Victorious Conflict, 1 Pet.5.8‐9, 9.2.13 Introduction: 1. Many Movies about spiritual conflict: The Conjuring, The Possession, the Ritual, The Last Exorcism, Paranormal Activity. We aren't too sure about the truthfulness of the topic of spiritual warfare and we think that if it exists it's only in the most extreme situations. 2. AW Tozer: That this world is a playground rather than a battleground has been accepted in practice by the vast majority of American Christians. 3. We were born into warfare! 4. Context ‐ Peter is wrapping up his letter. Challenging them to stand strong against everything their enemy, the devil, throws at them. 5. Big Idea: The devil is the source of our hardships and only an active and aggressive faith can withstand his assaults. Understanding Our Enemy 
His Person ‐ how his names reveal his character o Enemy:  A real enemy. Not a mythical figure or just a representation of evil. He is as real as Jesus. He is bent on your destruction. He is relentless in his approach. He hates you, this church, and Jesus with an unquenchable anger. He is not neutral about you or unconcerned about your life. He is doing everything in his power to destroy you, your family, this church, etc. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and the devil lives to destroy the works of Jesus. Get it straight ‐ He is a living, breathing, eternal being who hates you and everything you represent.  Ex of neighbor who had filed 50 separate lawsuits against her neighbors. Everyday she looked for opportunities to take her neighbors to court. This is the devil's attitude towards you. In his mind, you are in his way and you have intentionally picked a fight with him by following Jesus. He has nothing but animosity to you.  Legal Right ‐ the word "adversary" or "legal opponent" is also used. He is our legal opponent until we die. How is he legal? Satan is a legalist and he operates according to God's rules. His sin is what leads to his eternal damnation. Sin is what gives him legal access to my life. Personal sin in our lives is what opens the door to his legal right to harass me. God must grant him permission, but my sin is what opens the door. This may be why he cannot touch the saints in Heaven. There is no sin and therefore he does not have access to them.  In this life, we must keep ourselves morally clean, spiritually focused, emotionally whole and physically sound. He targets these areas that we struggle with. o
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The Devil ‐ Accuser; your opponent in a lawsuit. Rev.12.10 gives us the clearest insights into what this means. Like with Job, the devil accuses us before God; he accuses God to us; he accuses us before each other.  He accuses God to you: how could God...why didn't God...God is not going to hear your prayer...God doesn't really love unconditionally...God expects you to be perfect and when you aren't you are separated from Him...God is displeased with you...if you don't confess your sin you will go to Hell...you've committed the unpardonable sin...God can't use you, b/c that terrible sin, etc.  So many have come into agreement with the devil and have grown offended at God.  He paints a picture of God that is either incomplete or incorrect. He wants you to see God as a harsh, unconcerned, impulsive, egocentric, legalistic, vengeful, etc. He misrepresents God to you and this is one reason why you must be strong in your faith so you can stand against his lies.  His accusations are the source of people's hearts being hardened. Ex ‐ A person has a really bad: church experience, trauma, loss, family life. They are angry and especially when they don't see prayers answered or feel God's presence. The devil begins to accuse God to the person ‐ why didn't God answer your prayers, why didn't he do something, what have you done to deserve such mistreatment, etc. The person comes into agreement with the accusations and his heart gets hard. The weak and the proud are the most vulnerable. The weak are fragile and especially sensitive; the proud think they know it all and are looking for reasons to reject God. Roaring Lion:  A roaring lion in the wild creates fear. A roaring lion projects authority, dominance and death to his enemies. If you are out in the open when a lion roars, you think, "I am vulnerable and I am in trouble." These Christians were feeling that roar through persecution.  Lions are vicious and unafraid. Nothing scares them, but rather, they scare others.  "Roaring" is a Loud noise that creates an overwhelming emotion, and unsettles our spirits. We feel like we have to run and get away.  Appl ‐ Have you ever felt that "roar" in any situation in life? The issue or problem was overwhelming; you thought you would be consumed; you were uncertain or fearful of what might or will happen next. You are tense with fear. Other Manifestations: Dragon, Snake, and Angel of Light.  Dragon ‐ Rev.12. Powerful and aggressive. This speaks of the united strength of his evil forces. They form a powerful army who oppose the children of God.  Snake ‐ Gen.3. This refers to his craftiness. He quietly and effortlessly works things to his advantage.  Angel of Light ‐ 2 Cor.11. He appears as truth but he's actually deceiving the people. He uses truth, but the plants seeds of falsehood in people's lives. He is 
captivatingly beautiful and unless you truly listen to what he is saying you will also be deceived. His Strategy to Defeat Us o Accusation ‐ Already addressed this earlier o Suffering ‐ He associates the suffering of other believers with the attack of the enemy.  We don't suffer in America like these believers suffer today in Egypt or Pakistan. Yet, some of you are suffering in other ways. The suffering of a bad marriage; hostile family relations; the suffering of long term health problems; the suffering of active resistance in the work place or school. Over time, these things wear on you and grind your spirit into the ground. Long suffering has the potential of etching long, deep scars in your heart towards God.  Appl ‐ This is what Satan is trying to do with you. Long, deep woundedness that isn't instantly obvious but once it is it takes a long time to heal. Like a drought, it takes time for the soils moisture to be sucked from the ground, and when it's an extreme drought, it takes a long time for the soil's moisture to be replenished. You are holding on to the Word like a guy lost in Death Valley holding on to a canteen.  How do you combat suffering? Look around at others who went through or are going through the same plight. When you are experiencing suffering you need allies ‐ people who will stick with you through thick and thin. Support groups for those who have experienced loss or have a loved one caught up in an addiction. Attending Keith's ABF and April's small group to find others who are dealing with similar life issues. You are not alone; God has people ready to embrace you with His love.  Satan is using the suffering to dry you up and cause you to die and God's answer to that suffering is to look around and grab the hand of others who have gone through the same suffering. You want God to do something that He has equipped others to do. o Devour ‐ the word means to "drink down; gulp". He isn't satisfied with harassment or injury. He is seeking your complete destruction. Who will the lion devour? Write down the people you think about as I review each category.  Those who don't believe he exists. This refers to the atheist who does not believe in God and the Christian who lives like there is no Satan. They are both blind. They can't  Those who get too close to Him. They think they can mess around with him and be quick enough to get out of his way.This is the group who are involved in séances, ouji boards, occult practices, wicca, demon worship and drug/alcohol use. This ALWAYS leads to destruction. They are promised freedom, power and ability. Once they are hooked, they are locked into a destructive outcome. This also includes sinful patterns that you think you can handle. 
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Weak. People who are either young in the faith or have never developed in their faith. They are targets because they are not strong enough to stand up against the assaults. When we see these being attacked we who are strong must go surround them. This is like The Battle at Kruger Park video. The person is fragile. Separated ones. These are the people who were among us at one time, but for whatever reason they have departed. If they have gone to another church that's great, but often these get lost. In nature, lions and wolves prey on the ones who get separated from the herd. There are some here who know what that is like. We have to go find the lost and wayward sheep. Don't let them drift away and if you're feeling that tug to unplug don't give into it. Wounded. These are people who have been hurt. They are suffering and some are bleeding and the lion is going in for the kill. These people might be physically or mentally exhausted. They want to give up and need to be encouraged. Every day seems like a battle. What is your response to these people? If you are one of these, what is your response? In every case, call others for help! Overcoming Our Enemy 
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Qualification: Just b/c Jesus overcame the devil does not mean you will. o You can be saved but be devoured by the devil. To be devoured means that the devil has overwhelmed and overtaken you. It has nothing to do whether or not a person was martyred for their faith. Jesus said don't be concerned about the one who can take your life. If you are devoured by the devil, it means your life is overtaken by him and he has subdued you. You are in his grip and you aren't getting out any time soon. o Believers can be defeated. This happens when a believer walks away from doing God's will and spend his life doing his own thing.  1 Cor.5.1‐5: Sexual sin  1 Tim. 1.18ff: Defiling your conscience. Doing opposite of what you know is right.  2 Tim.2.26: Those who oppose God's truth and resist what is right.  In each case, it is someone who is not living like they should. It's easy to see people who are . Be Alert! o Peter might have been referring to his own experience when he was not watchful. He coolly thought he would be able to endure the pressure of persecution, but he did not. Satan asked to test Peter. Jesus told Peter that he would turn away from Jesus and Peter said that would never happen. the next day it happened. o Where should you be alert ‐ vulnerabilities. Where are you vulnerable?  When you get tired where do you drift? 
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When you trip what do you usually trip over? Critical, bad attitude, arrogance, selfishness, etc.  Sexuality ‐ 1 Cor.7  What are the weaknesses in your life? I have the tendency to be too...I spend too much time...I think way too much about...I can't get consistant victory over (blank) in my life.  It's those places you must be alerted to. Watch out for your great enemy/Be sober. o We cannot be intoxicated by what the world has to offer us. We can't let anything distract our attention from the Lord and His will for our lives. o We can't be like a drunk and have a blurred vision of reality. Keep yourself fully aware of your surroundings and what is happening in your life and the lives of those you love. o "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance." It is true for democracies, and it is true in your Christian life. You can't let down your guard of the roaring lion will pounce. o Stand firm against him o Do not buckle or bolt. Stand your ground and resist. James 4.7. o Slide show on What to do if a lion attacks o Don't turn your back to his tactics; don't pretend he isn't there. Be strong in your faith o This is referring to two things: First, your knowledge and foundation in the Christian faith. It is important that your knowledge of the Bible be strong b/c it serves as an anchor during the storm. The Word is living and active and supplies us with spiritual vitality and strength. You must be grounded. "An unprepared soldier is only a target." o Secondly, "Be strong in your faith" is primarily referring to your Christian experience. In other words, review your history in Jesus and note how He has intervened and taken care of you. Devil directed hardships come and go and I believe the saint who is strong in his faith can quickly move from a place of being overwhelmed to being an overcomer by recalling your faith. o Look back at your life and look around at the lives of the living and deceased who have stood strong during difficult times. Remember how they stood in warfare and did not give in or give up. o Consider the ones who did fall, but they got back up. Don't grow discouraged and defeated if you fall. It is not over. You have not abandoned your faith; your faith is just weak. It is not a shameful disgrace. o Saints, if you see people under the devil's attack, go and encourage them. Don't wait for a sign. This message is your sign. Go pray and stand with them. If you have had a similar experience to what they are now experiencing then share it with them. Let them see that your test has now become your testimony. Remember the suffering saints. o
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You are not the only one who has endured such hardship. There are brothers and sisters in the faith who have endured what you are experiencing and they stood their ground. Don't give up or give in. If you are suffering, reach out to your fellow saints so they can encourage and walk with you through the difficult place. You are not alone in this battle! Conclusion 1. How do you know if you're being attacked or vulnerable to attack: a. Beat Up ‐ it's a struggle; one more mountain; weary in a bad way b. Bound Up ‐ areas where you can't get freedom c. Burned Up ‐ you feel nothing, empty, doesn't take much to set you off d. Blown Up ‐ Completely defeated in one or more areas in your life. 2. Big Idea: The devil is the source of our hardships and only an active and aggressive faith can withstand his assaults.