Introduction:

Satan is a very evil and a very subtle supernatural spirit. He hates God’s children and does not want anyone of us to follow up on the decisions we made during the Revival. So beware is the warning of the Apostle Peter in this section of scripture and I titled this message “Beware”.

Leadership magazine used an illustration to caution us of the wiles of the devil. The parable was of a certain man who wanted to sell his house in the poor country of Haiti for $2,000. Another man wanted very badly to buy it, but because he was poor, he couldn’t afford the full price. After much bargaining, the owner agreed to sell the house for half the original price with just one stipulation: He would retain ownership of a nail that was protruding just over the door. After several years, the original owner wanted the house back, but the new owner was unwilling to sell. So the first owner went out, found the carcass of a dead animal and hung it from the single nail that he still owned. Soon the house became unlivable, and the family was forced to sell the house to the owner of the nail. The moral of the story: “If we leave the Devil with even one small peg in our life, he will return to hang his rotting garbage on it, making it unfit for Christ’s habitation.” Our Lord warned Peter that Satan wanted to sift him, and from that experience Peter teaches us to beware of our adversary the devil.

I Observe the Words of Warning (5:8a)

1. Peter words are, “be sober” can be translated self-controlled. This means we are to have a clear mind to be calm and collected in spirit and not forget we are in a spiritual battle. Not only are we to be self-controlled, but also we are to be alert which means we are to keep watch for anything that might lead us into sin. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. – 1 Thessalonians 5:6. We better be on the alert, he says in verse 8.

2. Why do we need self-controlled? Because, Peter writes, your adversary which we under- stand is our enemy, the Greek word “än-tē’-dē-kos” also conveys the idea of an opponent in a lawsuit. When this term is applied to Satan we picture him as it is written in Revelation 12:9-10. However we have a mediator our heavenly attorney Jesus Christ.
I John 2:1… And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

3. Satan wants to work incognito in our lives therefore some are unaware of his tactics and influence. 59% of Christians said they believed that Satan “is not a living being but is a symbol of evil.” Lucifer is his real name and is a Latin translation of heylel = “light-bearer” shining one heylel – ‘Helel’ describing the king of Babylon but the characteristics describe Satan.
He is not a fable but a created being therefore we must…

II Observe this Accusing Adversary (5:8b)

1. Peter tells us he is the devil (DIABOLOS) not only is he an accuser but slanderer. He is the arch enemy of truth and holiness; therefore, the chief target of his slander is the Bible. The thing he hates most is the Bible because it reveals his reality and his strategy. The devil cannot lead us into sin unless he gets us to doubt the truth of God’s Word. This is the devil’s oldest and most effective tactic. Evident is in the original temptation (Genesis 3:3-4).
Peter warns us the devil walketh about meaning prowls around (1 Peter 5:8b). In other words, he is always prowling around in our problems, hurts, and desires, looking for things he can use to draw us away from God. Remember the story of Samson.

2. Peter tells us to pay attention to the fact that the devil is like a roaring lion (5:8b). Why does a lion roar? to create fear. A lion’s roar near a sheepfold creates fear, and frightened sheep may run from the flock and become easy prey. A lion goes after whatever is easiest! They often kill the very young, sick, old or careless. Their success rate is influenced by the alertness of their prey. Lions devour wart hog with almost 50% success; Wildebeest and Zebra’s about 33% and 14% for animals that are quick and alert. It misses two out of three times. Satan wants to devour Christians, because he hates what we represent.

3. The devil is not teasing or playing around when he tempts us. He is out to devour us, which means “to swallow up,” like the great fish swallowed Jonah. This doesn’t mean he is going to devour us physically.

How then does he devour us? He devours us spiritually, psychologically, and emotionally with anger, worry, fear, sinful desires, and discourage¬ment. When we are devoured by one of these, it is easy for Satan to lead us into some gross sin. Remember Scripture tells us he is the father of lies. John 8:44- The murderer of the righteous. John 8:44; The old serpent. Rev. 12:9; Rev. 20:2 The power of darkness -Col. 1:13; The spirit that worketh in the children of disobedience-Ephes. 2:2/ The tempter-Matthew 4:3; 1 Thes. 3:5; The god of this world and the wicked one- 2 Cor. 4:4./ The unclean spirit and wicked one. Matthew 12:43 The Prince of darkness.

4. The moment Adam and Eve bit into the forbidden fruit they died immedi¬ately in their spirits, and at that instant began to die progressively in their bodies. Satan told Adam and Eve if they would disobey God’s Word, their eyes would be opened (Genesis 3:5). He implied the purpose of God’s Word was to keep us in darkness, but the opposite is true, for Psalm 119:105 says…Thy word [is] a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

III Observe the Appropriate Action (5:9)

1. Peter adds in verse 9, “Knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.” Does that help? What’s he saying? Hey, in the middle of this you’re not alone. The whole Christian community is going through this. Suffering is a way of life as God is accomplishing His holy perfecting work in you. Just look at the goal, he says, and realize everybody’s in it. No one is exempt!
2. Satan and his demons attack us as individuals. You may say, “Can you tell when a demon is attacking you?” Not necessarily, we can’t see them but you may sense their presence. The Bible says that we wrestle against them—Ephesians 6:12. In some way they are closely involved in some combat with us, they will attack us primarily through the system, through the alluring world system. They can’t read our minds. Nor is there any indication in Scripture that there’s some means by which they can have access to plant thoughts in our mind. I don’t find that in the Bible. But they can attack us through the system’s enticement of our flesh. So they do attack us as individuals through the system around us.

1. The second thing that they do is they attack families. This is very clear in 1 Corinthians chapter 7: 1-5. The third is leadership note 1 Timothy chapter 3:7.
2. And then fourthly, he attacks the church. And his goal is to destroy its unity, its power, to confuse its purpose. You read the churches of Revelation 2 and 3 and see how Satan moved in, how the synagogue of Satan invaded and destroyed and devastated a church’s testimony. Second Corinthians chapter 11 reminds us that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. You heard the old saying you can put lipstick on a pig but it still a pig.
3. So, Satan comes at individuals, comes at families, he comes at leaders, he comes at churches, apart from all the rest of the stuff that he’s doing in the world. This is the focus of his attack on us. So, how do we deal with it? Not like so many Christians may think…
4. There are people running around binding demons, what does that mean? Revelation 20 says, Only Jesus Christ can dispatch a holy angel to bind him. If not Peter would have said, “I bind you, Satan.” But he didn’t because he couldn’t. It is important to take note of Jude 1:9.

5. James 4:7 says it this way, “Resist the devil and he will…what?… flee from you.” The word resists means to stand up against, to take your stand against. You say, “How do you do that?” I love this, verse 9, “Firm in the faith.” Trusting God and living in accordance with His truth. Be firm in the faith, the revealed Word of God which has told you all about God so that you can be firm in your faith in God. Paul told us how in Eph 6:10- 17.

6. Instead of running in fear, Peter tells us: Resist him … (5:9). The word resist means we stand our ground. Nowhere in the Bible are we told to attack the devil. We are told to resist him. How do we resist the devil? The best example of resisting the devil is Jesus Himself.

Jesus resisted the devil by quoting scriptures He had memorized.

Conclusion:

The devil is no joke. He is a vicious, diabolical enemy prowling around in your life right now trying to find a way to devour you. Because of our roaring adversary we need to make sure we take the appropriate action. That begins by being saved!