Monday, July 18, 2011
PRECIOUS PASSAGES FROM FIRST PETER
In America, Memorial Day and Independence Day are not all that far behind us. We offered prayers of thanksgiving to those who go in our place to fight for our freedom. The armed forces fight their enemies by gathering surveillance or good intelligence. In any war being fought it is critically important to know your enemy!
SURVEILLANCE OF TWO DOMINIONS
One of those animal channels on TV recently showed how three (yes, three) African tribal hunters stole the kill from a pride of 13-15 hungry lions. They didn't make arrows. They didn't have much for weapons at all. They simply waited for the lions to start eating and boldly walked up to the pride. Intimidating them, the lions scattered long enough for the hunters to cut off a hind quarter and walk away.
Impressive? Yes and no. Yes, that the hunters had that much courage. No, since Genesis 9:2 reminds us that after the flood, "The fear and dread of you shall be on every beast of the earth. They are given into your hand."
1 Peter 5:8-9a 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.
We may not be fighting lions for the food supply, but we fight far worse enemies that do not have flesh and blood, and we cannot intimidate them with our own power or strength. Hence the dominion of the devil is far superior to our own (just look at the world today). It is important to know the devil's tempting tactics (i.e. "Did God really say?"). It is important to know our enemy! But so much more important is to take overwhelming surveillance (intelligence) of the other dominion besides that of the demons: Christ's dominion. The two verses before the precious passage of Peter above tell us how to fight our enemy, "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."
Make no mistake, my friend, we need humility and the intelligence of God's word to recognize that we cannot face this world's demons alone! We therefore make use of the power of Christ's word which alone not only intimidates evil spirits, but defeats them and assures us of our confident protection in the dominion of Christ's kingdom. Lord, help me gladly hear your word!
