The Prowling Lion

The Prowling Lion

January 25, 2015, Morning Service

Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK

Rick Boyne

Message Point: Satan tries to destroy us, but God prevails.

Focus Passage: 1 Peter 5:8-10

Supplemental Passage: Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7 NASB)

Introduction: He was a PROFESSIONAL THIEF. His name stirred FEAR in the hearts of the people. He TERRORIZED the Wells Fargo Stage Line for 13 years. He spooked even the most RUGGED FRONTIERSMAN. During his reign of TERROR between 1875 and 1883, he is credited with STEALING the bags away from 29 different STAGECOACH CREWS. And he did it all without FIRING a shot. His WEAPON was His REPUTATION. His AMMUNITION was FEAR and INTIMIDATION. A HOOD hid his face. No VICTIM ever saw him. No artist ever SKETCHED his features. No SHERIFF could ever track his trail. BLACK BART was his NAME and FEAR was his GAME.

But the interesting thing about BLACK BART, when the HOOD finally came off, there was nothing to FEAR. After the authorities finally tracked him down, they didn’t find a BLOODTHIRSTY BANDIT—they found a mild-mannered DRUGGIST from Decatur, Illinois. The man the newspapers pictured storming through the mountains on HORSEBACK was, in reality, so AFRAID of horses he rode to and from his ROBBERIES in a BUGGY. His name was Charles E. Boles—the BANDIT who never once fired a SHOT, because he never once LOADED his gun. Paul Harvey’s The Rest of the Story; (New York, NY: Bantam, 1977) Pg 117

I. Humble Yourself

a. God despises pride

b. A stance of humility is pleasing to God

c. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. (James 4:10 NASB)

II. Be Alert

a. Realize what is going on when Satan attacks (or when he roars)

b. Realize that you are a child of the Most High God

c. Realize that Satan has no power over you

d. Realize that Satan is, at the least, trying to intimidate you

e. so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. (1 Thessalonians 5:6 NASB)

III. Stand Firm

a. Recognize God as greater than the devil

b. Remember your faith in God and how He saved you through Jesus

c. Recognize that if you aren’t being used by God or drawing close to Him, the devil is going to leave you alone

Application/Invitation: A lot of people I know are very discouraged today. Discouragement does not come from the Lord! You are the Bride of Christ! Satan has no authority over you! Trust the power and strength of Jesus! No matter the problem or how you are feeling about yourself, God is greater!