1 Peter 5:8-14 | We Fight In A Spiritual Battle

1 Peter 5:8-14
We Fight in a Spiritual Battle

I. Introduction

1. We will close our study in 1 Peter today.
2. Peter is going to close with one final exhortation to be aware and resist the devil.
3. Materialism declares that all things are dependent upon physical processes. 
4. The spiritual realm is dismissed and therefore any discussion about a real being that is evil such as Satan is mocked.
5. Yet from Genesis to Revelation the writers of the New Testament and Jesus all believed that such a foe exists.
6. Peter will not seek to prove the existence of Satan but rather reminds the Church that they are engaged in a spiritual battle and should be prepared.
   1. There is a pendulum swing that can occur here: Satan is behind everything There is no spiritual realm

II. v. 8 Identify your enemy.

⁸ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.^[1]

1. v. 8 He is a spiritual foe.
   1. He is called the devil.
   2. Devil, (Greek. diabolos), a slanderer
      1. Or as Easton’s puts it the archenemy of man’s spiritual interest  
   3. He accuses us before God, but also in our head.
      1. How do you know if it is Satan or Jesus? Jesus is nice. If you start feeling distanced from God, then you can be assured it is not Jesus.
   4. Paul also spoke very specifically about our enemy.
      
      Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
      
   5. The division of our enemy (cf. Eph 6:12) into these categories speaks to the fact that our enemy is well organized and has an order of command in his attempts to influence your decisions.
      1. We are not told when he fell, but it does seem reasonable that this took place when he had seen God create man.
      2. Since then, a tactic of his has been to convince humans that he does not exist. This is a great tactical advantage. Think of a battle where a general could convince his opposition he was not on the other side of the wall.
2. v. 8 He is a roaring lion.
   1. The picture of Satan here is not as a crouching lion, angel of light or a cunning serpent.
   2. This no doubt has reference to the persecution that these believers were experiencing.
   3. This reference is not to the crafty side of our enemy but rather to the full-on frontal attack through the means of persecution.
3. v. 8 He is a devourer.
   1. Think of this term as conveying the crouching lion versus the roaring lion.
   2. The end goal of Satan is to destroy and whether that comes through a frontal attack of persecution or stealth we must be aware.
      1. History tells us that it is not the persecution of the church that is a danger to spiritual health but rather when the church is at peace.
   3. Satan will use stealth to ensnare the individual in his destructive plans.
      
      Satan does not openly appear, He approaches us not in repulsive forms but comes to recommend some plausible doctrine, to lay before us some temptation that shall not immediately repel us. He presents the world in an alluring aspect; invites to pleasures that seem to be harmless; and leads us in indulgence, until we have gone so far that we cannot retreat.^[2]
      
   4. Most are okay with this quote up to the “cannot retreat” portion. Some offer an objection here that God always makes a way out. The problem with this is that God does make the way out or many ways out, but these ways can be ignored to our detriment.
      1. Think of a highway that is being worked on to complete it. There are plenty of off ramps starting miles away from the construction. If someone ignores the signs to exit and proceeds through the barricades, the result is death. This did not happen because there was no way out.
   5. He seeks for those he MAY devour.
      1. I think of National Geographic here. It is always fascinating to watch the lions hunt. You will notice they never run directly into the center of the field; they look to pick off the stragglers on the edges. It is my desire to never be on the outskirts or one that MAY be devoured.
      2. Our spiritual foe seeks to lure us into apathy so that he MAY devour us.
      3. Be on guard to never be found in that “MAY” state.
         1. He can’t devour everyone. The choice is on our part to be easy prey or not.
   6. The devil, since the Garden of Eden, seeks to keep man from obeying and enjoying a relationship with God.
   7. Satan wants to destroy the joy of your salvation.
      1. He wants to destroy your family, your faith, and your testimony among friends.
      2. He is not looking to simply annoy you he wants to destroy you.

III. vv. 8-9 How we are to fight.

1. v. 8 Be sober.
   1. We are called to be circumspect or alert to the objective of Satan.
   2. The believer should be clear-headed, carefully paying attention to the evil intent of our enemy.
2. v. 8 Be vigilant.
   1. It means to be in a constant state of readiness.
   2. In the physical realm it meant to stay awake or be awakened.
   3. We should be cautious in the way in which we live our life.
   4. Aware that we have an enemy seeking to destroy us.
3. Both of these exhortations are meant to bring us to the place where we recognize the danger and therefore make appropriate precautions.
   1. Too many believers live their spiritual life as if they have no foe.
   2. The believer that is walking soberly and vigilantly will be a believer that is not taking unnecessary risks.
      
      1 Corinthians 6:12 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
      
      1 Corinthians 10:23 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.
      
      1. For far too many the apathy with which the Christian life is lived lacks wisdom.
      2. They make decisions and argue for their so-called liberties, bringing them right into the enemy’s camp.
      3. Yet because there is no direct violation of Scripture, they reason this is acceptable.
         1. I liken this to coffee connoisseurs. When they seek the best coffee, they go after this with such fervor. Yet, when we deal with our life we don’t seek the best.
         2. Another example goes back to our National Geographic scene. We always have the freedom to graze on the edges of the pasture. But why? That is the easiest spot to be picked off. I prefer to graze in the center closest to the shepherd where it is safe.
   3. What that person fails to realize is that they do have an enemy.
   4. They are without any sobriety or vigilance in their walk.
      1. A question to address here is how to know when something is a liberty. Liberties may be different, but if a liberty is causing damage to your life, then it is not a liberty.
4. v. 9 Resist him.
   
   ⁹ Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
   
   1. We are to resist the temptations he throws our way.
   2. We are to say no to his offering to sin and compromise.
   3. So often we seek to fight against the enemy with our own strategies and the arm of the flesh.
      1. Some have sophisticated arguments for why you should indulge the flesh, but we need to get to a place where we let everyone be a liar and God be true. We need to be Psalm 119 believers.
         
         2 Cor 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
         
   4. The strength to stand our spiritual ground is developed not in that moment of temptation but in:
      1. Prayer time
         1. Peter was exhorted to pray.
         2. The disciples in the garden were told to pray lest they fall into temptation.
         3. This is much like an approaching storm. If gale force wind is headed in your direction the best place to be is low.
      2. Time in the Word – 1 John says the young men overcame Satan because the Word of God was abiding in them.
         1. Prayer and the Word are where God can prepare you for what is to come.
         2. But this is a perpetual need. Imagine preparing for an arduous hike to the top of a mountain. If you start your training just a week before, you are going to be found dead on the side of the mountain.
   5. Don’t seek to try and take on darkness through carnal means.
      1. We are no match for the enemy when we seek to fight in his arena.
      2. If we seek to battle the enemy in the Lord’s arena we will see amazing victories by the hand of the Lord.
5. Note that nowhere in the New Testament is the believer commanded to have demons cast out.
   1. Nor is there ANY example of such a thing happening.
   2. Satan can:
      1. Tempt.
      2. Buffet (physical effects) [1 Cor 12:7].
      3. He wrestles with us (Eph 6:12).
      4. We don’t read “possess.”
   3. What are the commands associated with the believer and Satan?
      1. Resist. (James and Peter)
      2. Be sober. (1 Peter)
      3. Be vigilant. (1 Peter)
      4. Do not give place to the devil. (Eph 2:7)
      5. Be armed with spiritual armor. (Eph 6)
      6. To pray. (Jesus to Peter)
      7. To abide in the Word of God. (1 John)
6. v. 9 Know that you are not alone in the fight.
   1. Don’t feel like you are the only one that has to deal with the trouble Satan brings your way.
      1. We often go through things so that we can share with others.
      2. A danger here is if we allow for exemptions (as in, I am a special case), how far does this go? It seems capable of excusing an unending number of things.
   2. Satan is working to bring down all believers and your struggle is just one story of millions.
   3. Walk in the timeless counsel given to us in the Word of God and experience the victory God has promised.

IV. v. 10 The fruit of suffering.

¹⁰ But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

1. v. 10a In contrast to our enemy who wants to destroy us there is God who wants to bless us.
   1. Satan seeks to devour but God calls us to eternal glory.
   2. “God has several tools which He uses to equip His people for life and service, and suffering is one of them.”^[3]
2. v. 10b Suffering will happen before the glory is experienced in eternity.
3. Perfect – to equip, arrange, or adjust.
   1. The trials that come (whatever the source) work to build the character we need.
   2. They will make us mature and experienced in the faith.
4. Establish – to make firm.
   1. Trials and suffering will give us the ability to stand in the face of hardships.
5. Strengthen – Satan would love for attacks, trials, and temptations to weaken us.
   1. God takes these negative forces and makes us stronger.
   2. What Satan intends for evil the Lord uses for good.
6. Settle – lay the foundation (very similar to the word “establish” used previously).
   1. The Lord desires that every disciple to have a strong foundation.
   2. Allow suffering to settle you and not upset you.
      1. Imagine a parent that never lets their child fall. That child would never be established and settled. We have to let them fall to build that strength to stand and walk on their own.

V. v. 11 Praise him in the storm.

¹¹ To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1. Worship should be our response to the work He does in us through suffering.
2. Peter, thinking of how the Lord has called us and is working in us through the trouble we face, responds with “glorify the Lord.”
3. Far from being the destruction of our faith God uses all evil to establish us.

VI. vv. 12-14 Closing.

¹² By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.  ¹³ She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my son.  ¹⁴ Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

1. Silvanus or Silas was probably the one who carried this letter to the believers.
2. With all of the trials and suffering Peter affirms they have the “true grace of God.”
3. The epistles of the New Testament give a special place to greet one another.
   1. This was certainly a courtesy and very well may have been common among many letters of that day. But these greetings teach us a special lesson in the spiritual realm.
   2. We need to develop relationships with each other.
   3. We need to take the time to say hello and share love with one another.

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[1]  All Scripture quotations are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.

[2] Albert Barnes, “Ephesians,” in Notes on the New Testament: Ephesians, Philippians & Colossians, ed. Robert Frew (London: Blackie & Son, 1884–1885), 15.

[3] Warren W. Wiersbe, “1 Peter,” in The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton: Victor Books, 1996), 434.