Bill Akright
akright4@insightbb.com
(309) 243-9639
www.bethanycentral.org
Stand Firm
(1 Peter 5:8-14)
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. 10 And after you have suffered for a
little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. 11 To Him be
dominion forever and ever. Amen. 12 Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that
this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it! 13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark. 14
Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are in Christ.
There is a terrible error being preached from America’s pulpits these days. This error relates that since Christ defeated
Satan at Calvary, the Christian should no longer suffer. Peter’s final words of his first epistle address the relationship
between Satan, suffering, and the saints. Heeding his words may not deliver us from suffering, but it will deliver us from the
error of those who twist God’s Word for personal gain.
Satan, Our Adversary
1. There are several forces that oppose the Christian.
a. The world, the flesh, the devils (demons), and the devil himself.
i. Satan seldom engages in a personal attack against a believer.
1. Paul was afflicted through a “messenger of Satan.” (2 Cor 12:7)
2. Satan indirectly attacks through impulses of the flesh (Rom 7:7-25) and the world (Rom 12:2).
ii. Satan is our “adversary.”
1. “The devil,” is used in the Septuagint. (1 Chr 21:1, Job 1:6-12 & Zech 3:1)
a. It refers to one who makes accusations and presses charges.
b. Satan is called the “accuser of our brethren.” (Rev 12:10)
c. Peter relates that when we do good, unbelievers will unjustly accuse us of being
evildoers. (1 Pet 2:12, 1 Pet 3:16 & 1 Pet 4:4)
i. Behind these accusations is Satan, the great “accuser.”
iii. Peter gives Satan little “press.”
1. Satan loves to revel in the glory we too often give him.
a. Behind the opposition & persecution of unbelievers is the encouraging hand of Satan.
i. He seeks to destroy through the opposition of men. (Eph 2:1-3 & 2 Tim 2:26)
iv. Satan used diverse methods to destroy our testimony:
1. He seeks to catch us unaware, slipping up on us unnoticed. (2 Cor 11:12-15)
2. Sometimes, like we see here, Satan’s opposition is direct and frontal.
3. He is described as stalking us like a “roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
a. The Scriptures speak of roaring lions. (Ps 104:21, Jer 2:14-15 & Amos 3:4)
i. Like the lions mentioned here, Satan likes to frighten his prey before devouring.
b. Peter gives us two commands regarding Satan’s attacks.
i. Be “sober.”
1. Twice already Peter has instructed us to be “sober.” (1 Pet 1:13 & 1 Pet 4:7)
ii. Be “alert.”
1. Jesus often exhorted His disciples to be “alert.” (Matt 24:42, Matt 26:41 & 2 Tim 4:5)
c. Peter’s words here may imply a shortness of time and an increase in persecution.
i. He wants us to recognize that Satan will seek to destroy us through the opposition of unbelievers.
ii. He wants us to be ready for what is coming and not be surprised when it comes upon us.
iii. Recognizing Satan’s hand in the difficulties we face, we must resist him.
2. Peter has had much to say on the subject of submission.
a. We are to be subject to governing authorities, earthly masters, our mates and one another. (1 Pet 2:13–3:12)
b. The younger men are to be submissive to the elders. (1 Pet 5:5)
c. All are to submit to God. (1 Pet 5:6)
i. The opposite of submission is resistance.
1. We are to resist him, believe the Scriptures, and stand firm in our faith.
3. Before considering how we are to resist Satan, let us first be clear about what Peter means by “resist him.”
a. Resisting Satan does not mean attacking him.
i. Even Paul was reluctant to take him on. (Acts 16:16-18)
ii. Taking on Satan and his henchmen is dangerous. (Acts 19:13-18)
b. Resisting Satan does not suggest we should mock him or belittle him.
i. Satan is no “wimp” and our attitude toward his minions should be humble. (Jude 8 & 9)
“…taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5
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Bill Akright
akright4@insightbb.com
(309) 243-9639
www.bethanycentral.org
Resisting Satan does not mean “rebuking,” “binding,” or “defeating” him.
i. Resisting simply refers to our refusal to submit to him and our standing fast by divine enablement.
ii. The key to submitting to God is faith.
1. The key to standing fast against Satan’s attacks is faith. (Luke 22:31-32)
2. Satan’s attacks against the believer are an attack on faith itself.
a. He tempted Adam & Eve, arising doubts in their hearts about God’s trustworthiness.
b. They trusted in themselves (and Satan) by doubting God.
i. When we are successful, Satan tempts us with pride, seeking to turn us from
God because we think we no longer need Him.
ii. When we suffer, Satan tempts us with doubt and unbelief, trying to make us
believe God has abandoned us so we will act independently of God to bring
about what is in our best interest…so we think.
4. Peter’s provides us with fuel for faith.
a. First, we can stand firm in our faith because we know we are not alone in our suffering.
i. We are well aware that many others who are suffering for their faith are standing fast as well.
ii. We may think we are standing alone, but this is a lie from the “father of lies.” (1 Kings 19:9-18).
b. Second, we can stand firm in our faith because God sovereignly uses this opposition to further His purposes
and strengthen our faith.
i. Trials and suffering are the means by which our faith is proven (1 Pet 1:7).
ii. Suffering is the means by which God, the God of all grace, perfects, confirms, strengthens, and
establishes us (1 Pet 5:10).
1. The very trials, which may appear to be the means Satan employs for our destruction, are the
means God employs for our deliverance and development.
2. Behind the opposition of unbelievers stands Satan seeking to devour us, and behind Satan
stands God, sure to perfect and purify us.
c. Third, we can stand firm in our faith because, “To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Pet 5:11)
i. Satan claims to control much more than he does. (Matt 4:9)
ii. He even claims that which is not his. (Luke 22:31)
iii. He seeks dominion over all the earth and over the people of God, but dominion does not belong to him,
it belongs to the Lord Jesus, whose death, burial and resurrection brought about Satan’s downfall.
(John 16:11, Eph 1:18-23, Col 8:15 & 1 Pet 3:21-22)
c.
Conclusion
1. Peter wants us to understand that suffering not only identifies us with Christ, it also puts us in opposition to Satan.
a. When men oppose us, speak evil of us, or persecute us, Satan may be seen behind the scenes.
b. Peter understood this well. (Matt 16:23)
i. Thinking humanly rather than divinely is thinking satanically.
ii. To counsel and encourage (or rebuke) humanly is to do so satanically.
1. If our counsel is not from God’s perspective (Word) and is merely human, it is satanic.
2. Satan’s presence and power should not be overstated.
a. Our great fear should be not of him who can only destroy our flesh but of Him who has the power over our
eternal destination. (Matt 10:28)
b. We are not to make light of Satan or his power.
i. We are not to attack him, rebuke him, or bind him.
ii. We are not to submit or surrender to his attacks, even though he pursues us as a roaring lion.
c. We are to resist him, firm in our faith, knowing God has allowed it for our strengthening and spiritual growth.
d. When Satan attacks the saints and resists the purposes of God, he only works to bring about his own
destruction.
i. The cross looked like Satan’s victory.
1. He meant it to be the defeat of God’s kingdom.
2. But it was his own demise. (John 12:31 & 16:11)
“…taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5
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