Vigilance Against the Devil: Strength in Christ
Summary
### Summary
This morning, we gathered to dedicate our time, service, and worship to Jesus, acknowledging that every good thing comes from Him. We prayed for personal and corporate transformation, seeking to bring glory to God. Today, we continued our series on God's Promises, focusing on the promise that we have an enemy, the devil, who seeks to devour our faith. Our text was from 1 Peter 5:8-10, which warns us to be sober-minded and watchful because our adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion.
We explored three key points: knowing our enemy, knowing our strategy, and knowing our Savior. Understanding our enemy involves recognizing that the devil, once a good angel, rebelled against God and now seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. He is a defeated opponent but still tries to disturb our lives. We must avoid both over-belief and under-belief in the devil, maintaining a balanced awareness of his influence.
Our strategy against the devil includes being sober-minded, watchful, and resisting him. Being sober-minded means staying alert and realistic about the threats to our faith. Being watchful involves paying attention to the subtle ways the devil might try to influence us. Resisting the devil means doing what he hates, such as praying, worshiping, and maintaining unity within the church.
Finally, we must know our Savior, Jesus Christ, who promises to restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish us. Despite the devil's attempts to harm us, Jesus is stronger and has already won the victory. We can walk confidently, knowing that the Lion of the Tribe of Judah is on our side. As we reflect on how the devil has failed in our lives and how Jesus has been victorious, we celebrate His triumph and continue to live in His strength and grace.
### Key Takeaways
1. Understanding Our Enemy: The devil, once a good angel, rebelled against God and now seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. He is a defeated opponent but still tries to disturb our lives. Recognizing his tactics helps us stay vigilant and prepared. [12:40]
2. Balanced Awareness: Avoiding both over-belief and under-belief in the devil is crucial. Over-belief can lead to fear and lack of personal responsibility, while under-belief can result in ignorance and naivety. A balanced awareness helps us stay grounded and alert. [18:48]
3. Strategic Resistance: Our strategy against the devil includes being sober-minded, watchful, and resisting him. This involves staying alert, realistic, and proactive in our faith, ensuring we are not easily swayed or distracted by his subtle influences. [27:36]
4. Power of Prayer and Worship: Prayer and worship are powerful tools in resisting the devil. They align our hearts with God's will and strengthen our faith. Regular prayer and worship help us stay connected to God and fortified against spiritual attacks. [35:08]
5. Community and Unity: Being part of a faith community provides strength and accountability. Unity within the church is a form of resistance against the devil's attempts to sow discord. Engaging in community-based discipleship helps us grow and stay resilient in our faith. [38:07]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[09:42] - Introduction and Greetings
[11:12] - Personal Anecdote on Animals
[12:40] - The Devil as a Vicious Animal
[14:11] - Understanding Our Enemy
[15:43] - Biblical History of the Devil
[17:22] - The Devil's Current Influence
[18:48] - Over-belief and Under-belief
[20:15] - Personal Responsibility and Reality
[21:46] - The Danger of Under-belief
[23:26] - Personal Story of Deception
[26:02] - Being Watchful and Alert
[27:36] - Our Strategy: Sober-minded, Watchful, Resist
[28:55] - Practical Steps for Being Watchful
[30:32] - Understanding the Times
[32:11] - Humility in Resistance
[33:43] - Doing What the Devil Hates
[35:08] - Prayer as Resistance
[36:45] - Unity as Resistance
[38:07] - Community-based Discipleship
[39:31] - Knowing Our Savior
[40:46] - The Promises in Christ
[42:30] - Reflecting on the Devil's Failures
[43:54] - Closing Prayer and Worship
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1 Peter 5:8-10 (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. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you."
### Observation Questions
1. According to 1 Peter 5:8, how is the devil described, and what is he seeking to do?
2. What are the three actions Peter instructs believers to take in 1 Peter 5:8-9?
3. In the sermon, what analogy did the pastor use to describe the devil's tactics? ([12:40])
4. What promise does 1 Peter 5:10 give to believers after they have suffered for a little while?
### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean to be "sober-minded" and "watchful" in the context of resisting the devil? ([27:36])
2. How can over-belief and under-belief in the devil's influence affect a believer's life? ([18:48])
3. Why is community and unity within the church important in resisting the devil, according to the sermon? ([38:07])
4. How does knowing our Savior, Jesus Christ, provide strength and assurance against the devil's attacks? ([40:46])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually attacked. How did you respond, and what could you do differently in the future to be more "sober-minded" and "watchful"? ([27:36])
2. The sermon mentioned the importance of balanced awareness of the devil's influence. How can you ensure you are neither over-believing nor under-believing in his power? ([18:48])
3. Prayer and worship were highlighted as powerful tools against the devil. How can you incorporate more intentional prayer and worship into your daily routine? ([35:08])
4. Think about your involvement in your faith community. How can you contribute to greater unity and support within your church to resist the devil's attempts to sow discord? ([38:07])
5. The pastor shared a personal story about being deceived by someone pretending to help. How can you be more discerning in recognizing subtle influences that may lead you away from God's will? ([23:26])
6. Reflect on the promise in 1 Peter 5:10. How can this assurance of God's restoration, confirmation, strength, and establishment encourage you in your current struggles?
7. Identify one specific way you can resist the devil this week by doing something he hates, such as engaging in prayer, worship, or acts of unity. How will you implement this in your life? ([33:43])
Devotional
Day 1: Recognizing the Tactics of Our Enemy
Understanding our enemy is crucial in our spiritual journey. The devil, once a good angel, rebelled against God and now seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. Although he is a defeated opponent, he still tries to disturb our lives. Recognizing his tactics helps us stay vigilant and prepared. The devil often uses subtle and deceptive means to influence us, making it essential to be aware of his strategies. By understanding his nature and methods, we can better guard our hearts and minds against his attacks. [12:40]
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."
Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you felt spiritually attacked or tempted. How can recognizing the devil's tactics help you respond differently in the future?
Day 2: Maintaining Balanced Awareness
Avoiding both over-belief and under-belief in the devil is crucial. Over-belief can lead to fear and a lack of personal responsibility, while under-belief can result in ignorance and naivety. A balanced awareness helps us stay grounded and alert. It is important to acknowledge the devil's existence and influence without giving him more power than he has. By maintaining a balanced perspective, we can take personal responsibility for our actions and remain vigilant against his schemes. [18:48]
Ephesians 6:11-12 (ESV): "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
Reflection: Reflect on your current awareness of the devil's influence. Do you tend to overestimate or underestimate his power? How can you achieve a more balanced perspective?
Day 3: Developing a Strategic Resistance
Our strategy against the devil includes being sober-minded, watchful, and resisting him. This involves staying alert, realistic, and proactive in our faith, ensuring we are not easily swayed or distracted by his subtle influences. Being sober-minded means staying clear-headed and focused on God's truth. Being watchful involves paying attention to the ways the devil might try to influence us. Resisting the devil means actively engaging in practices that strengthen our faith, such as prayer, worship, and maintaining unity within the church. [27:36]
James 4:7-8 (ESV): "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you need to be more watchful and proactive in resisting the devil. What practical steps can you take to strengthen your faith in this area?
Day 4: Harnessing the Power of Prayer and Worship
Prayer and worship are powerful tools in resisting the devil. They align our hearts with God's will and strengthen our faith. Regular prayer and worship help us stay connected to God and fortified against spiritual attacks. When we pray and worship, we invite God's presence into our lives, which the devil cannot stand. These practices not only draw us closer to God but also serve as a form of spiritual warfare against the enemy. [35:08]
Psalm 34:17-18 (ESV): "When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."
Reflection: How can you incorporate more prayer and worship into your daily routine? Consider setting aside specific times each day to connect with God through these practices.
Day 5: Embracing Community and Unity
Being part of a faith community provides strength and accountability. Unity within the church is a form of resistance against the devil's attempts to sow discord. Engaging in community-based discipleship helps us grow and stay resilient in our faith. When we are united with other believers, we can support and encourage one another, making it harder for the devil to isolate and attack us. Community and unity are essential for spiritual growth and protection. [38:07]
Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
Reflection: Think of a way you can contribute to the unity and strength of your faith community this week. How can you support and encourage others in their spiritual journey?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Jesus, we acknowledge this morning that every good thing comes from you. And out of a heart as a church to bring you glory, we just dedicate this gathering, our giving, our service, our service to you. We just dedicate this gathering, our giving, our service to you. Our singing, our receiving from the Bible. We give it all to you. And we just say, God, would you do with it what you want? Transform us personally. Transform us corporately. We just want to bring you glory." [00:00] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Now, in scripture, the devil is described as a vicious animal. At times, the devil is described as a snake or a serpent. He's described as a lion because, just like a shark, he also does not care how good you are. He does not care who you are. He does not care about your children. He seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. That is the mission statement of the devil, and so this morning, we're going to look at a text that mentions the devil, and we're going to get into it and see what this means for our life." [12:40] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Satan is stronger than you. He is craftier than you. But Jesus is stronger than Satan. He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. So I don't, have to be strong enough i don't have to be rich enough i don't have to have my kids in the best school or else or whatever because i have jesus he has called you to his eternal glory where in christ in christ in christ if you don't remember anything else remember we have to surrender our lives to christ." [41:30] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "So I'm here to tell you, you can walk out of your door where that enemy prowls with confidence because you have jesus and he is the bigger better lion who's on your side and lives in you and so this week we talked about the enemy whose mission is to steal to kill and to destroy and next week pastor todd's going to talk about the work of our savior whose mission is to give life and give it abundantly." [42:30] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "We have to know our enemy. How many know that as I left my house the next couple days after that robbery attempt, I didn't walk out unaware or not watchful. I had my head on a swivel as I would walk to my Dodge Neon, right? Seeing if there's anyone around. Seeing if those same people were still around. Some of you may be asking, Tyler, did you call the cops? And I'll tell you, of course I didn't call the cops. I didn't call the cops. I didn't call the cops. I didn't call the cops. I didn't want them in my house. This was before Jesus. We have to know our enemy." [26:02] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "We can't do nothing. We have to have a strategy against the work of the devil, a defeated opponent, but one who is still trying to disturb our life. And so Peter is urging these believers, and he's urging us this morning, to do three things. Be sober-minded, be watchful, and resist him. Let's talk about what it means to be sober-minded and why it matters. See, Peter, and I'm not talking about chemicals here. This can't just, this can't just pertain to drugs and alcohol. But if you think about it that way, what effect does drugs or alcohol have on a person's mind, right? They're unalert, and they're not seeing things for what they really are, right?" [27:36] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Prayer is resistance. Especially, I'll tell you this, especially for men, you whisper prayer meeting, you whisper spend time in prayer, they're in another county. You whisper prayer meeting in front of a lot of women, they're like, all of a sudden, you don't have enough seats, okay? I'm not trying to be hard on men, I'm just saying that's often time it is, because we don't think it's very practical, right? Or maybe no one ever taught us how to pray, but I'll tell you that prayer truly prepares us to face the attacks of the enemy. I heard someone say that prayer is preventative and prayer is proactive." [33:43] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Unity is resistance. Ephesians 4 says, don't let the sun go down on your anger so you don't give the enemy a foothold, right? Don't hold stuff against one another. Election year, enough said. Right? Don't hold stuff against someone that disagrees with you or someone you got an issue with because what are you doing? You're not resisting the enemy, you're accepting the enemy strategy in your life. Unity is resistance." [36:45] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Community matters. Community-based discipleship is the answer. If you're new to Bridge Church, we have something called Pathway, which is not a class that you take, but a way of life that you live. And it's made of seven different practices that Jesus and his disciples practiced. And they're all meant to be experienced in community. They're all meant, and you can find all that at bcpathway.life, to build your life around discipleship, all in the sense of community." [38:07] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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