1 Peter 5:8-11

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.  And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.  To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

The persecution we face in this fallen world has a satanic source.  We are a part of a spiritual battle that is taking place, and we know little about it.  As in any battle, we have an adversary, but we also have allies.  Peter reminds us of this reality and instructs us as to how we are to respond to each of them.

RESPECT OUR ADVERSARY: Let me be clear that there is nothing respectable about Satan.  I use the term respect in the sese of not taking him lightly.  We must be vigilant and understand that he is out to deceive, distract, and ultimately destroy us.  Peter compares him a lion that prowls, roars, and devours.  He is constantly on the lookout for people who are inattentive, lazy, or alone.  He tries to intimidate us with temptations, strange displays of power, scary circumstances, and other schemes designed to make us doubt the goodness of God and isolate us from the body of Christ.  When a lion roars, it is trying to scare the heard of animals into running in hopes of getting separation so the lionesses can kill, and he can devour.  We have the protection of the Holy Spirit, and we need to be sober minded to watch ourselves and one another for protection. 

RESIST OUR ADVERSARY: We are to stand firm against the attacks of Satan with faith in the power of our Lord.  We are not commanded to go on “lion hunts” but to simply resist him and not give in to his temptations and schemes.  Satan will flee from us in the face of faith in our Lord Jesus.  He is a defeated foe, and he is no match for the power of God.  When we face trials and persecution, he is attempting to shake us from our faith.  Suffering will either cause us to turn towards the Lord or turn from the Lord.  Our key to victory is to stay close to the Lord and trust in his loving care, provision, protection, and sovereign control over the circumstances and every aspect of our lives.

REMEMBER OUR BROTHERS: We must also remember that we are not alone in this battle.  Satan will try to deceive us into thinking that we are the only ones who are suffering.  The reality is that we are all living in a fallen world and many other brother and sisters in Christ are facing similar trials and tribulations.  God calls us to encourage one another and help each other through the difficulties we face in life.  We are to support one another in prayer and assurance of help and hope in the Lord.  In times of suffering, we are vulnerable to the thought that nobody knows, and nobody cares.  This is a lie that we must reject and intentionally remember that we are a part of the body of Christ, and we can help one another through the storms of life.

REJOICE IN OUR PROMISES: Faith and hope in the loving promises of God is vital to resisting Satan and remaining soberminded against his schemes.  We know that compared to eternity the life of suffering on earth will only last a little while.  We don’t know when the Lord will return, but we do know that He will return.  When that glorious day arrives, there will be no more sufferings and no more sin.  Satan will forever be condemned along with all his followers and all persecution will cease.  By His grace we have been called to participate in His eternal glory.  We will be restored from every effect of sin.  We will be forever confirmed in righteousness living in His presence.  We will be given amazing rewards and strength to be able to reign with Him.  Our eternity is forever established by His sovereign power.  He will reign forever, and we will be with Him and glorify Him perfectly.  That is the promise of God that should cause us to rejoice as we hope and wait for that glorious day. 

APPLICATION: Beware of Satan and his followers.  Focus on Christ and His Word so our minds will be filled with truth to be able to stand firm in temptation and tribulation.  Don’t doubt the goodness of God when we face difficult days.  Share our burdens with our brothers and sisters in Christ and remember that we are never alone within the body of Christ.  Focus on the glories of eternity and the brevity of this world.

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