Spiritual Struggle: Taking the Offense 1 Peter 5:9ff

Is Satan real? Are you a spiritual being? Are there evil beings? 1 Peter 5:8-10 Last time: 8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour… Is Satan real? Are you a spiritual being? Are there evil beings?

2 Kings 6:15-17 When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha. 1 Peter 5:8-10 “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire. Last time: 8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour… Is Satan real? An ancient creature of incredible intelligence and beauty

The body of Christ is the most serious threat ever faced by Satan… 1 Peter 5:8-10 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 Last time: 8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour… The body of Christ is the most serious threat ever faced by Satan… Ridicule Bribery...

The threat of the church: Our Response 1 Peter 5:9-10 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. The threat of the church: “I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” Mt.16:18

Our Response 1 Peter 5:9-10 Fortress Theology “Resist him” means… Go on the Offense (not defense!) Fortress Theology “I will build My church; and the gates of the Church will not be overpowered…” Guard the faithful from evil influences! Construct a safe environment… Fragile, weak & hidden…

Our Response 1 Peter 5:9-10 “Resist him” means… Go on the Offense (not defense!) Not, “Therefore, HUDDLE…” Not like Israel: was an enclave. PRO-CULTURE Dangerous! Mt 28:19 “Therefore GO and make disciples of all nations...” 1 Cor. 9:22 I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might rescue some. Jn 17:15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.

Our Response 1 Peter 5:9-10 “Resist him” means… Go on the Offense (not defense!) PLUNDER! I.e., refuting falsehood… 2Cor 10:5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ “How can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.” Matt.12:29

Our Response 1 Peter 5:9-10 “Resist him” means… “Firm in your faith” = Substance! 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.

Our Response 1 Peter 5:9-10 Eph. 6:14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. “Resist him” means… “Firm in your faith” = Substance! “Firm… Faith”

Our Response 1 Peter 5:9-10 Eph. 6:14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. “Resist him” means… “Firm in your faith” = Substance! “Firm… Faith”

Our Response 1 Peter 5:9-10 Eph. 6:14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. “Resist him” means… “Firm in your faith” = Substance! That I may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, Philippians 3:9 “Firm… Faith” “The accuser of our brethren…” Rev.12:10

Our Response 1 Peter 5:9-10 Eph. 6:14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,“ Hebrews 13:5 “Resist him” means… “Firm in your faith” = Substance! “Firm… Faith”

Our Response 1 Peter 5:9-10 Eph. 6:14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. “Resist him” means… “Firm in your faith” = Substance! “Firm… Faith”

Our Response 1 Peter 5:9-10 Eph. 6:14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable… 1 Peter 1:7 “Resist him” means… “Firm in your faith” = Substance! …God has allotted to each a measure of faith. Romans 12:3 “Firm… Faith”

Our Response 1 Peter 5:9-10 Eph. 6:14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:17 “Resist him” means… “Firm in your faith” = Substance! “Firm… Faith”

Our Response 1 Peter 5:9-10 “Resist him” means… “Firm in your faith” = Substance! A Truth Encounter 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 of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ

Our Response 1 Peter 5:9-10 “Resist him” means… But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. 2 Cor. 11:3 “Resist him” means… “Firm in your faith” = Substance! A Truth Encounter “Will I believe what God says, or what Satan says?” Last week, Satan is a creature of… Incredible intelligence “The father of lies” The great “deceiver”

Our Response 1 Peter 5:9-10 “Resist him” means… “Firm in your faith” = Substance! A Truth Encounter A Personal Anchor… …With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints Eph. 6:18 Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me. Romans 15:30

Our Response 1 Peter 5:9-10 “Resist him” means… “Firm in your faith” = Substance! A Truth Encounter A Personal Anchor… 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. 1 Peter 5:9 …be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints Eph. 6:18

The Result… 1 Peter 5:10 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. God will provide refreshment!