Title: Always be on the Alert

Text: 1 Pet 5:8-9

Date: 5-21-06.am

8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion , seeking someone to devour.

9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.

1 Peter 5:8- 9 NASB

Introduction:

I. Instructions for abundant living: Be sober and alert

This isn’t a list of commandments or a list of do’s and don’t’s. We are charged to be under control and watchful. In other words our minds are to be in gear at all times so that we don't become lackadaisical or inattentive. It’s like when the weather is nice, you get in your car and drive wherever you might be going park the car open the door and get out. You don't really think about it, if your like me you never look you just get out. But in the winter when there is snow and ice, it's different. You keep you mind in gear and when you open that door you look where you place your foot because if you don't you might end up picking yourself up off the ground. That's a little like what Peter is talking about.

Peter might have remembered the Lord’s appeal to him and the other disciples in the garden of Gethsemane, “Couldn’t you just watch with me one hour? and his failure on that occasion as well as his memory of how was taken off guard when Jesus was taken captive later that night.

It’s active imperative - that means it’s an on going command to be always or continually sober and alert. Sober opposite of drunk - which means losing or giving up control of your faculties you mental or physical power or abilities - drunk with alcohol; but it’s also used drunk with pleasure or drunk with power.

II. Why is this important for the Christian life? We have an Adversary. - antagonist, opponent, enemy. There is a being who opposes us because he opposes our God. He hates God everything that God stands for and everyone that stands with God.

III. Who is this Adversary?

The Devil.

The devil is not coequal or the opposite of God. He is not eternal he is a created being.

The devil isn’t omnipotent or all powerful like God,

The devil isn’t omniscient or all knowing like God and

The devil isn’t omnipresent, he can’t be everywhere at the same time like God.

Never the less he is very real, very powerful and very deadly. Never be deceived into believing that the devil is a myth, that he is not real or that Satan and the devil are just personifications of the principle of evil.

Eph 6:12 reminds us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood , but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. While Satan is not equal to God he does command an army of spiritual beings. That’s hard for the modern mind to accept.

According to Geo. Barna 62 % of all adults agree that Satan is not a living being but a symbol of evil. 52% Born again Christians;

In the Bible the devil is called a serpent to emphasize his subtlety, his cunning. He is called a lion to express his fierceness and strength. The word rendered roaring” literally refers to the cries of wild beasts ravenous with hunger (see Psalm 104:21; and comp. Psalm 22:13, 21). When we lose sight of the fact he is real is when he is most dangerous and we will be most vulnerable to him.

IV. Our Adversary is on a mission.

He is called many things in Scripture Thief, Liar, Father of Lies, murderer, tempter, oppressor and destroyer that describe his character. He has many titles in the Bible by which he is known and there are colloquial and slang terms for him.

No matter what he is called he is a roaring wild beast seeking someone he can devour.

He’s not out trying to devour those who are his, he already has them he’s already destroying their lives. He is seeking to destroy those who belong to God.

The devil cannot steal away (John 10:28-29) those who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation; but he looks eagerly for those who are not sober and alert. Those who have no paid attention to their relationship, who haven’t nourished their relationship, who haven’t grown in their relationship, who have neglected, for whatever reason to exercise their faith and keep it strong.

Sometimes believers mistakenly think salvation is the end of the line when it’s only the beginning of the journey. Sometimes people are hurt by other believers, sometimes other things interrupt their walk with God. (job etc.)

That’s why the Bible speaks about talks so much about discipleship in addition to salvation. In Jesus great commandment we are commanded not only to bring people into the kingdom but to make disciples.

The devil can’t steal or take away salvation he can destroy and rob the joy, peace and contentment that comes from a close and vital relationship with Christ. He can also destroy your witness and your fellowship with other believers and he can even wreck churches. That is especially important for us because God is blessing us as we move towards a new addition it is vital that as individuals and a church that we be alert and watchful in prayer so as not to allow Satan to disrupt fellowship and unity.

Satan can steal that joy and peace in any number of ways of ways.

He can try and convince us that God isn’t God,

He can try and convince us that we can be gods ourselves like he did with Adam and Eve.

He can tempt us to short cut God’s will like he tried to do with Jesus.

He can try to convince you that you are not saved.

A person who is really saved wouldn’t do something like you did. Look at what you did you can’t really believe a holy God would love you. Those kinds of things.

He can tempt you to leave your first love by appealing to your own personal lusts and desires, (James 1:14-15) Then he will try and convince you that you can’t go back again.

IV. What can we do about it?

         The first thing of course is be sober and alert..

In addition to being vigilant - sober and alert, we are also to commanded to resist.

That means we are not to be passive concerning the matter of temptation and sin. The devil enjoys nothing more than causing a child of God to stumble. If you don't resist him you will surely fall into sin, and while God can turn and will turn our failures into good (1 John He is faithful to forgive us when we sin) we don't want to unnecessarily face the consequences of falling prey to the devil. There are consequences to sin even when we find forgiveness. It generally causes hurt to us and others, it hurts our own testimony and that of the body.

That's not to say that we will ever become sinless in this lifetime. The Bible never teaches that. Peter no doubt recalled his own inattentiveness when he was confident in his own strength and denied the Lord 3 times. He may have remembered that every time he heard a rooster crow. So he commands us to be alert and stand firm in our faith.

How do we do that? Paul says in Eph 6:13 take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. NASB

14     Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

15     and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

16     In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

17     Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Eph 6:14-17 (NIV)

How do we put that armor on?

Through submission and obedience.

Through Prayer and studying God’s Word,

Through constant fellowship with the Lord.

Prayer and Bible study is something you have to intentionally plan to do. It may mean turning the TV off a little sooner at night, getting up a little earlier or staying up a little later, but I know from experience you have to plan to do it and you have to do it regularly. Maybe you can record a favorite television show and watch it later. Jesus said TV shows come and go but my word abides forever, well that’s a loose paraphrase but you get the picture. Just remind yourself what is important in life and what’s going to have the most impact on your life.

Remember this: the devil, Satan, whatever you want to call him is your enemy and he is real. He is very powerful and very skilled in deception and he is always on the prowl and he will devour you if you aren’t constantly watchful and alert. (C.S. from SC)

But you are not in this alone. The Bible tells us we have a support group Christians all over the world are experiencing the same things you are. But more importantly while you have an adversary you also have an Advocate. No matter how powerful, and cunning Satan is and while you are no match for him in your own strength, as a believer, you have the assurance that “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 NASB and you have the promise that Jesus will never leave you alone nor forsake you.

Paul also assures us in Rom 8:35-39 where he wrote that no one and no thing shall ever be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ.

Are you paying attention to your relationship today are you living in submission to Him doing all you can to make sure you are walking close to the Lord so that Satan won’t be able to devour you? God has done His part but we can’t ignore our part or take it for granted. Paul warned the Corinthians in 1 Cor 10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. NASB We must all at all times be sober and alert giving our all to Him who gave His all for us.