One of the things that is key to our success and victorious living is knowing who the enemy is and what his goal is for each of us. Satan is a ruthless adversary. He does not play fair and plays to win. He will use anyone and anything to accomplish his agenda--to devour. The word of God admonishes us to be sober and vigilant. Why? Because we have a real enemy who is on a real mission. When we understand who the real enemy is and come to the revelation knowledge that Jesus has given us keys to fight and win--we are headed for a supremely divine victory!
I can recall an instance in which I encountered someone who was verbally harsh and caustic in speech towards me. The words spoken were very venomous and toxic. I felt bruised and hurt. Although a dialogue followed, internally I still felt hurt. Moment of transparency...I simply could not let the incident go or shake what I believed to be cruel and unjust. It took constant and persistent prayer and seeking God's face for instruction, guidance, direction, and healing. It also took a lot personal repentance, confession, and humility before the Father. Because I believed I was treated unfairly and unjustly, I wanted God to handle the matter! And guess what? He did! But, not in the way I thought he would. God showed me who the real enemy was. It was not the person coming at me--but rather, the enemy's attempt to devour.
Satan is constantly looking for/craving opportunities to consume the people of God; just as he did in the case of Job (Job 1).
Greek Word Study (I Peter 5:8)
sober (G3525) nepho: calm, collected, circumspect, watchful
vigilant (G1127) gregoreo: wake, give strict attention, be cautious, to take heed lest through remission and indolence some destructive calamity suddenly overtake one
adversary (G476) antidikos: opponent
walks (G4043) peripateo: to make use of opportunities
roaring (G5612) oryomai: to howl, roar
seeking (G2212) zeteo: desire, crave
devour (G2666) katapino: swallow up, destroy, drink down, drown, gulp entirely
May I encourage with the word of God? If you can identify with anything shared in this post, I pray that you would seek God's face. That's where the answers are. That's where the truth is. In pursuing him with your whole heart, he will reveal the strategies of the enemy. He will hide you under the shadow of his wing. He will heal your broken heart. He will strengthen you and encourage you just as he did Elijah when Jezebel's words shook him to the core (I Kings 19). Yes, we have real enemy; but he is a defeated foe who would like us to believe that he is the winner. Trust me, he knows the end of the story and it does not bode well for him! Allow faith to hit your heart and embrace the truth that you really are victorious. You really are the winner (Romans 8:37). Do not allow the enemy, people, your thought processes, or present situation cause you to believe anything else!
I can recall an instance in which I encountered someone who was verbally harsh and caustic in speech towards me. The words spoken were very venomous and toxic. I felt bruised and hurt. Although a dialogue followed, internally I still felt hurt. Moment of transparency...I simply could not let the incident go or shake what I believed to be cruel and unjust. It took constant and persistent prayer and seeking God's face for instruction, guidance, direction, and healing. It also took a lot personal repentance, confession, and humility before the Father. Because I believed I was treated unfairly and unjustly, I wanted God to handle the matter! And guess what? He did! But, not in the way I thought he would. God showed me who the real enemy was. It was not the person coming at me--but rather, the enemy's attempt to devour.
Satan is constantly looking for/craving opportunities to consume the people of God; just as he did in the case of Job (Job 1).
Greek Word Study (I Peter 5:8)
sober (G3525) nepho: calm, collected, circumspect, watchful
vigilant (G1127) gregoreo: wake, give strict attention, be cautious, to take heed lest through remission and indolence some destructive calamity suddenly overtake one
adversary (G476) antidikos: opponent
walks (G4043) peripateo: to make use of opportunities
roaring (G5612) oryomai: to howl, roar
seeking (G2212) zeteo: desire, crave
devour (G2666) katapino: swallow up, destroy, drink down, drown, gulp entirely
May I encourage with the word of God? If you can identify with anything shared in this post, I pray that you would seek God's face. That's where the answers are. That's where the truth is. In pursuing him with your whole heart, he will reveal the strategies of the enemy. He will hide you under the shadow of his wing. He will heal your broken heart. He will strengthen you and encourage you just as he did Elijah when Jezebel's words shook him to the core (I Kings 19). Yes, we have real enemy; but he is a defeated foe who would like us to believe that he is the winner. Trust me, he knows the end of the story and it does not bode well for him! Allow faith to hit your heart and embrace the truth that you really are victorious. You really are the winner (Romans 8:37). Do not allow the enemy, people, your thought processes, or present situation cause you to believe anything else!
***Greek Word Study from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance***
