PUBLIC ENEMY No 1 (P7) Series Final Message
“We must know our enemy before we can defeat him!”
To learn about the origin of evil, satan, and demons, here is the link to a five-part series of messages I did last year: Deliver Us From the Evil One
REVIEW
TEMPTER
satan tempted Eve and she succumbed (Genesis 3:1-6) bringing sin into the world; tempted Jesus three times but failed. (Matthew 4:1) Jesus remained sinless.
DECEIVER
Trickery. Partial truths. Using something that sounds or looks better.
And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” Genesis 3:13
ACCUSER
the one who accuses them before our God day and night.” Revelation 12: 9-10
MURDERER
“You are of your father the devil…He was a murderer from the beginning,” John 8:44a
satan murdered all of us: Two deaths: physical and spiritual
LIAR (Father of Lies).
“your father the devil…does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44
THIEF
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;” John 10:10a
Jesus warned about thieves who were false religious leaders, teachers and prophets. They were possessed by or under the control of satan (John 8:44.)
- Steal our hearts – Begin to turn our hearts from God and harden them to truth
- kill our joy – Lies about God when bad things happen. Lies about ourselves when we fall or fail. Lies about others when they disappoint us.
- destroy our faith – Seeds our minds with doubts and fears.
Public Enemy No.1 series was written to help Christians, and many others in our chaotic, unstable world, answer the question, “What the hell is going on?” I had planned to have last week’s message be the last one in this series. However I was led to create this message to summarize the previous ones and issue challenges to Christians for each characteristic of our fiercest enemy. When it comes to answering that compelling question, the subtitle speaks volumes:
We must know our enemy before we can defeat him!”
We are in a war that most Christians, though enlisted, are sitting on the sidelines waiting for Jesus to return rather than engaging as we are commanded. The Apostle Peter gave us the most direct and deadly warning.
“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8
I used those words of Peter because of what Jesus said to him in their last recorded conversation before His crucifixion. Jesus warned Peter of what was to come.
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; Luke 22:31
Following is a list of the six characteristics of satan’ nature I addressed in this series and how he assaulted men and women in Scripture. Throughout history, those assaults have continued and do so today on and in the church against Christians. We know from experience the attacks take on many forms because demons can. Some are subtle and hard to discern; others more direct. My encouragement to you is this:
TEMPTER. Are you resisting temptation as Jesus did or taking the path of Eve/Adam?
“No one is to say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it has run its course, brings forth death.” James 1:13-15
DECEIVER. Are you gullible or naïve, lacking maturity in the Word, which makes you susceptible to being deceived? What seeds are you sowing and growing?
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.” Galatians 6:7-8
ACCUSER. Do you resist the enemies and stand firm in the fact that if you are born-again in Christ no one can accuse you before God?
“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies;” Romans 8:1,33
MURDERER. Physical death is a certainty. Spiritual death brings hell. Are you secure in your salvation, i.e., you know you are born-again in Christ (John 3:3,7)
“you were dead in your offenses and sins, in which you previously walked…according to the prince of the power of the air…But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us… made us alive together with Christ.” Ephesians 2:1,4
LIAR. Are you listening to the lies of our enemies?
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God…You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:1-4
THIEF. Are you allowing the enemies to steal your heart and mind away from God?
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” Philippians 4:6-8
Closing thoughts…Good News!
As Jesus prayed for Peter, He intercedes for us having conquered death and satan.
“but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail;” Luke 22: 32
“For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15
“These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Invitation
If this invitation finds you apart from a relationship with Jesus Christ, I say this with certainty. You are exactly where satan wants you. That is the most dangerous place anyone can be. I have Good News! Jesus went to the cross and suffered the most heinous death by crucifixion to pay the penalty for our sins. He said we are all sinners in need of a Savior. He also said He is the only way – the door to salvation. (Matthew 4:17; 9:13; John 14:6)
To those who receive Jesus, He gives eternal life in Heaven. Those who reject Him will spend eternity suffering in Hell, wishing they had not refused His love, mercy and grace. I plead with you not to close this message without confronting yourself in light of the truths I presented. I may be the last evangelist or Bible teacher the Lord puts before you to beg you to surrender to Jesus. Will you humble yourself and receive Him today? I am praying you do!
For Christ’s sake,
