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REVELATION  12:7-12

"OUR PLACE OF VICTORY"

I. WE ARE IN A WAR.
        A. Our enemy is one of the most powerful of all God's created beings.
                1. As a created being not an opposite of God.
                        a. He is opposed to God.
                        b. This is a serious error in Mormon theology as they view Jesus and
                           Lucifer as brothers.
                                1. As brothers they would be opposites.
                                2. It could never be said of Satan, "In the beginning was the
                                   devil and the devil was with God and the devil was God.
                                3. It could never be said of Lucifer "That which was in the 
                                   beginning with God and though it not robbery to be equal
                                   with God" trying to be equal with God was the cause of his
                                   fall.
                        c. There is an infinity of difference between Jesus and Satan.
        B. Our enemy is on the prowl.
                1. "Your adversary, the devil goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may
                   devour."
                2. Jesus said to Peter, "Satan has desired to sift you as wheat, but I have
                   prayed for you." Imagine Jesus saying "I have prayed for you."
                3. You as a child of God are one of his prime targets.
                        a. Being battle wise, he attacks you at your weakest point, your flesh.
                                1. He seeks to arouse your fleshly lusts.
                                2. He desires to draw you from the life in the spirit to a life
                                   in the flesh.
                        b. He is relentless in his attacks.

II. OUR ENEMY IS NOT INVINCIBLE.
        A. Sometimes when you have been defeated so often you despair of ever being victorious.
                1. Michael and his angels fought against him and cast him out of heaven.
                        a. How was Michael victorious over him?  On another dispute between 
                           the two over the body of Moses, Michael said, "The Lord rebuke
                           thee."
                        b. He came against him in the name and the strength of the Lord.
                2. Vs. 11  They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the Word of their
                   testimony.
                        a. My testimony is "I am crucified with Christ.
                        b. I am redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.
                        c. I am therefore a debtor, not to my flesh.
                        d. "They loved not their lives to the death."
                                1. We must reckon our old nature to be crucified dead with
                                   Christ.
                                2. This is the only place where he can attack us, for he has
                                   been defeated.
                                3. He tries through your flesh to get to your spirit.
                3. Satan was thoroughly defeated by Jesus Colo. 2:14,15.
                        a. The cross of Jesus is the place of victory.
                        b. There, He spoiled the principalities and powers. Life's redeeming
                           work is done, allelujah Fought the fight the battle won, allelujah.
        D. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God.
                1. The problem many have is trying to fight the superior enemy in their own
                   strength with carnal weapons.
                        a. "I am determined,"  "I promise,"  "I vow."
                        b. "Positive thinking" Moral Rearmament Movement  of  thirties. "Every
                           day and  in every way the world is getting better and better and
                           better."