You Bad Devil, You!

Temple Baptist Church - 10-25-2017

1 Peter 5:8-9

Introduction: 

A.  Last time I preached on Wednesday night, I preached on Satan and his hatred for God and all that God created.  We found that:

1.  Satan is our enemy.  “adversary”

2.  Satan is our personal enemy.  “your”

3.  Satan is a destructive enemy.  “he may devour”

4.  Satan is a persistent enemy.  “walketh about seeking”

1.  Understand who the enemy is: the devil.  “whom” 

a.  Our enemy is no other professing Christians.  Mark 9:38-40  And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.  (39)  But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.  (40)  For he that is not against us is on our part.  (I understand doctrinal separation and am a separatist but fighting other denominations or people who profess to know Christ is detrimental to the cause of Christ.)

b.  Our enemy is certainly not our brother in Christ.  Galatians 5:13-15  For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.  (14)  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  (15)  But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

2.  Be ready to resist the devil.  “resist”  Resist-to oppose or to withstand.

a.  Resisting takes spiritual preparation.  Ephesians 6:10-13  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  (11)  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  (12)  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  (13)  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

b.  Resisting takes obedience to God.  James 4:7-8  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  (8)  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

c.  Resisting takes a conscious effort on our part.  1 Corinthians 6:18-20  Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.  (19)  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  (20)  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

d.  Resisting is a continual war with the flesh.  2 Corinthians 10:3-5  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:  (4)  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)  (5)  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

3.  Be ever watchful and ready to resist the devil.  “steadfastly”

a.  Ever watching in sobriety.  1 Peter 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

b.  Do not allow sinfulness to root in your life.  Ephesians 4:27  Neither give place to the devil.

4.  Resist the devil in the faith.  “in the faith”

a.  Resist the devil in the Spirit.  Romans 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

b.  Resist the devil in the Scriptures.  Matthew 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

5.  Realize that you are not alone in the fight.  “knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world”

1 Corinthians 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

2 Timothy 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Revelation 1:9  I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.