I Peter 5:8-9

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith…

Peter’s Adversarial Assumption:

• He is Real• He is Active • He is Conniving• He is Destructive

And we are his prey.

C.S. Lewis

“ There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about demons. One is to disbelieve in their existence.

Cont.

The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors.”

I

There are two possible errors that you can leave with this morning.

1. To leave unconvinced

2. Or to leave in fear.

But we cannot afford to leave uninformed.

More than anything else this morning I want us to think

biblically about this all important topic.

Ephesians :11-12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Satan’s names define his attributes and tip us off to

spiritual warfare in our lives.

Destroyer (Rev.

9:11)

Accuser (Rev. 12:10)

Adversary (1 Pet.

5:8)

Deceiver (Rev. 12:9)

Murderer (John 8:44)

Evil one (Matt. 13:28,

39)

Father of Lies (John 8:44)

Lawless one (2

Thess. 2:18)

Ruler of this World (John

12:31)

Tempter (1 Thess. 3:5)

What Spiritual warfare is not.

The effects of the fall are not spiritual warfare.

Satan is a created being and is not –

Omniscient - all knowingOmnipresent - everywhereOmnipotent - all powerful

Ephesians 6:11-12

Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

Stand therefore, having girdedyour loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace;

By virtue of your salvation these parts of the armor are

yours. They are your uniform.

Your uniform:

Belt

Breastplate

Shoes

16 besides all these, take the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

These parts of the armor are handed to us and we take

them.

Our Equipment

Shield

Helmet

Sword – God uses the word for dagger (this will be

up close conflict) Of the Spirit which is God’s word - He uses the word Rapha for word here not logos (word) or graphe (writings) Rapha means we Declare . Declare who and Whose you are !!!

My Identity in Christ

Because Christ rescued me,I am a new creation of

infinite worth.

I am deeply loved,I am completely forgiven,

I am fully pleasing,I am totally accepted by God,

And I am absolutely Complete.

There is nothing I can do or say that will make God love me

less.

There is nothing I can do or say that will make God love me

more.

This is God’s Truth. I am what it says I am

God’s truth is;unchanging, incorruptible,

indestructible, It is the ever living Word of

God.