How to Defeat a Lion

             Today, we live in a society that is ripe with sin and discord.  Crime has soared, sin is promoted, and more and more people are dying every day without the hope of Christ.  If we are not careful, it can be so easy to fall prey to the sinful ideas that are being promoted all around us.  Remember, Peter told us “the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (I Peter 5:8 NIV84).  The question is:  how do we guard against that lion?

            I wouldn’t want to face a real lion but if I did, some of the suggestions include standing and facing them; don’t turn your back.  You might also speak firmly in a loud voice but don’t scream.  Then, as a last resort, throw everything you have at them.

            The lion we face is Satan, and he may be more cunning than a lion, but he can be much more vulnerable.  It will all depend on whether we approach him in the strength of the Holy Spirit or if we try to defend ourselves in our own strength.

            So, what does that strength look like?  As I said in my last blog, being in the Word is crucial to your growth in Christ.  It is also crucial to your defense against the lion.  You can’t turn your back on Satan; you must stand and face him, but you can’t do that without the Word of God as your armor.  Remember, Christ used Scripture to rebut Satan’s temptations.  We must do the same, and we can only accomplish that by knowing the Word.

            Sometimes, we may also need to speak loudly against the sinful ideas that are promoted.  That doesn’t mean that we yell or act like crazy people, but it will mean being bold in our witness and speaking the truth in love.

            Finally, it may mean throwing everything we have at him.  That includes prayer, the support of other Christians, and knowing what is true and righteous and holy according to God’s Word. 

            We are not alone in the battle, but we need to know who our partners in the battle are.  Over and over in the Old Testament, God denounced false prophets.  Sadly, the Israelites listened to them and rejected the Word of God.  Lamentations 2 tells us how God grieved for Israel but allowed them to be destroyed because they had listened to lies instead of His truth.  Search the Scripture.  Know the Word so that you will know whether the ones who teach and preach and write are speaking truth or lies. 

            You can only defeat the lion, Satan, with truth.  Only God’s truth will prevail.

I Peter 5: 8

Lamentations 2

Psalm 119: 105

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