RUNNING TO THE ROAR |
A Topical Study of |
1 Peter 5:8, 9 |
Of all the disciples, the most relatable—at least to me—is Simon Peter, the fisherman from Galilee. How right Jesus was when, seeing Peter sleeping in the Garden of Gethsemane, He said, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (see Matthew 26:41). I think that’s why we readily identify with Peter.
“Follow Me,” Jesus said when He first called Peter. Peter dropped his nets on the spot. Three years later, after being with Jesus daily, we see Peter still following—but now from afar (see Matthew 26:58).
“If it’s You, Lord, beckon me to come,” Peter cried in the midst of the storm. When Jesus did, Peter miraculously walked on water—until he took his eyes off the Lord and began to sink (see Matthew 14:30).
“Thou art the Christos, the Messiah, the Son of the Living God,” Peter declared. Five verses later, Peter opposes Jesus to such a degree that Jesus calls him Satan (see Matthew 16:23).
That’s why I can relate to Peter. “Follow Me,” Jesus said, but Peter followed from a distance. “Walk on water,” Jesus said. Peter sank. “You are the Christ,” Peter said boldly, but he argued with Jesus anyway.
Peter had such great moments, followed by such deep defeats. His heart was willing, but his flesh was weak.
It shouldn’t surprise us that Peter went through those kinds of times. After all, Jesus had told him directly, “Satan desires to sift you like wheat, to grind you up, to wipe you out. I have prayed for you, Peter, and when you are converted—not if but when you make it through—strengthen the brethren” (see Luke 22:32). Guess what. In our text, Peter’s doing just that, for we’re sitting here almost two thousand years later, listening to Peter telling us to be sober and vigilant because our adversary, the devil, goes about as a roaring lion.
Peter would say to us, “I’ve been there. I desired to walk with, be used by, and be faithful to the Lord. He was right when He told me Satan was trying to sift me like wheat. Our adversary is real.”
“Why does Satan want to pick on me?” you ask. Many theories have been presented concerning what motivates our adversary. Among them is the hostage theory that says that Satan seeks to gather as many people as possible into his kingdom of death and darkness in order to use them as a bargaining chip with the Father at the end of time, saying, “These people are in my domain. I will let them go if You let me go.” Although there are some obscure references to this in the Word, I don’t personally believe this to be true.
Why does Satan bother with us? I think he simply does it because of his perverse nature. I think he’s doing just what we do in our own perversity.
There you are—standing by the edge of the pool—when out of the corner of your eye, you see a group of guys headed your way. By the look on their faces, you know what they’re about to do. Because you’re perverse and depraved, what do you do? You do just what I do. You say, “If I’m going in, you’re going too,” as you grab as many arms and legs as you can.
Because Satan is innately perverse, I believe he’s grabbing as many people as he can to pull into the lake of fire with him.
“I’ve already given my heart to Jesus,” you say, “so why would Satan pick on me when he knows he’s already lost me?”
Although he can’t take you to hell, he can make you feel so discouraged, so defeated in your own walk that you won’t be able to effectively impact others for the kingdom.
Peter was firmly in the camp of the Lord, yet Satan came against him just as Jesus said he would. Peter, however, made it through. And you can, too.
How?
Peter gives a singular answer when he tells us we are not to run, but to resist; we are not to fear, but to resist; we are not to give in, but to resist. James says the same thing when he says, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Inspired by the same Spirit, James and Peter are in agreement concerning the strategy of dealing with Satan.
Because we have the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, the sword of the Spirit, the breastplate of righteousness, our loins girded with truth, and the gospel of peace for shoes, there is only one part of our anatomy vulnerable to the Enemy: our backs (Ephesians 6:13–17).
Why?
It’s never the strategy of the Lord to run from the Enemy. Rather, we are equipped to resist and even attack with such power that not even the gates of hell can withstand the onslaught (Matthew 16:18).
We have an Enemy who wants to take us down, wipe us out, make us miserable, and nullify our effectiveness. Peter calls this one a roaring lion.
The roaring lion, known in Bible times and even to this day, is the king of the pride of lions—not because he is the most powerful lion in the family, but because of what he once was. You see, the roaring lion is the oldest lion in the pride. His teeth are worn. His feet are slow. He’s not as quick as he once was, nor as powerful as he used to be. Therefore, his assignment is to hide in the grass until an unsuspecting impala or deer comes walking through. Then he is to stand up and roar. Hearing this, the deer or impala runs away from the roar of the lion—right to the place where all of the young, virile lions are waiting. In so doing, he runs to his death.
If you could give counsel to the impala or the deer in the savannahs of Africa, you’d say, “If you walk through a grassy area and hear a roar, whatever you do, don’t run. Don’t be afraid. Just go toward the roar. Resist, resist, resist. Don’t run.”
The devil is a roaring lion. He had his teeth kicked out at Calvary. Yet he can still roar. “YOU’RE GOING TO FAIL,” he roars, and we run right into failure. “YOU’RE GOING TO GIVE IN,” he roars, and we do just that. So how are we to withstand his roars?
The Old Testament picture of what it means to resist rather than run is found in 2 Samuel.
And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts… 2 Samuel 23:20 (a)
Benaiah, whose name literally means “built by God,” was one of David’s mighty men who stood by and traveled with him.
…he slew two lionlike men of Moab… 2 Samuel 23:20 (b)
Benaiah took on a couple of strong, bushy-bearded or long-haired men of Moab.
…he went down also and slew a lion… 2 Samuel 23:20 (c)
After doing battle with lionlike men, Benaiah was ready to take on the lion itself. I find it to be true oh, so often, that the temptations, difficulties or challenges that come my way in any given day are simply to prepare me for the battles coming eventually.
…in the midst of a pit in time of snow. 2 Samuel 23:20 (d)
Maybe you’ve felt cold in your spirit recently. What did Benaiah do at such a time? He went on the offensive and went into the pit itself to deal with the lion directly. Even in the snowy times, on a cold day, he attacked the Enemy.
And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man… 2 Samuel 23:21 (a)
Being an Egyptian meant this man was a type of the world. Being a “goodly man” meant that he was a big guy.
…and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and slew him with his own spear. 2 Samuel 23:21 (b)
After being prepared by battling the lionlike men and the lion in the pit, Benaiah now takes on a big chunk of the world and kills him with his own spear. In this brief vignette, I begin to understand what it means to resist the devil. I begin to realize that the skirmishes I’m going through presently are preparatory for what is headed my way in the snowy day. I realize my call is to go into the pit itself, to storm the gates of hell and do battle with the Enemy.
“I try to battle the Enemy,” you say, “but I lose every time. I have such a terrible time with my thought life. I’m driving down the street, worshiping the Lord when suddenly a lady gets out of her car and walks down the street. My mind strays, leaving me wondering where in the world those thoughts come from.”
Those thoughts don’t come from the world. They are fiery darts shot in your direction from hell itself in an attempt by the Enemy to discourage, depress, and defeat you.
Someone else says, “What can I do? It seems like whenever I’m with the girls and I just want to talk about the Lord, the conversation centers on gossip. I try not to get caught up in it, but it just seems to take control of the moment and I succumb.”
Simply telling people not to think about lust or gossip is about as effective as telling you not to think about a pink elephant. The harder you try not to think about something, the more you will! Telling people to put depression, gossip, lust, or whatever else they struggle with out of their minds will only lead to frustration because it can’t be done.
What are we to do?
Follow the Benaiah model. Resist Satan by going into the pit itself, by taking the weapon of the Egyptian and turning it against him.
How?
You’re driving down the road and your mind is playing games with you. Here’s what to do: Go on the offensive. Say to the Enemy, “I’m going to run right in your direction. Go ahead and fire that arrow at me as much as you want. Put those thoughts in my mind. Play those games. I want you to know, however, that every time you fire one of those arrows into my mind, I’m not going to come down on myself or try to talk myself out of thinking about a pink elephant. I’m simply going to take that same arrow and turn it against you. I’m going to pray for fifteen people I know who also struggle with this difficulty. Take that.”
What happens?
The Enemy begins to see that every time he fires one of his arrows at you, he inadvertently causes you to pray for others. Since prayer binds Satan, he suddenly realizes his plan is backfiring and he flees.
“I’m so depressed,” you say. What do you do? Grab the weapon of the Enemy and turn it against him. Go into the pit and say, “You can depress me as much as you wish, but every time you do, Satan, I am going to stop what I’m doing, and, by faith, give thanks to God for all the good things He’s done for me. I’m going to worship Him.”
Now, because Satan used to be the worship leader in heaven before being demoted to a snake in the dust, the sound of worship is like fingernails on a chalkboard in his ears. So he flees.
“I just can’t quit gossiping,” you say. You can if you go on the offensive and say ten good things about the person whose name has come up in the conversation. Seeing that tempting you to tear people down only results in you building them up will send Satan running every time.
To resist the devil doesn’t mean you try to ignore the reality of the temptation. It means you take the very weapon fired against you and turn it against Satan through intercession, worship, or praise. Do that and Satan will flee from you. He’ll leave you alone—at least for a season.
How do I know?
That’s what Jesus did. When the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness to be tempted by the Enemy, Satan came to Him, trying to get Him to doubt the character, the provision, and the plan of the Father. What did Jesus do? Did He run? No, He gave Satan a Bible study each time the lion came His way (Matthew 4:4–10).
I don’t know what your area of vulnerability is. I don’t know where the roaring lion yells at you. This I do know: Whatever your area of weakness, don’t run from it. Be Benaiah. Take the offensive. Resist.
Peter was a man who dealt with the Enemy. Now he comes with this word to strengthen you and me. Run toward the roar and watch the toothless old lion flee.
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