Not Our Home #8 - Satan is Loud
1st Peter 5:6-11 - Victory Fellowship
June 4, 2023 - Rev. Roderick Grabski
You may recall that the Apostle Peter's audience in the early 60's A.D. was being severely persecuted for their faith. The Holy Spirit inspired Peter to share encouragement with them (and us) for how to live out our faith in such an environment. I have been sharing insight from Peter's letter to the churches in Northern Asia Minor. As Peter relates, there is hope of a better home awaiting - this world is not our home.
Ever notice how a 2 year old responds when you don’t let them have what they want? Calm and collected, right?
There’s a tendency to get loud when we don’t get our way. That is not of God, it’s of the Devil, because Satan is loud. Like a roaring lion.
In our text today, Peter admonishes that there is a way to quiet the Devil:
I. Submission to God (6) –Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time. In reality, this admonition is a continuation of the previous verse. Believers must be willing to humble themselves before the Lord, submitting fully to His will in order to overcome and enjoy victorious Christian life. We must realize our dependence upon the Lord – He is God, and we are not. Through being willing to humble ourselves before the Lord, we are promised that in His time, and according to His divine will, He will exalt us. Peter wants to provide assurance. Many in his day suffered greatly for their faith. Peter wants to remind them that their hope and provision were not tied to this world. God has a plan for every believer, and in His time, His plans will be fulfilled.
II. Place our burdens on God (7) – casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you. Peter shared one of the greatest promises for the believer in all of Scripture. We are encouraged to cast all of our care upon the Lord. He invites us to bring our burdens to Him so He can take our heavy load and bear it for us.
Matt.11:28-30 – Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Even if no one else is aware of or concerned with our need, we have a Savior who is always aware and interested in providing all we need to be victorious in Him.
III. We oppose Satan – Here Peter addressed the source of every believer’s conflict. We all must deal with an adversary who seeks to defeat and discourage those who desire to serve the Lord. In order to deal with our adversary, we must know how he operates:
A. First, Satan is Loud (8) – Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Peter described the devil like a roaring lion, walking around in search of those he can devour. The early believers were familiar with the ferocity and deadly nature of lions, having seen or heard of Christians being forced to face them in the Coliseums for sport and ghastly entertainment of the Romans. The enemy is real and actively works against those who seek to serve the Lord.
Facing such an adversary, we are admonished to be sober and vigilant. The word sober means more than refraining from excessive drink or substances that hinder sobriety. It also carries the idea of being watchful and observant. This goes hand in hand with being vigilant, referring to what one would expect. Just like a 2 year old rants when they don’t get their way, we can expect what the devil wants to do in our lives.
We must keep a watchful eye out for the attack of the enemy. He is continually seeking those he may devour. We must be wise to his tactics and remain alert for his attacks. He likes to work behind the scenes in deceptive ways. We cannot afford to let our guard down because he seeks any and every opportunity to attack.
B. Second, in our Faith we can resist Satan (9) – 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.
We are to stand against the enemy and oppose his advances. While we are instructed to flee the lusts of the flesh, we must stand firm in the faith in order to overcome the devil. Simply, we must not give in to his suggestions or succumb to his attacks. Being subtle, he will present situations in a way that seem appealing to entice us to sin, just as he did with Adam and Eve in the Garden.
1 Cor.10:13 – No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
Peter also reminds us that all believers face the same afflictions. The struggles and trials we face are not new to our generation and they are not specific to our lives. We are not the first to face such opposition and we definitely won’t be the last.
James 4:7 – Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
IV. God has our back – As Peter concluded this letter, he reminded the church of the provision we have from the Lord that enables us to abide faithful while resisting the devil.
A. First, we are established in our faith (10) – And 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.
Peter reminded believers that they were not left alone in this world apart from any external assistance. Their lives were kept by the power and grace of God, which would sustain them in this life and into eternal glory with Christ Jesus the Lord. This world had rejected their faith, persecuted them because of their faith, but God had not forsaken them. In the midst of their suffering and trials, they could rest in the marvelous grace of God.
Peter also assured them that their sufferings were actually beneficial. Through their struggles, God would restore them, establish them firmly in the faith, strengthen them, and settle them in the midst of chaos.
B. Second, to God be the Glory (11) – For the 2nd time in his letter, Peter offers this doxology, To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.
While Satan is loud and has some power, the Lord is sovereign over all.
They had nothing to fear in Christ. The Lord was worthy of their praise, receiving all the glory for the victorious lives they would enjoy through His gracious provision.
Conclusion: I think going through this first letter of Peter’s over the last few weeks continues to offer hope and strength to our lives. If we will but humble ourselves before the Lord, casting all of our care upon Him, He will provide the guidance and strength we need to overcome. If you are struggling today, if you are fearful of the loud roars of our society, I encourage you to seek the help and provision of the Lord.
If you don’t know Jesus, why not respond to His gracious offer of salvation by coming to Him in repentance and faith? If you want a deeper commitment to God, why not do that today. The loud roar of the Devil doesn’t want you to do that - but the still small voice of God’s Spirit is calling you.
PRAYER
SONG: Run Devil, Run
1st Peter 5:6-11: Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 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. And 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. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen. (NASB)
