READ: 1 Peter 5(Focus vs. 6-11)
MEMORY VERSE
“Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him.” 1 Peter 5:8-9
BACKGROUND
On my walk to catch the train to work a few years ago, I saw a woman with a ferocious-looking dog heading toward me. I grew up around pet dogs, so I’m usually not afraid of furry friends, but this one looked menacing.
As the dog got closer, he barked at me. I tried to laugh it off. But then he lunged at me, so I screamed. Thankfully the dog couldn’t harm me because he couldn’t reach me. His owner held on tightly to his leash.
That scary encounter reminded me that as believers in Jesus, Satan is also “on a leash” but waiting to attack if we give him the opportunity. In 1 Peter, the apostle Peter warns us, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (5:8).
He growls and snarls and lunges at us to try to scare and intimidate us and to paralyze us with fear, but we can stand firm in our faith and “resist him” (v. 9).
When you feel the enemy taunting or tempting you, remember this: He’s no match for Jesus. We can cry out to Him and He’ll help us. He “will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (v. 10).
When we’re under spiritual attack, we can choose faith over fear because Jesus is always with us.
Nancy Gavilanes
INSIGHT
There’s a stark difference between how believers in Jesus are to relate to God and how we’re to respond to the devil. To confuse the two is unwise and dangerous. Humility—to trustingly bring oneself low in non-anxious dependence—is always in order before God Almighty (1 Peter 5:6-7).
On the other hand, we’re to be “alert and of sober mind” and must “resist” the devil (vv. 8-9), for he’s a prowling spiritual predator—the adversary of those who believe in Jesus.
James’ words echo those of Peter: “‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you” (James 4:6-8).
Revelation 12:9 speaks of the devil as “that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.” In Christ, however, by faith we can resist the devil and stand strong.
Arthur Jackson
APPLICATION
How do you react when you feel the enemy taunting or tempting you? How can you focus on Christ during spiritual battles?
PR’s (Pastor Richard) RE-EMPHASIS (From Today’s Post)
“When you feel the enemy taunting or tempting you, remember this: He’s no match for Jesus…When we’re under spiritual attack, we can choose faith over fear because Jesus is always with us.
”
PR’s TAKE
“… (Satan) who accuses (believers) before…God day and night.
has been defeated by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony…they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die (resisting him).” Revelation 12:10-11 nlt
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:10-12 esv
PRAYER
“Dear Jesus, thank You for always being there for me even during the toughest trials.”
TODAY’S HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“IN THE NAME OF JESUS I HAVE AUTHORITY” Keith Moore
In the name of Jesus I have authority
Over every sickness
Over ever disease
Over every demon
All of the enemy
In the name of Jesus I have authority
In the name of Jesus I have authority…
Resist the devil and he will flee
Stand against that problem
It will leave
You can’t just wait around
Hoping someday I’ll get free
Resist the devil and he will flee
Resist the devil and he will flee…
Complacency and passivity
Are a couple of nice words for unbelief
‘Cause you see you can’t just wait around
Hoping someday I’ll get free
Resist the devil and he will flee…
Oh resist the devil and he will flee
Resist the devil and he will flee
Resist the devil and he will flee
Oh resist the devil and he will flee
