1Peter 5:7A Personal Panic Room In A Pandemic
Notes
Transcript
7 casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.
A Personal Panic Room In A Pandemic
A Personal Panic Room In A Pandemic
Intro:
Intro:
One of my all-time favorite movies On Good Friday of 2002 a movie was released that hit theaters across the country. It has been called one of the most suspenseful thrillers of all time. It depicts Jodie Foster as a 30-year mother who is looking for an apartment in New York City. Foster’s character finds a Brownstone apartment on the upper West Side of the city. She buys the apartment, and finds that it has all of the amenities and luxuries of the most expensive apartments in New York City. However, this apartment had one thing none of the other Brownstone’s had. It had a strategic and specific room. It is called ‘The Panic Room.’ ‘The Panic Room’ is a room that is totally self-contained. It is steel and concrete reinforced with a massive steel door triggered by a laser eye. It has it’s own separate ventilation system, it’s own heating and air system; it’s own electrical system; and, it’s own telephone system. It is fully wired so that every room of the apartment can be seen at different times from a wall of monitors. It is a room that was designed so that if one is ever threatened, or afraid, they can run into this ‘Panic Room,’ and be safe. Today, many people are looking for their own personal ‘Panic Room.‘ They are unsure. They are unsettled. They are insecure. In fact, one of the greatest strongholds pervading the minds of people, both Christian and non-Christian, is the matter of worry, fear and doubt. Particularly after hearing the United States constitutes a national emergency, beginning March 1, 2020. The Pandemic of March 11, 2020, the decline of Wall Street, and the possible threat of The Invisible Enemy called COVID-19, Many of us find ourselves in a place of Panic and Worry. Worry is a matter, which finds its seat in the living room of our heart, and mind, and takes up its residence there. If it continues, it can paralyze the soul, and rob someone of any ray of hope, joy, peace, or security. Now there may be some exceptions to the rule. You may be one of those people saying, "I don't know what you are talking about. In my life everything is coming up roses. My life is as sweet as honey." Well, I want to remind you that roses have thorns. Around honey you will eventually find bees. There's an old saying that "tough times never last, but tough people do." Tough times are going to come to all of us. The Bible says in the book of Job 14: 1, "Man born of woman is few days and full of trouble." You may as well try to sell firewood in hell, as to get through life without trouble or ice to an Eskimo. If the medical community would adopt the formula given to us by Peter, at the end of his epistle, they would find a cure for the greatest disease known to man. They would find ‘the cure for care.’ It is a sure-fire formula that will work every time we encounter, experience, and endure the cares of life. It is a cure given to us not only from the pen of Peter, but from the heart of God. There are 3 steps involved in this cure for care. Notice, the first step is: We will talk about tonight....
One of my all-time favorite movies On Good Friday of 2002 a movie was released that hit theaters across the country. It has been called one of the most suspenseful thrillers of all time. It depicts Jodie Foster as a 30-year mother who is looking for an apartment in New York City. Foster’s character finds a Brownstone apartment on the upper West Side of the city. She buys the apartment, and finds that it has all of the amenities and luxuries of the most expensive apartments in New York City. However, this apartment had one thing none of the other Brownstone’s had. It had a strategic and specific room. It is called ‘The Panic Room.’ ‘The Panic Room’ is a room that is totally self-contained. It is steel and concrete reinforced with a massive steel door triggered by a laser eye. It has it’s own separate ventilation system, it’s own heating and air system; it’s own electrical system; and, it’s own telephone system. It is fully wired so that every room of the apartment can be seen at different times from a wall of monitors. It is a room that was designed so that if one is ever threatened, or afraid, they can run into this ‘Panic Room,’ and be safe. Today, many people are looking for their own personal ‘Panic Room.‘ They are unsure. They are unsettled. They are insecure. In fact, one of the greatest strongholds pervading the minds of people, both Christian and non-Christian, is the matter of worry, fear and doubt. Particularly after hearing the United States constitutes a national emergency, beginning March 1, 2020. The Pandemic of March 11, 2020, the decline of Wall Street, and the possible threat of The Invisible Enemy called COVID-19, Many of us find ourselves in a place of Panic and Worry. Worry is a matter, which finds its seat in the living room of our heart, and mind, and takes up its residence there. If it continues, it can paralyze the soul, and rob someone of any ray of hope, joy, peace, or security. Now there may be some exceptions to the rule. You may be one of those people saying, "I don't know what you are talking about. In my life everything is coming up roses. My life is as sweet as honey." Well, I want to remind you that roses have thorns. Around honey you will eventually find bees. There's an old saying that "tough times never last, but tough people do." Tough times are going to come to all of us. The Bible says in the book of Job 14: 1, "Man born of woman is few days and full of trouble." You may as well try to sell firewood in hell, as to get through life without trouble or ice to an Eskimo. If the medical community would adopt the formula given to us by Peter, at the end of his epistle, they would find a cure for the greatest disease known to man. They would find ‘the cure for care.’ It is a sure-fire formula that will work every time we encounter, experience, and endure the cares of life. It is a cure given to us not only from the pen of Peter, but from the heart of God. There are 3 steps involved in this cure for care. Notice, the first step is: We will talk about tonight....
The Context:
The Context:
We should humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God because God cares for us; He cares about all our anxiety. Remember: the believers of Peter's day were suffering terrible persecution. They had been forced to flee for their lives, leaving everything behind: homes, jobs, and possessions. They had only what they could carry by hand, and they fled to whatever places they felt were safe. They were, so to speak, an underground people, having to live, work, and worship in secret and to find housing and food wherever they could. They never knew when they would be discovered and forced to flee again. The point is this: imagine the anxiety, the pressure, tension, and stress being experienced by the believers. Yet there was great help: God was available to help them. Note that the exhortation is not only clearly stated; it is a command: "cast all your care [Greek, merimna PWS: 489, anxiety] upon Him, for He cares for you."
We should humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God because God cares for us; He cares about all our anxiety. Remember: the believers of Peter's day were suffering terrible persecution. They had been forced to flee for their lives, leaving everything behind: homes, jobs, and possessions. They had only what they could carry by hand, and they fled to whatever places they felt were safe. They were, so to speak, an underground people, having to live, work, and worship in secret and to find housing and food wherever they could. They never knew when they would be discovered and forced to flee again. The point is this: imagine the anxiety, the pressure, tension, and stress being experienced by the believers. Yet there was great help: God was available to help them. Note that the exhortation is not only clearly stated; it is a command: "cast all your care [Greek, merimna PWS: 489, anxiety] upon Him, for He cares for you."
1. We Must Send Our Worry To God!
1. We Must Send Our Worry To God!
The advice is given in one of the greatest verses in the New Testament, in verse 7. "Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." The verse proves to us that Christians do have cares. Contrary to what some people would lead you to believe, and contrary to popular ‘theology’ the Christian life is not all peaks, and no valleys. It's not all sunshine and no rain. It's not all joy and no pain. We do have cares.
The advice is given in one of the greatest verses in the New Testament, in verse 7. "Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." The verse proves to us that Christians do have cares. Contrary to what some people would lead you to believe, and contrary to popular ‘theology’ the Christian life is not all peaks, and no valleys. It's not all sunshine and no rain. It's not all joy and no pain. We do have cares.
The word “care” literally means “distressing burdens, or worries. The English word ‘worry’ comes from an old German word that meant “to choke, or to strangle.” It literally describes a hanging, where a noose was placed around someone’s neck. Worry in the Christian life is the noose that is placed around our faith. It chokes and strangles our faith, and becomes a distressing burden, or care, described in our text. Someone once said, “Worry is a lot like a rocking chair. It won’t get you anywhere, but it will sure keep you busy!” We are told exactly what to do with the cares and worries that we have.
The word “care” literally means “distressing burdens, or worries. The English word ‘worry’ comes from an old German word that meant “to choke, or to strangle.” It literally describes a hanging, where a noose was placed around someone’s neck. Worry in the Christian life is the noose that is placed around our faith. It chokes and strangles our faith, and becomes a distressing burden, or care, described in our text. Someone once said, “Worry is a lot like a rocking chair. It won’t get you anywhere, but it will sure keep you busy!” We are told exactly what to do with the cares and worries that we have.
First of all, we are told to:
First of all, we are told to:
A. Cast Our Cares on the Lord Conclusively!
A. Cast Our Cares on the Lord Conclusively!
The word “cast”, in one sense, meant “to throw something on something else.” It was the same word used in Luke 19:35. "Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own garments on the colt, and they set Jesus on him.". The same Greek word is used in this verse. When they threw this blanket on this donkey, they were casting that blanket on that donkey. The word describes what we are to do with our worries and cares. We are to throw them, and cast them on the strong back of the Lord Jesus Christ. He can handle the load. The word means “to have deposited with.”
The word was also used, in that day, to mean “to make a deposit.” When we go to a bank, we deposit our money. We don't leave that bank, if it’s a good bank, worrying about what is going to happen to our money because that's their job. We take home a receipt, and we leave our money at the bank. Likewise, when we go to the throne of grace with a burden, we take the receipt of the name of Jesus, but we leave our burden with the Lord. You see, “No one ever sinks under the burden of the day. It is when tomorrow's burden is added to the burden of today, that the weight is more than one can bear.” You see, a care is something you can't do anything about today. We are to cast our cares upon the Lord conclusively. We can leave them with Him. He can handle them.
The word “cast”, in one sense, meant “to throw something on something else.” It was the same word used in Luke 19:35. "Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own garments on the colt, and they set Jesus on him.". The same Greek word is used in this verse. When they threw this blanket on this donkey, they were casting that blanket on that donkey. The word describes what we are to do with our worries and cares. We are to throw them, and cast them on the strong back of the Lord Jesus Christ. He can handle the load. The word means “to have deposited with.”
The word was also used, in that day, to mean “to make a deposit.” When we go to a bank, we deposit our money. We don't leave that bank, if it’s a good bank, worrying about what is going to happen to our money because that's their job. We take home a receipt, and we leave our money at the bank. Likewise, when we go to the throne of grace with a burden, we take the receipt of the name of Jesus, but we leave our burden with the Lord. You see, “No one ever sinks under the burden of the day. It is when tomorrow's burden is added to the burden of today, that the weight is more than one can bear.” You see, a care is something you can't do anything about today. We are to cast our cares upon the Lord conclusively. We can leave them with Him. He can handle them.
Illustration:
Illustration:
There is a story of a lady and her son who went to a little country store. The store owner was a nice fellow. Every time the young boy went to the store, the store owner would say, "Junior, reach in the barrel and get a handful of candy." The little boy would say, "No, thank you." The store owner would say, "Go on, son. Reach in and get some candy while your mother is shopping," and the boy would say, "No, thank you." The store owner would then reach into the barrel and say, "Hold your hands out, boy." And he would fill the boy's hands with candy. The mother finally asked her son, "Why is it that every time we go to the store, when the store owner tries to give you candy, you always refuse until he makes you take it?" The young boy said, "Mama, don't you understand? You see, his hand is bigger than mine. His one hand can fill up both of mine." That's the way it is with God. His hand is bigger than ours. God can handle the stuff that drives us crazy with a breeze.
Life Application:
There is a story of a lady and her son who went to a little country store. The store owner was a nice fellow. Every time the young boy went to the store, the store owner would say, "Junior, reach in the barrel and get a handful of candy." The little boy would say, "No, thank you." The store owner would say, "Go on, son. Reach in and get some candy while your mother is shopping," and the boy would say, "No, thank you." The store owner would then reach into the barrel and say, "Hold your hands out, boy." And he would fill the boy's hands with candy. The mother finally asked her son, "Why is it that every time we go to the store, when the store owner tries to give you candy, you always refuse until he makes you take it?" The young boy said, "Mama, don't you understand? You see, his hand is bigger than mine. His one hand can fill up both of mine." That's the way it is with God. His hand is bigger than ours. God can handle the stuff that drives us crazy with a breeze.
Life Application:
What are you worried about today? Remember, worry affects the person who is doing the worrying. It does not bother your neighbor. Worry want pay your bills!
What are you worried about today? Remember, worry affects the person who is doing the worrying. It does not bother your neighbor. Worry want pay your bills!
Worry want put gas in your car! Worry want put food on your table!
Worry want put gas in your car! Worry want put food on your table!
Worry want let you sleep at night! Worry want let you eat!
Worry want let you sleep at night! Worry want let you eat!
Worry want let you enjoy life!
Worry want let you enjoy life!
Let me tell you what worry will do.
Let me tell you what worry will do.
Worry will make black hair gray. Worry will give you an ulcer.
Worry will make black hair gray. Worry will give you an ulcer.
Worry will have you watching other folks and mad because somebody else looks like they are happy.
Worry will have you watching other folks and mad because somebody else looks like they are happy.
Worry will show up when you least expect it.
Worry will show up when you least expect it.
B. Cast Our Cares on the Lord Completely!
B. Cast Our Cares on the Lord Completely!
Notice we’re advised to, “Cast ALL your care upon Him...” The verse is more properly translated, "cast your whole care." That is, we are not to just give God our cares, but all of our care, every part of every care."
Notice we’re advised to, “Cast ALL your care upon Him...” The verse is more properly translated, "cast your whole care." That is, we are not to just give God our cares, but all of our care, every part of every care."
Warren Wiersbe wrote, “According to 1 Peter 5:7, we must once and for all give all of our cares—past, present, and future—to the Lord.”
Warren Wiersbe wrote, “According to 1 Peter 5:7, we must once and for all give all of our cares—past, present, and future—to the Lord.”
Henry Blackaby wrote, “God wants all our cares, not just the ones that overwhelm us. Humility recognizes our absolute need for God and allows us to release everything into His hands.”
We are instructed in Psalm 55:22, "Cast thy burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain thee; He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." You see, one of the reasons why God allows troubles to come into our lives is to force us to faith, and to drive us from doubt. Therefore, God not only wants all of your burdens, He wants every part of the burden.
Henry Blackaby wrote, “God wants all our cares, not just the ones that overwhelm us. Humility recognizes our absolute need for God and allows us to release everything into His hands.”
We are instructed in Psalm 55:22, "Cast thy burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain thee; He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." You see, one of the reasons why God allows troubles to come into our lives is to force us to faith, and to drive us from doubt. Therefore, God not only wants all of your burdens, He wants every part of the burden.
Illustration:
Illustration:
Elisha Hoffman served for 33 years as the pastor of Benton Harbor Presbyterian church in Pennsylvania. As pastor Elisha Hoffman often ministered to suffering and hurting people. Elisha Hoffman often used one of his favorite verses as he ministered to the hurting. 1 Peter 5:7 was used to bring challenge and comfort to God’s people. One day while ministering to an anguishing woman she cried out, “What shall I do?” Elisha Hoffman responded, “You cannot do better than to take all your sorrows to Jesus. You must tell Jesus.” The woman immediately realized her need and exclaimed, “That’s it! I must tell Jesus!”
Elisha Hoffman served for 33 years as the pastor of Benton Harbor Presbyterian church in Pennsylvania. As pastor Elisha Hoffman often ministered to suffering and hurting people. Elisha Hoffman often used one of his favorite verses as he ministered to the hurting. 1 Peter 5:7 was used to bring challenge and comfort to God’s people. One day while ministering to an anguishing woman she cried out, “What shall I do?” Elisha Hoffman responded, “You cannot do better than to take all your sorrows to Jesus. You must tell Jesus.” The woman immediately realized her need and exclaimed, “That’s it! I must tell Jesus!”
As Hoffman returned to his house that evening he reflected on the woman’s response. He later wrote the hymn “I must Tell Jesus.”
As Hoffman returned to his house that evening he reflected on the woman’s response. He later wrote the hymn “I must Tell Jesus.”
In that hymn Elisha Hoffman wrote, “I must tell Jesus all of my trials; I cannot bear these burdens alone. In my distress He kindly will help me; He ever loves and cares for His own. I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! I cannot bear my burdens alone; I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.”
In that hymn Elisha Hoffman wrote, “I must tell Jesus all of my trials; I cannot bear these burdens alone. In my distress He kindly will help me; He ever loves and cares for His own. I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! I cannot bear my burdens alone; I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.”
Life Application:
Life Application:
We are to not only come under His power, but we are to cast upon Him our problems. All of our problems and cares are to be given to Jesus! In the first part of verse 7 we’ve learned that we are to cast our problems on Him.
There are burdens to be shed. There are burdens to be shouldered. There are burdens to be shared. And, when we take our burdens to the Lord, he wants us to leave all of our burdens, and he wants us to leave every single part of our burdens.
We are to not only come under His power, but we are to cast upon Him our problems. All of our problems and cares are to be given to Jesus! In the first part of verse 7 we’ve learned that we are to cast our problems on Him.
There are burdens to be shed. There are burdens to be shouldered. There are burdens to be shared. And, when we take our burdens to the Lord, he wants us to leave all of our burdens, and he wants us to leave every single part of our burdens.
We can cast them on the Lord conclusively, completely; and:
We can cast them on the Lord conclusively, completely; and:
C. Cast Our Cares on the Lord Confidently!
C. Cast Our Cares on the Lord Confidently!
What gives us the right to cast our cares, burdens and worries upon the Lord? Why are we invited to do so? We are to cast our cares upon the Lord because "He careth for you." The word “careth”in is in the present tense, which denotes continuous action. The verse could be translated, "Cast your cares upon the Lord because He always, every day, in every way, at every moment, is caring for you."
What gives us the right to cast our cares, burdens and worries upon the Lord? Why are we invited to do so? We are to cast our cares upon the Lord because "He careth for you." The word “careth”in is in the present tense, which denotes continuous action. The verse could be translated, "Cast your cares upon the Lord because He always, every day, in every way, at every moment, is caring for you."
Life Application:
Life Application:
God doesn't just care for us constantly, and consistently; He cares for us continuously. One of the biggest lies the enemy has ever told in the history of the human race is this one: "Nobody cares." But, friend, GOD CARES! From your birth, to your death, and every moment in between, God cares for you. That is why you ought to cast your cares upon Him. That is why we are given the invitation. He wants us to cast our burdens upon Him, because He takes the time to care for us.
God doesn't just care for us constantly, and consistently; He cares for us continuously. One of the biggest lies the enemy has ever told in the history of the human race is this one: "Nobody cares." But, friend, GOD CARES! From your birth, to your death, and every moment in between, God cares for you. That is why you ought to cast your cares upon Him. That is why we are given the invitation. He wants us to cast our burdens upon Him, because He takes the time to care for us.
Cast your care upon the Lord,
Cast your care upon the Lord,
The care that loads your heart;
The care that loads your heart;
Take Him this moment at His word,
Take Him this moment at His word,
And let Him do His part.
And let Him do His part.
The need is deep, the care is great,
The need is deep, the care is great,
The burden hard to bear;
The burden hard to bear;
Roll it on Him with all its weight,
Roll it on Him with all its weight,
And leave it resting there.
And leave it resting there.
This heavy thing, it is His gift,
This heavy thing, it is His gift,
His portion you to bless;
His portion you to bless;
Give it to Him; what He shall lift,
Give it to Him; what He shall lift,
No more on you shall press.
No more on you shall press.
Cast all your care, not a part,
Cast all your care, not a part,
The great things, and the small;
The great things, and the small;
The Lord's all-loving, mighty heart,
The Lord's all-loving, mighty heart,
Has room and thought for all.
Has room and thought for all.
Yes, He will ponder every care,
Yes, He will ponder every care,
Consider each detail;
Consider each detail;
Yourself, your burden let Him bear,
Yourself, your burden let Him bear,
He will not, cannot fail.
He will not, cannot fail.
Illustration:
Illustration:
God can give you peace when your heart is broken. Louisa Stead was born in England. She felt the call of God upon her life for missionary service. She arrived in America in 1871. In 1875, Louisa married a Mr. Stead, and to this union was born a daughter, Lily. When the child was four years of age, the family decided one day to enjoy the sunny beach at Long Island Sound, New York. While eating their picnic lunch, they suddenly heard cries of help and spotted a drowning boy in the sea. Mr. Stead charged into the water. As often happens, the struggling boy pulled her husband under the water with him, and both drowned. In the darkest hours of her life, these words flowed from her heart like a refreshing spring to a parched soul. What she wrote has been a source of comfort to many to this very day.
God can give you peace when your heart is broken. Louisa Stead was born in England. She felt the call of God upon her life for missionary service. She arrived in America in 1871. In 1875, Louisa married a Mr. Stead, and to this union was born a daughter, Lily. When the child was four years of age, the family decided one day to enjoy the sunny beach at Long Island Sound, New York. While eating their picnic lunch, they suddenly heard cries of help and spotted a drowning boy in the sea. Mr. Stead charged into the water. As often happens, the struggling boy pulled her husband under the water with him, and both drowned. In the darkest hours of her life, these words flowed from her heart like a refreshing spring to a parched soul. What she wrote has been a source of comfort to many to this very day.
'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him at His word; Just to rest upon His promise; Just to know "Thus saith the Lord.
'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him at His word; Just to rest upon His promise; Just to know "Thus saith the Lord.
I'm so glad I learned to trust Thee, Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend; And I know that Thou art with me, Wilt be with me to the end.
I'm so glad I learned to trust Thee, Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend; And I know that Thou art with me, Wilt be with me to the end.
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I've proved Him o'er and o'er Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more!
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I've proved Him o'er and o'er Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more!
2. We Must Be Sober and Watching On Guard!
2. We Must Be Sober and Watching On Guard!
‘The Panic Room’ is a room that is totally self-contained. It is steel and concrete reinforced with a massive steel door triggered by a laser eye. It has it’s own separate ventilation system, it’s own heating and air system; it’s own electrical system; and, it’s own telephone system. It is fully wired so that every room of the apartment can be seen at different times from a wall of monitors. It is a room that was designed so that if one is ever threatened, or afraid, they can run into this ‘Panic Room,’ and be safe. In the movie “Panic Room” when three guys break into the Brownstone to get 3million dollars out of a hidden safe that happen to be in the Panic Room. Jodi Foster’s character and her daughter survived because they ran to the Panic Room and used the telephone system and wall of monitors that covered every room of the apartment.
‘The Panic Room’ is a room that is totally self-contained. It is steel and concrete reinforced with a massive steel door triggered by a laser eye. It has it’s own separate ventilation system, it’s own heating and air system; it’s own electrical system; and, it’s own telephone system. It is fully wired so that every room of the apartment can be seen at different times from a wall of monitors. It is a room that was designed so that if one is ever threatened, or afraid, they can run into this ‘Panic Room,’ and be safe. In the movie “Panic Room” when three guys break into the Brownstone to get 3million dollars out of a hidden safe that happen to be in the Panic Room. Jodi Foster’s character and her daughter survived because they ran to the Panic Room and used the telephone system and wall of monitors that covered every room of the apartment.
Most often we stop and verse 7 without continuing in the passage. However, the advice of verse 7 is given to us because of the warning found in verse 8. He exhorts us to, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." In case you don't know it, I want to tell you right now, clearly and plainly, you are under attack! Your family is under attack. Your life is under attack. You, and I, have an enemy who never rests, and never sleeps. Furthermore he knows your strengths, and he knows our weaknesses, and he is always looking for an opportunity to exploit those weaknesses, and to use our strengths as a weapon against us to bring you down spiritually. Remember one of the guys who broke in built the Panic Room so he knew everything about the Panic Room. So, he was aware of how to exploit what they could and could not do. The Bible and this Context has given us ample warning about this enemy and how to defeat him; and, Here's What To Do if the Devil Is Trying To Devour You!
3 things in this context. First, we are must:
Most often we stop and verse 7 without continuing in the passage. However, the advice of verse 7 is given to us because of the warning found in verse 8. He exhorts us to, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." In case you don't know it, I want to tell you right now, clearly and plainly, you are under attack! Your family is under attack. Your life is under attack. You, and I, have an enemy who never rests, and never sleeps. Furthermore he knows your strengths, and he knows our weaknesses, and he is always looking for an opportunity to exploit those weaknesses, and to use our strengths as a weapon against us to bring you down spiritually. Remember one of the guys who broke in built the Panic Room so he knew everything about the Panic Room. So, he was aware of how to exploit what they could and could not do. The Bible and this Context has given us ample warning about this enemy and how to defeat him; and, Here's What To Do if the Devil Is Trying To Devour You!
3 things in this context. First, we are must:
A. Be Serious About The Devil's Reality!
A. Be Serious About The Devil's Reality!
First of all, we are to "be sober." Peter urged his listeners to be “clearheaded” (NIV, “self-controlled”)
What is Peter talking about here? First of all, he says, "Be sober." The word "sober" is from the word nepho {nay'-fo} which means "to be calm and collected in spirit; to be sober or clear-minded; to be self-controlled." Peter brings us back again to the importance of having self control and keeping our cool. So many Christians have trashed their testimony for Christ because they could not control themselves. They could not control their tempers, their tongues, and their fleshly desires. If we are going to triumph over Satan, then we have got to learn to remain calm when we feel like blowing up. We need to control ourselves.
The word sober does not simply mean to refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages. The word literally means, “to be serious.” Peter is telling us that we had better take the devil seriously. He is not some little man on a can of potted meat with a pitch fork, two horns, and a forked tail. He is real, and he is powerful. He is powerfully real and really powerful. Furthermore, we are reminded that he is our “adversary." The word adversary is a legal term, and it refers to a legal opponent in a law suit. This same “adversary” is called in Revelation 12: 10, "the accuser of the brethren." The devil stands in the courtroom of heaven before our Heavenly Father. He is hell's district attorney, who is always bringing a case against us, trying to condemn us of our sin. The word devil is the Greek word diabolos, which means "slanderer." The devil is always trying to dig up dirt on us, rattle the skeletons in your closet, bring up past sins long ago confessed and forgiven, trying to rob you of the joy of your salvation. I agree with Billy Sunday. Billy Sunday said, "I believe in the devil for two reasons: Number one, the Bible teaches he's real; number two, I've done business with him." He is a real adversary, enemy and foe. Thus, we must be serious about his reality. We are also to:
First of all, we are to "be sober." Peter urged his listeners to be “clearheaded” (NIV, “self-controlled”)
What is Peter talking about here? First of all, he says, "Be sober." The word "sober" is from the word nepho {nay'-fo} which means "to be calm and collected in spirit; to be sober or clear-minded; to be self-controlled." Peter brings us back again to the importance of having self control and keeping our cool. So many Christians have trashed their testimony for Christ because they could not control themselves. They could not control their tempers, their tongues, and their fleshly desires. If we are going to triumph over Satan, then we have got to learn to remain calm when we feel like blowing up. We need to control ourselves.
The word sober does not simply mean to refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages. The word literally means, “to be serious.” Peter is telling us that we had better take the devil seriously. He is not some little man on a can of potted meat with a pitch fork, two horns, and a forked tail. He is real, and he is powerful. He is powerfully real and really powerful. Furthermore, we are reminded that he is our “adversary." The word adversary is a legal term, and it refers to a legal opponent in a law suit. This same “adversary” is called in Revelation 12: 10, "the accuser of the brethren." The devil stands in the courtroom of heaven before our Heavenly Father. He is hell's district attorney, who is always bringing a case against us, trying to condemn us of our sin. The word devil is the Greek word diabolos, which means "slanderer." The devil is always trying to dig up dirt on us, rattle the skeletons in your closet, bring up past sins long ago confessed and forgiven, trying to rob you of the joy of your salvation. I agree with Billy Sunday. Billy Sunday said, "I believe in the devil for two reasons: Number one, the Bible teaches he's real; number two, I've done business with him." He is a real adversary, enemy and foe. Thus, we must be serious about his reality. We are also to:
B. Be Sensitive To The Devil's Tenacity! Notice we are also to "be vigilant." The word “vigilant” means "to be awake," "to be alert." In other words, we need to keep up our spiritual radar twenty-four hours a day. We are to never let our guard down because Satan, “as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." I have always found it very interesting that Satan is compared to a lion. I believe it is, first of all because, lions are forceful. A lion is 14 to 21 times stronger than a man. (Trust me, if a real Tarzan fought a real lion, you had better put your money on the lion.) Just as a man is no match for a lion, neither are we a match for Satan. We need super human strength to defeat a lion, and we need supernatural strength to defeat the devil. Lions are also tenacious. Satan here is described as a roaring lion. A lion's roar may be heard over a distance of nearly five miles. The sound of that roar registers somewhere between 1 and 3 kHz. To put this in perspective, if the deepest bass gospel singer tried to sing that loud, he would blow every vocal chord in his larynx.) The roar is so loud and so low that if a lion were to roar near you, it would literally vibrate through your entire body. Why do you think Peter compares the roar of a lion to the methodology of Satan? Lions do most of their roaring at night under the cover of darkness, and darkness is where Satan does his best work. Did you know that 3 o'clock in the morning is generally referred to as "the soul's midnight," because most people die in hospitals at about that time? Satan loves death, the pain that it causes and the sorrows that it brings. Have you ever heard the saying, "It's always darkest just before dawn?" Lions most often roar just before dawn between 3 and 6 o'clock in the morning. Most people, most common sense people anyhow, are asleep between 3 and 6 o’clock. They are at their most vulnerable point. They are asleep, and unaware of danger. Spiritually speaking, the Devil, like that lion, roars, and seeks to attack when we are at our most vulnerable point. When we have become unaware of danger, He begins to roar. We are also told here that the devil walking about, "seeking whom he may devour." The word “devour “is a term that refers to an animal killing its prey. That is exactly how Satan kills his prey by devouring the prey. A lion can eat 30% of its own body weight in one sitting. That would be similar to a 150 pound man eating about 200 Big Macs. I can imagine that when Peter wrote this, he was thinking back to when he denied Jesus three times and learned firsthand how the devil can chew you up and spit you out in a matter of seconds. Lions are not only forceful, but lions are also fearful. Lions roar to create fear. When lions roar it paralyzes their prey, thereby giving them much more of an advantage when they attack. Satan's best and favorite tool is fear. The Lord knows that and that's why he put in his Word 365 times, one for every day in the year the phrase, "fear not." We are His sheep, and lion's attack sheep, but thank God, the Lord is our Shepherd, we are His sheep and the Bible says, “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”
B. Be Sensitive To The Devil's Tenacity! Notice we are also to "be vigilant." The word “vigilant” means "to be awake," "to be alert." In other words, we need to keep up our spiritual radar twenty-four hours a day. We are to never let our guard down because Satan, “as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." I have always found it very interesting that Satan is compared to a lion. I believe it is, first of all because, lions are forceful. A lion is 14 to 21 times stronger than a man. (Trust me, if a real Tarzan fought a real lion, you had better put your money on the lion.) Just as a man is no match for a lion, neither are we a match for Satan. We need super human strength to defeat a lion, and we need supernatural strength to defeat the devil. Lions are also tenacious. Satan here is described as a roaring lion. A lion's roar may be heard over a distance of nearly five miles. The sound of that roar registers somewhere between 1 and 3 kHz. To put this in perspective, if the deepest bass gospel singer tried to sing that loud, he would blow every vocal chord in his larynx.) The roar is so loud and so low that if a lion were to roar near you, it would literally vibrate through your entire body. Why do you think Peter compares the roar of a lion to the methodology of Satan? Lions do most of their roaring at night under the cover of darkness, and darkness is where Satan does his best work. Did you know that 3 o'clock in the morning is generally referred to as "the soul's midnight," because most people die in hospitals at about that time? Satan loves death, the pain that it causes and the sorrows that it brings. Have you ever heard the saying, "It's always darkest just before dawn?" Lions most often roar just before dawn between 3 and 6 o'clock in the morning. Most people, most common sense people anyhow, are asleep between 3 and 6 o’clock. They are at their most vulnerable point. They are asleep, and unaware of danger. Spiritually speaking, the Devil, like that lion, roars, and seeks to attack when we are at our most vulnerable point. When we have become unaware of danger, He begins to roar. We are also told here that the devil walking about, "seeking whom he may devour." The word “devour “is a term that refers to an animal killing its prey. That is exactly how Satan kills his prey by devouring the prey. A lion can eat 30% of its own body weight in one sitting. That would be similar to a 150 pound man eating about 200 Big Macs. I can imagine that when Peter wrote this, he was thinking back to when he denied Jesus three times and learned firsthand how the devil can chew you up and spit you out in a matter of seconds. Lions are not only forceful, but lions are also fearful. Lions roar to create fear. When lions roar it paralyzes their prey, thereby giving them much more of an advantage when they attack. Satan's best and favorite tool is fear. The Lord knows that and that's why he put in his Word 365 times, one for every day in the year the phrase, "fear not." We are His sheep, and lion's attack sheep, but thank God, the Lord is our Shepherd, we are His sheep and the Bible says, “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”
C. Be Steadfast Against The Devil's Hostility! Notice verse 9. Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. The Bible does not guarantee that we will be spared from attack, but it does guarantee we will be spared from defeat. James 4:7 says, "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." But how are we to defeat the devil? We are to do it, Peter says, "steadfast in the faith." We don't defeat the devil with fight; you defeat the devil with faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We don’t defeat the devil with battle; we defeat the devil with belief in He who has power of the devil. I heard about one of these lions who was walking through the jungle, roaring and snorting. He came up to a rabbit and let out a loud roar, and said, "Little rabbit, who is the king of the jungle?" The rabbit, trembling with fear, said, "Oh, mighty lion, you are the king of the jungle." He came up to a monkey, and with a mighty roar he said, “Monkey, who is the king of the jungle?" The monkey said, "Oh, you mighty lion, are the king of the jungle." Finally, this lion came up on a bull elephant. He let out a mighty roar. He said, "Dumbo, who is the king of the jungle?" That elephant just wrapped that big trunk around that lion, picked him up as if he were paper, and tossed him up against a tree with bone-crushing force. As the lion slid down that tree and landed in a heap, he looked at that elephant and said, "Well, just because you don't know the answer doesn't mean you have to get sore about it." We need to be constantly reminded that God is always stronger than the devil. We are not in a universe where a good lion and a bad lion are engaged in some eternal battle and the outcome is uncertain. The devil here is called a "roaring lion." But there is another lion, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the Lord Jesus Christ. This satanic lion may be the king of the jungle, but Judah's lion is the king of the universe.
C. Be Steadfast Against The Devil's Hostility! Notice verse 9. Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. The Bible does not guarantee that we will be spared from attack, but it does guarantee we will be spared from defeat. James 4:7 says, "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." But how are we to defeat the devil? We are to do it, Peter says, "steadfast in the faith." We don't defeat the devil with fight; you defeat the devil with faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We don’t defeat the devil with battle; we defeat the devil with belief in He who has power of the devil. I heard about one of these lions who was walking through the jungle, roaring and snorting. He came up to a rabbit and let out a loud roar, and said, "Little rabbit, who is the king of the jungle?" The rabbit, trembling with fear, said, "Oh, mighty lion, you are the king of the jungle." He came up to a monkey, and with a mighty roar he said, “Monkey, who is the king of the jungle?" The monkey said, "Oh, you mighty lion, are the king of the jungle." Finally, this lion came up on a bull elephant. He let out a mighty roar. He said, "Dumbo, who is the king of the jungle?" That elephant just wrapped that big trunk around that lion, picked him up as if he were paper, and tossed him up against a tree with bone-crushing force. As the lion slid down that tree and landed in a heap, he looked at that elephant and said, "Well, just because you don't know the answer doesn't mean you have to get sore about it." We need to be constantly reminded that God is always stronger than the devil. We are not in a universe where a good lion and a bad lion are engaged in some eternal battle and the outcome is uncertain. The devil here is called a "roaring lion." But there is another lion, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the Lord Jesus Christ. This satanic lion may be the king of the jungle, but Judah's lion is the king of the universe.
A Cure for a Troubled Heart: Messages of Inspiration.
A Cure for a Troubled Heart: Messages of Inspiration.
The Jack Andrews Expository Studies - Understanding 1 Peter.
The Jack Andrews Expository Studies - Understanding 1 Peter.
Treasures From the Scriptures - Treasures from Trials in Scripture.
Treasures From the Scriptures - Treasures from Trials in Scripture.
Sparkling Gems from the Greek
Sparkling Gems from the Greek
Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary, The - Lambda-Omicron.
Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary, The - Lambda-Omicron.