Have you ever felt condemned? Have you done something that you knew was wrong and afterward you felt like God has withdrawn from you, like He was distant?

Last service we talked about the power of our words and how we tear ourselves down when we speak negativity and evil over our lives. Tonight we’re going to see how the enemy will use these weak spots and attack them.

1 Peter 5:8 satan prowls around like a roaring lion
What does a lion do when it’s on the hunt? It quietly stalks its prey, waiting for the right moment to attack
The devil is an opportunist, he’s constantly scheming ways to assault our hearts and separate us from God

Luke 4:1-13 Jesus is tempted in the desert
Notice how the devil tries to use scripture to justify the temptation. Much like he did with Adam in the Garden of Eden. “did God really say..?”

Matthew 27:39-44 Jesus is mocked on the cross with the same tempting phrases “if you’re really the son of God then come down from there.”

Example: (on the board) Draw a battle ground – enemy on one side allies on the other.

Give example of fictional people: (as each account is given, illustrate board/battlefield)

Billy, a believer, deals with temptations throughout his day. He hangs out with friends and perhaps says things he shouldn’t say. He watches things on TV and online that don’t honor God. Afterwards, he feels condemned. He hears something like “you’re a horrible Christian, how can God even love you” etc, etc, etc…

Rob is a talented athlete and a believer. He’s the star of every game and occasionally pride creeps in and says something like “you’re the best, no one is better than you. You don’t need God to make you good at basketball. Where was God when you were working so hard at practice all year?”

Mandy is a smart girl but doesn’t think she has much to offer the world. She sees everyone else in her class going out with friends and enjoying their “social lives” but she doesn’t really have that. She hears something like “you’re nothing special. If God really loved you, you would be more popular and have more friends.”

Matthew 7:15-20 you will know them by their fruits

Billy, Rob and Mandy had thoughts that didn’t bear godly fruit. In fact, they went against everything God is about. That doesn’t mean that they are innocent, in some ways they opened the door to the devil’s attack by not guarding their hearts or by giving into something they knew was wrong.

1 John 3:19-20 If our hearts condemn us…
1 John 4:1-5 Greater is He that’s in us…

We must resist the devil. James 4:7 says “submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
Romans 13:12-14 we must put on the armor of light, put on Christ
Ephesians 6:10-11 Put on the whole armor of God
John 14:27-31 satan has no authority over Jesus. As redeemed children, he has no authority over us either!!

How can we grow to resist the enemy’s attacks?
Grow closer to God

“Walking with God imports five things… (2) The familiarity and intimacy that the soul has with God. Friends walk together and console themselves one with another. The godly make known their requests to God and He makes known His love to them. There is a sweet [interaction] between God and his people: ‘Our communion is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ’ (1 John 1:3).” Thomas Watson: The Godly Man’s Picture p.175

We must help to keep eachother accountable and help fellow believers identify and resist the attacks of the enemy. We have to stand united and gain ground for Christ. We're not meant to go it alone.