Illustration: I had been praying for days about what to share in our church on a Wednesday evening, but could not get a clear answer.  Then I walked into the bathroom of the church and saw this scorpion scurrying across the floor.  There was no doubt about what it was.  He was in my domain!  There was no hesitation, I stepped upon him.  He is now dead! (actual picture below).

I. We need to be alert!

* If I had simply not been alert and took a seat, he could have easily ran up my leg and bit me.

I Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"  Isaiah 5:29  "Their roaring shall be like a lion, they shall roar like young lions: yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry it away safe, and none shall deliver it."

Acts 20:31  "Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears."

* I could have seen the scorpion and just thought that it was a friendly cricket.

John 10:10a  "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:"

* The enemy will suggest that God has kept something good back from us. Genesis 3:5  "For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."

* He will either question God's goodness or our ability to receive it.  Then he will suggest an alternative way to get it, a sinful shortcut.

* He will also question our inheritance in Christ!

John 10:10b "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

* I immediately stepped on the scorpion.

Note: You don't want to step on a scorpion barefooted!  We are to put on the armor of God and then pray. (Ephesians 6:12-18).

I Peter 5:9-10  "Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.  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."

Note: Peter ties our resisting the enemy with "the God of all grace".

Acts 20:32  "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified."

Note: Paul ties the warning that he gave to the overseers to "the word of his grace" and "an inheritance".

Romans 8:31-32 "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"