Looking for the opportunity to _______. Satan…an example for the world…for Judas.

1 Peter 5:8 (NIV) Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Looking for an opportunity to___________________…, right?

Watchful --- he is always looking for the right moment to find people, especially Christ-followers, in their weakest moments.

• When are Christians found in their weakest moments?
  • Proverbs 13:19 (ESV) A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.
  • It’s when they refuse to turn away from evil and foolishness. Why would they make this choice?
    • In reference to Proverbs 13:19, one author points out an important fact that “The lesson of the proverb is that
      to set your heart on a thing is to weaken the power to assess it. It must be had, at all costs, not now because of its worth but because you have promised it to yourself.”
    • Proverbs 17:12 (NIV) Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool bent on folly.
      • This same author also points out from Proverbs 17:12 that if a fool “has an idea in his head, nothing will stop him.”
    • Romans 7:7-8 (NLT) 7 Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, “You must not covet.” 8 But sin used this command to arouse [(produces)] all kinds of covetous desires within me! If there were no law, sin would not have that power.
    • James 1:15 (NLT) These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
      • Physical and or Spiritual Death…Satan’s objective fulfilled.
    • I recall a couple different times when I allowed the thought of purchasing a dog and a vehicle to enter my mind and desires. Regardless of wisdom (my wife) shouting out to not make these purchases, I just couldn’t get them off my mind and had to follow through with buying them, just so I could stop thinking about them.

Devoted --- he’ll stay at his task for as long as he wants. Just like he kept dangling bait in front of the Lord in Matthew 4:1-11, he’ll do the same to you.  Will you resist or take the bait?

Covetous --- he’d love nothing more than to try to bring a Christ-follower down…and then bring their faults before the Lord.

• Rev. 12:10b (NIV) For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 

​So, what can we as followers of Christ be Looking for an opportunity to do today? That's what we'll discuss next time.