The Prey of the Lion

TEXT1 Kings 13:1-24

INTRODUCTION:

A.      MORE THAN ONE LION AT WORK THAT DAY( 1 Pet. 5:8 ).

B.      THE LION ROARS TO INSTILL FEAR IN HIS PREY.

C.      SATAN SHOULD BE FEARED ALL THE MORE.

D.      WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO BE DEVOURED

I.      THOSE ALONE AND SEPARATED FROM THE FLOCK.

A.      LIONS WORK THE PERIPHERY OF THE HERD, LOOKING FOR DRIFTERS.

B.      WHO ARE THE DEVIL'S VICTIMS?

          1.       Those caught up in the affairs of this world( 2 Tim. 2:3-4 )Always too busy.

          2.       Little contact with faithful brethren( 1 Cor. 15:33;  Rom. 12:9-16 ).

          3.       Those who are infrequent in their attendance( Heb. 10:24-25 )..

C.      WHERE WAS PETER WHEN THE DEVIL GOT HIM( Luke 22:54-56 ).

II.     THOSE WHO ARE WEAK.

A.      HEALTHY ANIMALS ARE HARDER TO CATCH.

B.      WHO IS EASY PREY FOR SATAN?  THE UNSOUND( Titus 1:13 ).

          1.       Those weak from lack of nourishment( 1 Pet. 2:1-2;  Heb. 5:12-14 ).

          2.       The spiritually diseased( 1 Tim. 1:9-111 Pet. 2:1 ).

          3.       The wrong perspective( 1 Pet 4:7:  Phil. 2:1-5;  Eph. 4:1-3 ).

          4.       No exercise( 1 Tim. 7-8;  Heb. 5:14 ).

C.      Consider( 1 Cor. 16:13;  1 Thess. 5:14 ).

III.    THOSE WHO ARE SLOW.

A.      AMONG THE LION'S PREY ARE THE QUICK AND THE DEAD.

B.      SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE SPIRITUALLY SLOW.

          1.       Encumbered( Luke 8:14 ;  Heb. 12:1 ).

          2.       Slothful and slow in spiritual development( Heb. 5:11-12;  Eph. 5:15-17;

                   2 Tim. 2:15 )

          3.       Those who are slothful about their duty( Rom. 12:11 ).

          4.       The indecisive and the faithless( 1 King 18:21;  Matt. 6:24;  Luke 9:62 ).

IV.   THOSE WHO ARE CARELESS AND FOOLISH.

A.      LAMBS AND CALVES ARE THOUGHTLESS.  DON'T PAY ATTENTION.

B.      MAYBE OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM.

          1.       Can't drift into heaven( Heb. 2:1-3 ).

          2.       The careless stand in wet cement of sin( Heb. 3:12-13 ).

          3.       We are to walk carefully( Eph. 5:15 ).  Life is a minefield.

          4.       James 1:13-15.  The best way to overcome temptation is to avoid it( 4:8 ).

          5.       Are we too big for our britches?( 1 Cor. 10:12;  1 Pet. 5:8 )

CONCLUSION:

A.      THERE IS A LION WAITING.

B.      WILL YOU BE THE NEXT VICTIM.

Jim Deason