Do you ever get the feeling something is lurking over your shoulder or there is someone watching you, but you cannot see them? Everyone experiences these kinds of things on occasion. However, most people just shrug it off instead of seeking the Lord for understanding. When these things happen, we may be sensing the spiritual atmosphere but not discerning what is there.
The Bible warns us to Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 1Pe 5:8-9
The language in these verses is picturesque. The lion is considered the most powerful of all carnivores of ancient Palestine, and the other words translated from Greek to English give us a greater image of what the activities of your enemy entail.
· Sober – clear-headed, not drunk, restrained, and self-controlled
· Vigilant – awake, alert, watchful
· Adversary – legal opponent
· Devil – denotes the one who separates; the enemy, the seducer, and the accuser.
· To walk about is translated from the Greek word, pĕripatĕō, per-ee-pat-eh´-o, and it means to tread on or all around. Walk at large like a predator, occupied with its prey.
· The word seeking means pursuit.
· Devour means to consume destructively, eat quickly, or be totally absorbed by a powerful feeling.
· Roaring means to produce a howling or roaring sound, like wolves or lions.
· Resist him – be hostile toward, oppose, rebel, or set oneself against.
· Steadfast – solid, strong, not soft, firm
These definitions give us a clearer understanding of what we are up against with the enemy and why we are told to resist him and be steadfast in the faith. It could read, be clear-headed, sober, refrained, and self-controlled. Stay awake, remain alert, and watch because your adversary is a legal opponent, and he is looking for you. The devil is occupying himself with you hoping to drum up a legal complaint against you. His goal is to seduce, accuse, and separate you from the relationship and protection of God.
Like a predator puffed up and sure of himself, the devil is pursuing you in hopes that he gets you far enough from the shelter of the Most High that he can destroy you. He releases sounds in the atmosphere that your soul picks up and becomes absorbed with emotions of fear, rejection, pride, rebellion, and anything else he can find agreement with. These emotions can lead you to sin in gossip, doubt, unbelief, etc.
You must resist him in strength. You cannot be soft on his seductions or threats but oppose his plans with rebellious hostility!
Jesus said, A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. – Lk 6:45
Out of the heart of a man comes all kinds of sin, and the issues of life flow from the heart of a person. Jesus said if a man even looks at a woman with lust, he has committed adultery with her.
Whenever we keep ourselves from the world and walk close to our Sheperd, we are protected. When God shows us something in our hearts that is of evil treasure, He desires us to ask for His help to get rid of it. The Holy Spirit is the revealer of our heart condition. The word of God divides soul from spirit, joint from marrow, and is a discerner of our heart's intentions. When we read our word, worship, and pray, we are going to keep the enemy at bay. Satan does not get into our minds and hearts when we have them guarded with the protection of God's presence.
Although we have a war to wage at times, we do not battle like the world does. We wage war in the spiritual realm, where the powers, rulers of darkness, principalities, and evil spirits are warring against us. We take our thoughts captive and command them to obey the truth of God's word, and we stand dressed in God's armor, our faith, and our hope in Jesus to take us through the turbulent times we all run into.
Remember the words often said to God's mighty men of valor - do not fear, be of good courage, for your God goes before you. Remember the words of Jesus when He said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jn 16:33
Let's pray,
Heavenly Father, thank You for the power and authority that I have in the blood of Jesus Christ. I choose to allow my mind to be transformed by the reading of Your word and no longer conform to the ways of this world. You are my joy and strength. In You, I have my very breath. Help me to praise You before I seek the war. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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