1 Peter 5:8-10 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 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." This is a powerful verse. I am one who is a visual learner. Even when reading, I never just see the words. It is like a portrait being painted before me. So get ready to put on your visual glasses my friends.
Here we are with our family and we are out for an evening of laughter and closeness. We leave the house with smiles on our faces only to find ourselves feeling uncomfortable for some reason. What is that feeling of unsureness? While we are walking about and talking, here comes a raging lunatic. And not only is he blocking our path, he wants to take us down, stealing everything we have away. We stand and we see hate in his eyes. We see a man who wants to not only steal from us, but to kill. He glares at us and wants us to fear him, giving in to all his fiery anger. Does he just want money? No, he wants it all. He wants to take down the man, the head of the family, and then the wife, destroying that leadership. It is then he wants to attack the children. Separating is a game he loves to play. He likes to single one out and make them feel defenseless.
What would you do here in this picture? I know what you would do. You would fight for your family. You would stand and fight for life. You would do whatever possible to take down this man and unarm him. You would bring your family to safety and guard them with all you have. In this picture you would be vigilant. You would be steadfast. You would resist giving in to your fear and dig down deep for strength to overcome.
This is our life. This is our daily life my friends. Satan is out to kill, steal and destroy us at any cost. He knows each weakness. He lies in wait. He is seeking the moment when we are not looking to jump upon us and take us down. If can tear apart the man, the head of the home, then it is easier to get to the wife, the one who stands guard over her children with love. He gets in there where we least expect him and begins to tear apart our family piece by piece. If he cannot get to the man, the husband, he will attack the wife, bringing down the husband along with her. When the parents are fighting for their marriage it is then when their eyes are off their children he comes in and snatches them without warning. Satan is like a lion roaring, out of his cage, hungry and on the look out for the weakest link. He doesn't chase those who are in the pack, but those falling behind. Those not looking. Those who are not aware of their surroundings. This is why we must stand strong in our faith. Never giving Satan room in our lives. He likes to come in unnoticed. He disguises himself and is through the door before we know it unless we are watching diligently.
In our daily walk we get so blinded and we take our eyes off Christ and the moment we do, he is there. Satan is ready to attack. He doesn't attack where we are looking, but from those very blind spots we think are safe. In our faith we get so comfortable. We forget we are not up against flesh, but powers we do not see.
John 10:10 "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."
We must be watchful and diligent in our faith. We must take seriously the evils around us and be aware of all reality around us. Our greatest help is our faith in Jesus Christ. By digging into God's word we can see and know those spiritual pitfalls and be on the lookout for the trappings of this world. If Satan is cunning and cruel, wouldn't it benefit us to walk closer to Christ? Of course it would. Although we will be attacked. Although trials will come and we will face uncertainty we can do so with the power of the Holy Spirit. We can be rich in our faith and find strength in God's promises. There will come many battles, but my friends, Jesus Christ has already won the war! Satan has no power over Him or over you and I!! The only power Satan has over us is the power we give to him.
We must not walk in fear, but in certainty. We must be hindered by this world's evil. We can live in faith, knowing God is bigger than anything Satan can throw at us. What happens when a raging lion is coming in for attack? Should we run? Running and turning our back will only bring him closer. We must stand and in faith face the hungry beast. Victory will come when we remain grounded in our faith. Remember Daniel in the lions den? Daniel 6. He faced that situation in faith. What about David and Goliath? 1 Samuel 17 As small as David was he was in his faith he was bigger than Goliath. He was ready to stand. He did not turn away, but he was prepared to face anything because he knew God was on his side. We do not run from the fear, but face it in faith.
Ephesians 6:12 "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers of darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."
So, we know that we are not fighting just men in this world, but the evils behind them, Satan. So, we must guard our hearts and families by putting on the armor of God Ephesians 6:11-20. In our armor we must place on the Sword of the Spirit, which is God's word. His word is mighty and powerful. His word will light our path and guard us against Satan by filling us with knowledge and wisdom. When we do not read God's word, we are allowing Satan the upper hand in our lives. When we give a little, Satan takes a lot. We must live out each day as though we were fighting a battle for our lives. We must be vigilant in prayer. Prayer is power!!
Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 "We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed."
Today my friend do not live in fear, but in confidence with Christ Jesus!!
