Satan's Fishing Trip

SATAN’S FISHING TRIP

ALLAN H. KIRCHER

www.planttheseedministries.org

I have Satan’s name up here, by no means to glorify him, but we do need to recognize as Christians that he is our Lord and Savior’s arch enemy.

Satan is prevalent in our lives in a daily basis. We need to know how to claim victory in Jesus in order to win the battle against Satan.

Sin and Satan have been around since the beginning.

Cain and Abel, Abel face….God said “why is your face downcast”

Gen 4:7 says

Satan is crouching, waiting.

Jesus gave us a menu in order to take care of temptations and Satan.

Thousands of years later Jesus was walking along the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers; Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen “come, follow me” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men:”at once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers James son of Zebedee and his brother John they were in a boat with their father Zebedee preparing their nets. Jesus called them and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. From there Jesus went throughout Galilee teaching and preaching the good news.

Inaugural address speech Matthew 5:1-12

As Christians we are called to be fishers of men, but there is something that I think we don’t realize sometimes and that is the fact that Satan is a fisher of men also.

He would love nothing more than to lure you in and hook you. We have all been bombarded with temptation and even Jesus was tempted. The difference is, Jesus was not hooked.

As a fisherman, I have learned several things concerning fishing.

a. First, always fish where you know there are fish and know the conditions of the place were you will be fishing.

b. Second, find out what the fish are biting.

c. Third, be persistent

Satan is a good fisherman and he also uses these tactics when he his out fishing.

a. Satan is not omnipresent meaning that he is not everywhere at the same time, so he has to decide where and when he is going to go fishing.

b. once he gets to his location, he figures out what lure will work and he goes to work.

c. Satan is always persistent.

Let’s look this morning how to have victory over temptation and not become one of Satan’s catches.

Turn with me to Luke 4:1-3.

What are these CONDITIONS Satan tempts us?

When does Satan tempt us?

High Spiritual Experiences

1. Matthew 4 records that this temptation of Jesus happened directly after He was baptized. (Jesus was lead by the spirit into the desert)

2. Jesus had received the approval of His Father in Matthew 4 it says. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. “This is my Son whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

3. Temptation often happens after a high spiritual experience.

Christian concerts, Justification.

b. Physical weakness 2 Cor 12:9-10

1. Jesus did not eat during those 40 days. Imagine the physical strain upon Jesus’ body.

2. Your greatest weakness is often an unguarded strength.

Let him who stands, take heed lest he fall

If you say I’ll never get addicted to coffee…watch out.

My marriage will not fall apart…watch out.

The area you think is your strongest in your most unguarded.

3. Temptations often happen during a time of physical sickness or when the body is in a weak state or when hungry or tired.

c. Alone

1. Jesus was alone during this time. His disciples were not there.

2. Temptation often happens when we are alone.

Nicotine, alcohol.

We need accountability

LURES

What is the design of these lures?

My lures in specific with nicotine, idleness etc,.

a. To Sin against God ( so we can feel disqualified from God).

1. Satan was trying to get Jesus to sin against God so that He would be disqualified from being the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.

2. All through these temptations Satan attempts to get Jesus to bypass the cross, by which He would save all believing mankind.

3. Satan knew that if he could get Jesus to short-circuit the cross that all mankind would be lost, and must suffer in eternal hell to pay the price for their sins.

b. To doubt our relationship with God

you go back into sin….(progressive) smoke one cigarettes eventually leads to more.

Illnesses….why does that have to happen to my wife…God doesn’t love me…or there isn’t a God…..etc.

1. Satan wants us to doubt our relationship with God, and to become independent of Him in meeting our own needs.