THE ROARING LION
1 Peter 5:8, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"
If there was ever a time when Satan’s roaring could be heard it is in our present day. Everywhere you turn, no matter what you read or what position you hold in life, Satan’s roaring is loud and convincing to the human heart. Even God’s people, who know the voice of God, can often be found cowering in fear at the intimidating roar of Satan.
Which of us has not heard the roar of Satan’s voice? I would dare say that everyone of us has heard his roar this very week. Perhaps even right now you are hearing his roar in your ear, in your mind and in your heart. His roar strikes terror and fear into the ear that will hear him, into the mind that will meditate upon that roar and into the heart that allows his roaring to take root.
Just what am I saying? In the simplest terms I know, Satan’s greatest weapon that he uses to convince mankind to do his will is the roar of his voice! The noise of his roar is always a sound that appeals to the nature of man who desires to do evil. Satan never ceases to roar – to scream in your ear, in every attempt to drown out the sound of the voice of God, or to make the wooing of the Holy Spirit go unnoticed in the heart of every man.
Satan roars in the workplace! He roars in the marketplace! He roars in your own home! He roars in your ear as you drive down the highway! He roars in your ear in the doctor’s office! He roars in your ear even as you sit in the church! He never quits roaring! Most people don’t even realize what his roar is all about. They don’t hear anything! I don’t hear any lion right now! WHEN THIS MESSAGE IS OVER I BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL BEGIN TO SEE THAT SATAN NEVER QUITS ROARING AND THAT YOU HEAR HIM ALL THE TIME, YOU JUST DIDN’T KNOW IT WAS HIM.
How does Satan roar in your workplace? He roars when you catch wind of the latest gossip about a layoff that is coming. He roars when you hear of cutbacks, downsizing and reductions in force. He roars when you hear of by-outs, changes in administration and a myriad of other ways. It’s not the news of these things that is so bad, but it is the roar of Satan in your ear that says that all of these things will affect you negatively.
Illustration:
On the job where I work, there is a never-ending flow of gossip. It’s so easy to start that it is just unbelievable. Not long ago I was joking with one of my fellow workers about a situation on our job. I made a simple statement that there would likely be more lay-offs before the summer ended. Little did I know how quickly he would key in on what I said. Within a few minutes he went into a rage as fear struck his heart that he would be among those who would be fired. He became so angry that he was going to the General Superintendent to tell him off. Now that’s the way to really get fired! I had to quickly tell him that it wasn’t true lest he ran off and got both of us into trouble. We both laughed about it and it was soon forgotten - or was it? That man was gone from that job within a few months. He retired early! I often wonder if my words that day had enough impact upon him to help him make the decision to bail out while he could. The lay-offs never came, but he was gone just the same.
I learned that day that you cannot “joke” with a lot of people for they are too susceptible to the “roaring lion”. Satan has them so “gun shy” (to use a hunter’s terminology), or so frightened that the least little thing will send them into a panic.
Notice one thing! When Satan is roaring, he can’t be biting! The scripture doesn’t say that Satan goes around biting, ripping and tearing his victims to pieces. He doesn’t have to. His roar is all that he needs! We will rip our own lives to pieces, tear our own faith apart, and allow the bite of sin to destroy our soul just because we listen to his roar.
What does the roar of the lion do? There a several things that it does. His roar warns everyone around that the “King of the Jungle” is speaking. His roar is meant to strike fear into his enemies that he is hungry and after them. His roar is also meant to scare away anyone who comes to interfere with him as he devours the prey that he has already killed. His roar is simply meant to strike fear and terror in the heart of every other creature that hears him.
That’s just what the roaring voice of Satan does. He roared in the ear of that man on the job to strike fear into his heart of being let go. Satan’s roar in that man’s ear screamed loudly that his family would starve, that he would lose everything that he had worked for all those years, even his retirement. Satan’s roaring shook that man’s faith to the core and sent him running in fear from the voice of the lion in his heart. This was supposed to be a Christian who trusted in the Lord and who had faith in God, yet Satan’s voice overpowered the still, small voice of the Lord in his heart and I wonder if Satan’s roaring is going to cause that man to lose his very soul because his fear and doubt.
How does Satan roar in the marketplace? It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see how the roaring of Satan works in our economy. Just take a look at the stock markets and you can see what his roaring does. In the stock market, prices rise and fall very quickly as the buyers and sellers react to good news and, especially, to bad news. If the news is good the prices will rise cautiously because they are always prepared to bail out and sell at the first hint of bad news. When the bad news comes the market drops dramatically because the buyers and sellers are running like rats off of a sinking ship. What is the root cause of all this turmoil in the markets?
It’s the voice of the roaring lion! The world news grows increasingly worse as we draw nearer to the time of the coming of the Lord, just as the Bible said that it would. Very short moments of peace and tranquility are shattered by long periods of wars, rumors of wars and threats to world peace. We cry peace and safety but there is no peace and safety in this world. We are on the very brink of destruction and there is no denying of that fact.
In this climate of fear and terror it isn’t hard for the roaring of Satan to have it’s desired effect upon the hearts of men. We expect the worst and that’s just what we often get.
Not only does the roaring the devil have such a powerful effect upon our stock markets, I want you to notice that his roaring also has a profound effect upon the individual lives of those people who will listen to him on a daily basis. All that needs to happen to see the effect of his roaring is to the news media begin to spread the story of some impending disaster that “could happen”. What does the population do at this possibility of disaster?
In the 60’s I can remember that America and the Soviet Union were in the grips of the Cold War. Americans listened to Satan roaring and began to build bomb shelters, store up food, water and other supplies to last for a few weeks or more. The bombs never came but those shelters still stand as a memorial to our reactions to the terror and fear that struck those who heard the voice of the lion.
In more modern times we have no shortage of the same kinds of reactions to the roaring of the lion. Satan’s roaring strikes fear into the hearts of men as a storm approaches our shore, as terrorists strike targets in our homeland, or as serial killers and criminals strike in our own cities. America is thrown into a panic at the slightest indication that trouble is ahead. We run to the stores and empty every shelf of everything from shovels to a loaf of bread. We cower in fear at the thought that the flow of precious oil will be cut off by some two-bit dictator, and then we go almost into a panic if our military is commanded to stop that same dictator from controlling the world with his oil wells. Surely the “roaring lion” is letting his voice be heard in those times.
He strikes fear into the heart of men who drown those fears in alcohol, drugs and immorality. Live it up while you can because tomorrow may never come. Do we have things backwards or not? If there is going to be no tomorrow, doesn’t it make better sense to make things right with God than to dive deeper into sin? But that’s the power of the roaring lion’s voice. He deceives and strikes terror into the heart of man and uses it as a goad to drive the sinful nature of man into the pits of hell.
How does the roaring lion operate in your home? Which of us, even as Christians, has not had the devil scream in our ears that our children would be lost; that your marriage would be wrecked; or that your family would be devastated by some dreadful accident?
We certainly give him plenty of access to our homes through the movies we watch, the books we read and through the immorality that is portrayed on the Internet. It seems that the modern church has been so invaded by sin and has compromised so much with the world that it is hard for Christians to know what is right. Either that, or we just don’t want to obey God in the first place. I prefer to believe that we just love the things of this world too much to get rid of them and so we invite Satan to come into our homes and roar for a while until we either fall prey to his roaring or we get tired of him and finally kick him out of the house.
Satan’s roaring can be heard as you travel down the highway too. He roars when you get that feeling that they road is only for you and everyone else needs to get out of your way! He roars when you drive in constant fear that you won’t make it to your destination. He roars when you are caught in traffic and frustration and anger begin to take over. Satan roars in your ear that this is just so unfair! Have you heard him roar lately? Has his roaring caused you to say things and do things on the highway that you had to repent of later?
Satan’s roaring can be heard in the doctor’s office when you get some bad news. If the diagnosis isn’t good, his roar strikes fear and terror into your heart and the first thoughts that his roaring brings to your mind is that you won’t make through this one. The majority of Christians are immediately struck by this same fear and terror. Thank God that He is still faithful and still in the healing business. Many of those who succumb to the roaring of the devil eventually stop listening to his roaring and turn back to God in faith so that God can perform a miracle for them.
Satan’s roaring can even come against you as you sit in the very House of God. If we come into God’s house and allow him to, Satan will begin to roar in your ear that you aren’t good enough to be here. He will roar that you are wasting your time; that you will never make it to Heaven; that you can’t be forgiven, you’ve just done too much; he will roar that God doesn’t really care; and he will even roar that God doesn’t even exist and that all this religious stuff is a fairy tale.
Notice that scripture says that the devil walks about, going to and fro! He is just like a lion that runs here and there, famished with hunger, sneaking, scheming, and planning to attack his prey and to bring it down to death and destruction. If he can scare them so bad that the animal can’t run they will be easy prey. If he can make them so afraid that they can’t think straight and run themselves into a trap, then he can easily capture them. If he can get them to separate from the herd and run on their own, they become much easier to catch and kill. Satan uses those same methods. He often comes in through an unsuspected method. He sneaks up and attacks from the back. Thank God that the Holy Spirit knows his wiles and is never surprised.
He roars in your ears, strikes terror and fear into your heart, bringing doubts to your mind about God and the promises in God’s Word, then he runs to God to “tattle” on you, hoping to bring God’s judgment against you for sin. Thank God that we have an “advocate with the Father”!
1 John 2:1, "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:"
Jesus is my legal counsel before the Throne of God. He is on my side and he has already defeated the devil at his own game. Jesus has paid the price for every one of my sins and yours. There is no accusation that Satan can bring before God concerning you that Jesus has not already paid the penalty for. God’s judgment is stayed and Satan’s accusations are made null and void because the penalty has already been exacted and paid for in the Blood of Christ.
Nevertheless, we are commanded to be sober, vigilant, watchful and careful because the devil never quits trying. He is ever seeking for a way to get to you and destroy your faith in God; to destroy your testimony before men; to steal your victory in Christ; to imprison your heart in doubts and fear; to steal that eternal life that God has promised. That’s Satan’s job and he never quits trying, so be careful and watch for his tricks. Don’t fall prey to his roaring!
Yes, the devil never quits “roaring” – he is ever trying to do whatever he can to destroy all that is good, holy and righteous.
But there is another Lion that I want to bring your attention to. He is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.
In the Book of Revelation John is struck with desperation and begins to weep because no one in all of Heaven and earth is found worthy to open the book that contains the “deed” to all of God’s creation. This little book represents the “payoff certificate” or the “bill marked Paid in Full” for the redemption of God’s creation and the souls of men who are destined for Heaven.
Revelation 5:5 , "And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof."
The Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the only begotten Son of God, made one great roar as he hung on the cross. That one last statement of Jesus, made just before he gave up the ghost and died, has resounded through all of creation, and for all of history, as the one most powerful roar that could ever be heard when Jesus said, “IT IS FINISHED”!
At that moment all of the power of the adversary was broken. At that moment all of the power fear, doubt, frustration and sin was forever crushed and placed under His feet.
Isaiah 31:4-5 gives us a picture of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, "For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof. As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it."
Jesus isn’t shaken by the roaring of the devil’s voice. He does not cower in fear at the sound of Satan’s deceptive lies.
Amos 1:2, "… The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither."
When the Lion of the Tribe of Judah roars from his holy mountain, all of creation trembles, demons run in fear, Satan cowers in terror, for our God is in control of all things. He reigns and no one has power over him. When his voice roars from the Throne of God – the angels in Heaven come to attention, demons tremble and shake, and whatever comes from the lips of God is instantly carried out for the Lord God, omnipotent, has spoken.
His voice that roars spoke the worlds into existence. His voice has spoken and all of creation came forth. When his voice speaks, your sickness must go! When his voice speaks, you sin is washed away through the Blood of the Lamb! When his voice speaks, love bursts forth for those who are his own, and judgment bursts forth on all who would oppose him!
Which roar are you hearing this morning? Are you listening to the roars of the devil as he tries to bring you down to destruction, or are you hearing the roar of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah as He calls you to come to him and let him make you one of his own. Be sober, be vigilant, your adversary is ever seeking to destroy you. But even more importantly, be aware that Jesus is ever reaching out to you also. He has come that you might have life and life more abundant. Listen for his roar and come to him!
Let me close with this illustration:
Every day, as the sun rises on the plains and begins to heat up the vast savannahs of Africa, the gazelle awakes to remember that he must be running wherever he goes. He must be faster than the slowest gazelle and faster than the fastest lion, or he will surely become the lion’s dinner before the day is done.
Every day, as the sun rises on the plains and begins to heat up the vast savannahs of Africa, the lion awakes to remember that he must be running wherever he goes. He must be faster than the slowest gazelle and faster than the fastest lion, or he will surely be starving before the day is done.
Let us realize that every day we must awake and start running – being wary, aware and watching for the roaring lion that seeks to devour us. We must be always ready for him and resisting his roaring, while running towards Heaven. We must also be running the race towards Glory with Jesus is running along with us, giving us the strength to win the prize of eternal life with him.
Get up and get running. If you sit still the roaring lion will eventually devour you. The only way to escape the roaring lion is to ever be running toward Jesus. Don’t let terror and fear paralyze you – Run to Jesus – Run to the Father in Heaven – Run to His Holy Word – Run – Run – Run – for the prize is not just to the fastest, but to everyone who finishes the race!
