The Real Enemies 

The Real Enemies 
Pastor Blake Hanson | 5.21.23

Romans 8:5–6 (NLT) 

5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 

6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

THE ENEMIES

1) The (Greek slander)   

1 Peter 5:8–9 (NLT)

8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 

9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.

“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel excessive and unhealthy interest in them…” – C.S. Lewis

Acknowledge the devil’s power and . 

The counter to the devil: Address your formation.

Am I becoming more like Jesus? 

John 4:23–24 (NLT) 

23 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. 

24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

Two Major Aspects of our Spiritual Formation

Worship God in Spirit – : Genuine worship comes from the heart. 

Worship God in Truth –  : God established reality and truth.

2) The  

Ephesians 2:1–3 (NIV)

1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 

2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 

3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

Our desires are not actually our deepest desires. 

The counter to the flesh: Crucify our  

Galatians 5:24 (NIV)

24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

The counter to the flesh: Keep in step with the . 

Galatians 5:25 (NIV)

25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

“The Holy Spirit illuminates the minds of people, makes us yearn for God, and takes spiritual truth and makes it understandable.” – Billy Graham

3) The  

1 John 2:15–17 (NIV)

15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 

16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 

17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

World: A system of ideas, values, morals, practices and social norms that are integrated into the mainstream and eventually institutionalized in a culture corrupted by sin. 

The counter to the world: Join God’s church

Acts 2:42 (NLT)

42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

Notes:

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