Overcoming Adversity: Becoming Lion Slayers in Faith
Summary
Life is filled with challenges, and sometimes those challenges become full-blown crises. Whether it’s a health scare, a relational breakdown, or a spiritual battle, every believer will face moments when the pressure feels overwhelming. But behind every crisis, there is a spiritual adversary—the devil—who seeks to intimidate, devour, and rob us of the abundant life God intends. Yet, we are not called to live in fear or simply survive; we are called to overcome, to be lion slayers who face adversity with faith and courage.
Peter’s exhortation in 1 Peter 5:8-9 is a call to be sober and vigilant, to maintain a calm, self-controlled spirit even when fear tries to intoxicate our emotions. Fear is the enemy’s primary weapon, but it is not our identity. God did not create us to be fearful, and even Jesus Himself experienced the temptation of fear, yet He never gave in. The key is not to deny the reality of our circumstances, but to maintain God’s perspective in the midst of them. Our circumstances may impact us, but they do not determine our destiny.
The adversary is not the people around us, nor our circumstances, but the devil himself. He prowls like a roaring lion, seeking to devour, but we are called to resist him steadfast in the faith. This means standing firm, speaking God’s Word, and refusing to let fear dictate our actions. Like David facing Goliath, Daniel in the lion’s den, or Samson empowered by the Spirit, victory comes when we affirm our allegiance to God and act in faith, not fear.
Every believer is marked by God for a purpose, and that mark makes us a target for spiritual attack. But it also means we have access to the authority and power of Jesus. We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. Speaking God’s promises, praying in the Spirit, and worshiping in the midst of adversity are our weapons. We are not called to ignore or run from our lions, but to face them, challenge them, and slay them in Jesus’ name. This is our calling: to be lion slayers, overcomers, and warriors who live above our circumstances and walk in the victory Christ has secured.
Key Takeaways
- Recognize the True Source of Your Crisis
Behind every challenge or crisis is a spiritual adversary who seeks to intimidate and destroy. It’s essential to discern that our real battle is not against people or circumstances, but against the devil who prowls like a roaring lion. This awareness shifts our focus from blaming others or ourselves to engaging in spiritual warfare with the authority Christ has given us. [21:02]
- Cultivate a Sober and Vigilant Attitude
Being sober means maintaining calm and self-control, refusing to let fear intoxicate our emotions. Vigilance is about being alert and attentive to the enemy’s strategies, not living in denial or passivity. This posture allows us to respond to adversity with faith rather than react with panic, keeping God’s reality at the center of our perspective. [16:09]
- Affirm Your Allegiance and Exercise Faith in Action
Believing God is more than mental agreement; it’s allegiance that produces action. Speaking God’s promises, resisting fear, and acting on His Word are how we stand steadfast in faith. Our words and actions either empower fear or faith—choose to magnify the Lord, not your fears, and watch the enemy’s power diminish. [38:19]
- Embrace Your Identity and Authority in Christ
Every believer is marked by God and called for a purpose, which makes us targets for spiritual attack but also recipients of divine authority. Understanding who we are and whose we are empowers us to resist the enemy, impact others, and fulfill our calling. The authority to trample on serpents and lions is not reserved for a select few, but for every child of God. [43:16]
- Worship, Pray, and Speak the Word to Slay Your Lions
Victory over adversity comes through a lifestyle of worship, prayer in the Spirit, and declaring God’s Word. These spiritual disciplines are not mere rituals but powerful weapons that silence the enemy and release God’s presence and breakthrough. Don’t ignore or run from your lions—bring them to the altar, face them, and slay them in Jesus’ name. [47:09]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:49] - Facing Life’s Crises
[01:57] - God Works Through Our Blunders
[03:21] - Health Crisis and Trusting God
[05:11] - God’s Purpose in Our Trials
[08:06] - Faith Needed for Perseverance
[10:29] - Intimidating the Lion, Not Being Intimidated
[12:27] - The Reality of Spiritual Opposition
[13:57] - From Surviving to Overcoming
[14:41] - The Power of Attitude
[16:09] - Sober-Mindedness and Emotional Intoxication
[19:42] - Maintaining God’s Perspective
[21:02] - Identifying the Real Adversary
[25:09] - The Rise of Spiritual Counterfeits
[28:39] - Living Above Circumstances
[29:51] - David, Daniel, and Samson: Lion Slayers
[38:19] - Faith in Action and Speaking the Word
[43:16] - Guarding Your Allegiance and Authority
[47:09] - Worship and Spiritual Breakthrough
[51:03] - Call to the Altar: Slaying Your Lions
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: "Lion Slayers: Overcoming Crisis with Faith"
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### Bible Reading
1 Peter 5:8-9 (ESV)
> Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
Daniel 6:22-23 (ESV)
> My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm. Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
Judges 14:5-6 (ESV)
> Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah, and they came to the vineyards of Timnah. And behold, a young lion came toward him roaring. Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.
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### Observation Questions
1. According to 1 Peter 5:8-9, what attitude are believers called to have when facing spiritual opposition? ([15:15])
2. In the story of Daniel, what was the result of Daniel’s trust in God when he was thrown into the lions’ den? ([34:21])
3. How did Samson defeat the lion in Judges 14, and what was the source of his strength? ([35:42])
4. The sermon mentions that fear is a primary weapon of the enemy. What does the pastor say about how Jesus experienced fear? ([17:52])
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### Interpretation Questions
1. The sermon says our real adversary is not people or circumstances, but the devil. How does this perspective change the way someone might respond to a crisis? ([21:02])
2. The pastor describes being “sober-minded” as having the absence of emotional intoxication, especially fear. Why is it important to maintain God’s perspective in the middle of a crisis? ([19:42])
3. The examples of David, Daniel, and Samson are used to illustrate overcoming adversity. What do these stories teach about the role of faith and action in facing our “lions”? ([29:51])
4. The sermon says every believer is “marked by God” and therefore a target for spiritual attack, but also given authority. What does it mean to walk in that authority practically? ([43:16])
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### Application Questions
1. The pastor shared about his own health crisis and the temptation to fear. When you face a crisis, what is your first emotional response? How do you usually deal with fear in those moments? ([05:11])
2. The sermon challenges us to “speak faith” instead of fear. Can you think of a recent situation where you spoke words of fear or defeat? How could you have responded differently by declaring God’s promises? ([39:07])
3. The message says we are not called to just survive, but to overcome and “slay our lions.” What is one “lion” (challenge, fear, or temptation) you are currently facing? What would it look like to face it with faith and action this week? ([50:10])
4. The pastor talks about the importance of worship, prayer, and speaking God’s Word as spiritual weapons. Which of these do you find most challenging to practice when you’re under pressure, and why? ([47:09])
5. The sermon says that being “sober and vigilant” means not letting fear intoxicate our emotions. What are some practical ways you can stay alert and self-controlled when anxiety or panic tries to take over? ([16:09])
6. The pastor said, “You can’t ignore your lion. Turn around, face it, challenge it and kill it in the name of Jesus.” Is there a situation in your life you’ve been avoiding? What is one step you can take this week to confront it with God’s help? ([50:10])
7. The message reminds us that our words and actions either empower fear or faith. What is one specific promise from God’s Word you can memorize and speak over your current situation? ([44:23])
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Closing Prayer:
Invite the group to pray for courage to face their “lions,” for faith to overcome fear, and for the Holy Spirit’s power to walk in the authority and victory Jesus has given.
Devotional
Day 1: Recognize Your True Adversary
In the midst of crisis, it is easy to misidentify the source of our struggles, blaming people, circumstances, or even ourselves. Yet Scripture makes it clear: our true adversary is the devil, who prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking to devour and destroy. Understanding this spiritual reality helps us to stop fighting the wrong battles and instead stand firm against the real enemy. When you recognize that your battle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces, you can begin to approach your challenges with the authority and wisdom God provides. [21:02]
1 Peter 5:8-9 (NKJV)
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world."
Reflection: Who or what have you been blaming for your current struggle, and how might recognizing the true spiritual adversary change the way you respond today?
Day 2: Trust God in the Midst of Crisis
Life brings storms to everyone, regardless of faith or status, but God calls us to trust Him even when we do not understand the “why” behind our trials. Trust is not a passive resignation but an active reliance on God’s goodness and sovereignty, believing that He is working for our good even in the most difficult circumstances. When you choose to trust, you invite God to use your crisis as a place of repair, growth, and preparation for greater purpose. [05:59]
Romans 8:28 (NKJV)
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are struggling to trust God, and how can you take a step of trust in that area today?
Day 3: Speak Faith Over Fear
Fear is a universal attack, but it is not your identity or destiny. The enemy uses fear to neutralize faith, but God calls you to respond as David did before Goliath—by speaking faith and declaring God’s promises over your situation. When you magnify the Lord instead of your fears, you shift the atmosphere and invite God’s power to work on your behalf. Speaking faith is not denial of reality, but a declaration of God’s greater reality and authority. [31:44]
1 Samuel 17:45-47 (ESV)
"Then David said to the Philistine, 'You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. ... that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.'"
Reflection: What fear has been roaring the loudest in your life, and what specific promise from God’s Word can you declare over it today?
Day 4: Stand Firm and Resist with Faith
Victory over the enemy requires more than wishful thinking; it demands a steadfast, immovable faith that actively resists the devil’s schemes. This means speaking God’s Word, praying in the Spirit, and worshiping even when you feel weak or overwhelmed. As you persist in faith, you become like a jackhammer against the strongholds of the enemy, weakening his grip and releasing God’s power into your situation. You are not called to merely survive, but to overcome and slay the lions that threaten your destiny. [44:23]
Ephesians 6:13 (ESV)
"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm."
Reflection: What is one practical way you can actively resist the enemy’s attacks today—through Scripture, prayer, or worship—rather than passively enduring them?
Day 5: Embrace Your Identity as a Lion Slayer
You are marked by God for a purpose, and the authority of Jesus has been given to you to trample on every work of the enemy. Jesus promised that in this world you will have tribulation, but He has overcome the world, and through Him, so can you. Refuse to live under your circumstances; instead, face your lions head-on, knowing that nothing can ultimately harm you when you stand in Christ’s authority. You are not a victim—you are a lion slayer, called to walk in victory and freedom. [50:10]
Luke 10:19 (NKJV)
"Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you."
Reflection: What “lion” do you need to face and slay today, and how can you step into your God-given authority to do so?
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