The Predator
Intro: He’s out there, just beyond your field of vision, He’s stalking you. He’s looking for a sign of weakness, He’s ready to pounce and devour. He has no mercy or compassion in him, you are his prey.
Text: 1 Peter 5:8-9
8 Control yourselves and be careful! The devil, your enemy, goes around like a roaring lion looking for someone to eat. 9 Refuse to give in to him, by standing strong in your faith.
Illus: I know that the devil is real
1. The bible says so
2. History says so- WAR-Hate-Hitler
3. My experience says so -Temptation-Trials
There’s a devil loose, what do I need to do?
1. Dealing with A loose devil Calls for Sober. Awareness.
2. Dealing with A loose devil Calls for Sensible. Alertness.
3. Dealing with A loose devil Calls for Strong. Assurance.
1. Dealing with A Lion Calls for Sober. Awareness
Illus:
A little fellow said no I don't believe there is a devil. It is just like Santa Clause it is your daddy. The devil has tricked a whole lot of people into thinking he is some kind of imaginary character.
A. Sober Awareness of the Devils Methods.
1. He Loves Weakness.
a. A Lion always attacks the weakest of the Flock.
b. A Lion will attack at your weakest Point.
c. No Sheep ever killed a Lion
d. Pride will destroy us -Pride {goes} before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.
e. Name for a group of Lions is a Pride of Lions.
Illus:
Achilles was a great warrior in Greek mythology. His mother dipped him in the magical river Styx shortly after he was born, holding him by his heel. This made him a nearly invincible warrior, but he had a secret weakness. In the battle of Troy, Apollo, knowing of his vulnerable spot, directed an archer to aim for his heel. The arrow hit the spot, and Achilles died from the wound.
Satan will tempt at Our Most Vulnerable Spot:
Satan wants to Find Your Achilles' Heel --
2. He Loves Darkness.
a. Lions have learned that too much moonlight makes their hunting less successful. Perhaps they become too visible to their prey..."
b. Satan can't do much either when the light of God's word is used.
B. Sober Awareness of the Devils. Motivations.
1. He uses three basic Motivators.
I John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
a. Lust of the flesh
b. Lust of the Eyes
c. Boastful Pride of Life.
2. Dealing with A Lying Lion Calls for Sensible. Alertness.
A. Sensible. Alertness of the Devils. Purpose.
1. To be an Adversary.
B. Sensible. Alertness of the Devils. Prowling.
1. prowls about like a roaring lion,
C. Sensible. Alertness of the Devils. Pursuit.
"seeking someone to devour."
[The word devour is a term that refers to an animal killing its prey. That is exactly how Satan kills his prey by devouring the prey. A lion can eat 30% of its own body Weight in one sitting. That would be similar to a 150-pound man eating about 20 Big Macs.
Illustration #1
Watching the documentaries of wildlife seems to illustrate a portion of that. The predator (lion) stalks the herd and finally, although they all know he is out there, a lone animal wanders away. The sense of
danger becomes acute and the animal suddenly understands he is out of the protection of the herd. His security is gone. His response is to run as fast and as hard as he can, but he often runs right into the very
danger he is attempting to escape. Why? because he has no security and the running has no direction. Running + No security = panic = lunch for the lion.
Now consider the herd and the animals that do not leave the herd. First of all, the lion knows he cannot attack the herd. It is too strong. Second, the herd knows they have the combined strength to ward off
any attack. Third, since they have a sense of real security, they gather to protect the little ones. They don't run in fear but stand firm in their security and safety.
To me, this is a good illustration of many truths, but it shows the need for the security of the only sure and safe protection from things that would seek to bring destruction into our lives. We have the opportunity to stand strong and secure in the herd (the church and the power of the Holy Spirit) or we can wander off alone and be picked off.
The herd stands together because it is their instinct. The children of God have the Holy Spirit prompting them (instinctive to follow Him) to stand together and depend on the power of God's love in Christ.
We Need to reach out to those on their way to being devoured.
3. Dealing with A Lying Lion Calls for Strong . . Assurance.
A. In Strong Assurance We. . Resist the Devil.
1. Resist with Assurance from your. Faith.
2. Resist with Assurance from your . Fellows
Pray for each other--Be accountable to someone
Illus:
The story is told of two men crossing the rugged Sierras on horseback. As they came to a large and swift-flowing river, the older and more experienced man said to the younger, "As we get to the deepest and swiftest part, be sure not to look down and
from side to side at the swirling water around you, it will only make you dizzy." "Listen to me," the older man continued sternly, "see that big rock on the other side? Keep your eyes focused on that rock!" "OK" said the younger man.
As the men then crossed, they quickly approached the swift and turbulent midstream waters. The horses began to struggle, the spray of the icy waters splash against the men's faces. The young man began to center his attention solely on the waters swirling angrily around horse and rider. Becoming dizzy-headed, he began to struggle to remain on the saddle. The older man looked back, and noticing the young man laboring hollered out, "Keep your eyes focused on the rock! Keep your eyes focused on the rock!" The young man, barely able to hear, desperately and with great difficulty focused his eyes on the rock. Soon his head began to clear, and soon they were on the other side safe and sound.
Conclusion
The great News Is this: The Lying Lion is not really a Lion he only imitates a lion. He prowls like a lion and he roars like a lion
but he is not a lion.
We do have a Lion
Rev 5:5
5 and one of the elders said to me, "Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals."
When in trouble call on Jesus
