11/3/2023 0 Comments Listen to a lion growlYour adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Peter warns, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Yet many Christians are unaware that enemy territory even exists. The Apostle John comments on the whereabouts of lion country, “We know that we are of God and the whole world is in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19).īecause God has given Satan permission to rule on earth, a struggle for power and dominion has resulted. It is the daily domain of the ruler of this world. “Lion country” is territory controlled by the devil. What about you? Have you taken a “spiritual safari” into lion country? Do you know where it is? I’ve learned spiritual conflict means we’re about to do something worthwhile-something that will last for eternity. After a particularly difficult time in his ministry, Tozer noted the following:īut I will tell you something-it is a delightful thing when you know that you are close enough to the adversary that you can hear him roar! Too many Christians never get into “lion country” at all!Īfter pondering Tozer’s observation for a bit, I concluded we not only should, but absolutely must take delight as we charge off into lion country. Tozer made numerous visits there-in fact, he may have lived in lion country. So where have I been that I drew close enough to learn that lions have halitosis? Well, let’s just say that I’ve been in “lion country.” How about you? Have you ever gotten so close that you gagged at its odious smell? I’ve been smelling “lion’s breath” recently. Of the Arahant, the released Stable One.Are You Hearing Lions Roar? You Should Be “When the Buddha, through direct knowledge,Īre struck with fear, filled with terror, Having said this, the Fortunate One, the Teacher, further said this: It seems, sir, that we are impermanent, unstable, noneternal, included within identity.’ So powerful, bhikkhus, is the Tathagata over this world together with its devas, so majestic and mighty.” “Then, bhikkhus, when those devas who are long-lived, beautiful, abounding in happiness, dwelling for a long time in lofty palaces, hear the Tathagata’s teaching of the Dhamma, they are for the most part filled with fear, a sense of urgency, and terror, saying: ‘It seems, sir, that we are impermanent, though we thought ourselves permanent it seems, sir, that we are unstable, though we thought ourselves stable it seems, sir, that we are noneternal, though we thought ourselves eternal. “So too, bhikkhus, when the Tathagata arises in the world, an arahant, perfectly enlightened, accomplished in true knowledge and conduct, fortunate, knower of the world, unsurpassed leader of persons to be tamed, teacher of devas and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One, he teaches the Dhamma thus: ‘Such is form, such its origin, such its passing away such is feeling … such is perception … such are volitional formations … such is consciousness, such its origin, such its passing away.’ So powerful, bhikkhus, is the lion, the king of beasts, among the animals, so majestic and mighty. Even those royal bull elephants, bound by strong thongs in the villages, towns, and capital cities, burst and break their bonds asunder frightened, they urinate and defecate and flee here and there. Those who live in holes enter their holes those who live in the water enter the water those who live in the woods enter the woods and the birds fly up into the air. “When the lion, the king of beasts, roars, whatever animals hear the sound are for the most part filled with fear, a sense of urgency, and terror. Having come out, he stretches himself, surveys the four quarters all around, and roars his lion’s roar three times. “Bhikkhus, in the evening the lion, the king of beasts, comes out from his lair.
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