A Rally Cry Against the Enemy

1 Peter  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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We need to wake up and pay attention to the threat of Satan's attack. As we rally together we will know our capacity to resist Satan and his attacks.

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The lurking threat of smoking

Talk about the danger of the smoking industry and changing american opinions on teh topic.
Peter tells us in this passage of the terrible threat that the Devil presents to us as believers. If we don’t turn to God and cast our selfs on him, He will gain an advantage over us.
The Bible describes Satan as the Prince of this world. Unless we respect that danger, we will fall prey to his attacks.
2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV
4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
We live in a world full of fantastic growth and new technologies. But behind and throughout this world the devil walks as our adversary. He is a threat we must not ignore.
Coronavirus comparison.

Rally together to defeat Satan

Holman New Testament Commentary: I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude C. Rallying Together in Resisting Satan (vv. 8–11)

two mistakes Christians make in talking about Satan are that we either joke about him or we ignore him.

Holman New Testament Commentary: I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude C. Rallying Together in Resisting Satan (vv. 8–11)the two mistakes Christians make in talking about Satan are that we either joke about him or we ignore him

WAKE UP

The text says “be sober-minded.” What does this mean?
I’ve never been drunk but I do know what it’s like to not think clearly because I’m so tired that I say and do stupid things.
Be watchful
I do know what it’s like to be in so much pain and a bit of depression following surgery that you just want to escape into non-stop tv shows.
Sobriety is connecting with other meaningful relationships and facing your problems.
1 Peter 1:13 ESV
13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
I Peter 1:13
We have a powerful hope to look too. When we lose sight of that hope sobriety can flee. When we escape sobriety into drugs, alcohol, TV, porn or otherwise the devil is about to strike or already is chewing on you.

Pay Attention

Job 1:9–11 ESV
9 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.”
We are called to be prepared for Jesus’ return and prepared for the attacks of the devil.
Matthew 24:42 ESV
42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
Matthew 24
Now lest you think I’m advocating caffeine laced over-alertness and worry…I’m not. Sobriety of mind happens in healthy community. The capacity to be alert to the devil’s work happens both in personal growth and personally depending on other believers.

PAY ATTENTION

We face a terrible adversary

He is our adversary.
Job 1:9–11 ESV
9 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.”
He prowls like a roaring lion
Job 1:7 ESV
7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”
Seeking someone to devour.
Seeking someone to devour.

Satan is prowling with immense power roaring and looking for ways to destroy lives.

With noise, money and beauty he uses Hollywood stars to tempt many to turn away from life with God.

With deceitful arguments he convinces parents around the world that investing in school, sports, and more reaps far better rewards than church.

With the lure of connection and pleasure he capitalizes on the loneliness of our digital era to entrap men and women in pornography.

Enticing many to face the pain of life he offers them drugs and alcohol to escape into.

Convincing men and women to worship themselves above all, He destroys homes and families.

Using any and every means possible he turns men and women away from the cross to ......ANYTHING BUT JESUS!

Resist him

Resisting the devil is not a passive thing. It requires active engagement.
We will not triumph over the devil in our lives if we just remain passive.
What are ways that we need to resist the devil in our lives?
The New American Commentary: 1, 2 Peter, Jude (2) Closing Exhortations and Assurance (5:6–11)

The call to resistance does not summon believers to do Herculean acts on God’s behalf. Believers are not encouraged to gather all their resources to do great works for God. No, resisting the devil means that believers remain firm in their faith, that is, in their trust in God.

Christians stand out when they refuse to live as they formally did.

Christians stand out when they refuse to worship the same as other people do.

We worship something by devoting large amounts of time, money and energy to someone or thing.

We worship what or who is most important in our lives.

What are things that our friends and family worship with time, energy and money?
What are things that people in our culture worship?
Are there things in our lives that get more of our time, energy and money than our faith?
The greatest gift we can give others is faith that infuses all of life with meaning.

We have so many reasons to stand firm in our faith!

We are chosen
We have a new birth into a living Hope
We are shielded by God’s power
e are shielded by God’s power :5We have been called out of darkness into God’s wonderful light God is building up individual believers into a spiritual house. I peter 2:5And a royal priesthood and a people belonging to Him.
We have been called out of darkness into God’s wonderful light
God is building up individual believers into a spiritual house. I Peter 2:5
And a royal priesthood and a people belonging to Him.
Confirm
ESV2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—
ESV3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
Strengthen
ESV5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Establish
ESV9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
ESV5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
ESV9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:2 ESV
2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—
1 Peter 1:3 ESV
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1 Peter 1:5 ESV
5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 2:9 ESV
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:5 ESV
5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2:9 ESV
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

We must remember that our battle with Satan is universal

We fight Satan together with other believers in community.

God promises restoration regardless

He is the God of all grace
He has called you to his eternal glory
He will restore
confirm
strengthen
and establish you.
1 Peter 5:10 ESV
10 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.
Peter was a man who knew what it looked like to need restoration!

Peter the denier became Peter the preacher of Pentecost.

Conclusion

11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Be aware to the threat of Satan
Soberly aware of the reality of this world.
Pay attention to the dangers of what Satan is doing.
Trust in the power and grace of God.
The Christian Life always leads to worship.
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