to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me."
The world, the flesh, the devil - we need to know our enemies as a believer.
2 Cor. 10:3-5
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
1 John 4:4
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
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