RUN TO THE BATTLE

RUN TO THE BATTLE - 1 Peter 5:5-11

ON THE BATTLEFIELD

RUN TO THE BATTLE

1 Peter 5:5-11

Good morning church, it is great to be back at our home church.

Well the reports are all good from overseas they are in the battle field and winning souls for the Lord, Amen

Anyway, I am humbled to be here with you today.

Let us bring prayer to our Lord and God.

If you have your Bibles with you and I hope you do, open them to the book of 1st Peter chapter 5. If you are still learning where that might be it is the Seventh book from the back of the Bible.

1st Peter Chapter 5.

Well over the last few weeks we have been in the sermon series “ON THE BATTLEFIELD” and over this series, we have come to know Four Things…

1) …Know Who’s in Charge –

2) …know The Power –

3) …know The Enemy –

4) …Know Your Equipment – As we prepare for battle the proper equipment is essential.

The Apostle Paul outlines our need to fight the spiritual forces is to have the Armor of God. The armor is of God, and we are to cloth ourselves with it so that we are ready for battle that we face each day.

You know when I was in the Army, we would wear our equipment with everything that goes with it, to get ready to go out and fight a battle we called it “full battle rattle”.

This morning my task is this: now that we have prepared for the battle, we have clothed ourselves with God’s full battle rattle mode, the next step is to Run to the battle.

Folks I don’t have to tell you or remind you that there are spiritual battles all around us, that affect us in our lives.

The life of a believer is not like a battle, it is a battle.

God has called us to be not only prepared, but to run to the battle.

I think of Running to the battle I think about September 11th when the attack hit New York City. While most everyone where fleeing the buildings, the EMS, Police and Firefighters ran into the building. Sacrificing their lives for the lives of others. Those hundreds of men and women ran past the thousands into the battle.

The Bible tells that the Battle belongs to the Lord. The Bible also shows and tells us that God uses us in the battle.

For example, in Judges 7-8 shows us how God has gave victory to Gideon. God told him that he only needed 300 of the thousands of men to win that battle. Why only 300 men? Because God promised that He would be with them, and He would bring them victory. As so He Did.

OUR OBJECTIVE TODAY IS: we run to the battle in the defense of the Gospel and for the liberation of people through Jesus Christ.

As we look at our world and the turmoil that we are in, we must never forget that each day we are Cloth ourselves and to run to the battle for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Well, if you are there in 1st Peter begin reading with me from chapter 5 verse 5, this is the word of God and it begins like this:

“Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for

“God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 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. 11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

The battle lines are drawn between heaven and hell, good and evil. And listen folks, the enemy’s tactic is to make us believe that the battle is of flesh and blood rather than the spiritual realm. We must understand that though Christ is our Savior, He also calls us to engage in the battle.

An Biblical Illustration of that comes from Matthew 28:19-20 Where Jesus says to his disciples, go make disciples, baptizing and teaching them. Jesus issued marching orders for His team and us today.

This is the battle cry for us all, this is the commitment that we made to God.

Living a believers life by grace and faith is not a call to be passive, but instead to be engaged actively in the battle. It’s a call to engage, to run to the battle.

So, Peter challenges those in his days and us to not only run to the battle but engage the enemy in four ways.

While in the Army we were trained to run into the battle, it became an instinct. And the reason that we trained so hard was so that while we ran to the battle our muscle memory would take over so that we can be effective warriors focused on fighting the enemy. In fact, often when I hear gun fire I Immediately run out, while my wife is yelling “what are you doing?” It is muscle memory to run to the battle.

It is true for us today, that we must know what to do by muscle memory so that we will be affective warriors running to the battle for God.

So lets build some battle field muscle memory for us today.

FIRST, WE MUST RUN TO THE BATTLE WITH HUMILITY.

Often humility is a hard pill to swallow, however it is needed to go in the battle.

I want you to take note of verses 5-7 “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

Notice what Peter is saying here that all of us are to be submissive and to be clothed with humility, Furthermore, we are to put it on, to clothe ourselves with it. To dress ourselves with it. We should add to the Armor of God humility for others and for God.

The key to humility is submission. submission to the our Father and Lord. That is why Peter tells us in 5b “Yes,all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility.”

We are commanded to do this, but what is it that we are to do? What is it to be humble, to have humility.

Well Humility is the one thing that if you say you have it, well, you don’t.

The Hebrew definition is “being brought low.”

Another definition tells us Humility is “freedom from pride or arrogance.”

Notice in verse 5, Peter takes it up a notch by saying humble yourselves before God.

This expression means submitting in a spirit of humility to God’s sovereign dealings in your life. It means trusting God and accepting His will, no matter what hardships.

Now I know that it can be hard for people to become submissive to God in all areas of their lives. But notice what the text tells next.

In the next breath, Peter says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

If we are submissive then we can humbly come to God, in troubles, times of adversities, persecution’s, whatever you are suffering from giving all our worries and concerns to Him.

Now I want to bring your attention to this next part, because it needs to be said. Go back to v 5 God “resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” The word resist in the Hebrew context means to oppose, be hostile toward. You can see where God is not tolerant those who are not humble.

The opposite of humility is pride. And it sets in our most inner parts of our beings, coming from a paths of being hurt, Not willing to forgive, Anger. Sometimes we are proud of our humility. Some people serve only be praised, not to be raised.

The book of proverbs is profound in 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction and haughty spirit before a fall”

While pride sets us on a disastrous course, the opposite of pride, which is humility, leads to honor. To choose pride is to set oneself up for a fall.

Pride in the context of these verses refers to an arrogant attitude that manifests itself independent from God and contrasts with humility.

Listen to me- Pride is a spiritual death sentence. You cannot battle against the enemy full of pride. You will lose every battle.

Nothing could be worse news for the arrogant prideful heart. Than the powerful and Holy God opposes you. Don’t be so prideful that you cannot put your cares on Jesus. And listen a person filled with pride will never win anyone to Christ.

A prideful person is always in battle with God.

We are called to be the opposite, to be humble so that the Lord will raise us up. Humility causes us to realize that our salvation is outside of ourselves. And the Salvation of others is in the Lord only. God just uses us as willing servants, but you cannot be a willing servant unless you are submitted to the Lord.

Would you let me share two things that are marks of humility?

The willingness to perform the lowest and littlest service for Jesus-no matter if you are the leader, your status, financial gains no matter who you are. It reminds me of when Jesus washed the disciples feet in John 13:1-17. It was Jesus who took on the form of a Servant Watch this the Bible says He dressed Himself as a servant to serve the disciples.

To be conscience of your own ability that you cannot to do anything apart from God. Jesus said in John 15:5 “for without Me you can do nothing.”

The power to fight the battles against the devil lie in our submission to God (KNOWING WHO IS IN CHARGE) which leads humility.

1st Run to the Battle with humility for others and for God.

2. WHILE IN THE BATTLE WE MUST STAND STRONG AGAINST THE ENEMY (V 7-8)

Let me remind you of verses 7-8:

“Be sober (BE SERIOUS), be vigilant (BE ALERT); because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

Folks, this is a warning to us that the devil can come around the corner and attack at any time.

Time and time again I have seen where people won’t face the battle. They just want to get away from it, they want to run from it.

You won’t win the battle by running away. We must stand strong against the enemy.

Listen Folks, the devil is real. Let’s face it we tend often to marginalize the devil, but the Bible tells us in 2nd Corinthians 11:13-14 That the devil counterfeits the things of God. He often looks like an angel, a believer, even transforming his henchmen into ministers of the light. He sounds good, but delivers no truth or a partial truth which leads us away from God.

The devil is ruining people's lives.

He is defeating Believers.

The Bible in Revelation 20:1-2 states at the present time the devil is walking around. Peter uses the analogy of a roaring lion waiting for his prey. His roar and deceptive lies are still as potent as when he deceived Eve in the Garden.

His tactic has not changed. So Peter speaks of two things we must be, that is to be sober (SERIOUS), be vigilant (ALERT). Why because “the devil walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may desire.”

When I was stationed overseas, In all the combat units, one platoon of soldiers was always on alert status throughout Korea. The reason was that we would be the first in action- while everyone else was moving to their position’s. We carried live ammo, live missiles, and everything else to make our stand.

Each platoon had to be ready to run to the battle. We wouldn’t know if it was a drill or the real thing until after we got to our positions. They would run through the barracks calling out winged Chariot and knocking on doors. We had to move and move fast. We often slept in our uniforms; I had special boots called tanker boots they had a zipper on the side so I could easily put them on. We would dress ourselves to prepare for the battle.

While you were on alert status there were three things that you must do. Be Sober, be vigilant and always be ready. Because the north could attack at any time. In a spiritual battle we to must also dress ourselves for the battle and do three things.

PETER COMMANDS US FIRST TO BE SOBER, OTHER VERSIONS SAY TO BE SERIOUS, OR SELF CONTROLLED

We must be sober-minded, serious about our faith, that's what it takes in trenches. Everyone, as a church and each of us as Believers are to be of sober, serious and self controlled.

If Peter were speaking of something physical, then sober would be about exercising self-control and not getting drunk. But Peter is not speaking of that, rather He is talking about spiritual soberness, character soberness, the level of self-control, being serious we need and that means to not allow yourself to forget you’re in a war.

Having an awareness of devil roaming around this word seeking to overthrow, creating havoc, and creating confusion.

In the book of The Art of War chapter 2, the writer tells us “if you neither know your enemy or yourself, you will succumb to every battle.”

We are CLEARLY living on enemy’s turf. The Bible clearly states this is not our home, we live behind enemy lines.

So, let’s not buy into this typical thinking that I deserve to be comfortable, to be blessed and without pain. I don’t deserve trials, suffering, attacks, or persecution.

Or life should be good. To often when life is good we forget we are in a battle, We can forget who we are and whose we are.

Then somethings happens and we say; “I cannot beleive this is happening” or cannot figure out why it happened. Peter commands us to to be Sober minded, to be self-controlled and serous in our thinking, to have a biblical mindset. Not to be drunk with the junk of this world, or the stuff think we deserve.

Peter has already made being sober a major focus of his letter to these churches: 1 Peter 1:13 “Prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” And 1 Peter 4:7, He writes “The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.”

Listen Folks it is time to get serious about our faith and be ready for action.

Then Peter adds the SECOND COMMAND in verse 8 “BE VIGILANT” This means to keeping careful watch for possible dangers and difficulties. To be on alert, wide awake, keep your eyes open, don’t fall asleep, don’t get drowsy, don’t get lulled into thinking there is no danger. It means that we must be on guard against the even the subtle ways that devil attacks. Be mindful and keep watch.

What are we watchful for, the enemy’s snares, the booby traps in life, things that lure us away from God and the Church family.

Anything that takes you away from God, His church, is of the enemy.

The devil is very powerful, tricky and present, yet we don’t need to fear him, and hide because, but we must always be on alert, sober minded and watchful to his attacks.

First, Run to the Battle with humility.

While in the battle stand strong against the enemy with all seriousness and vigilance.

THIRD, WHILE IN THE BATTLE WE MUST STAND STRONG IN OUR FAITH. (V9)

I want to bring to your attention one of many who ran to the battle in the Bible.

In 1st Samuel Chapter 17, the young David, already anointed to become King was told by his father to got the front lines deliver some non essential food to his brothers. When he got there he was mocked by his brothers for being on the front line, yelled at him and told him to go home because he was to little.

He saw the men standing there in fear, shaking in their boots. He ran to the battle because He had been there before, fighting against the bear and lions. He said that the Lord would delver me again. So he ran to the battle line with only a sling and a few stones he gathered on the way to meet the Philistine, the giant Goliath. His faith in God brought him victory. While David stood strong in his faith God brought victory.

Focus your attention back to v-9 with me. “Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”

While we are in the battle we are to stand strong against the enemy, Peter now gives us a clue to what we are to do “RESIST HIM Steadfast in the faith”

An old war tactic that is still used today is cutting off the enemies supply route. Once it is cut off, its only a matter before time ammunition's run low, food runs low, energy runs low, moral and hope runs low and that is when you attack.

Our Faith is our supply line to God and if the devil can disrupt it, get you looking at the physical battle, rather than spiritual, towards the here and now, when our faith runs low, our hope runs low, when we have discouragement. He tries to attack us at our weakest to cut off our Faith lines.

However; the secrete to spiritual warfare is in the steadfast resistance. As we are steadfast in our faith, we can resist the devils lies and threats.

Notice the first thing here in this verse is The Apostle Peter, says “RESIST HIM”

Now the word resist has a two word meaning in the ancient Greek, it means to stand against.

Satin can run circles around even the newest of believers, but we can stand against him under the name and authority Jesus Christ. This literally brings to life the Armor of God EPH 6 Putting “Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil.”

In verse 9 Peter tell us to resist and be steadfast in the faith because the same experience has happened and is happening to believers in the world.

Isn't that comforting to know that we are not alone? When the devil starts stirring the pot of evil in our lives. The lies, the gossips, the rumours, the chaos. We can take comfort because we are not the only ones in the Spiritual battle. We are fighting the same battles all throughout this earth.

This begs to question; how do we stand strong in our faith, while in the Battle?

Would let me offer you a couple ways to consider?

1. Through prayer while you are in and out of the battle. Prayer is our link to God. The Bible says that we are to pray all the time, let me add in the good times and in battles of the evil one.

2. Through praising God in the Battle. thanking Him for who He is. The Psalms of David are examples of this.

3. Through reading and speaking the Word of God. Jesus spoke Scripture that day the devil tried his tricked on Him. We can devour the Word of God, learning, growing, and memorizing, speaking Gods word against the devil.

4. Through your patience.

Patience can be hard- Speaking of patience, this past summer I put our old RV up for sale, we had many people look at, but no one bought it. I prayed for God to send us the seller, someone to purchase the RV. I even dropped the price and no one bought it. Finally, I asked God what was the purpose of the RV not selling. Do I give it away? What? Then I told Him whatever it was I would wait for Him To show me.

The devil tried to stop our mission, through an electrical fire on our new RV, but praise to be to God that we were patient and still had the other RV.

There is a reason that patience is a virtue.

First Run to the battle with humility.

While in the battle stand strong against the enemy.

Stand strong in your faith.

4. DURING THE BATTLE WE MUST TRUST IN GOD’S RESTORATION (v10-11)

“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 great prayer and promise for those of us who resist the adversary as he attempts to devour us in the battle of suffering and persecution.

I have news for you, if you are here and suffering from something in your life, persecution from family, friends, church folks, let me tell you that No suffering will last forever for the believer in Christ. It tells us that right here. It says God is for us not against, He cares and restores His people.

Now Peter is writing to believers who have been undergoing a large amount of persecution. He encourages them by explaining that none of their suffering is in vain, but is meant to produce spiritual fruit and it wont last.

Peter now begins this prayer with the words: “THE GOD OF ALL GRACE”.

On our travels to Campgrounds, RV parks and churches we find believers, many have lost the God of all grace and in substitution they want Him to receive unholy prayer that is against His will. They have become ridged in the faith. Basically turning God into a vending machine, to get what they want.

The God of all grace is all about God’s character, we find this in the Old Testament when God describes Himself to Moses in Ex 34, where Moses is asking God to describe Himself; and in verses 6-7 it says “And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, 7 keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty,”

This is who God is, His divine character, God clearly communicated describing Himself as the “God of all Grace”

God was and always will be The God of all Grace.

The Bible tell us in 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

In other words God treated Jesus the way we deserve to be treat and treated us the way Jesus should be treated so He can make us look like Jesus.

That my friends is the God of all Grace.

Now Peter addresses the spiritual battle’s by saying after you suffered for a while, and we know that there will be spiritual battles, suffering for a time through those battles.

WARFARE IS HARD- AMEN?

Yet Peter assures the Believers that when we suffer in this world, the spiritual battles we find ourselves running to and fighting against, there is relief.

God loves us. He is the God of all grace. He will have mercy on us. He is going to do the work in us as we stand firm and resisting the devil, God does four things for us.

What will He do? It’s right hear in the scripture - He will perfect, establish, strengthen and settle us. That is great news to hear- God will show up and put us back together.

1. He Perfect us - This means to bring us to wholeness, nothing lacking, it means to take something that is broken and begin to put it back together.

2. He Establishes us - the idea here is to make us firm. Rather than being uncertain and weak, we will be resolute and determined in our faith.

3. He Strengthen us - He will use the difficulties to make us stronger, to enable us to face anything He allows to come our way. Often times those things become a testimony to encourage others.

4. He Establish us - the picture the Greek paints for us here is of a foundation that is not shaky but has settled and is firmly founded.

Like Jesus’s teaching in Matthew 7:24-27 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.”

Here is the picture for you of God, the God of Grace when we are battle weary, God patches us up, He picks us up, He strengthens, and sets us back on the solid foundation.

And He has the Power to do that verse 11, “to Him glory and dominion forever and ever amen”

This is the God who loves us.

Folks, I came here today to tell you that we will be in battles, some of you right now are and we are to run to the battle with humility. We are Stand Strong against the enemy, we are to Stand strong in our Faith and trust in God’s restoration.

If our hearts are ever to be opened to the truth of God’s Word let it be today. Our Hearts are the Battlefield, Our Minds are the battlefield, our courage, our love, our everything, the enemy wants to take us down, but when give it all to God, surrendering and in humility- He is mighty to stand with us.

If you are here today and facing battles that seem to be too big for you, like a giant standing against you today, there is comfort right here in the family of God but even greater comfort is found in Jesus, the Christ, the Comforter . Cast it all on Him because HE LOVES YOU AND IS HERE FOR YOU.

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