Lost: The Forces of Darkness
(10 downloads)Sunday, May 20, 2007
1 Peter 5:8-9
Is it my imagination, or are there unseen enemies lurking about? The words that whisper in my mind and all around me… am I crazy, am I the only one who hears them, or do other people hear whispers as well. Is there any such thing as ghosts, ghouls and monsters under my bed, or is there some rational, scientific explanation for what goes bump in the night.
Today’s mystery deals with the invisible enemy of our souls: We would state the problem like this: are there really unseen enemies? And if there are, how can I defend myself against them?
The Reality of Evil
Be Prepared
Sober = dispassionate, calm and collected in spirit
Be Wary
Vigilant = to watch, to be cautious and wary
Only 15 % of Christians are completely free of Satan's bondage
65 % wrestle with a steady barrage of sinful thoughts
15 % are plagued by condemning evil thoughts and strange "voices"
5 % have lost control and hear voices which control them.
The Attacks of the Enemy
Satan literally means "The Adversary."
"The Devil." means "The Accuser."
He stalks us - He walks about seeking victims
He studies us and looks for opportunities to attack us
He roars at us
The older lions roar to frighten the prey into an ambush
He devours
Satan’s reward for those who serve him is a miserable death
The Ready response
Resist & yield (to God) James 4:7
Boldly and loudly repeat the truth from the Word of God
Steadfastly - Stand your ground. Don’t give up.
Be Biblical - Resist him “In the Faith”
Use the Word of God to respond to him
Any of a thousand attacks made on your heart every day may take you out of the battle: Immoral thoughts, Anger, Bitterness, The desire for things, An urge to grasp at power , A party spirit, Vile swearing, Cutting words, Vacillating doubt, Head-hanging guilt. The Bible tells us that if we are to be Delivered from darkness, we must renounce the hidden things of dishonesty and have no relationship with them.