68. Final Exhortations ot the Church Pt 6_Spiritual Warfare 2

Final Exhortations to the Church Pt 6: Spiritual Warfare cont.

1Pe 5:1-11 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, (2) shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; (3) nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. (4) And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. (5) You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. (6) Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, (7) casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you. (8) Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (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. (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. (11) To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Recently a movie came out detailing the actual events of Outpost Keating in the mountain region of Afghanistan. Sometimes in the realm of human experience there is a confirmation of spiritual realities. It details how a small outpost of 53 soldiers faced the attack of 400 taliban outside and inside the camp. As the church we face an enemy that wants nothing more than to see us extinguished. Paul had this warning Act 20:29-30 "I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; (30) and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.

For the sake of context just a brief review to see the larger picture. Beginning in the last part of chapter 4 we see the theme of suffering continued. The reality is as Christians we suffer. It is within the crucible of suffering that the people of God are refined in faith and in practice. Chapter 5 begins the final exhortations of Peter to the church in how to weather the storm of suffering. Elders, in submitting to the Chief Shepherd are to fulfill their calling in accordance to the will of God. In other words, they are to be elders as the Scripture prescribes not after their imaginings. Younger Christians are to submit to elders, all are to humble themselves toward one another and ultimately to God. God does oppose the proud and gives grace to the humble. All the cares of our heart we are to cast on Him for He cares for us. We are indeed the apple of His eye so much so that He numbers the very hairs on our head. But we are not without an enemy and adversary, and it is here Peter takes us. First being free from any intoxicating influence of the world that would prevent us from a right alertness to our very present threat. The devil, the accuser, who roars with the threat of suffering and persecution seeking who he can intimidate to deny Christ. Remember he does not care if you are rich or poor, healthy or weak. He only cares that you are in right relation to God and desires the destruction of it.

There are 4 Main Points in verses 8-10

1. Our Attitude v8

2. Our Adversary v8

3. Our Action v9

4. Our Award v10

We have seen the first two points of this series on spiritual warfare. 1) Our attitude – be sober, be on the alert. 2) Our Adversary – the devil. We look today to the 3rd- Our Action

III. Our Action – Resist Him

There are three points 1. We resist him by standing together. 2. We resist him by standing steadfast in faith. 3. We resist him by standing in the fellowship of suffering.

General Observation – In this text we see three mentioned. 1)Those told to resist, 2)him – the devil of verse 8, and 3) the brethren or brotherhood (depending on your translation).

The first general observation is this verse speaks to the vital importance of the local church. Paul makes it perfectly clear in speaking to the elders of the Ephesian church. Act 20:17  Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. Act 20:28  "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. This clearly indicates that each local church is the visible expression of the body of Christ. What the Scripture testifies as important many professing Christians today take the position that there is no need to belong to a church or to be in attendance. This is the devil’s lie and stands in contrast to God’s stated order and the primary means of the perseverance of the church. This attitude is not limited to broader evangelicalism. I have heard more than one person who attends a reformed church comment on how nice it is to stay in their jammies and watch a streamed service in the comfort of their own homes. And while it may be necessary to remain at home at times, a streamed service is not a long-term substitute for meeting with the people of God in a place of worship. We must look carefully at ourselves and measure the damage our western culture has done to our view of being a covenant community of believers. We must judge ourselves carefully in our vows made before God and to one another. This also implies who is a member of the covenant community. The devil is no adversary to one who is already his by nature. The church must judge carefully those seeking to join themselves to the fellowship. This is not harsh as some might say. The person or persons are no less Christian for the delay, they still enjoy the blessings of the preached Word and fellowship. This also gives time for those who wish to join the church to evaluate the preaching and overall practice of the church, if they are like minded. We must all seek the peace and unity of the church. An exercise of careful consideration on both parts may prevent a discipline or divisiveness in the future.

A covenant made should not easily be broken.

The second general observation is the universal brotherhood of all believers and by implication the church universal. Peter could have used other vocabulary to communicate the suffering of other Christians but through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit he does not. He uses ‘brotherhood’. A word that binds us beyond the theoretical. This is a filial union given birth to us in our salvation. We are in union as brothers and sisters in Christ as we are in union with Christ. We all share in the same spiritual blessing as we all are baptized in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, we all drink from the same spiritual fountain, we all, through the Spirit of adoption call God our Father. And there is blessing in our union with one another.

It is a union in the blood of Christ, applied by the Spirit. Peter call us living stones being built up into a spiritual house in chapter 2. Those stones are joined together with mortar that is the blood of Christ. There is a practical experimental union in right doctrine and right practice. Remember all the places this letter was written to: Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. All these churches received the same instruction. If we were to do a comparative analysis between Peter and Paul or any other author of the Scripture there would be no difference in their instruction. Our instruction is not based on the philosophy of man but upon the Holy Spirit inspired Word of God.

How often do we find ourselves praying for Christians suffering in other parts of the nation and the world? Do we pray for them with the same amount of passion and unction as we would if we were praying for ourselves or our children in the same situation? The Spirit intercedes for us with groanings to deep for words. Do we intercede with empathy for others? How do we cultivate this? Be informed. There are publications that detail the persecution of Christians around the world. Operation World is a good book that lists the nations of the world, the percent of Christians relative to population with a summary of spiritual needs. Be engaged. There are ways the church as a whole can provide practical help for other churches. Rom 15:26  For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 2 Cor 9 is devoted to the helping of other churches.

1. We Resist him by Standing Together – resist him

In verse 8 Peter uses the 2nd person singular pronoun in reference to ‘your adversary’. How then can it be said that we stand together? The verb resist is 2nd person plural. While our adversary is personal, we resist corporately. The principle being Eph 4:16  from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. Resisting corporately means each resist not only for the benefit of themselves but for the protection of others.

Resist comes from the Greek word anthistemi. Which is a compound word from anti = against + histemi = to cause to stand) is literally to stand or set against. To set one's self against. To withstand. It can also be translated as oppose. It involves not only a psychological attitude but also a corresponding behavior. It was used to refer to an army arranging in battle against the enemy force and so to array against. We oppose, stand against in battle array. Just as the our Father stands opposed to the proud (and I would wager there is none more proud than the devil), so it should be our attitude as well. We resist, oppose him. It baffles the mind the length some professing Christians will go to appease the devil. They water down the gospel to make the hearers feel warm and fuzzy but damns their soul. They embrace the social justice theme and all inclusion so that rather than being salt that flavors and preserves and light that warms and illuminates, it is worthless. This social gospel is not the gospel at all and is devoid of any message of the hope of the true gospel. May God have mercy and grant true repentance that leads to life to these false teachers.

If people did not want this kind of teaching they would not stand for it. But it is just as the apostle Paul spoke in 2Ti 4:3-4  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires;  (4)  and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths.

We oppose together, as the people of God, bringing to bear the full armor of God against all the schemes of the devil. Like the warriors of old we stand side by side with our shield of faith protecting not only ourselves but the shoulder of the one standing next to us. Using the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God, we fight for ourselves and for the one next to us.

Eph 6:10-20  Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might.  (11)  Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  (12)  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.  (13)  Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.  (14)  Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,  (15)  and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;  (16)  in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one.  (17)  And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  (18)  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,  (19)  and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,  (20)  for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

All this implies the right use of such armor. Meaning we are to be disciples, not nominal Christians, but men and women of faith in Christ. Learning at our Master’s feet. Just as importantly it is having a right understanding of what it means to be in a covenant community with fellow believers. God promised a New Covenant in Jer 31:33-34  "But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the LORD, "I will put My law within them, and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.  (34)  "And they shall not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them," declares the LORD , "for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."

The Promise accomplished.

Mat 26:26-28  And while they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body."  (27)  And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you;  (28)  for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.

Heb 10:14-17  For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.  (15)  And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,  (16)  "THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART, AND UPON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM," He then says,  (17)  "AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE."  

Heb 10:23 -25 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;  (24)  and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,  (25)  not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.

In light of God’s faithfulness in the New Covenant may we see and understand the importance of standing together in covenant unity, resisting our adversary the devil, as the visible expression of the body of Christ.