The Armor Of God 3 Of 8

That is, they do not like us, and every time they get a chance to do us some harm they do it solicitously.

That is a fact of life, it is something we mortals live with every day of our lives. There are many reasons that people hate us, such as:

(1) Some people are just evil to the core, and they are looking for someone to hate, and if you happen to come into sight you become the target of their hate.

Illus: For example, some evil men took a young woman out in the woods and brutally raped and killed her. The police asked them why would they do such a thing. They said, “It wasn’t personal, she just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time!”

This is the way some evil people are. We can become the target of their hatred not because we have done something to them, we just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

(2) Some people hate us because they are jealous of what God has blessed us with.

Let’s face the facts, we all have enemies.

Illus: Many of us have heard preachers stand at a funeral service and say, “He did not have an enemy in the world.” But for a preacher to say that brings up two questions:

1. How does he know that? I do not know anyone good enough to make a statement like that.

2. How did the deceased do something the Sinless Son of God could not do?

Jesus had enemies, and He said if they hated Him, we certainly can also expect them to hate us.

We all have enemies, and the best way to get rid of your enemies is to turn them into friends if it is possible. However, the Bible teaches that is not always possible.

Look at Rom. 12:18, we read, “IF IT BE POSSIBLE, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”

It is not always possible to live peaceably with all men. There are some who will make you the target of their hate regardless of how nice you are to them.

But while we recognize that fact of life In the PHYSICAL WORLD, we often fail to recognize that fact of life in the SPIRITUAL WORLD where we have a far greater enemy.

Every day of our life, Satan is out to do us as much harm as he can do to us.

Look at 1 Peter 5: 8, we read, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

This verse is very descriptive of Satan. It tells us:

• He is our adversary

• He is as a roaring lion

• He is walking around to see who does not have the armor of God on, so he can attack them

Illus: If we received notice from the police department that a vicious lion had escaped from the local zoo a few blocks from our church, I can guarantee you that every one that left this church building would go to their car and be on high alert. Why? Because they know that a vicious lion is nothing to take lightly.

And I can assure you tonight, based on the Word of God, that Satan is on the prowl and that he is no one to play around with. THE DEVIL IS ON THE LOOSE!

We all have one common enemy that hates and despises us. There is not a person in this building that the devil likes. We all share this same common enemy.

But here is the good news; while we all may have the same common enemy, as Christians we all have the same RESOURCES TO DRAW FROM TO OVERCOME HIM.

Look at Eph. 6:10, we read, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT.”

To overcome him, there are some things we need to consider.

WE MUST FIRST IDENTIFY THE ENEMY. Let’s look at -

I. SATAN’S ARMY

Look at Eph. 6:12, we read, “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.”

Every BIBLE-BELIEVING and BIBLE-PREACHING church today is under the attack of Satan. He is doing everything he can do to destroy or hinder the work of God.

Paul talked about that in 1 Thess. 2:18, he said, “Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.”

Satan is doing everything he can to attack the work of God. Remember, he was kicked out of heaven, and one-third of the angels that followed him are still following him today.