Series: Traps of Satan, Are They Effective Today?
Part 4 - Does Satan Play Havoc With Your Emotions?
1 Pet. 5:8-10

 INTRO: A few of weeks ago, I started a series, "Traps of Satan, Are They Effective Today?." I dealt with the money trap Satan uses to snare people and prevent them from serving God. I also dealt with another trap he uses, Sexual or Sensual Traps. Then I looked at the Trap of Time he uses upon us.  

Today I want to look at how Satan plays with and beats us down through a great range of our emotions. He will use fear, anger, discouragement, pride, hatred, rebellion, love, and on and on. I cannot look at all these today, but I will look at a few.

 I want to again read 1 Peter 5:8-10 and remind you about Satan.

1 Pet. 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

One of our emotions that Satan plays with is one of …
PRIDE:

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

 1 Tim. 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

 Pride can be very harmful in our lives...It starts early

• It is reinforced by our parents It is reinforced by our society
• It is often misplaced (we are not as worthy as we deem)
• It cripples our feelings for others (they are not worth our consideration)
• It insulates us from others
• It drives others away
• It hinders our service to God
• It leads to spiritual "death" 

Acts 12:21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.
22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.

 Another example is found in Luke 18:10

Luke 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

 So we can see Satan uses our pride to hurt us and trap us.

 He also uses …
ANGER:

Matt. 5: 22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 

• Cloud our good judgment
• Lead to accidents, property damage, etc.
• Cause us to hurt those around us
• Fill our lives with turmoil
• Make us ugly - literally and spiritually
• Shorten our lives
• Drive people away
• Cause hard feelings (when someone yells at us - it is easy to yell back)
• Cause hurt feelings
• Make us look less Christlike
• Make people doubt our salvation - right or wrong
• Leads to or develop into hatred

And he also uses…
HATRED:

• Consume like a cancer - get our of control
• Remove joy from your life
• Feed on itself (the more we have the more it grows and spreads)
• Divide families against each other
• Destroy families
• Changes the destiny of families (Hatfield's and McCoy's)
• Prevent trust in the Lord - it is

People are sometimes surprised, but he uses…
"LOVE":
Love will…

• Cloud our vision
• Interfere with good judgement
• Interfere with godly service
• Replace God if we are not careful

Last I want to look at one of Satan's best/worst tools…
DISCOURAGEMENT:

I could look at King Saul, King David or Moses. But, today I want to look at Elijah's discouragement… 

1 King 19: 3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.
4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.

Discouragement can come at any time…
Elijah had performed many great works:

• Prayed for NO rain
• He was fed by ravens
• A cruse of oil and a small handful of meal miraculously fed him
• Healed the widow's son from death
• Stood against Ahab and the sin
• Defeated 450 prophets of Baal
• Prayed for the abundance of rain - it came

• He ran and hid in discouragement
• Sat down
• Did not eat (we need "food")
• Removed himself from people (cannot help them hid)
• Removed himself from the job God had for him
• Made excuses and blamed others
• He bathed in self-pity

• He got the message
• He continued the work - found Elisha (his student, disciple, and apprentice) his replacement
• He left behind his discouragement

• Talk to God
• Use God's Word
• Listen to God
• Be serious with God
• Examine your heart
• Examine your motives
• Examine your life - what is going on in your life
• Let go of excuses
• Reject Satan's "voice" and his fellowship
• Turn to Christ if you do not know Him as your Savior