Resist The Devil<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pastor Don Carpenter \/ General<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not From Around Here: The Complicated Life of a Sojourner \/ Temptation; Spiritual Warfare<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One three-year-old\u2019s explanation for being in the kitchen atop a chair, eating cookies: \u201cI just climbed up to smell them, and my tooth got caught.\u201d1<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1 Michael P. Green, ed., Illustrations for Biblical Preaching: Over 1500 Sermon Illustrations Arranged by Topic and Indexed Exhaustively, Revised edition of: The expositor\u2019s illustration file. (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1989).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last week we discovered that Peter warned us to be alert to an enemy, the devil, that is lurking in the shadows like a lion on his prey. Tonight now that we know about the Lion.. we are given strange advice\u2026 Peter does not tell us to be very quiet and hope the ravenous beast of darkness does not see us\u2026 we are to dig in and resist him! Wait\u2026 WHAT??? Yup \u2026 resist. Tonight we will discover that we as believers can use both what we know and who we know to resist the devil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Resist The Devil With What You Know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1 Peter 5:9<\/a> KJV<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You Know Retreat is not an Option<\/p>\n\n\n\n James 4:7<\/a> KJV<\/p>\n\n\n\n Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ephesians 6:11\u201313<\/a> KJV<\/p>\n\n\n\n Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Greek word translated \u201cresist\u201d means \u201cto withstand, to be firm against someone else\u2019s onset\u201d rather than \u201cto strive against that one.\u201d The Christian would do well to remember that he cannot fight the devil. The latter was originally the most powerful and wise angel God created. He still retains much of that power and wisdom as a glance down the pages of history and a look about one today will easily show. While the Christian cannot take the offensive against Satan, yet he can stand his ground in the face of his attacks. Cowardice never wins against Satan, only courage.1<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest\u2019s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader, vol. 11 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 130.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You Know You Stand On Solid Ground – Steadfast<\/p>\n\n\n\n The devil is resisted by being \u201cfirm in faith.\u201d The concept is not that of holding certain doctrines firmly, which is a meaning of faith found in the Pastorals (e.g., 1 Tim. 1:19<\/a>; 6:21<\/a>; 2 Tim. 2:18<\/a>), but that of remaining firm in one\u2019s trust in God. The word \u201cfirm\u201d originally applied to physical firmness or hardness, such as a firm foundation (2 Tim. 2:19<\/a>) or solid (versus soft or liquid) food (Heb. 5:12<\/a>, 14<\/a>) or (in its verbal form) firm feet (i.e., feet that no longer gave way under the weight of the person, Acts 3:7<\/a>, 16<\/a>). Here the term is applied to character, as is its verbal form in Acts 16:5<\/a>, where the new churches become firm in their commitment to Christ (= faith).1<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Peter H. Davids, The First Epistle of Peter, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1990), 191\u2013192.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You Know Brothers and Sisters in the Faith Worldwide Face the Same Struggles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Romans 1:8<\/a> KJV<\/p>\n\n\n\n First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One thing that will make their commitment firmer is the awareness that they are not suffering alone. It is not \u201cjust me\u201d who is suffering or even \u201cjust us,\u201d laments that make the suffering seem unfair and unjust, but \u201cyour brotherhood throughout the world.\u201d Peter stresses this unity in two ways\u2014first, by using the collective \u201cbrotherhood\u201d (which he alone in the NT uses, cf. 2:17, his other use, or \u201cbrotherly love\u201d in 1:22 and 3:18) instead of the more individual \u201cbrothers\u201d (a term he uses only in 5:12), and second, by adding \u201cthroughout the world,\u201d which phrase uses \u201cworld\u201d in its physical and global sense (as do Mark 4:8<\/a>; 14:9<\/a>; Rom. 1:8<\/a>; 1 Cor. 14:10<\/a>; 1 Pet. 1:20<\/a>; cf. 2 Macc. 3:12<\/a>) rather than in its ethical sense (i.e., human culture in its independence of and hostility toward God, as in John 15:18\u201319<\/a>; 16:33<\/a>; Jas. 4:4<\/a>)1<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Peter H. Davids, The First Epistle of Peter, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1990), 192\u2013193.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Corinthians 10:13<\/a> KJV<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A pastor warned his handsome new assistant about the dangers of immorality in the ministry. The assistant said that he always did his socializing in a group setting and concluded that \u201cthere is safety in numbers.\u201d The wise pastor replied, \u201cYes, that is so, but there is more safety in Exodus.\u201d1<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Michael P. Green, ed., Illustrations for Biblical Preaching: Over 1500 Sermon Illustrations Arranged by Topic and Indexed Exhaustively, Revised edition of: The expositor\u2019s illustration file. (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1989).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Resist The Devil With Who You Know<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Peter 5:10\u201311<\/a> KJV<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The God of all Grace<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022\tThat called you<\/p>\n\n\n\n Philippians 1:6<\/a> KJV<\/p>\n\n\n\n Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022\tThat called you to His eternal glory<\/p>\n\n\n\n This effectual call is with a view to God\u2019s eternal glory. That is, God calls us into salvation in order that He may derive glory for Himself by virtue of our being saved. He who has called us in His grace will supply all needed grace until we are ushered into the Glory. God\u2019s eternal glory is involved in His keeping a believer in salvation.1<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest\u2019s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader, vol. 11 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 131.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The God Who Will Use Your Temporary Suffering<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Peter 1:6<\/a> KJV<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022\tTo Make You Perfect<\/p>\n\n\n\n The words \u201cmake you perfect\u201d are not the translation of the Greek word teleioo (???????) which means \u201cto perfect\u201d in the sense of \u201cto make spiritually mature and complete,\u201d but from a word meaning \u201cto fit or join together.\u201d The predominating idea in the verb is adjustment, the putting of parts into right relationship and connection with one another. It is the same word translated \u201cperfecting\u201d in Ephesians 4:12<\/a>, where the gifted servants of the Lord mentioned were given to the Church for the equipping of the saints for ministering work. The word was used of James and John mending their nets, thus equipping them for service (Mark 1:19<\/a>). Here the word refers to God mending the lives of Christians, thus equipping them for usefulness in His service. The word in First Peter speaks of the work of the Holy Spirit in rounding out the spiritual life of the saint so that he is equipped for both the living of a Christian life and the service of the Lord Jesus.1<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest\u2019s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader, vol. 11 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 131.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022\tTo Stablish You<\/p>\n\n\n\n The word \u201cstablish\u201d is the translation of a Greek word whose root is akin to the word translated \u201cstedfast\u201d in 5:9. It speaks of a solid foundational position. Alford translates, \u201cshall ground you as on a foundation.\u201d Bengel has a helpful note on this verse; \u201cShall perfect, that no defect remain in you, shall stablish that nothing may shake you, shall strengthen that you may overcome every adverse force.\u201d No comments on verse eleven.1<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest\u2019s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader, vol. 11 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 132.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022\tTo Strengthen You<\/p>\n\n\n\n Third, God will \u201cstrengthen\u201d them. This is quite an unusual word meaning \u201cto make strong,\u201d found only here in biblical Greek (a related term appears in 3 Macc. 3:8<\/a>, but that only once) and rarely in secular Greek. 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Peter H. Davids, The First Epistle of Peter, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1990), 196<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022\tTo Settle You<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally God will \u201csettle\u201d them, a term meaning \u201cto found\u201d or \u201cto place on a foundation\u201d (Matt. 7:25<\/a>; Eph. 3:17<\/a>; Col. 1:23<\/a>). This is an image of security, of people who cannot be moved no matter what comes against them. As such it rounds out the result of the other terms. While we have tried to give careful definitions of these four terms, it would be wrong to try to see some new idea in each of them. What Peter has done is pile up a number of closely related terms that together by their reinforcing one another give a multiple underscoring of the good that God is intending for them and even now is producing in their suffering.1<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Peter H. Davids, The First Epistle of Peter, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1990), 196<\/p>\n\n\n\n ——<\/p>\n\n\n\n When tempted, learn the lesson of the dog. Anyone who has trained a dog to obey knows this scene. A bit of meat or bread is placed on the floor near the dog and the master says, \u201cNo!\u201d which the dog knows means that he must not touch it. The dog will usually take his eyes off the food, because the temptation to disobey would be too great, and instead will fix his eyes on the master\u2019s face. That is the lesson of the dog. Always look to the Master\u2019s face.1<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Michael P. Green, ed., Illustrations for Biblical Preaching: Over 1500 Sermon Illustrations Arranged by Topic and Indexed Exhaustively, Revised edition of: The expositor\u2019s illustration file. (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1989).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Exported from Logos Bible Software, 6:40 PM December 2, 2020.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Resist The Devil Pastor Don Carpenter \/ General Not From Around Here: The Complicated Life of a Sojourner \/ Temptation; Spiritual Warfare One three-year-old\u2019s explanation for being in the kitchen atop a chair, eating cookies: \u201cI just climbed up to smell them, and my tooth got caught.\u201d1 1 Michael P. Green, ed., Illustrations for Biblical … Continue reading Resist The Devil<\/span>