After you’ve showered, dressed, and eaten breakfast in the morning, to what are you alerted or concerned with or watching for first of all? Or more simply, what’s the first thing you do as you begin your day?
Some of you probably open the newspaper to see how your stocks closed on the previous day. Others check the sports scores (guilty). Many will turn on the weather channel to find out what the day’s high temperature will be. A few might even turn on the radio to check on any potential traffic problems along the route you take to work. Probably quite a few of you with small children will issue a warning to your kids to be watchful for any strangers that might come their way. And I suppose there are quite a few other things to which you devote your attention or potential dangers that alert you or cause you to take special caution.
But how many of us here today wake up in the morning alerted first and foremost to the very real threat posed to us by the Devil? “Be soberminded,” says Peter, “be watchful.” He could as easily have said, “Be on the alert!” Why? Because “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (v. 8). How many of us here today begin the morning praying for ourselves and our family members in view of the presence of a very real, insidious enemy, whom the Bible calls the Devil or Satan? How many of us are intentional and strategic in preparation for the spiritual battle with the principalities and powers and the invisible forces of darkness that we face every day? Probably not many.
I imagine a few of you are silently saying to yourselves, “Oh, come on Sam. This is the 21st century, for heaven’s sake. Talk about something realistic. Give me something I should really be concerned about. I mean, give me a break; it’s embarrassing to hear you talk about ‘The Devil’ as if you believed he literally exists. Any reasonably educated person should have abandoned belief in ‘Satan’ about the same time he gave up thinking there was a Santa Clause or an Easter Bunny!”
It’s amazing how far-reaching and pervasive the influence is in our lives of our world view. When I say “world view” I mean what we believe about ultimate reality. There are many features to a person’s world view, chief among which is whether or not you believe that matter or physical substance is all there is. The late and quite famous astronomer Carl Sagan was well known for saying, “The cosmos is all there is, all there has been, and all there ever will be.” Such was his world view. He would certainly be among those who would scoff and laugh at the idea of a personal spiritual being called Satan.
Sagan was an outspoken advocate for a world view according to which every effect has a physical cause. If you can't see it, touch it, taste it, smell it, or hear it, it simply doesn't exist. All phenomena can or eventually will be explained or accounted for scientifically. Reality is material and mechanical and tangible.
Belief in Satan and demons, so Sagan and other metaphysical materialists would argue, is on a level with belief in the Loch Ness monster and the search for Bigfoot! This perspective is often reinforced by the ludicrous and comical way in which Satan and his demons are portrayed. It is difficult to get people to take the devil seriously when he is trivialized by both the church and modern society. In his famous treatise titled, The Screwtape Letters, C. S. Lewis portrays one senior level demon named Screwtape giving advice to another, younger and less experienced demon, Wormwood:
"I do not think you will have much difficulty in keeping the patient in the dark. The fact that 'devils' are predominantly comic figures in the modern imagination will help you. If any faint suspicion of your existence begins to arise in his mind, suggest to him a picture of something in red tights, and persuade him that since he cannot believe in that . . . he therefore cannot believe in you."
The biblical world view, of course, is thoroughly supernatural. All physical phenomena, such as the weather and other events in nature are not the impersonal interaction of material particles or powers but are controlled by God. According to the biblical world view, holy angels do God’s bidding, while demons actively and energetically oppose his kingdom. In the biblical world view miracles, physical healing, together with gifts of the HS are essential elements that constitute reality. Prayer is real. The spiritual realm is real. And Satan is real.
My purpose this morning isn’t to convince you of the biblical perspective on reality. I am going to take for granted that you are not a metaphysical materialist or naturalist. I am going to assume that you believe there is a spiritual dimension to ultimate reality, a dimension that includes the existence of our great Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, together with holy angels and fallen, rebellious demons who are led by one known as the Devil.
Apart from that assumption, what Peter says in this text will make no sense to you.
So let me begin with three important observations that we must keep at the forefront of our thinking as Christians.
First, just as there is a kingdom of God, so, too, is there is a kingdom of Satan. And the two are in conflict.
"If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? . . . But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you" (Mt. 12:26,28; see also Acts 26:18 ["the dominion of Satan"]; Col. 1:13 ["the domain of darkness"]).
Second, few Christians fully realize the extent of Satan's influence. Nor do they understand their own authority. Two texts in particular make both points clear.
a. 1 John 5:19 - "We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one."
Observe the contrast. Whereas the "whole world" is in the evil one, we who are "of God" (v. 19) are in God and in his son, Jesus Christ (v. 20). The point is that everyone is in someone! "John wastes no words and blurs no issues. The uncompromising alternative is stated baldly. Everyone belongs either to 'us' or to the 'world'. Everyone is therefore either ‘of God' or 'in the evil one'. There is no third category" (John Stott, 194).
This forever shatters the illusion of neutrality, the idea that so-called "good" people who are not Christians are neither for God nor for Satan, are neither in God's kingdom nor in Satan's. The fact is, all people, young and old, male and female, belong to one of two kingdoms: either the kingdom of light or the kingdom of darkness. If one is not "in Christ" one is "in the power of the evil one," even if there is no visible, sensible awareness of being in the devil's grip. Thus, not to serve God is to serve Satan whether one is conscious of it or not.
To say the whole world is “in” the power of the evil one is to say it lives under the influence, power, and under the authority of Satan; in his grip and subject to his dominion (cf. John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; 17:15; Acts 26:18; 2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:1-2). Apply this notion to the "whole world", i.e., to the financial world, business and industry, the stock market, the banking system, political institutions and parties, entertainment (TV, films, media, radio), sports, education, the family, the home, the neighborhood, civic clubs and social service organizations, country clubs, . . . everything! PT: there is a satanic global influence with which we must reckon.
This is a stunning, shocking revelation. It takes one's breath away when the implications of such an assertion are unpacked. Indeed, it is a frightening revelation that could easily instill fear and dread were it not for another assertion that John makes . . .
b. 1 John 4:4 - "Little children, you are from God, and have overcome them; for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."
You Christians, says John, have not fallen victim to the false prophets and theological heretics who try to deceive you. And the reason is because the one who is in you, namely, our Great Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is greater and more powerful than the one, namely, Satan who is in them.
Yes, Satan is great, but God is greater! Yes, Satan is powerful, but God is infinitely more powerful!
John does not say "greater are you" but "greater is He". It isn't you, but God in you that brings the assurance of victory.
So these two verses alert us both to the extent of Satan’s influence and power but also the superior power and ultimate victory that is found in our relationship with God.
Third, people often respond to the call to spiritual warfare in one of two ways: either with obsessive preoccupation (based on their focus on 1 John 5:19 to the neglect of 1 John 4:4) or with complacent indifference (based on their focus on 1 John 4:4 to the neglect of 1 John 5:19).
"There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves [i.e., the demons] are equally pleased by both errors, and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight" (C. S. Lewis, Screwtape Letters, 3).
In other words, it matters little to the devil whether you attribute the totality of evil to him or none at all!
The fact of the matter is that spiritual warfare is all-encompassing. It touches every area of our lives. The conflict between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan affects how we use our money, what we watch on TV, how we raise our kids, the tone of voice with which we speak to our spouse, how we use our time, how we talk about our boss when he isn't listening, indeed, every aspect of our lives.
Peter’s warning here in v. 8, therefore, is very real and very important and concerns a very literal enemy called the Devil.
Satan is an angel. All angels were created (Col. 1:16; Jn. 1:1-3). Therefore, Satan was created. He is, therefore, God's Devil. Satan is not the equal and opposite power of God (contra dualism). He is not eternal. His power is not infinite. He does not possess divine attributes. In sum, he is no match for God!
The word of God is clear that whereas Satan is powerful, he is not omnipotent. Whereas he is intelligent, he is not omniscient. Whereas he is active, he is not omnipresent.
It’s also important for us to know that Satan has a plan. Although sinful, he is not stupid. He does not act haphazardly or without a goal in view.
2 Cor. 2:10-11 - "outwitted" (ESV), "to take advantage of" (NASB), in the sense of to cheat or defraud by deception. Satan has "designs" (ESV), i.e, plans, an agenda (e.g, the situation in Corinth).
Eph. 6:11 - "schemes" (lit., methodia = method), i.e, cunning and wily stratagems (cf. Eph. 4:14); e.g., value systems, institutions, organizations, philosophical movements, political, social, economic systems, etc.
Satan sets his goal and then utilizes and exploits the most effective means, while avoiding all obstacles, to reach his diabolical end.
Peter tells us that Satan’s aim is to “devour” or to “swallow up” Christian men and women. What does he mean by this? The answer is given in v. 9 – “Resist him, . . . knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” Evidently here Peter has in mind the persecution and insults and slander and other forms of suffering that these people are enduring. Your adversary the Devil is behind all this and other Christians around the world are suffering the same things you are.
We see something similar to this in Revelation 2:10 in the letter Jesus sent to the church in Smyrna: “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
Jesus is saying that Satan is responsible for the imprisonment of certain Christians and that in the case of some, death will be the end result. But “be faithful unto death,” said Jesus, much in the way Peter says, “Resist him, firm in your faith.” And just as Jesus promised them, saying, “I will give you the crown of life,” so too Peter makes the promise that God will “restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish” those who suffer in this way.
By the way, this means that you can successfully and faithfully “resist” the Devil and he might still kill you! Think for a moment about all the martyrs in church history who have lost their lives but never lost their faith. What both Peter and Jesus are telling us is that Satan can do no ultimate or eternal harm to us, though he may inflict physical harm. And even then, he can’t do it without God’s permission, as we’ll shortly see.
But the primary point is that when you are confronted with a roaring lion seeking to devour you, you better not be spiritually drunk or mentally distracted. You need all your spiritual faculties.
But here we come face to face with a real spiritual and theological problem. On several occasions in our study of 1 Peter we’ve seen that it is God who orchestrates our suffering as a way of refining and purifying our faith. See, for example, 1 Peter 1:6-7; 2:21; 3:14,17; 4:12-19 (esp. v. 19!).
So who is responsible for the suffering Christians endure: Satan or God? Yes! The answer is: Both!
Although Satan and God work at cross purposes, they can both desire the same event to occur while hoping to accomplish through it antithetical results. Satan wanted to see Jesus crucified, as did God the Father (Isa. 53:10; Acts 2:23; 4:27-28), but for a different reason. The same is true in the case of Job. What Satan had hoped would destroy Job (or at least provoke him to blasphemy), God used to strengthen him.
Or consider Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” (2 Cor. 12:7-10). Although we can't be sure, it seems likely that the demon was not acting consciously in the service of God. Most likely by God’s secret and sovereign providence this demonic spirit was dispatched to Paul intent on oppressing and thereby hindering (or even destroying) his ministry. The divine design, however, was to keep Paul from sinful pride and to utilize this affliction to accomplish a higher spiritual good (cf. 12:9-10).
“When Christians suffer, the devil's design is destructive pain; but God's design—in the same suffering—is constructive purification and holiness and power. The devil aims to devour. God aims to empower and purify and prepare for glory” (Piper).
Or let’s take the case of Peter himself. See Luke 22:31. Clearly, Satan is unable to act outside the parameters established by the will of God. He must first ask permission of God.
Important point: Satan's intent in "sifting" Peter was obviously malicious. It should be noted that Satan evidently obtained permission to test all of the disciples. Observe Jesus' use of the plural "you" (meaning, all the disciples) in 22:31). He wanted to destroy Peter by inciting him to deny Jesus. But God's intent in permitting Satan to do it was altogether different. God's purposes with Peter were to instruct him, humble him, perhaps discipline him, and certainly to use him as an example to others of both human arrogance and the possibility of forgiveness and restoration. The point is simply that often we cannot easily say "Satan did it" or "God did it". In cases such as this, both are true (with the understanding that God's will is sovereign, supreme, and overriding), but their respective goals are clearly opposite.
This passage teaches us that Satan, the Devil, can subject the followers of Jesus to severe tests that are designed to destroy their faith and result in utter spiritual failure. But Satan is always limited in what he can do by what God ordains or permits. It is clear from what we read here that Satan cannot gain ultimate victory over those for whom Jesus prays.
What, then, does it mean when Peter commands us to “resist” the Devil? James says almost the same thing in 4:7 – “Resist the Devil and he will flee from you.” It certainly doesn’t mean to fear him!
The armor of Ephesians 6
Prayer (both our own and that of others on our behalf)
Worship
Study and meditation on God’s Word
Verbal rebuke
Obedience, purity of life
Standing firm in faith (v. 9)
Notice that Peter explicitly identifies one primary way of resisting the Devil: it is by remaining “firm in your faith” (v. 9a). See 1 Peter 1:5!
What Peter has in mind in both these texts is our on-going confidence and trust in the greatness and power and faithfulness and goodness of God to do all for us that he has promised he will do. It is faith in the truth of the gospel!
In Col. 1:23 Paul speaks of “not shifting from the hope of the gospel!” . . . What Satan wants more than anything else is to shake your confidence in God, to instill doubt in your heart about his goodness, to cause you to question whether he is worthy of your trust, and the way he does this is through your suffering.
The solution, the response that will send him running from your presence, is unshakeable faith in the gospel! Unyielding confidence that Christ’s atoning death for your sins has forever secured your acceptance with the Father. Persevering trust that all God has accomplished for you in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus will forever keep you safe in the loving arms of your heavenly Father. When this grips your soul and warms your heart and energizes your mind and spirit, Satan doesn’t stand a chance!
Perhaps Peter especially has in mind what he then says in vv. 10-11 concerning God and his purpose in your life – See vv. 10-11.
Observe the emphatic focus on who God is, what he is like, and what he has promised to do for you: He is the God of all grace! He has called you into his eternal glory in Christ! He will himself restore anything that Satan may have robbed from you! He will himself confirm you so that all doubts about your relationship are banished! He will himself strengthen you in your weakness and enable you to stand! He will himself establish you immovable and eternal in relationship with him through Christ!
If you ever find yourself saying: “But I haven’t performed enough good works! I haven’t repented quickly enough! I haven’t lived up to God’s expectations of me! I’m not spiritual enough!” Immediately call to mind that here God identifies and describes himself as the God of all grace! Your relationship to God isn’t ultimately based on your goodness but on his grace!
And if that weren’t enough, Peter seals it with his declaration of praise in v. 11 – “To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” The word “dominion” means strength, power, the capacity to accomplish one’s will and to triumph over all one’s enemies. God is stronger and more powerful than Satan and no weapon formed by the Devil against God’s people can ultimately prevail.
Conclusion:
This that Peter has written in five short chapters is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!
You will encounter countless obstacles and opposition and temptations and excuses and seemingly reasonable grounds for compromise or that would appear to justify backing off. Don’t give in. Stand firm in these truths.
What I have written to you will not be popular in the prevailing culture. You will be portrayed as out of step with the times or as naïve or as a person who simply lacks the discernment to know how society has changed. You will be tempted to soft-pedal some of these truths lest your church attendance dwindles or your unyielding stance on difficult issues drives away those who would otherwise donate large sums of money. Stand firm in it!
The pressure to keep pace with the mega-church will be intense. But never forget: this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!
Public opinion polls and the latest Barna research statistics may portray you as out of touch with recent trends and insensitive to the felt needs of your community. But remember this: as much as culture and taste and social fashion may change and morph and reverse course, this that I have written to you is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!
What is the true grace of God?
The marvelous truth of God’s “great mercy” (1:3) which accounts for our having been born again to a living hope. Stand firm in your belief and defense and proclamation of it!
The glorious truth that God is keeping us safe in our salvation through faith (1:5) . . .
The majestic truth that trials and hardship are not signs of God’s displeasure or his rejection of us but his loving and gracious determination to purify and refine our faith (1:6-7) . . .
The breathtaking truth that you have been called to be holy as God is holy (1:16), as much as that may expose you to ridicule and mockery . . .
The unfathomable truth that you have been ransomed by the precious blood of Christ (1:18-20) . . .
The stunning truth that it is through the preaching of the Word of God that you have been born again (1:23-25) . . .
The remarkable truth that you, the people of God, are the true temple in which God dwells, that you, the church, are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession (2:4-10) . . .
The counter-cultural, counter-intuitive truth that Christ “bore our sins” in his body on the cross (2:24) and suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous (3:18), that is to say, the controversial but unshakeable truth that in his death Jesus Christ suffered and satisfied the wrath of God in your place, serving as a penal substitutionary sacrifice for sins . . .
This is the true, genuine, authentic, eternal, unchanging, immutable, incomprehensible, soul-saving, Christ-exalting, sin-killing grace of God. These truths never change. Cultures come and go. But these truths never change. Nations rise and nations fall. But this is the true grace of God and it never changes.
Stand firm in it!