Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
1 Peter 5:8-9 NIV
The Inspiration:
Peter would know what he was speaking of in the verses above. Here was a man whose name was actually Simon, which means reed. He was quick-tempered; quick to speak and also seemingly getting into trouble. He was the one who made that great confession that Jesus is the son of the living God, yet in the same breath, also wanted to prevent Jesus from going to the cross. He would cut off the ear of one of the servants of the chief priest, and then deny Jesus thrice. By human standards, he had done a lot of wrong, but there is a verse that relates to Peter, and by extension, to all of us today. Jesus told Peter that Satan had asked to sift him like wheat, but Jesus had prayed for him. If not for the grace and help of God, is there anyone of us that would survive the onslaught of the devil? The devil has but one assignment: to steal, kill and destroy. That is all he can offer, because that is all he has.
The Contention:
Thank God for Jesus who prayed for Peter then, and who still prays for us today. The devil will keep doing what he knows how best to do, and Jesus will also do what He knows how best to do, which is to provide the help needed to defeat the devil. Let it be clear today that on our own, we can't defeat the devil. He is skilled in warfare, and has been fighting dirty since the account of creation. He would disguise as a messenger of light, but he is full of deadly poison. There is nowhere he cannot operate, as long as God does not restrict him. When angels, also called the sons of God, gathered together in the heavenlies, the devil was there, trying to get at the righteous man Job. He goes round the earth like a lion, seeking whom to devour. If God did not place a limit on his power, he would have taken Job's life. He is not a friend, no matter how hard he tries to present himself as such.
The Conclusion:
God will not leave me without guidance on how to defeat the devil. God knows that He needs to provide the tools required to defeat the enemy. It is the quality of weapons or strategy of the enemy that will determine what I need to do to win. What God does is to provide strength, wisdom, faith, knowledge and grace to know what God wants me to do, as well as where he wants me to be, so I can be all He wants me to be. Resistance to the schemes of the devil will only happen if I have the right information about what is ahead. Another good thing also is that whatever happens to me may be peculiar to me, but it is not strange. All over the world, declaring for Jesus comes with its pain, but with God, there is always a good end in view. As I stand firm in faith, I am affirming that I know who I have believed, and I am certain that eternal life with Him lies at the end of all the struggles. That makes it worth the pain. God's time of favour is here.
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