COMMUNITY GROUP QUESTIONS:

• What if anything have you been told about this being called the devil?
• In what way do you think you need to be alert or on guard against the schemes of the devil?
• Have you experienced spiritual attack or opposition?
• Have you experienced any of the 7 Biblical Strategies for resisting the devil to be effective?
• How can you personally grow in these 7 Strategies / Habits?

Introduction:
• Recap of 1 Peter
• What is your Word View?
• Naturalism: “the philosophical view that everything arises from natural causes.”
• Do you believe in the devil?

Your adversary - the Devil:

• He is a created being and therefore not infinite in power, knowledge, presence, etc. He is no match for an infinite God!
• Satan means adversary and is used 52 times in scripture
• Devil means slanderer or deceiver and is used 35 times in scripture
• Lucifer - Morning Star - Guardian Cherub (see Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28)
• Great Dragon - Revelation 12:4
• Old Serpent - Revelation 20:2
• Ruler/Prince of this world - John 16:11
• God of this age - 2 Corinthians 4:4
• Prince of the power of the air - Ephesians 2:2

Schemes of the Devil:
Ephesians 6:11
2 Corinthians 2:11

The devil is a liar - John 8:44
• 'God doesn’t love you…' BUT God has already demonstrated His love on the Cross!
• 'God isn’t good…’ BUT God is good and does good!
• 'God can’t be trusted…’ BUT He says, put all your cares on me because I care for you!
• 'You are your own lord…’ BUT, only Jesus is LORD!
• 'You are too far gone…’ BUT, Jesus is Savior!

The devil is a tempter - 1 Thessalonians 3:5
• Pride
• Pleasure
• Power

The devil is an accuser - Revelation 12:10
• Condemnation
• Anxiety
• Hopelessness

The devil is a murderer - John 8:44
• Anger
• Hatred
• Violence
• Self-loathing
• Self-harm

—> The devil attacks individuals, families, and churches.

Resist the Devil: 7 Biblical Strategies
1 Peter 5:5-11 & James 4:7

1. Humility - 1 Peter 5:5-6
2. Prayer - 1 Peter 5:7 & James 4:8
3. Trust - 1 Peter 5:7
4. Faith - 1 Peter 5:9-10
5. Worship - 1 Peter 5:11
6. Community - 1 Peter 5:5
7. Holiness - 1 Peter 1:14-16 & James 4:4, 8