Read 1 Peter 5:8,9
When the fallen one first entered human history, he was
crafty and subtle. (Genesis 3:1) The
Hebrew word is arum. The same word is
used in Proverbs as the desirable characteristic of being prudent and sensible.
(i.e. Proverbs 12:16 and 14:8).
Something about this creature attracted Eve. Maybe it was its beauty or
its keen ability to discern the very best fruit. Satan exploited these luring features to draw
Eve into disobedience. However, in 1
Peter 5:8,9, there is nothing luring nor subtle about a roaring lion on the
prowl to feed its insatiable hunger for destruction. He is constantly roaring in our ears. Roaring words of fear – roaring
justifications to be angry – roaring encouragements to be self-centered and
self-sufficient – roaring reasons to be puffed up with pride – roaring about
our inadequacies – roaring reminders of our failures – roaring wants – roaring doubts
– roaring that makes us anxious and we don’t even know why – roaring just to
annoy us.
How does a roaring lion manage to get close enough to
devour our peace, our joy, our purpose, our passion, our fruitfulness, … our
holiness? There are two answers: (1) we
grow insensitive to his roaring; and (2) we don’t resist.
My sister lives out in the country where a neighboring
farmer has lions. Real roaring lions!
Morning after morning she spends time with her Lord and pot of coffee on
her back porch. She no longer hears the
lions. They are still there. She is
simply use to their constant roaring for breakfast. A friend of mine lives near a busy rail line
and crossing. She too no longer hears
the frequent rattling of the train cars or blaring warning. Those sounds have become a “normal” part of
their lives. Our adversary’s roaring can
have the same effect. We hear it without
hearing it. They are so constant that his
roaring becomes part of our own thought processes. We don’t stop and identify it as the roaring
of a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44)
The result is he gets closer and closer to our soul, and in a moment of
vulnerability attacks.
Recognizing the roar requires stopping and thinking
about what we are thinking about, what our heart and soul is hearing. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says we are to “take
captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” That means asking: Does it align with the
truth and character of Christ? If not, it is a lying, deceiving, manipulative
roar!
Once we retune our hearing to recognize the roar of
the enemy, Peter tells us to resist him, standing firm in the faith. The word translated “resist” in 1 Peter 5:9
is anthistemi, which means to take a
solid stance so as to be immovable in conflict. It is an assertive resistance
that does not back down or compromise. This same word is used by Paul in Ephesians 6:13 and by James in James 4:7. Paul
tells that we need to put on the full armor of
God to fight this unseen, but continually heard adversary. That includes a
helmet of salvation that protects our minds, combat boots embedded with the
reality of all Christ is, did and said, as well as the shield of faith and the sword
of truth. (Ephesians 6:12-18) Fully armored, we are “able to stand our
ground” (anthistemi) victoriously
resisting the roaring lion. James promises that if we first submit to God –
recognize that we have neither the wisdom nor power to face this enemy on our
own, and then, willing and enabled, resist the devil, the fallen one WILL flee.
Our willingly standing firm in faith will send him into retreat. However, if
there is no willing resistance on our part, he is under no obligation to abandon
his devouring pursuit. His roars are
accomplishing just what he wants.
We need to keep putting on that armor, continually submit
to the Lord and be willing and enabled to resist, because he will be back. If we do, we will be ready to recognize his
roar, stand our ground and once again send him fleeing!
Making It
Personal
Which of the adversary’s roars makes you most likely
to cower and give in?
Resisting (anthistemi)
is assertive. Empowered by the Holy
Spirit, what are some very specific things you can do and say to stand up to
the roars of the fallen one?
Another word translated resisting in the New Testament
is antipasto – to aggressively resist
by force, hostility and willfulness.
- Who is being resisted against in Acts 7:51?
- What happens when we direct our resistance against the wrong “enemy?”
- Why are we told to be assertive, rather than aggressive against the devil?
The third word translated “resist” in the New
Testament is antikathistemi – pushing
something heavy out of the way and putting something else in its place.
- What needs to be pushed out of the way according to Hebrews 12:4?
- Is there something specific that needs this kind of resistance in your life?
- What lying roars have you been hearing that makes you believe that the cost is too high and resistance futile?
- What needs to be put in its place?
- Are you willing to put forth the effort and sacrifice?
