1peter5v8-11 - World War

World War

1 Peter 5:8-11

"A group of academics and historians has compiled this startling information: Since 3600 B.C., the world has known only 292 years of peace! During this period there have been 14,351 wars large and small, in which 3.64 billion people have been killed.

"The value of the property destroyed is equal to a golden belt around the world 97.2 miles wide and 33 feet thick. Since 650 B.C., there have also been 1,656 arms races, only 16 of which have not ended in war. The remainder ended in the economic collapse of the countries involved."

(pause)

"It's been estimated that between 1945 and 1989, around 20 million people were killed in 91 wars. In the same book, (also [between] 1945 and 1989) it lists 208 coups and revolutions.

"One country (Bolivia) had 192 coups between 1825 and 1981. Ever since God created this planet, it's been a war zone… ."

Sometimes, we may be tempted to view war as a strange and uncommon thing. Our nation has been part of numerous wars. The Civil War was especially devastating in terms of lives lost and the destruction of much of our nation. Then the two world wars showed us vividly the horrors of evil, destruction and death.

Today, we have the tendency, it seems, to avoid the term “war”. We instead call incidents "conflicts" (the Korean conflict), "operations", such as Operation Desert Storm, or “special military operations” (Putin’s invasion of Ukraine), instead of calling them what they are - war.

Furthermore, with the advancement of technology, war today can be - and is - fought on different levels than what we traditionally call war.

Cyber warfare truly is happening, to a certain extent, on a constant basis as various individuals or groups try to hack into military establishments, various businesses, or even utility companies.

But there are also real "wars" being fought around the world. The war between Russia and Ukraine has impacted our entire world.

There have been many warnings that this conflict could result in World War III. Some insist that we already are in World War III.

While this war in Ukraine is important - and some have suggested is the start of another world war - I would like to remind you that we are already in a world war.

(PAUSE)

What do I mean?

(pause)

We are in a world war in the spiritual realms between the people of God and the forces of Hell.

Big Idea: The Christian is a soldier in a world war!

This is what our scripture text talks to us about. 1 Peter 5:8-11 give us needed instruction so that we can wage spiritual warfare successfully against Satan and the demons of Hell.

Look again to our text.

1 Peter 5:8 KJV

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

The Greek word for "sober-minded" is also used in 1 Peter 1:13. Tyndale's New Testament Commentary says that this command

"... forbids not only physical drunkenness but also ... letting the mind wander into any other kind of mental intoxication or addiction which inhibits spiritual alertness, or any laziness of mind which lulls Christians into sin through carelessness (or 'by default')."

The Greek word for "vigilant" is a word

"... which also indicates spiritual alertness, with perhaps more of an emphasis on one's focus of attention... The opposite of this sober watchfulness is a kind of spiritual drowsiness in which one sees and responds to situations no differently than unbelievers, and God's perspective on each event is seldom if ever considered."

In other words, Peter is telling us that if we want to be victorious in this world war against sin and Satan…

1. We must become aware of life's spiritual dimension, v. 8.

In our Western mindset today, we tend to downplay or ignore the spiritual dimension in life. Our worldview concept has been shaped very largely by the scientific method.

If we can see it, if we can touch it, if we can  prove that things exist by developing a theory, setting up an experiment, and then testing our hypothesis, tweaking it here and there until we observe what we expected - that's our way of looking at life.

Maybe it would be easier to visualize. For the Westerner, basically life is made of up the physical dimension. Now, as Christians we believe that there is a spiritual realm. But because our Western mindset we tend to only view a small part of our physical life as intertwining with the spiritual.

Interestingly, when you study other cultures - such as those in Latin America, Africa, or Asia - you find a much greater overlap in how the people view spirituality.

In fact, in some cultures the spiritual realm is so intertwined with the physical, that for such cultures even cutting down a tree has spiritual ramifications.

I don't think we need to go that far! But I would suggest that the spiritual dimension of life has a much greater impact on our world than what we may give it credit for. We need to be aware of life's spiritual dimension.

Yes, we look at the events that take place in our community, our nation, and the world. We note various factors that result in these events and our responses to them. But we should also recognize that there are spiritual forces at work.

When we consider our personal life, we may think we are just incredibly weak regarding various temptations. We may attribute the weather to making us feel us discouraged.

We may feel like we just don't have the discipline or the stamina to develop certain habits, such as reading the Bible or praying. This all may be true, but we should also recognize that there are spiritual forces at work, doing their best to distract, discourage, and defeat us.

The same is true for our church. We may see a lack of commitment among the Christians as just their failure to be loyal. We may see a discouraged attitude in the service as attributed to the weather or a variety of other factors.

Yet we should not overlook how the devil is also working to cause this lack of unity. We should not be unaware of how he tries to rob us of the joy of feeling God's presence as a faith community.

Yes, we do need to be careful to keep a balance here. No, the devil doesn't make that little boy disobedient. Disobedience is the choice of the individual. Yet we might need to recognize that the disobedience may not be do to waking up on the wrong side of the bed, but that it is the devil putting all sorts of thoughts in that little boy's head.

Brother Andrew writes,

"On many occasions when we visited Christians in the communist countries, they told us that they had an easier life than we in the West. "We know who our enemy is," they would say, "but you do not.'"

Remember those definitions of what it means to “sober-minded” and “vigilant”? Being sober-minded is not talking just about being drunk, but allowing anything - even good things - to deaden our spiritual senses.

Are we careful not to allow the busyness of life - work, family, school, and more - to blind us to spiritual realities? Are we paying attention to the voice of the Holy Spirit? Are we staying alert?

Secondly, our text instructs us that in this world war, we Christian soldiers…

2. We must resist the devil's attacks, v. 9.

1 Peter 5:9 KJV

Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Malcolm Collins was a missionary in Africa. Here is what he said you should do if you ever come into contact with a hungry lion.

"The first thing to remember is that you should never try to flee. That would mean certain death. The lion can run much faster than we can. Next, you should try to look very brave and stare right into the lion's eyes. If you are successful, he will back down and run away.

"However, if that does not work, you should be prepared for the lion to attack you. Have your spear ready so that when he leaps upon you, he will land on the spear and be killed!" (Preacher's Commentary)

One commentary states,

"The roaring lion, known in Bible times and even to this day, is the king of the pride of lions--not because he is the most powerful lion in the family, but because of what he once was.

"You see, the roaring lion is the oldest lion in the pride. His teeth are worn. His feet are slow. He's not as quick as he once was, nor as powerful as he used to be.

"Therefore, his assignment is to hide in the grass until an unsuspecting impala or deer comes walking through. Then he is to stand up and roar.

"Hearing this, the deer or impala runs away from the roar of the lion--right to the place where all of the young, virile lions are waiting. In so doing, he runs to his death.

"If you could give counsel to the impala or the deer in the savannahs of Africa, you'd say, 'If you walk through a grassy area and hear a roar, whatever you do, don't run. Don't be afraid. Just go toward the roar. Resist, resist, resist. Don't run.'"

Another important note concerning this scripture is this: Peter pictures the Christian here as part of a community - an army. We are not alone in our fight against sin.

We are part of God's Church and we must resist the devil together. We must close ranks and stand shoulder to shoulder, and advance forward against our enemy. By doing this, we will achieve victory!

(pause)

How does the devil attack the Christian? The following is not an exhaustive list, but let me suggest six "d"s.

Discouragement

First, the devil attacks us with discouragement. Maybe the devil will tell you that you aren't a very good Christian because you keep on having all these thoughts (that he is putting in your head). You might as well give up.

Or, the devil tells the church that it cannot grow, it cannot make an impact on the world. "You might as well not go to church tonight," the devil says. "The songs will be dull, the preaching will be boring, and nobody will miss you."

Dissension

The devil attacks us also with dissension. The devil is quick to point out how so-and-so is unkind or unspiritual in some way and how another so-and-so was rude.

Or the devil will tell us that we need to hold on to our opinions about various matters in the church because our way is the only way to go - even if it causes disunity. After all, we're in the right; it's those others who are being unspiritual by disagreeing with us!

Doubt

The devil attacks us with doubt - doubt about God's goodness, God's faithfulness, God's fairness. We become filled with worry, unrest, and despair.

Distraction

The devil fights with distraction. He distracts us in our time of personal devotions. He distracts us from our passion for serving God with all sorts of toys, hobbies, work, family, etc.

He distracts us in our time of worship by thinking about all our problems at work or home, or about that hobby we want to get back to. One of the favorite times the devil likes to distract us is during the altar call - a crying baby, or people talking to each other about something that cannot wait until after the service, etc.

Discontentment

The devil fights us with discontentment. He tells us about all these things we just have to have. He makes us feel like life is unbearable because we don't have ________.

This tactic is a primary method the devil uses to lead us to sin. We become covetous for what we do not have and cannot obtain. So, in the least, we lust. In the most, we lie, cheat, steal, etc. to get whatever it is.

Disease

The devil fights us with disease. It may be a spiritual disease of apathy, carnality, or something else. This method of attack even crosses into the physical realm. The devil sometimes the church by causing people to get sick. Then, if the church is not careful, they can become discouraged, etc., etc.

How do we respond to the devil's attacks? Our scripture tells us to resist the devil. We don't run from the devil's attacks. Maybe this is a different idea than what we usually expect to hear.

We often encourage people to flee from temptation, don't we? And, in certain contexts, that is the most appropriate response.

But in this text, Peter commands us to resist the devil! And, he tells us that if we will resist the devil, the devil will flee from us.

Jon Courson applies this scripture by pointing to an Old Testament warrior, a soldier who served under King David. 2 Samuel 23:20-23 tell the story of this man named Benaiah.

In these four verses, the writer tells of several outstanding deeds Benaiah performed. He first struck down two ariels of Moab. Then he went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.

Then, there was a great Egyptian warrior armed with a spear that Benaiah faced. Benaiah snatched the spear out of the Egyptian's hands and killed the man with his own spear.

Courson applies this by saying that each successive battle Benaiah faced prepared him for the next. He writes,

"I begin to realize that the skirmishes I'm going through presently are preparatory for what is headed my way in the snowy day. I realize my call is to go into the pit itself, to storm the gates of hell and do battle with the Enemy."

"Follow the Benaiah model. Resist Satan by going into the pit itself, by taking the weapon of the Egyptian and turning it against him."

How do you do that? Consider these examples: if you have trouble with gossiping about others, instead think of ten good things to say about whoever the subject is.

If you feel depressed, start giving God thanks for all his blessings. If the devil troubles you with some sinful thought, start praying for other people who you know who struggle with the same thoughts.

By doing this, the devil will realize that attacking you is counterproductive. Instead of caving into his attack and running away, you fight back with prayer. (Courson)

The Christian is a solider in a world war. But we find our hope, as well as a further challenge for us in verse ten. "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you."

Here's the challenge:

3. You must trust God's purpose in your suffering.

Our suffering, in comparison to what the first century Christians endured, must seem very light.

Consider the irony of Peter’s challenge: many of the Christians at that time were being fed to the lions in the arenas - and yet Peter told them to resist the devil who is a roaring lion! (unknown commentary)

Our suffering may be light in comparison, but we do suffer for Christ's name in various ways. One primary way we may suffer is in the sense of the spiritual struggle that we fight against sin and temptation.

Notice, however, God's purpose in our suffering. Verse ten says that God will “restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish” us.

That first word "perfect" in the Greek " ... is katartizo, which means "to restore," "to mend," or "to complete thoroughly." (Preacher's Commentary) Despite all the brokenness that sin has caused in our lives, God will work to mend or heal us completely.

The second word which may be translated as "stablish" or is in the Greek "sterizo, means "to turn resolutely in a certain direction," "steadfastly set," or "strengthen." (Preacher's Commentary) God will help us to give us that resolute will to serve him despite all the attacks and roaring of our enemy.

The third word "strengthen" in the Greek is "sthenoo, which means "to give vigor" or "to make firm." (Preacher's Commentary) God will give us the energy to be victorious!

The fourth word "settle" in the Greek is "themelioo" and means “to consolidate,” or "to lay a foundation." (Preacher's Commentary) God uses all the suffering and trials that we go through to give us a solid foundation in life!

Yes, the trials and tribulations of the Christian may not be pleasant or easy, but God has a great purpose that he works through all this for us. You can trust God, no matter what he allows you to face in life!

"At the Nicene Council, an important church meeting in the 4th century A.D., of the 318 delegates attending, fewer than 12 had not lost an eye or lost a hand or did not limp on a leg lamed by torture for their Christian faith."

"Most of the Psalms were born in difficulty. Most of the Epistles were written in prisons. Most of the greatest thoughts of the greatest thinkers of all time had to pass through the fire. Bunyan wrote Pilgrim's Progress from jail.

"Florence Nightingale, too ill to move from her bed, reorganized the hospitals of England. Semiparalyzed and under the constant menace of apoplexy, Pasteur was tireless in his attack on disease.

"During the greater part of his life, American historian Francis Parkman suffered so acutely that he could not work for more than five minutes as a time.

"His eyesight was so wretched that he could scrawl only a few gigantic words on a manuscript, yet he contrived to write twenty magnificent volumes of history.

"Sometimes it seems that when God is about to make preeminent use of a man, he puts him through the fire."

Our scripture for today reminds us of a very important truth.

Big Idea: Christians are soldiers in a world war.

Being in the fight against sin is not an option. How we react is.

Peter tells us in this letter that in order to be victorious in this spiritual world war we must be aware of life's spiritual dimension. We must resist the devil's attacks. We must trust God's purpose for our suffering.

(pause)

"General Patton once said the key to winning a war is not giving your life for your country, but seeing that the enemy gives his life for his country."

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General Douglas MacArthur once said, "The enemy is behind us. The enemy is in front of us. The enemy is to the right and the left of us. They can't get away this time."

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A number of years ago, a movie came out called The Bear, and it went something like this: Once upon a time, there was a mummy bear and a baby bear, and they were so happy together.

Then one day an accident happened and the mummy bear died, leaving the little baby bear all alone in the world. One day the poor defenceless baby bear was out minding his own business, when he was spotted by a big, mean, hungry mountain lion.

The baby bear started to run; he was trapped next to the river, and jumped in. The mean and nasty mountain lion followed him downstream to where the baby bear came ashore at a crossing.

The baby bear was trapped again and made a puny, squeaky sound as the mountain lion closed in for the kill. Then suddenly, the baby bear stood to his feet, opened his mouth, and there was a massive great roar.

The mountain lion suddenly remembered that he had something else to do, and ran for his life, terrified.

(pause)

How did the little baby bear do that? The cameras panned round, and there standing behind the baby bear was the hugest, most ferocious … daddy bear.

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Will we cowardly put down our spiritual armor and give in to the enemy of our souls? Or will we stand resolutely despite his terrible threats and continue to advance forward, knowing that in Christ we will have victory?

(pause)

As we close this morning, I wonder if you have been hearing the roaring of the devil? Have you felt like the devil is especially aiming his big guns at you?

If this is true for you, then I believe the only appropriate thing for us to do as a church today is to pray together and for one another. Would you please stand? If you feel like the battle is especially heavy, if you recognize the need for the prayers of the saints, raise your hand with me… and let’s pray for one another.

Let us pray for each other to have the courage, the strength, and the faith to overcome in our spiritual warfare against sin!