Levi Lusko - Fresh Life Church
Bears + Berries
Humans are not the only creatures that like huckleberries.
The moral : everyone likes huckleberries.
The animal most associated with berries is the bear.
Huckleberries are both integral to black + grizzly bears. 90% vegetarians.
Leaves, grass, roots + fruits.
90lbs of food per day.
Estimated 1/3 is berries.
How a bear approaches vs our approach.
As you are hunting for something - you are not he only one hunting.
Hardship
Hypocrisy
Hurry
Hunted
Be sober.
Peter wrote this to Christians who were suffering and he wanted to help them understand their hurt.
1 Peter 5:8-9
It's not just your pain, there is someone on the prowl as well.
You are surrounded by unseen spiritual battles.
Your safety + success is attached to ::
1. What you assume.
Your assumptions every day : I have an enemy and he is waiting to pounce.
Poised to pounce : message translation
The devil would have you to be either paranoid or oblivious to the devil.
Knowing it prepares you for it.
Braced for impact.
The world is hostel to the gospel.
His agenda is to steal, kill + destroy.
He's out to harm.
He wants to bring a sense of disbelief in God.
Foothold becomes a handhold becomes a chokehold.
2. What you see.
Keep your eyes scanning.
Watch.
Always on guard.
Paying attention.
You can't be sober or vigilant when you're drunk.
Growing sense of depression + despair has caused a 40% increase of alcoholics since 2000.
Drinking can be enjoyed, but cautiously.
The biggest reason to not abuse : when you're drunk you're no longer in the driver seat of your mind.
Ephesians 5:18
You'll do things you regret when you're under the influence of "the spirits" then you cannot be under God's influence.
You are never too far from the grace of God.
Your heart needs to be wet cement.
3. What you think.
Learn to think like a bear.
Get desperate : bears sleep 5-7 months of the year.
Wake up hungry.
In 5-7 months cram in a whole year of eating.
Final feeding frenzy.
**Intuitively know winter is coming.**
Romans 16:20
The devil has nothing to lose.
Some men just want to watch the world burn.
Two lies the devil likes to tell you :
1. Just once more and then I'll be done.
2. I can stop any time I want.
4. Where you go
Bears go back to burn sites and the devil is the same way too.
Why wouldn't he mix it up? You don't switch bait when the fish keep biting.
Temptation. Why? To deceive you.
Trial. Why? To discourage you.
He knows your fire can be fruitful.
Because you have pain, God has allowed it to deepen you.
Expect blowback.
Your wound can become a weapon!
He will strike with fury.
5. What you bring.
Bears smell 200X better than humans.
What you bring every day is imperative to how you walk through life.
Truth + a team.
When Jesus was attacked by the devil?
What Jesus brought out when he was attacked - it is written! It is written!
Magnifies pleasures - minimizes consequences.
Hold God's truth up.
Matthew 26:41
When you're being squeezed by temptation, who's in your life?
6. What you say.
Pay very close attention to what you say.
We don't want to surprise the bear.
Talk to the bear.
There is a sound coming out of your mouth that can surprise yourself.
Philippians 2:10
Say the name of Jesus!!
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