Welcome to Day 2419 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

Day 2419 – Standing Nose-to-Nose With the Adversary – Daily Wisdom

Putnam Church Message – 07/07/2024

Our Fiery Ordeal – Standing Nose-to-Nose with the Adversary. 1 Peter 5:8-14

Last week, we compared worldly success with Biblical success. We settled on the formula for Biblical Success: submission to others + humility before God – worry of the world = genuine relief.

Today’s passage is 1 Peter 5:8-14, on page 1892 of your Pew Bibles.

 ⁸ Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

¹⁰ And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. ¹¹ To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

¹² With the help of Silas,^[b] whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.

¹³ She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. ¹⁴ Greet one another with a kiss of love.

Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

We now arrive at the end of Peter’s powerful letter of hope in hurtful times. Peter sounds the battle alarm (5:8-14). He draws the army’s attention to their spiritual opponent, who is planning his evil strategy behind their fiery trials (5:8). He tells the soldiers of Christ how the enemy can be defeated (5:9). He reminds us that the fierce conflict will soon be over and that we will one day emerge as victors (5:10). Finally, he points to Christ, who will ultimately triumph and exercise dominion over all (5:11).

— 5:8 —

Whoever lives under the impression that Satan doesn’t exist is living in a dream world. Peter identifies and describes the devil in 5:8 in clear, unmistakable terms.

Satan goes by several titles throughout the Bible. In 5:8, Peter uses the terms “enemy” (antidikos) and “devil” (diabolos). Diabolos refers to how he falsely accuses God’s people.  In Revelation 9:11, he is called Abaddon and Apollyon, meaning “Destroyer,” titles that refer to his destructiveness. It could refer to a single divine being or multiple evil beings. These and other labels for the adversary describe him as a dangerous, destructive deceiver who slanders and accuses us at every opportunity. Revelation 12:9-10 describes Satan’s final fall from the heavens in vivid terms that reveal both his nature and his activity. Some scholars believe these verses in Revelation refer to when Christ took on flesh and came to earth.

⁹ This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.

¹⁰ Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens,

“It has come at last—
salvation and power
and the Kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Christ.^[a]
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters^[b]
has been thrown down to earth—
the one who accuses them
before our God day and night.

I take Satan very seriously. No, I’m not intimidated by him. I’m not afraid of him. But I don’t underestimate his power to inflict significant harm on people through temptation, deception, and destruction. Satan is the source of all kinds of pain and suffering in the world, even in the lives of believers. His activities may come in subtle forms of temptation and discouragement. Or he may unleash absolute fury, tragedy, and destruction. We can’t ignore the potential damage he can do to our physical and spiritual lives.

However, there is no reason to overestimate Satan’s power. Too many Christians do this. It reminds me of the sitcom from the 70s called The Flip Wilson Show, where his tagline was: “The Devil Made Me Do It.” They believe that anything bad that happens to them comes directly from the devil or his minions. This is as much a mistake as underestimating his power. Satan isn’t the immediate cause of all suffering and sin. Fallen, depraved human beings can do enough damage to themselves and others without the devil’s prodding. Furthermore, the world system offers its own evil allurements that can take a vicious toll on the believer’s walk. (Planting & Harvesting)

Acting on these two extremes—attributing too much or too little power to Satan—leads either to overreaction or a lack of preparation. So, an awareness of some of Satan’s tactics is necessary for believers. One writer notes,

Unless he understood his enemy, no military commander could expect to be victorious in battle. Should he prepare for an attack by land and ignore the possibility that the enemy might approach by air or sea, he would open the way to defeat. Or should he prepare for a land and sea attack and ignore the possibility of an attack through air, he would undoubtedly jeopardize the campaign.

No individual can be victorious against the enemy of our souls unless he understands that enemy, his philosophy, his methods of operation, and his methods of temptation.

GOD VERSUS SATAN?

1 PETER 5:8

People often think that Satan is the exact opposite of God—that he is God’s mortal enemy, and that the forces of good and evil have battled each other for eons. But this picture is not accurate at all according to the biblical view of God and Satan.

The ancient Zoroastrians believed in dualism—that two equally powerful gods, good and evil, stood in opposition. These two gods engaged in immortal combat with each other over the obedience of humans.

This ancient dualistic image of the spiritual realm has influenced many pagan religions and has even worked its way into popular art and culture. Various ancient heresies advanced a dualistic view of the world that split divinity into balancing forces of good and evil. Numerous superstitious Christians of the medieval period viewed God as the good and Satan as the evil influence in the world. And even today, Star Wars films have popularized the idea of a “Force” with a light and a dark side.

But the Bible teaches that Satan is just an angelic creature of God (Ezek. 28:12-16; cf. Ps. 148:2_; 5; Col. 1:16) who can do nothing apart from God’s control or permission (Job 1:1-12; Luke 22:31). He maybe an equal-but- opposite counterpart of the archangel Michael (Jude 1:9; Rev. 12:7), but nobody in heaven or earth is an equal of God—opposite or otherwise. Yet he is also the enemy and accuser of humans (Zech. 3:1-2; 1 Pet. 5:8). While we must not deny that Satan has the power to attack and ensnare us (Eph. 4:27; 6:11; 1 Tim. 3:7), we must also guard against attributing to Satan more power than he has.

Peter calls Satan our “great enemy, the devil” (5:8). And because he’s on the prowl like a lion hunting for prey to devour, we must be “of sober mind” and remain “on the alert.”

Like wanderers in the wild savannahs of Africa, we must always be aware that we’re being hunted. The lion lurks quietly in tall grass, stalking our every step, waiting for a moment to catch us off guard. He’ll strike if we stray from the group,| put down our weapons,| or doze in the sun. Satan knows our weaknesses and our strengths. He’s spent thousands of years observing humankind and becoming an expert on human nature. Satan knows the depths of your depravity far better than you do. We must never forget that we are his prey and that this roaring lion is ravenous with hunger.

Satan’s style is to prowl and pounce when we least expect it, which explains our need to be alert and sober. His one purpose is to destroy us— our testimonies, our hope, our holiness, and, if possible, our lives. Therefore, we must be aware of his tactics and respect his power. In the same way that a Pacific islander might respect the volcano’s power or a sailor would respect the devastating might of a hurricane at sea, we must never underestimate the adversary’s ability to outwit, deceive, and attack us.

— 5:9 —

What are we to do when standing nose-to-nose with the enemy? Panic? Run? Surrender? No! Peter says, “Resist him, standing firm in the faith” (5:9). The word “resist” (anthistëmi) means “stand against” to “oppose.” But this command is met with a vital qualification. We don’t resist Satan with confidence in our own power or ability. Any time we do that, we’re overmatched. We are to be firm in our faith. Peter certainly isn’t speaking of faith in self, other humans, some method, mantra, or gimmick. Instead, we stand with unshakable faith in our all-powerful God, relying on His defense to stand against the wicked works of the devil and the evil ones.

James affirms the need to stand confidently against Satan in the shadow of God’s mighty presence (Jas. 4:7-8).  ⁷ So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. In his letter to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul expresses the same wise counsel: ¹⁰ A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. (Eph. 6:10-11). Peter, James, and Paul knew believers can experience decisive victory over Satan. They knew that although our strength is insufficient in and of itself, when we turn to our Lord and draw on His limitless power through faith, we can stand against the enemy.

Peter adds another source of strength: the confidence that comes from knowing that we’re not fighting alone (5:9). A great army of saints, stretching throughout history to present-day believers, has taken part in the relentless battle. Our hope is strengthened when we remember that believers are standing shoulder to shoulder with each other across the globe in the same spiritual battle, enduring the same kinds of suffering, facing the same obstacles, and experiencing the same type of victory. The strength that comes from God’s caring and praying community cannot be appreciated enough. Support groups and prayer chains are popular for a reason—they work! God designed the body of Christ to function this way. Remember, we’re not Lone Rangers doing hand-to-hand combat with a superior foe. Instead, we’re a platoon of vigilant soldiers watching each other’s backs, awaiting a victory assured by the power of God.

–5:10-11 —

Though victory is certain, Peter reminds us that suffering and pain will accompany the battle. No one who has endured an enemy attack emerges without some measure of pain. The battle will shake us, shock us, and often leave ugly scars. But what happens when the dust settles? Peter lists the benefits that come with God’s heavenly version of the Purple Heart: (Bulletin Insert)

• He will perfect us.
• He will confirm us.
• He will strengthen us.
• He will establish us.

Peter paints the picture of a well-grounded, seasoned warrior who comes through the battle with maturity and stability that couldn’t have been developed any other way. But even as we go through the necessary fiery ordeal that God allows to refine, strengthen, and grow us, we can continue to have hope because of four unforgettable truths. Every believer should inscribe them in their mind. The suffering is only “for a little while” (5:10a). It is accompanied by God’s grace and calling (5:10b). It has a holy purpose that reverses and spites Satan’s pursuits (5:10c). And through it all, thankfully, God remains in control (5:11).

In light of these truths, let’s not confuse confidence in Christ with cockiness in the flesh. Never attempt to stand on your own, to wage war against the flesh,| the world,| and the devil| by your own means or with your own methods. As Proverbs 21:31 says, The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord. Always remember that suffering is temporary, but God’s rewards are eternal. Paul expresses our hope eloquently: Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. (Rom. 8:18).

–5:12-14 —

If you had been a member of the original Greek-speaking recipients of this letter, you would have noticed a sudden change in 1 Peter 5:12. The style of writing would have suddenly shifted from the elegant, flowing handwriting of a cultured composer to the large, deliberate script of a rugged fisherman. The grammar, syntax, and vocabulary in the greek immediately change. At this point, it becomes obvious that Peter’s secretary, Silas, has handed the pen to the aged apostle, who concludes his letter with his own calloused hand.

Besides noting that his loyal brother in ministry, Silas (Silvanus), had assisted in writing the letter, Peter’s final lines reaffirm the overall appeal. Because we hold true faith in a trustworthy God, we are to stand firm in God’s grace (5:12). Amid all oppression, mistreatment, temptation, or trials, we can endure with hope because of the sustaining power of God. In short, through Christ, we can have unwavering hope.

¹³ Your sister church here in Babylon^[d] sends you greetings, and so does my son Mark. Believers in the early church had a great sense of kinship with fellow believers and churches worldwide. This concern for other Christian churches besides our own is an important lesson to remember today.

Peter’s mention of “Babylon,” was probably symbolic for Rome. This name was the code language for Rome in both Jewish and Christian circles in the first and second centuries.

Finally, who is the “Mark” mentioned at the end of verse 13? Peter calls him “my son,” though this need not be taken literally, as the term is often used concerning a close assistant or even convert in the faith (1 Tim. 1:2; Titus 1:4). So this probably refers to “John Mark” (Acts 12:12,25; 15:37). This illustrates the essential unity of the apostles’ ministries despite strong disagreement along the way. Very early Christian history tells us that this same Mark is responsible for the Gospel that bears his name. This Gospel has always been regarded as Mark’s record of Peter’s firsthand account. It was likely written while Mark was with Peter in Rome, close to the writing of 1 Peter.

Peter ends this remarkable letter of hope by reemphasizing love and peace. Believers were to greet one another with a “kiss of love” (5:14). This formal kiss was a sign of peace among early Christians, demonstrating their brotherly affection, commitment, and unity (1 Cor. 16:20). The outward kiss reflected the inward peace between believers. This is why he can write, Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

Looking back at Peter’s letter as a whole, we see these final themes of love, unity, peace, faith, grace, and hope running throughout the letter. He has certainly taken us on a sobering—but encouraging—journey. In short, Peter’s magnificent letter accomplishes the vital purpose of providing essential hope in hurtful times.

APPLICATION: 1 PETER 5:8-14

Don’t Peter Out!

I can’t speak for you, but Peter’s life and ministry give me hope. When I consider how that rough-hewn Galilean went from failure to faithfulness through God’s transforming grace, I can’t help but think that God can do the same for you and me. We can learn at least three key lessons from Peter’s example.

First, failure in the past does not nullify purpose in the future. People will try to persuade you (and you’ll sometimes convince yourself) that God follows a “one strike and you’re out” rule: If you mess things up, He’ll check you off and move on to somebody more reliable and faithful. Think of Peter if you’re ever tempted to think God has written you off in His plan. After three strikes, he counted himself out, but Christ deliberately restored him, lifting him to a place of leadership among his fellow disciples. I don’t believe Peter could have ever led in the infant church had he not come to full terms with Christ’s absolute forgiveness of his blatant denials. He received God’s forgiveness and, in the process, forgave himself. He saw himself as God saw him, wiped clean and released from the guilt and shame of his past. Don’t think for a moment that failure in your past nullifies God’s plans for your future.

Second, a broken heart is great preparation for healing fractured lives. Paul said that God He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. (2 Cor. 1:4). Who better than Peter could lead a thriving ministry of reconciliation, proclaiming God’s unconditional forgiveness through Jesus Christ? He knew the frailty of humanity, the weak interiors masked by bold veneers, the tendency to fall no matter how hard a person tries to stand. So, as he ministered to distressed believers teetering at the brink of their own precipice, he can encourage them from personal experience to pick themselves up and press on. The same is true for you and me. We suffer hardships, survive crises, and recover from failures for a reason. God wants to use these very experiences from our past to minister to others in similar circumstances. A broken heart is great preparation for healing fractured lives.

Third, one note of hope brings more encouragement than a thousand thoughts never expressed. From distant Rome, amid a busy ministry of his own, Peter felt the need to write to beleaguered believers in a region two seas away. He could easily have left them in the care of another. Instead, he took the time to write what he called a “brief letter.” That compassionate expression made all the difference in their lives. Some of you listening know of individuals who are struggling through tough times and could use your encouragement. You’ve been there. You know what to say and what not to say. Please write or call them. Give them something real to hold on to_, a tangible sign that they are not alone, that somebody out there cares. Take Peter’s life as an example and bridge the gap between remote concern and real action. Knowing that one note of hope brings more encouragement than a thousand thoughts never expressed, I urge you to take the next step. Take the time to connect and bring a ray of hope into someone’s dark and discouraging world!

Next week, we will begin the letter of 2 Peter. Peter first will focus on Exhortation to Spiritual Maturity in a message titled ‘A Fruitful Faith.’ Invest time reading 2 Peter 1:1-11 for next week’s message.