Our Unseen Enemy 1 Peter 5:8-15

Our unseen enemy Wake up! “For 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.” - Ephesians 6:12

Our unseen enemy Wake up! “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God.” - 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

Our unseen enemy Wake up! “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.” - C.S. Lewis

Our unseen enemy Know your enemy (identity) “We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” - 1 John 5:19

Our unseen enemy Know your enemy (Goal & methods) “And the serpent said to the woman, ‘Indeed, has God said, “You shall not eat from any tree of the garden?”’ The woman said to the serpent, ‘From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, “You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die …

Our unseen enemy Know your enemy (Goal & methods) “… The serpent said to the woman, ‘You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’” - Genesis 3:1-5

Our unseen enemy Know your enemy (Goal & methods) “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 when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.” - James 1:14-15

Our unseen enemy Know your enemy (Goal & methods) “So that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.” - 2 Corinthians 2:11

Our unseen enemy Know your enemy (methods) Deceive “You are of your father the devil. He does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” - John 8:44

Our unseen enemy Know your enemy (methods) Deceive “The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.” - 2 Corinthians 4:4

Our unseen enemy Know your enemy (methods) Deceive “In later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.” - 1 Timothy 4:1

Our unseen enemy Know your enemy (methods) Distort “There are things for humans to do all day long without His minding in the least - sleeping, washing, eating, drinking, making love, playing, praying, working. Everything has to be twisted before it’s any use to us.” - The Screwtape Letters

Our unseen enemy Know your enemy (methods) Distort “Never forget that when we are dealing with any pleasure in its healthy and normal and satisfying form, we are, in a sense, on the Enemy’s ground. I know we have won many a soul through pleasure. All the same, it is His invention, not ours. He made the pleasures …”

Our unseen enemy Know your enemy (methods) Distort “… All our research so far has not enabled us to produce one. All we can do is to encourage the humans to take the pleasures which our Enemy has produced, at times, or in ways, or in degrees, which He has forbidden.” - The Screwtape Letters

Our unseen enemy Know your enemy (methods) Divide “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one … I ask that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us.” - John 17:15, 21

Our unseen enemy Resist the Enemy “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” - 2 Corinthians 11:14

Our unseen enemy Resist the Enemy Rest in communion (with God) “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” - James 4:7-8

Our unseen enemy Resist the Enemy Rest in communion (with God) “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat.” - Luke 22:31

Our unseen enemy Resist the Enemy Rest in communion (with God) “The Lord is faithful and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.” - 2 Thessalonians 3:3

Our unseen enemy Resist the Enemy Rest in communion (with God) “And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone … and will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” - Revelations 20:1-0

Our unseen enemy Resist the Enemy Rest in communion (with God) Rest in community (with God’s people)