SundayNovember 7, 2010 Phone: 570.829.5216

Pastor David Miklas e-mail

MessageDevil Text: Luke 22:31; I Peter 3:9

“Satan’s desire to have you”

Luke 22:31, I Peter 5:7-9

Introduction: In Luke 22:31 Jesus said to the Apostle Peter on an occasion, "...behold, Satan hath desire to have you." My friends, Satan is alive and well upon planet earth. As Christians, we face a relentless, diabolical ARCH-ENEMY, the Devil.

You may ask, “Pastor, can one sense the invisible presence of the adversary, the devil?” Yes, you can.

You can feel a heaviness in your spirit, a lingering realization that what we are dealing with is more than any human being could be causing.

You can have unexplained, superhuman feelings of oppression that bear down on your mind and your spirit.

It's eerie,but during the attacks your attempts to pray and even read the Bible are strangely thwarted.

There are times when the work of God by the Pastor is hindered by the people of God. Paul said in I Thessalonians 2:18, "wherefore we have come unto you... but Satan hindered us."

Satan hounds us constantly. He never lets up. The devil is a FIERCE, UNRELENTING, HATE-FILLED ENEMY. It is one thing to DISCOVERthat Satan is alive. It's another to KNOW what to do about it. We teach a chorusto the children in Sunday school that goes like this, "Everybody ought to know who Jesus is." Let me take that simple line and say it this way in view of our arch-enemy, "Everybody ought to know who Satan is." If we are going to be VICTORIOUS against the adversary of our souls, we must understand our adversary:

his philosophy,his methods of operation,

his methods of temptation, andour method of Victory over him.

In this message we are going to be turning to a number of passages of scripture. However at the outset, I want to call your attention to two incidents in the life of Peter.

First: From Matthew 16:13-23. In Matthew 16:13 Jesus was asking His disciples "who do men say that I, the Son of man, am?" To which Peter answered in verse 16, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." After Peter made this confession of faith, Jesus told the disciples that He was going to Jerusalem to die, verse 21, “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.”

Notice Peter's reaction in verse 22, “Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.” Interestingly the word "Rebuke" literally means, "to take one by the shoulders and shake them." Peter was trying to shake some sense into Christ. It was here that Jesus turned to him with these words in verse 23, “…Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” Jesus had recognized that Peter was a vehicle being used by Satan.

Second: From Luke 22:31-32.Here we have the second incident involving our Lord and Peter. “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: (32) But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”These words follow almost immediately upon one of the most precious experiences that the disciples had with the Lord, the time of the Passover and the Last Supper. Our Lord had reached out and drawn these men intimately into His own heart. They were occupied with Him. His words filled their minds and His love filled their hearts. Yet our Lord said, "Peter, Satan is right here and he desires to sift you as wheat."

Our Lord then made His way out to the garden; where he bowed His head before the Father and prayed three times, "Not my will, but thine be done." It was shortly thereafter that Jesus was arrested and taken to the judgment hall.

Now everyone's attention was focused upon listening to the dialog between the High Priest and the Lord Jesus Christ. However it appeared that Satan’s attention was focused upon Peter for in Luke 22:54-62 we read, “Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off. (55) And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. (56) But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. (57) And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. (58) And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. (59) And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. (60) And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. (61) And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. (62) And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.” Amazingly, almost immediately after the time of Peter's richest blessing with Christ in the Upper Room comes this denial. Why?Because Peter was not sober and vigilant.SATAN WAS LOOKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY, AND, FINDING THAT OPPORTUNITY, HE POUNCED.

Listen, failure in the Christian life, or sin and defeat that comes into a believer’s life is not necessarily the result of a premeditated plan.

Satan looks for an opportunity during whichHE CAN ATTACK US AT THE VERY STRONGEST POINT OF OUR LIVES BECAUSE HE KNOWS WE CAN BECOME PROUD OF WHO WE ARE OR WHAT WE ARE DOING. Some of the strongestChristians, I have known have fallen prey to the Devil because of Spiritual pride or doing things in the energy of the flesh and not in the energy of the Spirit of God.

Satan looks for an opportunity during whichHE WILL FIND US LIVING WITH SOME DISAPPOINTMENT OR DISCOURAGMENT.

Satan looks for an opportunity to ATTACK US AT THE VERY WEAKEST POINT OF OUR LIVES WITH OUR GUARD DOWN. Again, I have seen loving, faithful spiritual believers give an inch to the world, or to sin, or to spiritual pride, or even to lash out with an unforgiving spirit, and the Devil gets them.

Now if Satan could use Peter as he did,and if Jesus warned Peter that Satan had a desire to have him and use him, then how does Satan work his work?

Number 1: In I Peter 5:8-9we read, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (9) Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”What effect did Jesus’ words about Satan have on Peter? Here it appears that Peter got an education, but the tuition cost was very high. Notice what he learned by way of several important words.

"Be sober" has the idea of being serious-mined. When it comes to defeating our adversary the devil, we cannot afford to live in a light-hearted or flippant way. Our internal attitude is to be sober.

"Be vigilant" means to watch carefully for the presence of an adversary. Our external defense is to be vigilant.

In war, the realization that behind every bush might lurk an enemy produces vigilance. Yet how many of children of God treat life as though it were a Sunday school picnic?Perhaps you know Satan exists, and yet you are unconcerned that you have a diabolical enemy.

"Your Adversary, the Devil walketh about." The words "walketh about" are in the present tense. It should read, "Your Adversary, the Devil constantly walks around you, and constantly stalks you."

Satan never relaxes. You sleep. He doesn't.He is planning for the next day’s attack. You sit here in church. Satan is waiting for you outside the door. He doesn't leave you alone. He's waiting to attack,so that he can snatch away the Word of God that is being taught.

Satan is pictured here as a roaring lion that stalks his prey. "Roaring lion" suggests that Satan considers he has already conquered his prey. No lion stalking its prey announces the fact by roaring. It stalks and destroys the prey and then roars.

My friend, when it comes to Satan, he is not going to reveal his presence to you until he can roar in triumph. After he has destroyed or overthrown the child of God, he roars in defiance against Almighty God, to challenge Him to do something about the devastation that he has brought into your life.

Number 2: In Ephesians 6:10-18we read, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (11) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (14) Stand therefore, having your loins girtabout with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; (15) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (16) Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (18) Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” In this passage we have described for us the organization of the Devil's armed forces and the full armor we are to put on as a defense against him. In verse11 we read, "Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." Notice the phrase, "The wiles of the devil" this refers to strategies of the devil.

Just what are wiles of the devil? Wiles are ideas disguised in the form of thoughts that look good and sound good, but in reality, they are corrupt to the core. Satan knows that "as a man thinketh in his heart, so he is..." So how does he use his wiles?He does so through the power of suggestion. They all start in the mind and then they come out in visible action. "Remember he who controls the mind will eventually dictate to us the control of our behavior."

It says in Philippians 2:5"let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus."

It says in Romans 12:2"And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind..."

It says in II Corinthians 10:4-5"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God...casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and BRINGING INTO CAPTIVITY EVERY THOUGHT TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST."

Make a suggestion to an individual which matches their passion and appeals to their weakness, and do it at the right moment, and you will see the devil’s wiles at work.

Number 3: In II Corinthians 2:11we read, “To whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also: for if I forgave anything, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; (11) Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” Notice please the phrase, "Lest Satan should get an advantage of us..."

The word "advantage” could mean "a toe hold." A good mountain climber doesn't need a bulldozer to bulldoze a road to the top of a mountain. Just give him a "Toe hold." Somehow we have been led to think that unless we give Satan a paved four-lane super-highway he can't attack us or overcome us and defeat us.

The word "advantage” could meanin military terms a beach-head. Once an army establishes a beach-head, it can launch a successful attack. Satan can establish a beach-head in your life.

Satan doesn't have to get you to deny the holiness and the righteousness of God to pervert your conduct. All he has to do is get you to turn the LEAST LITTLE BIT from the path of perfect obedience to God, and then he can form that beach-head and destroy your life.

We have an adversary who is watching every move that you and I make day after day and moment by moment. He is going to stalk you, while looking for a toe-hold or beach-head. When that opportunity comes, he will work his strategy.

Satan cannot over-take you or penetrate the armor mentioned in Ephesians 6 unless you provide him the opportunity.

In I Peter 5: 8-9 we read that"Satan stalks us like a roaring lion.”

In Ephesians 6:11 we read of the"wiles of the devil."

In II Corinthians 2:11, we read"that we should not be ignorant of the devices of Satan that he seeks to use to get a toe-hold in our lives.”

What are these devices Satan uses to gain a toe-hold or beach-head? What are these wiles of mind suggestion? How does Satan stalk us? I am going to call all of these, for want of a better name,WILES.

First: There is the WILE of worry, yet God said "Be anxious for nothing." God also says in I Peter 5:7, "To cast all your care (literally all your worries) upon Him, for he careth for you."

Second: There is the WILE of gossip. Gossiping is the most vicious crime of Christianity, yet multitudes do it and enjoy seeking to make this work of the Devil something holy. Proverbs 18:8 tells us, "The words of a talebearer are as wounds..." Does not the Bible tells us we are to "love one another" and that we are "to bear one another's burdens?"

Third: There is the WILE of discord. The splits in our Bible-believing churches have been more over DISPOSITION than POSITION. The tragic cause of splits is usually DISCORD rather than DOCTRINE. The Bible says in Proverbs 6:19,"sowing discord among the brethren is an abomination unto the Lord."

Fourth: There is the WILE of watching people too closely. Every believer has his feet of clay and the old sin nature he has to deal with, just like you and I. Instead, in Hebrew 12:1-1 it says we are "to look upon Jesus the AUTHOR and FINISHER of our faith (Salvation)."

Fifth: There is the WILE of covetousness, yet the Bible tells us in Colossians 3:2, "to set our affection on the things above, not on the things of this earth."

Sixth: There is the WILE of being dissatisfied, yet the Bible says in 1 Tim 6:8. “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”

Seventh: There is the WILE of worldly lust, yet the Bible says in I Peter 1:16, "Be ye holy for I am holy."

There are many other wiles of the devil. Besides those reminders listed above, how can you and I defeat or successfully deal with the devil? Let me conclude by quickly giving you FOUR simple words.

First: The WATCHFULNESS. In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus said in Matthew 26:41, "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into TEMPTATION; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." So what keeps us from temptation?WE ARE TO WATCH AND PRAY. It is not just praying, but it is watching and praying. Watching is a sentinel term.It is a time of standing guard in the night. You are to watch and pray while others are asleep. If you want to avoid temptation, you have to pray, but more than that you have to WATCH and PRAY.

Now why did Jesus ask the disciples to WATCH and PRAY? They were to WATCH because Jesus knew what temptations these men would be facing, and he said in verse 41,"For the spirit (that is our spirit) indeed is willing but the flesh (our human nature) is weak."

Jesus knew the weakness of the human nature.

He knew their strength would not be sufficient to sustain them.

He knew the Devil could attack at anytime, especially when circumstances had already weakened them.

Now if Jesus had to WATCH and PRAY to avoid temptation, how much more do we need to WATCH and PRAY?

Second: The WEAPON. The weapon would be the Word of God. In Ephesians 6 the Word of God is described as "The Sword of the Spirit." It is the only OFFENSIVE weapon listed aspart of the armor. When an ungodly notion arrives in our minds, it amounts to "Satan says..." The only counter to that is what "God says."

The Word of God is God's supernatural weapon that Satan dreads when used against him. That is why it is important that you constantly stay in the Bible and continually hide the Word of God in your heart that you might not sin against God.