When Lions Attack
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· 24 viewsThe enemy wants to attack us in ways we won't see coming.
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Intro
Intro
We’re going to be playing Human Battle Ship tonight. This is a game where you don’t see the attack coming...
Tonight we’re going to talk about attacks we don’t see coming. How many of you have ever had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day?
Give a list of awful things that might happen. Start funny, then get more serious.
As all this is going on, your resolve is weakening and your attacker is preparing. Satan and his demons are waiting for their chance to attack people, especially God’s people. Maybe they are why all the bad things have been happening, maybe not. But they are definitely smiling about it and they are ready to attack you with
fear: Can I do anything right? How can anything be ok with all this going on? What else will God let happen to me?
doubt: Why would God let this happen to me? If He is really there, why are these things happening? Does God not love me? Is He truly good?
compromise: Why would I keep doing the right thing if this is what happens? It’s too hard to do what I should right now. God will understand if I let it go right now. I’m just too tired to deal with it right now.
Our enemy is waiting , maybe even causing things to happen that will give him the opportunity to try to pull us away from God. To try to keep non-Christians from turning to God. We’ve got to be ready.
Read and PRAY!!!
When you are feeling weak and distracted, Satan is coming for you.
When you are feeling weak and distracted, Satan is coming for you.
Have you ever seen a lion stalking prey? It’s really awesome, check this out… video of Lion stalking prey
Peter starts out by telling us to be on the lookout.
The Christians he was writing to were dealing with intense persecution for following Christ. I am not saying the struggles we face are like what they were facing. We’re struggling with forgetting to set the DVR to record our favorite show and these Christians were worried about being tossed in jail. Your friend stealing your crush isn’t cool, but it’s not as bad as your friend being thrown into the arena with a bear, right? Even though you may want her to be thrown in there after she stole your man!
Our struggles aren’t their struggles, but that doesn’t mean our struggles aren’t real.
Peter says “be on your toes!” because the enemy likes to come after us when we are going through stuff because we tend to be weaker then.
And just like that lion is prowling around looking for an animal not paying attention or a weaker animal to get, Satan and his demons are looking for the easy targets. He’ll tempt you, but you need to know some things about what he can do!
You can always say no if you have the Holy Spirit in you!
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful, and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape so that you are able to bear it.
Our enemies can’t get away with anything God doesn’t allow. Martin Luther said, “The devil is God’s devil.” He can only get away with what God allows Him to get away with.
Look at the story of Job…
Now if that makes you a little uncomfortable to think that the reason the devil is able to do things because God allows it, think about the alternative. The devil is able to do things because God can’t control him. This is a much worse scenario.
But this is one of Satan’s tactics, to get you to question God. He often won’t start there though, he’ll try to get you to question other authorities in your life; your parents, your teachers. Then when we doubt authority in general, it’s easier for us to doubt God.
Satan also wants to be anonymous. He wants us to think that his attacks are coming from anywhere but him. Because then we don’t know to fight against him.
For we who live are always given over to death because of Jesus, so that Jesus’ life may also be revealed in our mortal flesh.
And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
We need to know all these things so we can be alert as Peter tells us, so we can be ready.
Otherwise he’ll convince you it’s a good idea to hurt someone back after they’ve hurt you.
That it’s ok to not honor your parents when you’re frustrated because it seems like they don’t get your point of view.
That compromising your purity is alright when your boyfriend or girlfriend is pressuring you.
In these times of weakness, the attack is coming.
But also know this, you have a Savior who knows and who has stood in your place.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin.
Let this give you firm faith so you can resist!
Fight back with faith-filled confidence.
Fight back with faith-filled confidence.
You ever
Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things. Do what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
Therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.
