Sunday, July 22, 2007
UNDER ATTACK
I Peter 5:5-11
I confess to you that my history is weak. It isn’t that I have never studied history. The problem is that I forget what I learn. But I do remember something about a historic event that occurred on December 7, 1941. When I mention that date, two words immediately come into many minds this morning – Pearl Harbor. Those words identify a place in the Hawaiian islands, but they bring to mind much more. It was at Pearl Harbor that the Japanese pulled off a sneak attack, the results of which were rather unbelievable. No one would have ever thought it possible, but it happened. That attack could have never been successful, if it had not been for the element of surprise. Had our soldiers known it was coming, things would have been vastly different.
Please hear me this morning. Remember Pearl Harbor. We are under attack. The enemy forces have been gathered and they are poised for an all-out attack. This threat demands readiness on our part. While that readiness certainly means that we must stay in constant contact with the Commander of our forces, it also requires that we know something of the enemy's strategy.
So let’s read from the Word of God this morning. I Pet. 5:5-11…
Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7. Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9. Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
We do have an enemy. Let the skeptics say what they want to about the weakness of those who still have to believe in the devil. He is real. As the creatures of the forest would be foolish to ignore a roaring lion, so is any man a fool who ignores the devil.
Notice that our adversary, the devil, walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Before we examine his strategy, let me say two brief words about this verse. First of all, the identification of the devil as a roaring lion does not mean that he always announces himself to those he opposes. Surely the roaring of the lion means that he is hungry. But when he gets ready to stalk his prey, he doesn’t constantly roar. So it is with the devil. His very nature is to craftily use great deception to defeat his enemies. After all, he is the father of lies (Jn. 8:44). Rather than announcing that he is going to attack, Satan masquerades as an angel of light (II Cor. 11:4), leading us to believe that he is our friend.
Secondly, we must be careful that we don’t misunderstand what Peter means when he says that our enemy is seeking to devour us. False teachers try to lead us to believe that the devil is trying to take away our stuff, our possessions. They teach us that the devil is trying to steal our comfort, that his desire is to make us suffer. Nothing could be further from the truth. Do you think it bothers Satan for a man to be happy all through this life? If can pave the road to hell with happiness, his task will be that much easier. The devil’s strategy is not to take away our possessions, our happiness, our comfort and ease in this world. More often than not, those are the very things he will use to distract us from the Lord.
So how does the devil seek to devour us? In the context of this passage, I want to suggest three of the primary tools he uses to devour his prey. There are certainly many others, but we find these here in the immediate context of this statement. That should give them much weight. We will also find that these three strategies are not unique to this passage.
I. Pride
His first tool is pride. Other than the Lord Himself, no one understands pride like the devil. It was pride that lead to his own downfall. We could say that pride was the chief ingredient that lead him to become the devil. Please turn to Isaiah 14. While these words are spoken against the king of Babylon, it is clear that they are also intended for someone far greater than any earthly king. Let’s read Is. 14:12-15…
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13. For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
In verses 13 and 14, Lucifer uses those words "I will" five times. What a selfish expression of pride. He didn’t care what his creator wanted. All that matters was what "I will." What foolish pride led him to say, "I will be like the Most High."
Now come back to I Peter 5. Let’s read again verses 5-6…
Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
Watch out! Beware! Your adversary, the devil, is trying to devour you by filling you with pride. While God resists the proud, the devil applauds the proud. When pride sneaks into your life, be sure that you are being devoured by the enemy. "But I don’t feel like he is defeating me." That is because he is crafty and deceptive. He doesn’t want you to feel defeated. If you did, you might become alarmed and cry out to Almighty God. Pride and "feeling good" are close friends. If the enemy can make us proud, then he can cut us off from the grace of God, for it ia to the humble that God gives grace.
It is no accident that this call to humility is in the same context as the warning to beware of the enemy who wants to devour us. This appeal to pride was Satan’s primary strategy from the beginning of his dealings with mankind. We see it way back in the Garden of Eden. It doesn’t take much reading between the lines to hear his appeal to pride. "Did God really say that you may not eat the fruit from the trees of the garden?" "Oh, we can eat from the trees, except the one tree in the middle of the garden. But He did say that if we eat from it or touch it, we will surely die." "You won’t die. God isn’t telling you the whole truth. He is afraid that you will eat the fruit and become like Him." Do you hear the implications of what he was saying? He was encouraging man to trust his own reason instead of the Word of God. "You have a mind; use it." Yes, it was an appeal to man’s pride. And it worked. Adam decided that he knew better than God what would be good for him.
In Proverbs 6, we have a list of the seven things that God hates. Let’s read it in Prov 6:16-19…
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17. A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18. An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19. A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
The very first thing on the list is a proud look. The Amplified Version expands it a bit by saying, "A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others]…" This proud look doesn’t begin with the outward countenance, but with the inward attitude. We must not miss the fact that pride heads the list of the things God hates.
Back in I Peter 5:5, notice that humility is coupled ever so closely with submission to one another in the body of Christ. "Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility." Pride is the enemy of mutual submission. Mutual submission will always deal a crushing blow to our pride. That is why we see so little submission in the church today; it is because of stubborn pride.
There are two forms of pride that rise up and rebel at the idea of submitting to brothers and sisters in Christ’s body. The first is self-dependence (or "independence," whichever you prefer), which says, "I don’t need you." Of course, it is this same pride that will cause a person to say to God, "I don’t need you." But when we get past that, then the enemy encourages us to say the same to one another. The extreme individualism that is a part of American culture has taught us that it is always better to depend upon self, if possible. Dependence upon others is a last resort and is usually viewed as a sign of weakness.
The other form of pride that isolates us is self-exaltation. While self-dependence says, "I don’t need you," self-exaltation says, "I’m better than you." Right now some of you are thinking, "I would never have that attitude." That very thought pronounces you guilty of the very thing you think you are free of. By thinking, "I would never have that attitude," you are saying, "While others might think like that, I certainly wouldn’t do that." Yes, you shut pride out at the front door, but it has sneaked around to the back and found the door wide open.
Paul says in Gal. 6:3, "For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself." Again Paul gives us this advice in Rom. 12:3, "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." Jesus said, "And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted" (Matt. 23:12). If you lift yourself up above others, you will be made low. More than once Isaiah says that those who exalt themselves will be made low. Is. 2:12, "For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:" (also Is. 13:11; 25:11).
Brothers and sisters, our tendency is to lift ourselves up above one another rather than to lower ourselves and submit to one another. We face the constant temptation to compare ourselves with others, and it is a deadly trap of the enemy. When we play the comparison game, we can’t win. If I compare myself with you and conclude that you are better than I, then there is the danger that I will envy you. If I compare myself with you and conclude that I am better than you, then I quickly begin to exalt myself. Listen to Paul’s sobering words in 1 Cor 4:7, "For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?" Rather than comparing ourselves with others, let’s come to God’s Word and receive His evaluation, for He says that we are all one in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:28). When we rejoice in that oneness, there is no reason to compare.
II. Division
The second of Satan’s tools that we find in this passage is division. Let’s read verses 8-9 again…
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9. Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Our response to the devil is to be resistance. And in verse 9 we are given a great reason for encouragement; we are not alone in this struggle. Rather, we must realize that our enemy is trying to devour all of our brothers and sisters in Christ. How many times have you heard a person find great comfort in the thought, "Now I know I’m not alone"? What encouragement there is in knowing that others are facing the very same thing I am facing.
So why does Peter need to remind his readers of this truth? Doesn’t every believer know this? It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the devil is seeking to devour every Christian. So why does Peter say it? Because Satan tries to convince us that it isn’t so. And remember that his strategy goes far beyond the intellect. Yes, we realize that all Christians are in this battle together, until… until a brother or sister mistreats us. And then what happens? If the enemy is successful in his attack, I begin to think that you are my enemy. Instead of resisting the devil, I begin to resist my brother. In reality, I team up with the devil against my brother in the faith. And when I do, the devil has devoured me. Do you see it?
Don’t expect the devil to come to you and say, "You are the only one that is called upon to resist me." That is not the way he works. Rather, he will enter into the circumstances of life and put an evil little twist on something said by your sister in Christ. The devil is an expert at assumption and innuendo. Give him an inch, and he’ll take a mile.
Don’t miss the fact that division and pride go hand in hand. Prov. 13:10, "Only by pride cometh contention…" When we find ourselves at odds with a brother or sister through the slick dealings of Satan, it is pride that will tempt us to resist reconciliation. "Well, let him make the first move. It’s his fault that all this happened. I’m not going to go crawling to him, etc." Pride is stubborn and unreasonable.
Now let’s come back to Proverbs 6, and let’s read once again that list of things God hates in Prov. 6:16-19…
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17. A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18. An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19. A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
The list is headed up by pride, but notice the climax – he that sows discord among brethren.
God hates anyone who plants seeds of division among His people. And that is exactly what Satan is trying to do. This is a vital part of his strategy. But why? Because unity in the body of Christ is so vitally important. Lord willing, we will spend a couple of weeks looking at this concept of unity in Eph. 4:1-7. This is the unity for which Jesus prayed that last night, just hours before His arrest. Let’s read it again in John 17:20-21, "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21. That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." In order that His prayer might be answered, Jesus had to die on the cross, bearing
God’s full punishment for our sins. Is it any wonder that Satan tries to destroy this unity for which Jesus died? Is it any wonder that God hates anyone and everyone who tries to undermine that unity?
How we need Paul’s strong reminder concerning who the enemy is. Let’s read it in Eph. 6:10-18…
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15. And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
In the economy of the new covenant, our battle is not against people who have flesh and blood. Rather, we are battling Satan and his spiritual forces. When I am down on a brother or sister, the devil has already devoured me. I have sided with him against the Lord God. May we never forget that one of the primary strategies of our enemy is to turn us against one another.
The great danger for us is not the threat that comes from the outside. If someone destroys this building or locks us out, we can just meet somewhere else. If they lock Norman and me up for preaching the gospel, the Lord will raise up others to do the same. But if we turn on one another, then what? A house divided against itself cannot stand. No wonder the Lord tells us to guard the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3).
III. The Comforts of Home
Of course, I am using this phrase in a spiritual sense. We have heard this expression. The comforts of home speak of a place where we can relax. We may get beat down out in the world, but we can retire to the comforts of home. You worked hard all day and it has been a hassle, but now your wife has a delicious meal for you. You can enjoy your kids. In short, you can kick back and relax in all the comforts of home.
The devil is trying to convince us that in this life we are to look for all the comforts of home. "You could be here for a while, so why not relax and enjoy? Don’t take life so seriously. Take a break. After all, didn’t the Lord say, ‘Rejoice always, and again I say rejoice’?" Did the Lord say that? Phil. 4:4 says, "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice." The father of lies tries to convince us that we ought to rejoice in the comforts of this world.
Now come to I Pet. 5:10, "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." Peter pronounces a blessing on his readers, and that blessing consists of being perfected, established, strengthened, and settled by the God of all grace. Nothing else will do it except the God of all grace, but praise His name that He is able.
Notice that little phrase – "after ye have suffered a while." Remember, the enemy is walking about seeking whom he may devour. He is not only using the tools of pride and division, but he is also dangling before us the comforts of home. Surely that is why Peter reminds us that the perfecting, stablishing, strengthening, settling comes only after we have suffered a while. But how long is "a while"? As long as we are in this world. Jesus said plainly, "These things I have spoken to you that ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (Jn. 16:33). I repeat, on the authority of God’s Word, that the child of God will have tribulation as long as he is in this world. Did we not read just a few weeks ago those words which Paul spoke to the new converts in Antioch, Lyconium, and Lystra (Acts 14:21-22)…
And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, 22. Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God
So doesn’t the Christian have the privilege of enjoying the comforts of home? Indeed, he does. The strategy of the devil is to trick us into believing that the time for enjoying the comforts of home is NOW. That is the devil’s lie. Those of us who will be welcomed home by the Lord Jesus will have all eternity to rejoice in the glories of heaven…
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun;
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun.
This lie is so attractive that the Lord has included warning after warning in His Word. We know well the words of our Lord Jesus (Matt. 6:19-21)…
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Years ago I heard a little story that you have probably also heard. It was Fred who first shared it with us. I may not have all the details right, but I do remember the punch line this time. The story is told of Teddy Roosevelt, who had been on a hunting safari in Africa. After his hunting trip, he was returning to the United States by ship. On that same boat was a missionary, who was returning home after years of faithful service to the Lord in Africa. When the ship reached port and gangplank was lowered, nothing was spared in welcoming Mr. Roosevelt home. The great hunter had come home, and everyone made a big deal about it.
The missionary walked down the gangplank afterwards. There was no welcoming committee for him, no fanfare. He couldn’t help but think: "All this man did was go to Africa and kill a few animals. I have spent most of my life serving the Lord Jesus in a place that wasn’t very desirable. Lord, why should I not get such a welcome?" I don’t know how the Lord responded, but the message was clear: "You’re not home yet."
May we never forget that we aren’t home yet. As long as we are in this world, we are strangers and pilgrims (I Pet. 2:11). May we take to heart the words we sing, "This world is not my home." We’re on the battlefield. Conditions are not what we would choose, but we know that there is an end. Meanwhile, our attitude is described by what we find in Tit. 2:11-14…
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13. Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Conclusion
No doubt, some of you are wondering why I am preaching on this passage in I Peter this morning, when I was planning to preach from Eph. 4. It is because the La Luz body of Christ is facing a spiritual Pearl Harbor. We are under attack. The battle is raging and the intensity is increasing. Satan is busy sowing seeds of discord among the brethren. Some of you are being strongly tempted to think that people with flesh and blood are your enemies. Perhaps at this very moment, you are down on a brother or sister. Bad news and good news. The bad news is that the enemy is devouring you. The good news is that you can repent and run to Jesus, in whom we have redemption through His blood the forgiveness of sins (Eph. 1:7). "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I Jn. 1:9).
Not only is Satan sowing seeds of discord among brothers and sisters, but he is strongly tempting us with pride. Some of you are facing the temptation to forsake the idea of submitting yourselves to the brothers and sisters in the body of Christ. You don’t mind the concept; you just don’t like dealing with it in the context of certain people. "Me submit to him? To her? No way." Pride is eating you up. You are tempted to withdraw and guard your own heart against any invasion from well-meaning brothers and sisters. Listen to me. The enemy is on the threshold of devouring you. Run to the Lord and open your heart to him. Admit that you have yielded to his subtle deceptions. Hear the encouraging words of scripture: "If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared" (Ps. 130:3).
Our enemy knows us very well. He knows that some of you are weary, and he is trying to use that against you. He comes and tempts you to enjoy the comforts of home NOW. His words are so persuasive: "You deserve a break. You’ve given up so much, and what are you getting for it? Take it easy. You have years to serve the Lord. Stop and smell the roses. Let someone else bear the load. If you’re not careful, you will burn out." I urge you to remember those sobering words, "You’re not home yet." But praise God, we will be home soon. This life is a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away, and then we will meet the Lord face to face. May we all hear Him say, "Welcome home. Well done, good and faithful servant."
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