TEXT (1 Pet.5:1-11 Text V.8)
I. NOTICE THE DECLARATION CONCERNING THE ADVERSARY. (V.8a)”Be sober, be vigilant” here we are told to be Sober and Strong, this is not a new declaration.
There is The sober Leaders this concerns the Shepherd: 1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
The sober Look this concerns the Second coming of Jesus:1Th 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 1Pe 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 1Pe 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
The sober Laymen this concerns the Servants: Tit 2:2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. Tit 2:6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.
The sober Ladies this concerns the Sisters: Tit 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
The sober Lifestyle this concerns the Saints. 1Pet.5:8
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I. NOTICE THE DECLARATION CONCERNING THE ADVERSARY. “Be sober, be vigilant” A. WE ARE TO BE ACTIVE: This is a command we are to assert ourselves, the sober means: By implication to be sober-minded, to think and act soberly, discreetly, to use sound judgment, to be self-disciplined.
B. WE ARE TO BE AWAKE: This is a command to arouse ourselves, the word vigilant means: To arise, arouse. To watch, to refrain from sleep. It was transferred in meaning from the physical to the moral religious sphere.
C. WE ARE TO BE ATTENTIVE: This is a command to be alert, It denotes attention a mindfulness of threatening dangers which, with conscious earnestness and an alert mind, keeps it from all drowsiness and all slackening in the energy of faith and conduct.
D. WE ARE TO BE ASSERTIVE: this is a command to be alarmed, we have been put on notice, we have been notified by God that the devil is after us! HE IS AFTER OUR HOMES, THE HOUSE OF GOD, OUR HAPPINESS, OUR HOPES, OUR HERITAGE OUR HARMONY EXC. I. NOTICE THE DECLARATION CONCERNING THE ADVERSARY.
II. NOTICE THE DESCRIPTION OF THE ADVERSARY. (V8b) “because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion” He who is a defamer; who accuses God to men, and men to God, and is therefore the accuser of the brethren; A. NOTICE HIS POWER. Lk.4:5-7 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
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6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
Job 1:7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
B. NOTICE HIS PERSONALITY. “…as a roaring lion…”
1. Lions Are Forceful -
They are 14 to 21 times stronger than a man. Satan is far stronger than we are as well! We cannot fight him on our own. (Ill. Even Michael the Archangel wouldn’t fight the devil - Jude 9)
2. Lions Are Fe-rocious -
A mature lion can consume 30% 0f his own body weight at one setting. Lions have to kill to live. lion must surprise its prey by stalking.
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
3. Lions Are Fearful -
A mature lion’s roar can be heard up to 5 miles away. Lions do most of their roaring at night. The reason they roar in the first place is to create fear in the hearts of those who hear them. This is just what the devil does too! If he can paralyze your faith, then he can attack your life. 1Ki.8:12 The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness. 1Jo 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
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I. NOTICE THE DECLARATION CONCERNING THE ADVERSARY. II. NOTICE THE DESCRIPTION OF THE ADVERSARY. III. NOTICE THE DEVOTION OF THE ADVERSARY. (V.8c) “…walk about seeking…” A. NOTICE HIS CUNNING. walketh about; to and fro in the earth; see #Job 1:7 as a lion runs about here and there, when almost famished with hunger; and it also denotes the insidious methods, wiles, and stratagems Satan takes to surprise men, and get an advantage of them: he takes a tour, and comes round upon them, upon the back of them, at an unawares.
B. NOTICE HIS COMMITMENT. The word “seek” means: Particularly, to seek after, look for, strive to find. to search or seek out. To seek the life of someone means seeking to kill him To seek how means to seek opportunity, to try to gain, to strive after, with the idea of earnestness and anxiety. I. NOTICE THE DECLARATION CONCERNING THE ADVERSARY. II. NOTICE THE DESCRIPTION OF THE ADVERSARY. III. NOTICE THE DEVOTION OF THE ADVERSARY. IV.NOTICE THE DESIRE OF THE ADVERSARY. (V.8d) “…whom he may devour” Jesus told us in Joh 10:10 that his desire is to “…to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
A. HIS DESIRE IS TO DECEIVE SINNERS. (2Co 4:4) In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. B. HIS DESIRE IS TO DISTRACT THE SAINTS. SAMSON C. HIS DESIRE IS TO CAST DOUBT ON THE SCRIPTURES. ADAM AND EVE
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This is what he has done from the beginning Ge 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? The devil was the first to do this and all who do so are his servants. I.NOTICE THE DECLARATION CONCERNING THE ADVERSARY. II. NOTICE THE DESCRIPTION OF THE ADVERSARY. III. NOTICE THE DEVOTION OF THE ADVERSARY. IV. NOTICE THE DESIRE OF THE ADVERSARY. V. NOTICE THE DEFEAT OF THE ADVERSARY. (V.9) Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. A. NOTICE THERE IS A EXPECTED STAND. “Whom resist…” The word “resist” means: To stand. To stand against, resist, whether in deed or word, to stand firm against; to set oneself against, resist, oppose; to forbid, hinder, withstand. James put it like this: Jas 4:7-8 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. B. NOTICE THERE IS EFFECTIVE STRENGTH. “…stedfast in the faith…” John put it like this: 1Jo 5:4-5 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? C. NOTICE THERE IS ENCOURAGING SUBSTANCE. “…knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” Paul said in 1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
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