A Few Thoughts About the devil Our Adversary

 

1 Peter 5:8-11 in NKJV 

1 Peter 5:8-11 WEL Be clear headed. Be alert, because your enemy, the Devil, like a roaring lion, walks around seeking whom he can devour. 9 Resist him, [be] immovable in the faith, realizing that the same kind of afflictions are being faced by your brothers who are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who has called us into his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, will mend you, make you resolute, give you strength, and support you. 11 To him [be] glory and supremacy forever and ever. Amen.

Notes: 

B1 1 Peter 5:1-11 deals with the topic of living out our salvation specially dealing with the church family. 

B2 We are to be clear headed. Many translations use the word sober or sober-minded. A clear mind is one not clouded by anything that slows our thinking or hinders our judgment. A person with a clouded mind would be dangerous driving a vehicle or doing surgery. God lets us know our need to be clear headed. There are many Christians who believe in a passive approach to prayer and worship. I’ve heard it termed as by-passing the brain, silencing the brain, entering the silence, etc. Those Christians are deliberately disobeying God and setting themselves up for spiritual danger. 

B3 Be alert. A person is always more alert when there is danger around them. 

B4 The danger we face is the devil and his agents. They are roaming seeking those who they can deceive. If deceived, then they hope to destroy their Christian faith. 1 Timothy 5:6 NIV but the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. 

B5 God helps us by 

C1 Giving us three helpful things 

D1 Resist. We resist, because we know the truth. We learn the truth from reading and study the Scriptures. The devil will stir up our memories of failures, or when we didn’t resist in the past, so why should we now. He will accuse us of being evil. He will offer excuses we can use to justify our bad choices. He can stir up emotions and make sins look pleasant. But knowing the truth we can resist. Freedom starts with knowing and acknowledging the truth. If we have a little skepticism we can question and then recognize error. 

D2 Be immovable in the faith. We have been taught (hopefully) by our church leaders and self-study. We know the truth. We know basic doctrine. We must stubbornly hold on to our faith. 

D3 The family of God. We suffer together. We need support each other in prayer, encourage each other to continue, assist each other in other ways. We are a family, so let us support each other. 

C2 God gives us grace to know truth, to apply wisdom, to remember what we have studied and learned, past victories, etc. He gives us the strength to resist and be unmovable. 

B6 God restores us 

C1 He mends. The idea of the Greek word is to repair. After we suffer awhile, we have hurts that need healing. God provides that healing. Two principles for us to know. See Psalm 23. 

D1 Suffering is used by God to build endurance. We cannot learn much if there is no resistance. Romans 5:3-5 GNB We also boast of our troubles, because we know that trouble produces endurance, 4 endurance brings God's approval, and his approval creates hope. 5 This hope does not disappoint us, for God has poured out his love into our hearts by means of the Holy Spirit, who is God's gift to us. 

D2 God is the one who heals. Psalm 23:3, Psalm 147:3, 2 Thessalonians 2:17. 

C2 Make you resolute. God builds up our spiritual muscles through troubles. Our faith is stronger. Our determination to live and think as Christians is stronger. Our love for God and desire to obey the Scriptures is stronger. We need to emphasize the truth in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds. Psalm 1:1-3. 

C3 Give you strength. We are weak. Problems are often greater than we are. God gives the grace to be stronger. We become more mature as Christians through trials. God uses afflictions and troubles to perfect us. Hebrews 2:10 CSB for in bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was entirely appropriate that God—​​for whom and through whom all things exist—​should make the source of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 

C4 Support us. He gives us strength. God’s strength in us is seen best when we are suffering. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9. Luke 7:48 GNB He is like a man who, in building his house, dug deep and laid the foundation on rock. The river flooded over and hit that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.  

B7 Praise God. The Psalmist has gone through much suffering. He shares his thoughts. 

C1 Psalm 119:49-51 Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life. The arrogant mock me without restraint, but I do not turn from your law. 

C2 Psalm 119:107 I have suffered much; preserve my life, O LORD, according to your word. 

C3 Psalm 119:152-154 Long ago I learned from your statutes that you established them to last forever. Look upon my suffering and deliver me, for I have not forgotten your law. Defend my cause and redeem me; preserve my life according to your promise.

Thank God that He does not harm us. We see a wonderful difference in God, His kingdom, His worldview, and His lifestyle. Let us imitate His ways and reject the enemy and his ways.

Be at peace brothers and sisters. God watches over us. We are in this life together.