Living In Lion Country
Intro:
We have a real foe and he has many names, but the one you may recognize is Satan or the devil. Many today believe that Satan is a myth¡Xa figment of someone¡¦s imagination. Many are being devoured because they do not recognize the enemy. Some doubt his existence.
Well, you may doubt the existence of the devil but the Word of God declares his existence¡XHe is mentioned in 7 OT books; Genesis, 1 Chron., Job (12 times), Psalms, Isaiah, Ezek., and Zech. There are 19 books in the NT that give reference to the devil; every writer in the NT refers to the devil; Jesus referred to the devil approximately 15 times.
The Bible refers to Satan a total of 174 times. Satan is alive and well. My friend, Satan is alive and well and actively and aggressively at work on planet earth.
C.S. Lewis the noted English scholar said, ¡§There are two equal and opposite dangers. One is to deny the existence of the devil and the other is to become preoccupied with him.¡¨
Well, I want to take a look at Satan and expose him for who he is:
1 Peter 5:8¡X¡§Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:¡¨
In this chapter Peter gives the essential attitudes that a Christian must have¡Xsubmission (v5); humility (vv5-6); trust (v7); self-control (v8a); Vigilance or alertness (v8b). As Christians, we must cultivate these attitudes if we are going to face the fierce enemy we will look at today.
Peter identifies Satan as ¡§your adversary, the devil¡¨¡Xthe pronoun your makes it personal. Well, I want to help you identify a few things about your enemy so you can be more alert and live victoriously! Either be lion alert or you will be lion desert!!
Living in Lion Country
1. Where Does the Lion Live?
2. What is the Lion Like?
3. How Is the Lion Licked? (Defeated)
Peter warns Christians to ¡§Beware of the Lion¡¨. The Bible reveals that Satan has lion-like characteristics. Let¡¦s look at the lion:
1. Where Does the Lion Live?
„h The Bible speaks of Satan in heaven at one time¡XHe was called Lucifer! However, because of pride he fell from heaven. This account is found in Ezekiel 28:12-19 and Isaiah 14:12-14.
„h Even Jesus spoke of Satan¡¦s fall in Luke 10:18¡X¡§And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.¡¨
„h In Job 1:7 we read, ¡§And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.¡¨--Here we see the great accuser
„h Satan fell with the rebellious angels from heaven to earth¡XJesus spoke of the devil and his angels in Matthew 25:41¡X¡§Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:¡¨
„h Well, for now, Satan¡¦s domain is here on earth:
„h 2 Cor. 4:4¡X¡§In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.¡¨
„h Jesus called Satan the ¡§prince of this world¡¨
„h Ephesians 2:2¡X¡§Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:¡¨
„h Satan heads a kingdom which is hostile to the kingdom of God
„h Once again, Peter said, ¡§Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:¡¨
„h He is roaming earth like a lion, prowling, seeking someone to devour or swallow up!
„h Where does the lion live? On earth!
„h Satan and his demon force is everywhere. Stronger in some places than others but he has his forces strategically placed everywhere! Anywhere there are sheep, Satan is prowling!
„h Where does the Lion Live? To quote from the Encyclopedia, ¡§They are most abundant in grassland areas where game is most plentiful;¡¨
1. Where Does the Lion Live?
Well, he is not in hell yet.
2. What Is The Lion Like?
A. The Strength of a Lion
Proverbs 30:30¡X¡§ A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;¡¨
„h I have read that a lion has the strength of 21 men
„h Satan is a powerful foe! He has supernatural strength
„h The attack of a lion is vicious and overpowering!
„h He has the power to possess a sinner and oppress a Christian
Illus: It is startling to think that Satan can actually come into the heart of a man in such close touch with Jesus as Judas was. And more¡Xhe is cunningly trying to do it today. Yet he can get in only through a door opened from the inside. Every man controls the door of his own life. Satan can¡¦t get in without our help.
Illus: WHERE BUFFALO ARGUE, LIONS FEED
When buffalo become aware of a marauding lion, they make a circle and lock their horns. When they sense a lion is lurking, they instinctively lock their horns and put their hind quarters in and make a big circle. The babies are inside the circle of protection of the buffalos. Whenever their is a male & female buffalo with a disagreement and are being stubborn, there is a gap in the circle. The lion will keep circling until he finds a gap and the lion will rush in the buffalos will rush off and stampede and leave their young vulnerable.
Where there is stubborness, contention, constant bickering, the devil moves in to feed.
„h Many of you here today are giving the lion a place to move in and attack! Many teens today are opening the door: music, movies, sorcery and witchcraft, occult comes in many different shapes and forms!
A. His Strength
B. His Subtlety
„h Once again, the encyclopedia said that lions typically kill by sneaking up to the victim until it is 10-30 yards away and then roars!
„h Satan is subtle/sneaky/deceiver/lier
John 8:44¡X¡§Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.¡¨
Example: Garden of Eden
1. He lies about who he is-- He came to Eve as a beautiful creature, not the detestable beast that he is---Satan will choose something beautiful to be the vehicle through which he works
„h He never shows us the consequences of taking his advice: Ex. Satan did not come to King David and say, ¡§David, I hate you and have a awful plan for your life¡K I want to destroy you, your family, and your kingdom.Now listen, you will have to cooperate with and commit adultery with Bathsheba as the first step in the series of dominoes to knock you down.
„h He cunningly and skillfully hides the results of pornography, immorality and dishonesty. Nor does he show us the final state of those who hold to wrong beliefs about the Bible, Christ and salvation
„h His plan and strategy is to give people what they want but to make sure they eventually get what he wants them to have
„h ¡§Satan is especially interested in selling another gospel with a sweeter message and a bogus guarantee
Sometimes Satan uses blatant lies; at other times he mixes truth and error
2. He lies about Who God is---Gen. 3:1-5
„h The first time Satan opens his mouth is to put a question where God put a period.
„h He paints God as a mean and uncaring being!---God is a kill-joy!
„h Don¡¦t miss this: Satan wanted Eve to focus on the one thing she could not have---he knew this would rob her of the joy she should get from all the things she did have
„h Satan wants you to think that God has short-changed you!!----If Satan can get you thinking wrongly about God he can get you to fall
„h Remember, whatever restrictions God gives us are for our good and not our detriment!
A. His Strength
B. His Subtlety
C. His Seeking--¡§Seeking whom he my devour¡¨
„h Jesus said to Simon Peter, ¡§And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:¡¨
„h Now, Peter warns us of the desire of Satan to devour us! ¡§Devour¡¨ has the sense of ¡§to gulp down¡¨, emphasizing Satan¡¦s final objective, not to wound but to destroy. Don¡¦t picture Satan has a lion in the zoo. That is not the picture that Peter is trying to give us.
.A couple of observations about lions and Satan:
1. Lions usually attack the already wounded and feeble or young
2. Lions rarely attack a human being without provocation. Injured lions can become man-eaters.
„h The thought came to me¡XSatan is an injured foe¡XThe Lord gave him a good lick a few times; the greatest came at the resurrection! He is an injured lion on the prey for all men he can claim and rob from the arms of the Sheperd!
3. Lions attack the stragglers (the animal that is alone)
WHERE STRAGLERS ROME, LIONS FEED
Animals grazing by themselves. In Africa, lions will lay out watching herds. Lions know their own strength, but he also knows the strength of numbers. When he looks at a herd of zebras, he knows if he attacks one and the herd stampedes, they would trample him. When he sees one rebelliously remove himself and independently feed away from the herd. When that zebra gets far enough away from the pack, the lion prounces, pulls it into the tall grass, goes for the jugular, and has begun eating the meat, before the herd even knew what happened.
Stay in the strength of fellowship. Don¡¦t be a stragler and remove yourself from family of God. The lion is watching.
4. When the fire goes out the lion will feed
WHEN THE FIRE GOES OUT, THE LIONS MOVE IN
When in the jungles of Africa, a doctor and his wife, after flying from America and a day of birdwatching and photography, they went to bed in their tent with a campfire outside. They had been warned to keep logs on the fire all night or the lions would come in. The fire was blazing hot when they fell into such a deep sleep that the fire became smoldering embers. When darkness settled in, a lioness stuck her head into the tent and tore the head of the doctor in front of his wife.
When the fire is burning hot, people are talking about what God is showing them, Scriptures they have read, God using them in witnessing. But something happens where they become overly-familiar with the fire and don¡¦t continue to put logs on the fire.
1. Where Does the Lion Live?
2. What is the Lion Like?
3. How is the Lion Licked?
A. Don¡¦t contest him in your own strength
„h Remember, he is stronger than you
„h Not even Michael, the Arch Angel contended with Satan
„h Jude 9¡X¡§ Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.¡¨
„h The point is that Michael did not rebuke Satan, but left that to the Lord. If an arch angel is careful about the way he deals with the devil, how much more cautious ought we to be. It is a dangerous thing for God¡¦s people to confront the power of Satan directly!
„h Don¡¦t contest him in your own strength!
„h Notice what Peter said, ¡§Whom resist steadfast in the faith¡¨¡XWe do not have to cower in fear before Satan¡XWe resist and flee to Jesus; He will intervene
„h James 4:7,8¡X¡§ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.¡¨
„h We must resist and by faith turn the conflict over to God! He will fight your battle for you
„h Ephesians 6:10-13¡X¡§ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.¡¨
„h The two offensive weapons we have is prayer and the Word of God!
„h We are wrestling with a superhuman foe¡XWe must stand in Christ¡¦s strength!
You see, the only thing a lion is scared of is another lion!
Rev. 5:1-5¡X¡§ And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.¡¨
Jesus has prevailed! So resist the devil and trust the prevailer!!
Revelation 20:10¡X¡§ And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.¡¨
Living in Lion Country:
1. Where the devil lives
2. What the devil is like
3. How the devil is licked
