We are continuing our series looking at antidotes to bring snoozy or lukewarm Christians. How can we hold fast to the gospel and not focus on our comfort? Today there’s one more dimension we must consider: Satan’s snare: the devil, and his plan to dull our senses.
Our passages today: 2 Kings 6:11-18 ESV and 1 Thessalonians 5:6 ESV. Preacher: Ian Bayne 24/01/21
So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.
1 Thessalonians 5:6 ESV
Recap
We can be snoozy Christians. Feasting and frivolity can make us forget our calling.
We looked at antidotes previously:
- God’s Word – we need constant immersion
- One another
- Living holy lives
We must encourage one another, both in word and action:
not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:25
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2 ESV
We may not always feel like doing this – we’re too tired or put our comfort first. But if we’re living lives in spiritual obedience then it helps us overcome snooziness:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, [2] looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV
Satan’s snare
Today we’re looking at the devil’s involvement in our snooziness, and how he seeks to dull our senses and cause us to drift from God into sin.
After last week’s sermon, I was discussing the series with my grandson, who wisely pointed out: if you have two eyes on Jesus, how can you keep one eye on the devil?
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
1 Peter 5:8 ESV
He’s right – we need to watch out because we have an enemy. We can be tempted to ignore this as we are very physical or materialistic, and don’t see anything of the spiritual world.
In our passage 2 Kings 6:11-18, Elisha’s servant only saw the enemy army, but Elisha knew there were spiritual forces around them.
Of course, there’s a danger we can become too spiritual. CS Lewis is quoted as saying: “the devil is pleased with both”.
We don’t want to give more than we ought to the devil:
But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”
Jude 1:9 ESV
Michael kept his involvement with the devil to a minimum.
When we see what’s going on in the world, we can get disappointed with certain political decisions. We can be disappointed with the people who make them, but that’s not the real battle. Satan is weaving his plan behind human actions. Satan’s snare is set for us.
We should keep an eye on the devil because:
1. He’s sneaky
He wants to blend in in the world and also in the church. Darkness is within them.
As Bob Dillan’s song goes: “the enemy I see wears a cloak of decency”
2. He looks for and exploits our weaknesses
He knows when you are vulnerable:
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
1 Peter 5:8
There’s nothing wrong with addiction when it’s focused on the right thing, for example: being addicted to scripture is a good thing. When focussed on the wrong things – addiction can destroy our life, and our soul!
3. He’s tricky
Our strengths can also be used as our weaknesses. For instance, intellectual argument.
In this example, the disciple Peter, is using what seems like common sense, but Jesus rebukes him.
From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. [22] And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” [23] But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
Matthew 16:21-23 ESV
After Jesus says He’s going to die and be resurrected, Peter doesn’t believe him. The others may be thinking it, but Peter says it, and so the first disciple becomes an agent of Satan trying to prevent Jesus’s rescue.
But it seems like Peter is speaking common sense, under the guidance of concern and friendship. We need to be wary and keep focussed on God.
4. He’s a liar
If you’re going to tell a lie, tell a big one because people will believe it
Adolf Hitler (paraphrased)
Some people are very convincing.
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
John 8:44 ESV
While Jesus came to save, the devil came to destroy.
Application
We can make application:
- Know your enemy – test the spirits
- Be forewarned and armed
- Satan is defeated but he’s still active (he’s bound)
The scriptures don’t divide humanity into body and soul. This has come from Greek philosophy.
Today we know that physical and mental well-being can go together.
Likewise: we need to fix both eyes on Jesus but keep one eye on the devil. This is spiritual multi-tasking!
Resources
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