“CAUTION”
1 Peter 5: 8 (p859) July 8, 2012
INTRODUCTION:
I found one of my favorite slideshows online while preparing for this message…it was entitled….”Today Ridiculous Caution Signs”
Want to see “them? Well, I’m going to show them regardless…
(Show totally ridiculous caution signs)
I think my 2 favorites were “warring…Please check under your car for penguins” You know there are people all over that parking lot…cautiously doing this (bent over carefully looking under their car)….and in the past there had to be real penguins hiding under the cars…
And I loved the “caution…all unattended children will be given an edible espresso and a puppy”…genius.
I thought those caution signs were hilarious but 1 Peter 5:8 isn’t funny…it’s a scriptural caution sign that should make us stop and take notice…Here’s what it says.
“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
We have to realize it’s written for believers…those who believe in spiritual warfare and satanic attacks…not bad luck…or Karma…but real battles that take place in an unseen area.
The apostle Paul gives a pretty clear definition of who we’re fighting…where it’s happening…and why we should be cautious”
“Our struggle is not against flesh and blood (Satan might work in and through people, but our battle isn’t against …people), but against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm.” (Eph 6:12)
The first caution sign I’d share with you is…as a believer…
I DON’T FORGET THERE IS A SPIRITUAL BETTLE TAKING PLACE
You can’t physically see this battle…and because of that it’s easy to ignore it or blame it upon people or circumstances.
A million years ago a Christian singer named Keith Green wrote a song from Satan’s viewpoint called “No One Believes in Me Anymore.”Here’s a trip down memory lane for some of us my age…
(Play 1st and 2nd verses of N.O.B.I.M.A.
The songs end with these lines… Everyone likes a winner, with my help, you’re guaranteed to win. And hey man, you’re ain’t no sinner, you’ve got the truth within, And as your life slips by you believe the lie that you did it on your own, But don’t worry, I’ll be there to help you share our dark eternal home. Oh, my job keeps getting easier, as day slips into day, The magazines, the newspapers, print every word I say, This world is just my spinning top; it’s all like child’s-play, You know, I dream that it will never stop, but I know it’s not that way, Still my work goes on and on, always stronger than before, I’m gonna make it dark before the dawn since no one believes in me anymore. Well now I used to have to sneak around, but now they just open their doors, You know, no one watches for my tricks since no one believes in me anymore, Well I’m gaining power by the hour; they’re falling by the score, You know, it’s getting very easy now since no one believes in my anymore.
Peter is cautioning us to never forget the enemy…doesn’t slip into spiritual apathy…doesn’t fall asleep or become complacent in this war…that could be deadly.
Irwin Rommel, one of the greatest tank commanders during World War II for Germany…who many times had huge victories with inferior numbers said…”look for the weakness. Attach the arrogant.
The danger for Believers is we become unteachable self assured (not self controlled) and self reliant…we begin to believe we’re too strong to fall…and guess what…God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble…Humble your self’s, therefore under God’s might hand…that he may lift you up in due time”. (1 Pet 5:5, 6)
Pride makes god your adversary… Humility makes him your friend.
If you are a believer who’s become prideful, unteachable…God opposes you…and Satan wants to devour you…that’s not a controllable place to be.
Satan is prowling around looking for individuals like that…why…”So he can devour them”
Be aware…Be alert…control yourself. You’re still in the battle zone…and your enemy is looking for the weak spot…he wants to attack the arrogant.
But Satan also has a plan for those who aren’t believers…He’s covert…disguises himself…pretends…II Cor 4:4 reveals this about him…”the God of this age has blended the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Satan schemes…the evil one plans his attacks…and there is a hierarchy of evil at work in the unseen heavenly realms…
Satan cannot create…He can only plagiarize…so he tries to present you with a fake Savior (Like money) or a diversion, (like stuff or a relationship instead of peace…He offers numbness (alcohol, pills,you know liquid courage)
All designed to keep a lost person’s eyes off their deepest need…forgiveness!! And a relationship with god, through Christ”.
Why does he do this? Revelation 12: 7-12
Why? He wanted to be God…Pride caused him to rebel and usurp…even drawing up to 1/3 of heavens angles with him (he’s very effective)
He lost…He hates God…He is furious and Satan isn’t in Hell…He will be in the end, but he’s on earth right now…
“The Liar, The Thief, and the Murderer is doing fast that with full gusto…because he knows he only has a limited time to rack up the body count.
Please know…Cautions Sign No. 2
II SATAN’S ROAR IS APPEALING TO THE HUMA HEART
Liston to Jesus description of our hearts…He gives a spiritual biology lesson…
Matt 15: 17-20 (P 693)
Satan roar’s “look at her”…and our hearts (lust) go…Yeah…Satan roars and says “He’s an idiot…He’s worthless”…and our hearts go…yeah…let’s kill him…or if not physically I’ll make him pay…anger smolders.
Jesus knew without a doubt…left unredeemed…left to itself and its selfishness…the human heart loves Satan’s roars….Loves to listen to his lies…after all…it feels good for awhile and makes me get what I want…Pretty soon our hearts are devoured with selfishness and pride…
And sometimes like the Pharisees…if we focus on how dirty someone else’s hands are…they won’t t notice how filthy my heart is…
The word Devour means “swallow” it’s “Katattivw” and almost every other place it’s used it’s translated “swallow”….swallow a camel….death swallowed up in victory…swallowed up by the flood. The other places it’s used it’s “downed”
Satan looking for someone to swallow up…feed…..”Drown”
And the roar that should make us run…causes us to run toward him instead of away…if we’re not alert and self controlled.
So, what’s the application…what should I do with this scriptured caution sign?
In the Savannah’s of Africa the lion roars to bring terror into the hearts of those who hear it…to strike fear and to establish his territory.
Notice scripture teaches that Satan walks about, roams around…He’s searching, seeking, scheming and planning to attack his prey.
How should we deal with “our enemy?”
III BE HUMBLE, VIGILANT, CAREFUL AND FAITHFUL
Remember 1 Pet. 5 is written to believers…so the first thing I would share is if you’re going to have victory over the enemy…”the roaring lion Satan” then you’d better surrender to the “Lion of Judah, Jesus.”
Satan’s roars entice…and then terrorize with guilt…His arena is in the area of sin…his entire battle plan…first the weakness, attack and tempt…own that person because of sin and guilt…Lead them in a path, its seems good…but end in death…Satan…”The adversary” accuses…traps and lies…James gives us the breakdown…”But each one is tempted when by his own evil desire he is dragged away and enticed…then after desire has concurred it gives birth to sin, and sin when it is full grown, gives birth to death…
“Satan is the Father of Sin…he implants the seed…helps it grow…and when its full grown ripe…it kills.
That’s why Jesus, the lion of freedom came…so he could conquer the evil one….take away the victory of sin and its consequences death…so on the cross the “Lamb of God” paid it all…”He who never knew sin became sin so he might be our atoning sacrifice.”
His roar…the most powerful roar ever heard which terrorizes the live one…on the cross…His final words…IT IS FINISHIED” “My job’s complete” Literally Tetelestai PAID IN FULL.
Accepting that payment is what brings salvation “repentance. Confession, baptism, resurrection, new life…all wrapped up in the Cross of Jesus and His empty tomb.
However, Peter lets us know…the battle isn’t over as long as we live here on earth…in these bodies…
If you want to live a victorious life in Christ there are some issues or attitudes to keep until he returns for us.
1). Humble yourself… (I’d advise you to do it…before God does)…when God’s hand gets heavy it’s for a purpose…So you will trust Him…
1 Peter 5:7 says “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you”.
Pride makes us self sufficient…self reliant...and that’s heavy…humility causes us to surrender control, remain teachable and moldable. God’s hand will either mold you or crush you….
Real spiritual maturity…and those who exemplify it…are individuals who remain humble and teachable their entire lives….
And folks, be vigilant and careful…don’t be caught by surprise when the evil one comes after you…that’s a difficult challenge because Satan loves to lull us to sleep in our comfort.
Keep watch…because he will come after you…looking for your weakest area…when he does… Resist Him…Stand firm in the Faith.” Listen to them amazing promise.
1 Peter 5: 9-11 (p 859)
Temptations and trails are different…Satan is the origin of temptations..His goal is for you to fold like a bad lawn chair…
Trails are designed by god to strengthen you so you trust Him more in the faith…so you rely on his strength and grace and not your own…
Here’s what I know about both…and I know a good deal…God knows our limits in both temptations and trails…and He will not let us be pushed beyond the breaking point…Believing that is the core of faith.
I’ll end with one of my favorite parts of the scripture text…its verse 12
[“With the help of Silas…My faithful brother…I want to write to encourage you briefly…It’s true….God’s grace is enough I can testify to it…I can’t make it without “Silas”…neither could Peter, neither can you…they’re care and wonderful…honest, loving and encouraging…Jesus gives us the victory…by “man” I’m thankful for the Silas that right alongside me…Aren’t you?”]
