1 Pedro 5

1 Pedro 5:8

Piper has a message entitled A Handbook of Enemy Strategies that is worth pondering so that we would not be ignorant of the devil's schemes... February 12, 1984 Sunday Evening Message A wartime mindset must include shrewd knowledge of enemy tactics. Ephesians 5:11, “Take no part in unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” Christianity stands or falls with the reality of Satan and demons. Why? Because Jesus spent his whole ministry fighting them. If they are not real he is reduced to a comic figure. What is Satan’s aim and his strategies? 1. He is the father of lies. (John 8:44) His nature is falsehood! He only speaks the truth in order to deceive. 2. Therefore, his chief enemy is truth—he opposes God’s word. (Genesis 3:1, 2, 3,4,5.) 3. He casts doubt on God’s goodness. (Genesis 3:1, 2, 3, 4, 5) He destroys the obedience of faith. He opposes the truth reaching and converting people. 4. He hinders missions strategy. (1 Thessalonians 2:18) 5. He distorts and prevents effective gospel message. (Acts 13:8, 99) 6. He avoids inner need by removing external trouble. (1 John 3:12) 7. He uses the fear of death to hold men in bondage. (Hebrews 2:15) It doesn’t lead them to God because it leads them to get as many kicks here as possible. 8. He causes people to stumble over bad Christian attitudes. (2 Timothy 2:24, 25, 26) 9. He blinds the minds of unbelievers. (2 Corinthians 4:4) 10. He exploits a lack of understanding. (Matthew 13:19) 11. He suggests ways that don’t involve suffering. (Matthew 16:23; Matthew 4:1–11) 12. He imitates religious roles. (2 Corinthians 11:14, 15; Matthew 13:28, 30; Revelation 2:9) 13. He misuses Scripture. (Matthew 4:6) 14. He imitates signs and wonders. (2 Thessalonians 2:9; Mark 13:22) 15. He offers exotic occult alternatives. (Revelation 2:19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 He attacks faith to destroy believers: 16. attacks faith. (1 Thessalonians 3:5; 2 Corinthians 11:3) 17. brings persecution. (Revelation 2:9; 1 Peter 5:8; Luke 22:31) 18. brings sickness. (Job 1:11; 2:5; Luke 13:16) 19. dissension over doctrine and causes rifts. (Romans 16:17, 18, 19, 20) 20. sexual allurements. (1 Corinthians 7:5; 1 Timothy 5:15) 21. unresolved anger. (2 Corinthians 2:11; Ephesians 4:27) 22. pride. (1 Timothy 3:6) We began with liar and end with pride. Connection: the truth is that God is God and we are not. It is humbling. The only way to rebel against the lowliness of creaturehood is to be a liar. Humility under God is the great devil resistance (James 4:6, 7). (A Handbook of Enemy Strategies ) LIKE A ROARING LION SEEKING SOMEONE TO DEVOUR: os leon oruomenos (PMPMSN) peripatei (3SPAI) zeton (PAPMSN) (tina) katapiein (AAN) Jdg 14:5; Ps 104:21; Pr 19:12; 20:2; Is 5:29,30; 14:12,13; Jer 2:15; Jer 51:38; Eze19:7; Ho 11:10; Joel 3:16; Amos 1:2; 3:4,8; Zech 11:3; 2Ti 4:17; Rev 12:12 Job 1:7; 2:2 devour: Ezek 22:25; Da 6:24; Ho 13:8 1 Peter 5 Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries 1 Peter 5:5-14 Exhortations to the Flock - Jack Arnold 1 Peter 5:6-14 Growing Solid Through Suffering - Steven Cole 1 Peter 5:8 Fundamental Attitudes for Spiritual Maturity-Pt 2 - John MacArthur 1 Peter 5:8-14 Fundamental Attitudes for Spiritual Maturity-Pt 3 - John MacArthur Like (hos) is a simile or figure of speech comparing two unlike things which are often introduced by either like or as. In this case Peter is drawing a comparison between the Devil and a lion. The Devil like a lion stalks his prey. Thus one might say that the Christian life is like a jungle war! Remember that whenever you encounter a terms of comparison simile metaphor, pause for a moment to ponder the passage (cp Ps 46:10), asking at least one of the 5W/H questions. In so doing you are allowing your Teacher, the Holy Spirit (1Jn 2:20, 27, Jn 14:26, Jn 16:13, 1Cor 2:10-13), to illuminate the passage and you are also in a sense practicing the delightful discipline of Biblical Meditation. Lion (3023) (leon) is used in Scripture to symbolize strength, majesty and courage on one hand (a picture of God, Christ, Israel, tribe of Judah, etc) and a menacing ferocity predator (predatory = relating to, or practicing plunder or pillage; inclined or intended to injure others for personal profit) on the other as in the present context. A "roaring lion" was used to characterize a king's wrath. Roaring (5612) (oruomai) denotes especially the howl of a beast in fierce hunger. Oruomai is a word derived from the sound of roaring. The present tense pictures the Devil's the continual roaring like a lion.