Sermon Detail

Strength for the Journey Know Your Enemy

September 03, 2023 | Buster Brown

“Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."  1 Peter 5:5-8

Christians can be attacked by the enemy by lying to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5), giving the devil a habitable place through anger (Ephesians 4), deceiving our minds through creation, denying legality (1 Timothy 4:1), and participating in demonic “worship” (1 Corinthians 10).

“Spiritual warfare is all encompassing. It touches every area of our lives…our families, our relationships, our church, our neighborhoods, our communities, our places of employment. There is virtually no part of our existence that the Evil One does not want to maintain or reassert his unhealthy or perverse influence.”  Clinton Arnold, dean of the School of Theology at Talbot Seminary

1. The fight of faith is pervasive and never ending. 

2. There is a path of protection and blessing in the fight of faith (Psalm 16:11; 25:4, 10-11, Proverbs 2:8; 4:18).

3. The believer can be “demonized” through disobedience and apathy.

4. We experience the path of blessing/humility by feasting on the riches of Christ.

"So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." Philippians 2:1-4

“Then he was afraid, and thought also himself to go back after them, for he thought nothing but death was before him. But the Porter at the lodge whose name is Watchful, perceiving that Christian made a halt as if he would go back, cried unto him saying, ‘Is thy strength so small? Fear not the Lions, for they are chained, and are placed there for trial of faith where it is, and for discovery of those that have none. Keep in the midst of the Path, and no hurt shall come unto thee’ …Then I saw he went on, trembling for fear of the Lions, but taking good heed to the directions of the Porter; he heard them roar, but they did him no harm.” John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress