"After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you." -1 Peter 5.10
Verse 9 addresses the idea of suffering. Any battle, be it physical, mental, spiritual, whether it is for your life, your health, a relationship, any battle at all, involves some kind of suffering. Peter reminds his readers that everyone in the world experiences suffering because of the enemy we face; however, he does not end on a not of discouragement. As Peter discusses suffering, his continuous message is one of eternal hope in God.
After you have suffered for a little while- Suffering is real, but suffering is temporary
the God of all grace- God is the source of grace
who called you to His eternal glory in Christ- God has a plan for your life
will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you- God is at work in you to bring about His plan
We're going to suffer, so lets take a look at 1 Peter 5.10 and learn how to face it.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Friday, June 29, 2018
Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Fight the Enemy
1 Peter 5.9 concludes the third theme of this passage of Scripture, Fight the enemy. The reality of life is that we are being targeted by a real and powerful fallen angel. We have an enemy who wants to steal our joy, keep us from dreaming, and prevent us from living fully for the the glory of God. We are going to be attacked repeatedly, he is going to try and come in to steal things we care deeply about, and he is going to try and intimidate us to paralyze us with fear. We have to decide if we are going to be eaten by the lion, or if we are going to fight back.
Denying that the enemy exists, or refusing to accept the reality that he is seeking to destroy us is wishful thinking that ignores the words of Jesus. Trying to resist the enemy on our own is asking for failure and defeat. Believing we are the only ones who face attacks sets us up for isolation and bitterness.
The enemy is real, and he is sneaky, cunning, and ruthless. The reality is that all of us have to stand firm against him and fight back.
This post is taking on a different feel than the other posts I've written. I feel that this theme as been one of the most central and constant themes of my life for the past few years. Ever since my marriage began to crumble, maybe landslide is a a better word, I began to fight the enemy. I began to see him moving in more direct and personal ways, and I began to stand up and fight against him. I would speak directly at him, commanding him boldly and confidently in the name of Jesus. There have been times where I've stood behind my shield and prayed against him.
The past few days I've felt myself getting caught up in another battle, this one for my girls. They are young, but my oldest daughter is showing signs of anxiety over the divorce. I'm seeing how I need to fight for my girls, ways I need to specifically pray against the enemy, resisting him in the power of the Spirit, and ordering him in the name of Jesus. In the process of writing this post I went to war. I stopped typing to try and process, and began to command Satan to leave my girls alone, reminding him of who God says I am, and telling him that I'm not going to back down from a fight. I will not let him take my girls, and if he refuses to leave them alone, I'm going after him, and I will fight tooth and nail, because he isn't taking my little girls. I will not surrender an inch with them.
I began to pray for my brothers, their wives, their children, going to battle to fight for them, commanding the enemy away from them in the name of Christ, letting him know that I'm not going to let him have them either. I prayed for someone else too, fighting the enemy on their behalf. That is how we must fight, directly, as soon as we sense the attack; the sooner we fight back, the sooner the enemy will flee.
We must fight the enemy. It may be helpful to symbolically arm yourself, you'll see my sword and shield to the left, the sword has my God given initials engraved on it. These weapons will do nothing against a spiritual enemy, but the symbolism for me is significant, it serves as a reminder that I am not alone, a big part of the reason I chose a Spartan shield, and that I am not helpless. I am able to stand firm against the enemy, and because of God, I am able to overcome him.
Stand firm against the enemy, and show no fear. You belong to God, and the enemy is powerless over you because of Christ. Go to war for those you care about. Go after what has been stolen, dream big and pursue it. Don't let the enemy advance unopposed, but drive him back. He has already been defeated that first Easter Sunday, don't let him take any more casualties with him.
Fight the enemy.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Denying that the enemy exists, or refusing to accept the reality that he is seeking to destroy us is wishful thinking that ignores the words of Jesus. Trying to resist the enemy on our own is asking for failure and defeat. Believing we are the only ones who face attacks sets us up for isolation and bitterness.
The enemy is real, and he is sneaky, cunning, and ruthless. The reality is that all of us have to stand firm against him and fight back.
This post is taking on a different feel than the other posts I've written. I feel that this theme as been one of the most central and constant themes of my life for the past few years. Ever since my marriage began to crumble, maybe landslide is a a better word, I began to fight the enemy. I began to see him moving in more direct and personal ways, and I began to stand up and fight against him. I would speak directly at him, commanding him boldly and confidently in the name of Jesus. There have been times where I've stood behind my shield and prayed against him.
The past few days I've felt myself getting caught up in another battle, this one for my girls. They are young, but my oldest daughter is showing signs of anxiety over the divorce. I'm seeing how I need to fight for my girls, ways I need to specifically pray against the enemy, resisting him in the power of the Spirit, and ordering him in the name of Jesus. In the process of writing this post I went to war. I stopped typing to try and process, and began to command Satan to leave my girls alone, reminding him of who God says I am, and telling him that I'm not going to back down from a fight. I will not let him take my girls, and if he refuses to leave them alone, I'm going after him, and I will fight tooth and nail, because he isn't taking my little girls. I will not surrender an inch with them.
I began to pray for my brothers, their wives, their children, going to battle to fight for them, commanding the enemy away from them in the name of Christ, letting him know that I'm not going to let him have them either. I prayed for someone else too, fighting the enemy on their behalf. That is how we must fight, directly, as soon as we sense the attack; the sooner we fight back, the sooner the enemy will flee.
We must fight the enemy. It may be helpful to symbolically arm yourself, you'll see my sword and shield to the left, the sword has my God given initials engraved on it. These weapons will do nothing against a spiritual enemy, but the symbolism for me is significant, it serves as a reminder that I am not alone, a big part of the reason I chose a Spartan shield, and that I am not helpless. I am able to stand firm against the enemy, and because of God, I am able to overcome him.
Stand firm against the enemy, and show no fear. You belong to God, and the enemy is powerless over you because of Christ. Go to war for those you care about. Go after what has been stolen, dream big and pursue it. Don't let the enemy advance unopposed, but drive him back. He has already been defeated that first Easter Sunday, don't let him take any more casualties with him.
Fight the enemy.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Monday, June 25, 2018
Not the Only One
"But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world." -1 Peter 5.9
We all live in a world at war, but in our digital age it's very easy to forget that everyone faces battles. This is a concept that, thanks to social media, I had struggled with for years. When I was a young pastor of a small church, life was hard. I was constantly discouraged, emotionally, spiritually, and physically drained, and I never wanted to talk about my job. And then you enter the world of Facebook. You're surrounded by a news feed of people taking trips, buying homes, having kids, living a perfect life, and then you feel worse. I remember telling an older pastor in the area who was a constant support and encourager "I feel like I'm struggling up Mount Doom alone, while everyone else is enjoying the Shire." (Lord of the Rings reference in case it doesn't click). That is what social media does, it highlights the good, erases the negative, and everyone else's life looks perfect while you live in your own depressing reality. There is scientific research supporting all of this, do a Google search for Social Media Depression.
The reality is, everyone else has their struggles, their hardships, and their battles, it just isn't publicly announced on Facebook, or Instagram since that seems to be the new thing (I still haven't really figured it out, but you can find me there at phalanxministries if you're interested). No one has a perfect life, the enemy is looking at everyone, seeking an opportune moment to attack, and everyone experiences suffering in this world. You have your battles that you are fighting, and so does everyone else.
As we go through life, facing the struggles that come everyday, don't give in to feelings of self-pity, adopting a victim mindset; that gives the enemy another opening to attack from. If you feel alone in your struggle and that you're the only one suffering, you are less likely to reach out for help. If you feel like everyone else is perfect, that can lead to discouragement and depression, causing you to distance yourself form others out of jealousy or resentment. Lions attack the animal that is separated from the rest of the group, and if we buy into the lie that everyone else has a perfect life, we begin to pull away from those we need most.
I spend less time on social media these days, part of me wants to get rid of all of it, and simply create accounts for the ministry I'm working on starting, which I did with Instagram, but I'm not there just yet. I've realized that everyone has their struggles, and as rough as the last few years of my life have been, there are people out there who have it a lot worse than I do; I'm fighting my battles, but there are those out there who are fighting more intense battles than I can imagine.
You are not the only one who is suffering attacks of the enemy, and the very fact that you are fighting the enemy is a good thing, the fact that you are being attacked means you're doing things for the glory of God; the enemy doesn't go after those who don't pose any resistance to him. Keep your head up, and keep fighting. Know that you don't battle alone, and that there is no shame is seeking help for your fight. At the same time, be on the look out for those around you that you can offer your help to in their fight.
We are the only ones who are under attack, so let us band together, and fight the enemy as a single, solid unit. A phalanx of warriors, with God as the foundation (Psalm 16.8).
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
We all live in a world at war, but in our digital age it's very easy to forget that everyone faces battles. This is a concept that, thanks to social media, I had struggled with for years. When I was a young pastor of a small church, life was hard. I was constantly discouraged, emotionally, spiritually, and physically drained, and I never wanted to talk about my job. And then you enter the world of Facebook. You're surrounded by a news feed of people taking trips, buying homes, having kids, living a perfect life, and then you feel worse. I remember telling an older pastor in the area who was a constant support and encourager "I feel like I'm struggling up Mount Doom alone, while everyone else is enjoying the Shire." (Lord of the Rings reference in case it doesn't click). That is what social media does, it highlights the good, erases the negative, and everyone else's life looks perfect while you live in your own depressing reality. There is scientific research supporting all of this, do a Google search for Social Media Depression.
The reality is, everyone else has their struggles, their hardships, and their battles, it just isn't publicly announced on Facebook, or Instagram since that seems to be the new thing (I still haven't really figured it out, but you can find me there at phalanxministries if you're interested). No one has a perfect life, the enemy is looking at everyone, seeking an opportune moment to attack, and everyone experiences suffering in this world. You have your battles that you are fighting, and so does everyone else.
As we go through life, facing the struggles that come everyday, don't give in to feelings of self-pity, adopting a victim mindset; that gives the enemy another opening to attack from. If you feel alone in your struggle and that you're the only one suffering, you are less likely to reach out for help. If you feel like everyone else is perfect, that can lead to discouragement and depression, causing you to distance yourself form others out of jealousy or resentment. Lions attack the animal that is separated from the rest of the group, and if we buy into the lie that everyone else has a perfect life, we begin to pull away from those we need most.
I spend less time on social media these days, part of me wants to get rid of all of it, and simply create accounts for the ministry I'm working on starting, which I did with Instagram, but I'm not there just yet. I've realized that everyone has their struggles, and as rough as the last few years of my life have been, there are people out there who have it a lot worse than I do; I'm fighting my battles, but there are those out there who are fighting more intense battles than I can imagine.
You are not the only one who is suffering attacks of the enemy, and the very fact that you are fighting the enemy is a good thing, the fact that you are being attacked means you're doing things for the glory of God; the enemy doesn't go after those who don't pose any resistance to him. Keep your head up, and keep fighting. Know that you don't battle alone, and that there is no shame is seeking help for your fight. At the same time, be on the look out for those around you that you can offer your help to in their fight.
We are the only ones who are under attack, so let us band together, and fight the enemy as a single, solid unit. A phalanx of warriors, with God as the foundation (Psalm 16.8).
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Friday, June 22, 2018
Strength for the Fight
"But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world." -1 Peter 5.9
The enemy must be intentionally resisted, but how? Look back at Judges 14, where Samson is attacked by a lion as he travels to Timnah.
"Then Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother, and came as far as the vineyards of Timnah; and behold, a young lion came roaring toward him. The Spirit of the Lord came upon him mightily, so that he tore him as one tears a young goat though he had nothing in his hand; but he did not tell his father or mother what he had done." Judges 14.5-6
Samson is attacked by a lion, and as the lion charges, God empowers him. It is the Spirit of God giving Samson mighty strength that allows him to kill the lion.
In the last post I shared James 4.7 and Ephesians 6.10-17, look at how both of those passages of Scripture begin.
"Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." James 4.7
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6.10-12
Submit to God. Be strong in the Lord. That is how we fight. It is not that we resist the devil that causes him to flee, it is because we have submitted to God that he cannot stand against us. It is only in God's strength that I can be well armed for the spiritual battle that lies before me. I can only resist the enemy, when I am firm in my faith; I can only overcome the lion when the Spirit of God comes mightily upon me.
We are at war, we live in the war zone of the Spiritual realm. We care called to join the fight, but we are not sent into battle with no training and no equipment. Let us submit to God, being strong in Him, standing firm in our faith, and as we do, the Spirit will come mightily upon us. No demon, not even the devil himself, can stand against one in whom God's Spirit resides.
the lion is out there, ready to attack, but we are empowered to fight back.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
The enemy must be intentionally resisted, but how? Look back at Judges 14, where Samson is attacked by a lion as he travels to Timnah.
"Then Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother, and came as far as the vineyards of Timnah; and behold, a young lion came roaring toward him. The Spirit of the Lord came upon him mightily, so that he tore him as one tears a young goat though he had nothing in his hand; but he did not tell his father or mother what he had done." Judges 14.5-6
Samson is attacked by a lion, and as the lion charges, God empowers him. It is the Spirit of God giving Samson mighty strength that allows him to kill the lion.
In the last post I shared James 4.7 and Ephesians 6.10-17, look at how both of those passages of Scripture begin.
"Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." James 4.7
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6.10-12
Submit to God. Be strong in the Lord. That is how we fight. It is not that we resist the devil that causes him to flee, it is because we have submitted to God that he cannot stand against us. It is only in God's strength that I can be well armed for the spiritual battle that lies before me. I can only resist the enemy, when I am firm in my faith; I can only overcome the lion when the Spirit of God comes mightily upon me.
We are at war, we live in the war zone of the Spiritual realm. We care called to join the fight, but we are not sent into battle with no training and no equipment. Let us submit to God, being strong in Him, standing firm in our faith, and as we do, the Spirit will come mightily upon us. No demon, not even the devil himself, can stand against one in whom God's Spirit resides.
the lion is out there, ready to attack, but we are empowered to fight back.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Wednesday, June 20, 2018
Fight Back
"But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world." -1 Peter 5.9
We live in a world at war, and we have a real enemy. We are not called to simply tuck our tails and pray we survive, but we are called to actively fight back against the enemy. 1 Peter 5.8 identifies him as the devil, who prowls like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. That is the reality, and our orders in light of this reality, resist him.
This is not the only place in the Bible that we are called to go to battle.
"Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." -James 4.7
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." -Ephesians 6.10-17
Repeatedly, the Bible tells us to fight back against the devil. We are not ignore the enemy, hoping he goes away, but take up arms and actively resist him.
In 1898, the British were working to build a railroad bridge over the River Tsavo in Kenya. John Henry Patterson was the man in charge of the project, but there was a problem, two male lions, the Ghost and the Darkness, were attacking the workers at night, carefully picking their targets, and eating the men. The story is fascinating, and a bit terrifying, and was portrayed in the 1996 movie, The Ghost and the Darkness (this is one of my top three favorite films). In the movie, Patterson is portrayed by Val Kilmer, and when the lions start attacking, he takes actions. He arms himself and sets out to kill the lions in order to protect the men working under him.
Patterson didn't sit back and hope the lions would get tired or bored and leave his work site alone so he could finish his bridge. He armed himself and fought back, and today these two lions can be seen in the Field Museum in Chicago.
When it comes to the devil, he must be intentionally resisted. He is not going to go away without a fight, and so we must take up arms and go to war.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
We live in a world at war, and we have a real enemy. We are not called to simply tuck our tails and pray we survive, but we are called to actively fight back against the enemy. 1 Peter 5.8 identifies him as the devil, who prowls like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. That is the reality, and our orders in light of this reality, resist him.
This is not the only place in the Bible that we are called to go to battle.
"Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." -James 4.7
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." -Ephesians 6.10-17
Repeatedly, the Bible tells us to fight back against the devil. We are not ignore the enemy, hoping he goes away, but take up arms and actively resist him.
In 1898, the British were working to build a railroad bridge over the River Tsavo in Kenya. John Henry Patterson was the man in charge of the project, but there was a problem, two male lions, the Ghost and the Darkness, were attacking the workers at night, carefully picking their targets, and eating the men. The story is fascinating, and a bit terrifying, and was portrayed in the 1996 movie, The Ghost and the Darkness (this is one of my top three favorite films). In the movie, Patterson is portrayed by Val Kilmer, and when the lions start attacking, he takes actions. He arms himself and sets out to kill the lions in order to protect the men working under him.
Patterson didn't sit back and hope the lions would get tired or bored and leave his work site alone so he could finish his bridge. He armed himself and fought back, and today these two lions can be seen in the Field Museum in Chicago.
When it comes to the devil, he must be intentionally resisted. He is not going to go away without a fight, and so we must take up arms and go to war.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Monday, June 18, 2018
1 Peter 5.9 Overview
"But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world." -1 Peter 5.9
When it comes to the enemy, preparing for battle, identifying the enemy, and knowing his tactics is only the beginning. The enemy typically doesn't flee because we're ready for a fight, and he doesn't roll over and surrender because we know how he is going to proceed with his assault. The enemy is not afraid of humans, and on our own we are powerless against him. This is not a human we are facing, but a fallen angel that we battle against.
But resist him- Fight back, pick up your weapons and go to war against the devil.
firm in your faith- Draw strength and endurance from God.
Knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world- You are not the only one who is under attack, don't give into self-pity.
There is a real enemy, and that means we are in a real fight. When we face the enemy we actually have to be armed and ready because we're in for a war. The enemy has one goal, steal, kill, and destroy (John 10.10); he is ruthless and after as many casualties as he can rack up. This is not going to be easy, but victory is assured.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
When it comes to the enemy, preparing for battle, identifying the enemy, and knowing his tactics is only the beginning. The enemy typically doesn't flee because we're ready for a fight, and he doesn't roll over and surrender because we know how he is going to proceed with his assault. The enemy is not afraid of humans, and on our own we are powerless against him. This is not a human we are facing, but a fallen angel that we battle against.
But resist him- Fight back, pick up your weapons and go to war against the devil.
firm in your faith- Draw strength and endurance from God.
Knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world- You are not the only one who is under attack, don't give into self-pity.
There is a real enemy, and that means we are in a real fight. When we face the enemy we actually have to be armed and ready because we're in for a war. The enemy has one goal, steal, kill, and destroy (John 10.10); he is ruthless and after as many casualties as he can rack up. This is not going to be easy, but victory is assured.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Friday, June 15, 2018
The Enemy's Tactic
"Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." -1 Peter 5.8
We have identified the enemy, and now Peter tells us how he works. The devil prowls like a roaring lion, seeking someone he can devour. The devil is a crafty villain. He began his attack on humanity by taking the form of a snake, seizing an opportunity to twist God's works and make Him out to be liar, and continuously sought to bring about destruction. His attacks typically begin with subtle sabotage, and if he must, it turns into a full assault. But every attack begins with prowling, seeking an easy target.
The word in Greek in is peripateō, which means to walk, but it is walking with purpose, seeking to make use of any opportunity that presents itself. The devil is not out for a casual stroll, taking in the scenery, stopping to smell the roses. He is walking with a purpose, seeking a victim, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. The devil does not go about his business, hoping an opportunity falls across his path, He is hunting, looking for his next meal.
Lion's never go for the strongest animal in the middle of the herd; they go out for the sick or weak animal, one that is separated from the group and easy to pick off. Lion's want an easy meal, not a battle, Satan doesn't want to go after those he can't beat, and so he goes for the ones who aren't paying attention, the ones who think he isn't real, or isn't on the move. We must be watchful and alert, ready for the attack.
My mind goes to David's argument to Saul when he was seeking to fight Goliath. 1 Samuel 17.34 says this, "But David said to Saul, “Your servant was tending his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock". The lion didn't go after the shepherd who was armed and ready, it went for a lamb, a small, defenseless, young sheep. It went for the easy target, and carried it off. That is how the enemy works. Those well armed and ready for the attack are not immune from lion attacks, look at Samson in Judges 14, but those who are watchful and alert are not easily picked off.
This is how he always works. Look at the temptation of Jesus, when does the devil show up? After Jesus has spent 40 days alone in the wilderness fasting. He has no human companionship with Him for encouragement, He is weak from huger, and his mind is probably not at its peak due to the combination of no food and physical exertion. Only then does the devil show up. The devil doesn't take on those who are strong and ready, because in that instance he always loses. The enemy goes after the weak and separated.
Let us be aware of how the enemy works, and let us be ready and watchful so that we do not present an easy target.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY
We have identified the enemy, and now Peter tells us how he works. The devil prowls like a roaring lion, seeking someone he can devour. The devil is a crafty villain. He began his attack on humanity by taking the form of a snake, seizing an opportunity to twist God's works and make Him out to be liar, and continuously sought to bring about destruction. His attacks typically begin with subtle sabotage, and if he must, it turns into a full assault. But every attack begins with prowling, seeking an easy target.
The word in Greek in is peripateō, which means to walk, but it is walking with purpose, seeking to make use of any opportunity that presents itself. The devil is not out for a casual stroll, taking in the scenery, stopping to smell the roses. He is walking with a purpose, seeking a victim, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. The devil does not go about his business, hoping an opportunity falls across his path, He is hunting, looking for his next meal.
Lion's never go for the strongest animal in the middle of the herd; they go out for the sick or weak animal, one that is separated from the group and easy to pick off. Lion's want an easy meal, not a battle, Satan doesn't want to go after those he can't beat, and so he goes for the ones who aren't paying attention, the ones who think he isn't real, or isn't on the move. We must be watchful and alert, ready for the attack.
My mind goes to David's argument to Saul when he was seeking to fight Goliath. 1 Samuel 17.34 says this, "But David said to Saul, “Your servant was tending his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock". The lion didn't go after the shepherd who was armed and ready, it went for a lamb, a small, defenseless, young sheep. It went for the easy target, and carried it off. That is how the enemy works. Those well armed and ready for the attack are not immune from lion attacks, look at Samson in Judges 14, but those who are watchful and alert are not easily picked off.
This is how he always works. Look at the temptation of Jesus, when does the devil show up? After Jesus has spent 40 days alone in the wilderness fasting. He has no human companionship with Him for encouragement, He is weak from huger, and his mind is probably not at its peak due to the combination of no food and physical exertion. Only then does the devil show up. The devil doesn't take on those who are strong and ready, because in that instance he always loses. The enemy goes after the weak and separated.
Let us be aware of how the enemy works, and let us be ready and watchful so that we do not present an easy target.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY
Wednesday, June 13, 2018
Identify the Enemy
"Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." -1 Peter 5.8
The first step to any battle is to know who your enemy is; you have to know who are you fighting against. Here the Bible tells us that our enemy is the devil, Satan is the one we are at war with. He is our opponent, and he is the real enemy. Peter doesn't seek to sugarcoat anything, he is direct and tells it like it is, the enemy we face is the devil himself.
One of the key things the devil tries to do is convince us that he doesn't exist. We must make sure that we don't deny that he is real. Ignoring the devil and pretending he isn't real is like a cancer patient ignoring the fact that there are malignant tumors growing inside their body, they will destroy silently from within until it is too late to do anything about it.
As we go through life it is easy to get distracted, the devil is a master of deception, the father of lies according to Jesus (John 8.44) and his goal is to cause chaos so that we fight against other things, ignoring him. Even as I try to write this I'm finding it difficult to focus, it could be the fact that it's late, I'm tired, and there are 11 other things on my mind (I stopped and counted and that is the number I came up with), but it could also be an attempt of the enemy to keep me from saying what I need to say in this post.
We have a real enemy, the devil. He exists, and he seeks to steal, kill, and destroy, (John 10.10) all that is good, true, and beautiful. Let us never make the mistake of denying his existence or his ambition. Ignoring the lion doesn't make it any less dangerous. His claws aren't filed down when we close our eyes, and his teeth aren't removed when we cover our ears, we simply become a blind and deaf target that is easy prey for a 500 pound carnivore.
Let us identify the enemy, never denying the reality of his existence.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
The first step to any battle is to know who your enemy is; you have to know who are you fighting against. Here the Bible tells us that our enemy is the devil, Satan is the one we are at war with. He is our opponent, and he is the real enemy. Peter doesn't seek to sugarcoat anything, he is direct and tells it like it is, the enemy we face is the devil himself.
One of the key things the devil tries to do is convince us that he doesn't exist. We must make sure that we don't deny that he is real. Ignoring the devil and pretending he isn't real is like a cancer patient ignoring the fact that there are malignant tumors growing inside their body, they will destroy silently from within until it is too late to do anything about it.
As we go through life it is easy to get distracted, the devil is a master of deception, the father of lies according to Jesus (John 8.44) and his goal is to cause chaos so that we fight against other things, ignoring him. Even as I try to write this I'm finding it difficult to focus, it could be the fact that it's late, I'm tired, and there are 11 other things on my mind (I stopped and counted and that is the number I came up with), but it could also be an attempt of the enemy to keep me from saying what I need to say in this post.
We have a real enemy, the devil. He exists, and he seeks to steal, kill, and destroy, (John 10.10) all that is good, true, and beautiful. Let us never make the mistake of denying his existence or his ambition. Ignoring the lion doesn't make it any less dangerous. His claws aren't filed down when we close our eyes, and his teeth aren't removed when we cover our ears, we simply become a blind and deaf target that is easy prey for a 500 pound carnivore.
Let us identify the enemy, never denying the reality of his existence.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Monday, June 11, 2018
Watchful and Ready
"Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." -1 Peter 5.8
Preparing for battle begins with peace that is rooted in God. A warrior does not go into battle anxious about the outcome, but confident, knowing that everything has been done to prepare, that he possesses the skills to complete the mission, and ready for whatever may come. This is the foundation, and peace allows for watchful readiness.
The next instruction is to "be on the alert". The word in Greek is grēgoreō, and it means to watch, actively giving strict attention, taking heed that no destruction overtakes you due to ignorant carelessness. This word is used by Jesus in parables that pointed to His second coming, and it points to an active watching that is not caught off guard or taken by surprise. We live in a world at war, and we must exercise constant vigilance so that we are ready for the attacks when they come.
It is time to share part of this, I'm working on a book that will further develop this thought as well as the thoughts in my future posts around this third topic of 1 Peter 5.1-11.
In Judges 14, Samson is on his way to Timnah and as he nears the vineyards a young lion charges him. God empowers him in a mighty way, and he tears the lion apart with his bare hands. I don't know if Samson was ready for the attack; he was on his way to his wedding, so I'm guessing his mind may have been else wear, but the lion saw him and attacked.
Lions are out there. I shared these verses in my Vision Quest 2017 series, Proverbs twice points out that lions are outside, waiting to attack.
"The sluggard says, 'There is a lion outside; I will be killed in the streets!'" -Proverbs 22.13
"The sluggard says, 'There is a lion in the road! A lion is in the open square!'" -Proverbs 26.13
There are lions out there, they are hungry and looking for a meal. Without the peace and confidence that comes from a sober spirit, we would never take the risk of going outside. Without a watchful and ready attitude that comes from being alert, we cannot hope to survive for long.
The lions are real, and we must be watchful and ready.
Fight the lion 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Preparing for battle begins with peace that is rooted in God. A warrior does not go into battle anxious about the outcome, but confident, knowing that everything has been done to prepare, that he possesses the skills to complete the mission, and ready for whatever may come. This is the foundation, and peace allows for watchful readiness.
The next instruction is to "be on the alert". The word in Greek is grēgoreō, and it means to watch, actively giving strict attention, taking heed that no destruction overtakes you due to ignorant carelessness. This word is used by Jesus in parables that pointed to His second coming, and it points to an active watching that is not caught off guard or taken by surprise. We live in a world at war, and we must exercise constant vigilance so that we are ready for the attacks when they come.
It is time to share part of this, I'm working on a book that will further develop this thought as well as the thoughts in my future posts around this third topic of 1 Peter 5.1-11.
In Judges 14, Samson is on his way to Timnah and as he nears the vineyards a young lion charges him. God empowers him in a mighty way, and he tears the lion apart with his bare hands. I don't know if Samson was ready for the attack; he was on his way to his wedding, so I'm guessing his mind may have been else wear, but the lion saw him and attacked.
Lions are out there. I shared these verses in my Vision Quest 2017 series, Proverbs twice points out that lions are outside, waiting to attack.
"The sluggard says, 'There is a lion outside; I will be killed in the streets!'" -Proverbs 22.13
"The sluggard says, 'There is a lion in the road! A lion is in the open square!'" -Proverbs 26.13
There are lions out there, they are hungry and looking for a meal. Without the peace and confidence that comes from a sober spirit, we would never take the risk of going outside. Without a watchful and ready attitude that comes from being alert, we cannot hope to survive for long.
The lions are real, and we must be watchful and ready.
Fight the lion 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Friday, June 8, 2018
Calm and Collected
"Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." -1 Peter 5.8
Before we begin to fight the enemy, we must prepare ourselves and enter battle with the right mindset. Verse 8 begins by telling us to be of sober spirit. The word in Greek is nēphō, and it means to be calm and collected in spirit. This is a call to serenity and confidence in God. The sober spirit does not live in anxious fear of the enemy, but it rests securely in God. The sober spirit does not have a blood lust longing for battle, but is ready to fight when it must in order to defend what is good, true, and beautiful.
This is the attitude God calls His warriors to posses. In the opening verses of Joshua, Israel is on the verge of conquest. They are on the eastern shore of the Jordan preparing to enter and claim the land that was promised to Abraham centuries earlier. Moses has died, Israel has a new leader, and they are about to enter a new land, a land that is possessed by nations who are powerful and live in well defended cities (Numbers 13), and have no intention of going anywhere.
God speaks to Joshua, reassuring him of His presence and promise, He gives instructions for Joshua to live by, and ends with a command for Joshua to be of sober spirit, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1.9)
God calls Joshua to be strong and courageous, ready for the battles that are coming. These are battles that must be fought for God's promise to be fulfilled, but it is battle for a purpose, not battle for the sake of battle. God commands Joshua to not be afraid or discourage, to be calm and at peace, because God is going to be with him every step of the way. Joshua can move forward sober in spirit because of the confident assurance of God.
This is the same attitude we are called to live with. Let us be at peace, God is with us, God is in control, the cross and the tomb are both empty, and Jesus has conquered sin, death, and hell. There is nothing to be afraid of, let us be calm and collected as we face the enemy; he has already been defeated. Let us go into battle ready to fight, confident in our training and ability, but brokenhearted that war is the reality. This is not what God intended, and it is not the ultimate reality; the war will end, and that is what we are fighting for, the end of the war and eternal peace.
God is in control, and we can face the enemy with a sober spirit, calm and collected, ready to face the enemy as we fight for the Kingdom.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Before we begin to fight the enemy, we must prepare ourselves and enter battle with the right mindset. Verse 8 begins by telling us to be of sober spirit. The word in Greek is nēphō, and it means to be calm and collected in spirit. This is a call to serenity and confidence in God. The sober spirit does not live in anxious fear of the enemy, but it rests securely in God. The sober spirit does not have a blood lust longing for battle, but is ready to fight when it must in order to defend what is good, true, and beautiful.
This is the attitude God calls His warriors to posses. In the opening verses of Joshua, Israel is on the verge of conquest. They are on the eastern shore of the Jordan preparing to enter and claim the land that was promised to Abraham centuries earlier. Moses has died, Israel has a new leader, and they are about to enter a new land, a land that is possessed by nations who are powerful and live in well defended cities (Numbers 13), and have no intention of going anywhere.
God speaks to Joshua, reassuring him of His presence and promise, He gives instructions for Joshua to live by, and ends with a command for Joshua to be of sober spirit, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1.9)
God calls Joshua to be strong and courageous, ready for the battles that are coming. These are battles that must be fought for God's promise to be fulfilled, but it is battle for a purpose, not battle for the sake of battle. God commands Joshua to not be afraid or discourage, to be calm and at peace, because God is going to be with him every step of the way. Joshua can move forward sober in spirit because of the confident assurance of God.
This is the same attitude we are called to live with. Let us be at peace, God is with us, God is in control, the cross and the tomb are both empty, and Jesus has conquered sin, death, and hell. There is nothing to be afraid of, let us be calm and collected as we face the enemy; he has already been defeated. Let us go into battle ready to fight, confident in our training and ability, but brokenhearted that war is the reality. This is not what God intended, and it is not the ultimate reality; the war will end, and that is what we are fighting for, the end of the war and eternal peace.
God is in control, and we can face the enemy with a sober spirit, calm and collected, ready to face the enemy as we fight for the Kingdom.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Wednesday, June 6, 2018
1 Peter 5.8 Overview
"Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." -1 Peter 5.8
My journey over the past three years has spent a lot of time focused on the enemy. When I began the study that has led me to the point I'm at with my identity, passion, and destiny, this is one of the verses that was constantly in my mind; this verse is the one that drew me to this section of the Bible. This verse introduces the third theme of 1 Peter 5.1-11, as it begins to prepare us for the reality of battle against Satan. Here, God tells us how to approach life and spiritual warfare, who we are up against, and what the tactics of the enemy are.
Be of sober spirit- Live with peace, and approach life with God given serenity.
be on the alert- Be watchful and ready at all times, don't every drop your guard.
Your adversary, the devil- We have a real enemy, the devil.
prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour- The enemy is on the move, always looking for an easy target.
We live in a world at war, the enemy is rebelling against God, and since he knows he will never overcome, he directs his focus at God's creation. We are made aware of what is in store, and we are told how to be ready for it.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
My journey over the past three years has spent a lot of time focused on the enemy. When I began the study that has led me to the point I'm at with my identity, passion, and destiny, this is one of the verses that was constantly in my mind; this verse is the one that drew me to this section of the Bible. This verse introduces the third theme of 1 Peter 5.1-11, as it begins to prepare us for the reality of battle against Satan. Here, God tells us how to approach life and spiritual warfare, who we are up against, and what the tactics of the enemy are.
Be of sober spirit- Live with peace, and approach life with God given serenity.
be on the alert- Be watchful and ready at all times, don't every drop your guard.
Your adversary, the devil- We have a real enemy, the devil.
prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour- The enemy is on the move, always looking for an easy target.
We live in a world at war, the enemy is rebelling against God, and since he knows he will never overcome, he directs his focus at God's creation. We are made aware of what is in store, and we are told how to be ready for it.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Monday, June 4, 2018
Live Humbly
1 Peter 5.7 marks the end of the second theme of 1 Peter 5.1-11. Living humbly is an essential quality because it enables us to worshipfully approach God, and exist in society with others. The key element to humility is having a proper view of God, others, and self.
When it comes to God, we must see Him as both all powerful Creator and Ruler of the Universe, and everything that exists outside of our universe, but also as the perfect, loving, Father. As Creator and Ruler, God is to be worshiped and obeyed; He spoke, and out of His words came everything that exists. God is mighty, God is Holy, God is to be obeyed and worship because He is God. We are not God, we are finite, created, sinful humans who were created to be loved by God, and we to approach Him with worship because He is God.
At the same time, God is the perfect, loving, Father. We are His children, created to fellowship with Him. God loves to bless us, and has great things in store for us. We must never lose sight of the fact that God is not simply Ruler on high, but loving Father who invites us to call Him "Daddy" and share the dreams, fears, and stress of our hearts with Him.
The one who lives humbly gives God the honor and obedience He is worthy of, and enjoys an intimate relationship with Him.
When it comes to others, we must see people as those needing us, and those we need. There are those who are more experienced than us who have so much to offer from their lives, we must take the time to learn from them. One of the greatest losses is when we fail to learn from our elders. We must be humble enough to sit at their feet and listen, giving our time to learn from them.
At the same time, we must be a blessing to others. God gives us the gifts and resources that we have in order to use them to make the world better. We must daily look for ways to serve others, and bless them with what God has blessed us with. We are blessed to be a blessing, and it is only when we live humbly that we can truly bless those we come in contact with.
The one who lives humbly is discipled and blesses others, learning and serving those they live in community with.
Finally, living humbly means that we have a healthy view of ourselves. Living humbly does not mean you become doormat that the rest of the world cleans their shoes on. It does not mean that you constantly bless others and refuse to let others be a blessing to you. It does that mean that God a tyrant you serve in order to appease Him.
Living humbly means that you see yourself as a beloved child of God, and a valuable member of the community who has so much to offer, and is worth being loved and cared for. You have something to offer the world, and you are worth being loved. You are deeply loved by God.
The one who lives humbly offers what they have, accepts what people offer, and lives with in the reality that God cares for them.
Living humbly is a healthy view of self, a proper view of others, and worshipful view of God.
Live humbly.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
When it comes to God, we must see Him as both all powerful Creator and Ruler of the Universe, and everything that exists outside of our universe, but also as the perfect, loving, Father. As Creator and Ruler, God is to be worshiped and obeyed; He spoke, and out of His words came everything that exists. God is mighty, God is Holy, God is to be obeyed and worship because He is God. We are not God, we are finite, created, sinful humans who were created to be loved by God, and we to approach Him with worship because He is God.
At the same time, God is the perfect, loving, Father. We are His children, created to fellowship with Him. God loves to bless us, and has great things in store for us. We must never lose sight of the fact that God is not simply Ruler on high, but loving Father who invites us to call Him "Daddy" and share the dreams, fears, and stress of our hearts with Him.
The one who lives humbly gives God the honor and obedience He is worthy of, and enjoys an intimate relationship with Him.
When it comes to others, we must see people as those needing us, and those we need. There are those who are more experienced than us who have so much to offer from their lives, we must take the time to learn from them. One of the greatest losses is when we fail to learn from our elders. We must be humble enough to sit at their feet and listen, giving our time to learn from them.
At the same time, we must be a blessing to others. God gives us the gifts and resources that we have in order to use them to make the world better. We must daily look for ways to serve others, and bless them with what God has blessed us with. We are blessed to be a blessing, and it is only when we live humbly that we can truly bless those we come in contact with.
The one who lives humbly is discipled and blesses others, learning and serving those they live in community with.
Finally, living humbly means that we have a healthy view of ourselves. Living humbly does not mean you become doormat that the rest of the world cleans their shoes on. It does not mean that you constantly bless others and refuse to let others be a blessing to you. It does that mean that God a tyrant you serve in order to appease Him.
Living humbly means that you see yourself as a beloved child of God, and a valuable member of the community who has so much to offer, and is worth being loved and cared for. You have something to offer the world, and you are worth being loved. You are deeply loved by God.
The one who lives humbly offers what they have, accepts what people offer, and lives with in the reality that God cares for them.
Living humbly is a healthy view of self, a proper view of others, and worshipful view of God.
Live humbly.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Friday, June 1, 2018
You Matter
"casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." -1 Peter 5.7
We are to cast all of our anxiety of God, because God cares for us. God, who spoke the universe into creation, He cares for us. God cares about the stress of unemployment, the fear of waiting for medical results, the grief over the loss of a pet. God cares for you. God does not want you to bear the burden of anxiety, He wants to take it and carry it for you. God cares for you, because you matter to God.
This has been one of the phrases that has stood out to me the most in my study of this passage of Scripture. It is hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that God cares for me. As I study the Scriptures, I am taken in by the greatness of God, and the respect and worship His awesome holiness commands. My life is mine to give glory to God, but God created man to fellowship with Him. I've been listening to a book on prayer by Timothy Keller, and he talks about how God created man in order to give love. Man is not simply an object that is to give praise to God, but a being that God cares deeply for. God cares for me.
The Bible talks over and over about the love of God for us. He loved the world that He gave His son to save the world (John 3.16-17), and yet I find myself struggling to believe that God cares about me. I've seen Him come through for my brothers many times in the past year. I've seen Him provide jobs, healing, and needed finances. I have prayed boldly and confidently with them, and I have watched God answer the specific prayers that I prayed. It's easy for me to see why God answered these prayers, it's because God cares for them. As I've looked at the uncertainty of the future, I've had to constantly remind myself that the God who I have witnessed answer prayers cares for me just as much as He cares for my brothers.
God cares for me. I matter to God. God wants me to give Him all of the anxiety I feel for the future, and trust Him to take care of me and provide for me, because God cares for me.
Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. You matter to God.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
We are to cast all of our anxiety of God, because God cares for us. God, who spoke the universe into creation, He cares for us. God cares about the stress of unemployment, the fear of waiting for medical results, the grief over the loss of a pet. God cares for you. God does not want you to bear the burden of anxiety, He wants to take it and carry it for you. God cares for you, because you matter to God.
This has been one of the phrases that has stood out to me the most in my study of this passage of Scripture. It is hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that God cares for me. As I study the Scriptures, I am taken in by the greatness of God, and the respect and worship His awesome holiness commands. My life is mine to give glory to God, but God created man to fellowship with Him. I've been listening to a book on prayer by Timothy Keller, and he talks about how God created man in order to give love. Man is not simply an object that is to give praise to God, but a being that God cares deeply for. God cares for me.
The Bible talks over and over about the love of God for us. He loved the world that He gave His son to save the world (John 3.16-17), and yet I find myself struggling to believe that God cares about me. I've seen Him come through for my brothers many times in the past year. I've seen Him provide jobs, healing, and needed finances. I have prayed boldly and confidently with them, and I have watched God answer the specific prayers that I prayed. It's easy for me to see why God answered these prayers, it's because God cares for them. As I've looked at the uncertainty of the future, I've had to constantly remind myself that the God who I have witnessed answer prayers cares for me just as much as He cares for my brothers.
God cares for me. I matter to God. God wants me to give Him all of the anxiety I feel for the future, and trust Him to take care of me and provide for me, because God cares for me.
Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. You matter to God.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
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