BEHIND ENEMY LINESSTRATEGIES FOR LIFE IN SATAN’S TERRITORY

How to be victorious over the devils and his demons1 Peter 5:6-10

THE WORKS OF SATAN/DEMONS1. Keep us or take us outside God’s will. 2. Defeat us with his condemnations. 3. Weaken us spiritually in his fallen world. 4. Hinder the work of the Church through

disharmony and false teaching.5. Steal, silence, the joy of the Lord.6. Inflict illness as by-product of his presence.

WHAT IS “SPIRITUAL WARFARE”?•The action of satan (or his fellow angels or demons) to hinder or disrupt the plan of God in the lives of believers, the church or the world. •1 John 3:8, “…Son of God came for this purpose to destroy the works of the devil.”

1. WE MUST SET OURSELVES AGAINST HIM

•“resist” from a Greek word (v 5:9):•stand against, set oneself against; not to be neutral against; not to run from.• James 4:7, resist the devil, he will flee you•Ephesians 6:13, resist in the evil day

2. HE IS OUR OPPONENT, ADVERSARY, (BOTH SIDES DO

NOT GET A MEDAL)•Roaring lion, seeking to destroy:•Anyone who holds to the testimony of Jesus•Rev 12•Making a difference – prime targets

•Be on the alert against him:•Awareness, belief, schemer and liar.

3. HUMBLE OURSELVES UNDER GOD’S MIGHTY HAND

•Not a happy day. 1 Peter 4:12-19•To come under the will of God even though it may not be “good” at the moment. •Presumes things aren't going well.•BECAUSE HE CARES…

DO NOT TRUST YOUR FEELINGSFeelings from these type messages:•You will never change. Give up. Why try?•You will never succeed.•You don’t have any gifts. Why serve?•No one likes you.•God doesn’t care about you.

TO “COME UNDER” IS TO LISTEN TO GOD NOT MY FEELINGS

• In His time, He will “exalt,” lift us up.•To come under his hand:•the means of protection

•God’s hands are freed to lift us up.

HOW DO WE HUMBLE OURSELVES UNDER HIS MIGHTY HAND?

1. The cross gave Christ authority over satan•Ephesians 1:21-22 •Colossians 2:9-10•Matt 28:19-20

HOW DO WE HUMBLE OURSELVES UNDER HIS MIGHTY HAND?

2. Christ has delegated his authority to believers. •Matt 10:1•Mark 3:13-15•Luke 10:19-20•2 Corinthians 2L14-16

HOW DO WE HUMBLE OURSELVES UNDER HIS MIGHTY HAND?

3. We must reclaim the “ground” given to satan through his lies or our sin.•We are “in Christ,” His “sons.” 1 P 5:6•Ephesians 1:4-14•Revelation 12:11

•Evict satan in our thoughts by conforming what we believe to what God tells us to believe.•Evict satan in our lives by confessing and repenting of sin.