Beware of the Lions

Jeremy Paschall
04/12/15 - Sunday AM Worship

1. Introduction
   • Ancient Middle Eastern cultures used lions to depict majesty, power and strength (Gen 49:9)
   • In the Bible, also used to depict danger
2. The Devil. (1Pet 5:8)
   • Our enemy: cunning, opportunistic and destructive!
   • Need for sobriety and alertness. (1 Pet 5:8; Eph 5:15)
   • Resistance requires faith. (Eph 6:16; 1 Pet 5:9)
3. Wicked People
   • Psalmists repeatedly used this imagery to describe their wicked enemies (Ps 10:9-10; 17:12; 22:13,21)
   • These wicked ones come in different forms:
     • Persecutors (2 Tim 3:12; Rom 12:14)
     • False teachers (Acts 20:28-32; 1 Jn 4:1; 2 Jn 9-11)
     • Evil companions (1 Cor 15:33; James 4:4)
4. The Lord (Hos 5:8-15; 13:4-9)
   • We cannot ignore the dichotomy of His nature... (Rom 11:22)
   • His severity toward the wicked is as real as His kindness toward the righteous (Heb 10:26-31; 12:28-29; 2 Th 1:7-9; Heb 5:8-9)
5. Conclusion
   • We are either battling Satan and those under his influence, or wrestling with God Himself.
   • In the end...
     • either we will have overcome the enemy and his minions...
     • or we will be overcome by divine judgement.
   • Beware of the lions and serve the Lord!