In 1 Peter 5:8 we read,
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
The devil and his demonic hordes are out to devour you. They are on the hunt to destroy your life. Jesus said, “the enemy only comes to steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10a). That’s the job description of Satan: steal, kill, and destroy. Peter uses another word, devour. He uses the metaphor of a lion. Lions devour their prey.
Lions isolate, encircle, confuse, and blindside their prey. They are the only cat that hunts in a team. They hunt in sets of three. Two females encircle, run around, and confuse the prey. The big male moves in from the blindside, behind the victim. When the prey is sufficiently worn down, he leaps on the back and takes down the distracted animal. Lions devour their prey.
Satan and demons are the predator. They work together to take you down. You are the prey. They isolate you from other believers; they confuse you with distractions and, at the opportune time, they leap on your back and take you down from your blindside. Satan devours!
How do you not become the prey? How do you fight and win the battle against such malevolent spirits?
You Must Become the Hunter
It’s time for you quit being the hunted and become the hunter. It’s time for you to take the offensive. It’s time for you to put on your spiritual camo, shoulder your rifle, and hunt down the devil. It’s hunting season.
Paul understood this concept when he wrote to the Ephesians,
“‘Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light.’
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:14-16).
It’s time to wake up. It’s time to get out of our spiritual bed and fight. Arise from the dead, get up, and get engaged. Take on the enemy with confidence.
Most people I meet who are getting thrashed by Satan and demons, are sleepy folks. Their lives are isolated from a strong church; they don’t study their Bible; they’re not vigilant in their lifestyle. No wonder their lives are being devoured! They’re sleepy.
A Few Hunting Tips
Tip #1: Get up early in the morning and open your Bible. Don’t give the Devil an opportunity at the start of your day. Take the offensive, wake up, and start your day in God’s presence. Power up early.
Tip #2: Redeem your time. Proactively and fiercely face the Devil and his demonic ways and don’t back down, fill your days with good things. If it’s not a good thing, it’s a bad thing. Redeem your time. If anything you’re doing isn’t healthy, then stop doing it.
Tip #3: Always tell the truth. Some people I know are habitual liars. If you are in that category, try telling the truth. Telling the truth sets you free.
Ask Christ to give you light. Ask Christ to empower you. Be the hunter not the hunted.
Pastor Steve
