Like Lightning II

Acting in the Opposite Spirit

I.             IN THE BEGINNING.

1.   Lucifer.

Luke 10:18

¹⁸ And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

2.   Enmity between Satan and Humanity.  Genesis 3:15

3.   His M.O.

a.   Feeds on Dust. Genesis 3:14

b.   Steal Kill and Destroy. John 10:10

c.    Devour. 1 Peter 5:8

d.   Accuse. Revelations 12:10

e.   Deception. 

f.    Blinds unbelievers. 2 Corinthians 4:4

g.   Get your eyes off of Christ.  2 Corinthians 11:3-4

³ But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

II.           CURRENT POWER.

1.   He Has restricted Power.

Job 1:9-13

⁹ So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? ¹⁰ Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. ¹¹ But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” ¹² And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.¹³ Now there was a day.

2.   Believers are above Him in Christ.

Ephesians 1:20-21

²⁰ which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

Ephesians 2:6

⁶ And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Luke 10:19

"Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."

3.   He needs legal entrance.

John 14:30

³⁰ I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in me.

Ephesians 4:27

²⁷ nor give place to the devil.

III.          WEAPONS OF WARFARE.

1.   Submission to God. James 4:7

2.   Shield of Faith.  Ephesians 6:16

3.   Standing. Ephesians 6:14

4.   Forgiving.  2 Corinthians 10-11

5.   Verbally forbidding (Binding).  Matthew 18:18

6.   Condemning Word Curses.  Isaiah 54:17

7.   Full Amour of God.  Ephesians 6:10-19

IV.        ACTING IN THE OPPOSITE SPIRIT.

1.   All temptation is designed to get you to think something, feel something and then do something.

a.   Think: In some way God is not being fair. You are missing out on something. Discontentment is the fuel of temptation.

b.   Feel: Anger, bitterness, resentment, hurt, remorse.  He is after some negative emotional response that takes root. Self Pity is introduced

Hebrews 12:15

¹⁵ looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.

c.    Do Something: Either for relief. Or cause you feel you deserve it or to just get even.

2.   We must discern what the enemy is trying to get us to do.

a.   By our gift. 1 Corinthians 12:10

b.   By common sense. Ecclesiastes 1:9

c.    By thoughts. Proverbs 23:7

d.   By surveying History. Psalms 119:9

3.   Simply Humble Yourself and Act in the Opposite Spirit

a.   David and Saul

b.   Joseph and His Brothers

c.    Job

d.   You…..