Mensa Otabil - Resist Opposition

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Welcome to day number 10 of our Fresh Start. We’re making a lot of progress. We go to First Peter, chapter 5, verses 8 and 9. 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. This is the great Apostle Peter encouraging the Christians of his time about how to stand firm for the Lord.

Remember, Peter had denied Christ during his trial before his crucifixion, so he understands what it is to yield to temptation. Therefore, he’s encouraging people on how to stand firm for the Lord Jesus Christ. He talks about our adversary; an adversary is basically an opponent, something or somebody who opposes you. In life, there are many adversaries. Sometimes there are circumstances, and then sometimes there are people. But our chief adversary, the one Peter is talking about, is the devil. He says, don’t just think of other people and circumstances as your adversaries- you have a real adversary who uses people to achieve his purposes.

So let’s focus on the real adversary. What does Peter say we should do to resist this adversary? He says, be sober and vigilant. That means have self-control and be aware of what is going on in your life. Don’t take life easy, don’t take life for granted, and don’t just move on with your life as if nothing is important. Be aware, pay attention, because every attack that comes against us will, most of the time, give us indications that it is coming. It may be something you see, something you must observe, something you must sense in your spirit, and pray more effectively about. So be sober and be vigilant-not only physically vigilant, but spiritually vigilant. Be aware of your spiritual environment and what is going on around you.

Secondly, he says, resist the enemy. He says the enemy, as significant as he is, can be resisted. You know, sometimes people say the devil made me do it, or the devil is this and the devil is that. He can be resisted. The passage says he is like a roaring lion going about seeking whom he may devour. In other words, he cannot devour everybody; he can only devour those whom he can devour-those who make themselves available, those who are not alert, those who are not sober, and those who are not vigilant.

So if you stay spiritually alert, the enemy cannot devour you. You are going to go through this year and come out of this year unscathed because you’re sober, you’re vigilant spiritually, and you’re resisting the enemy. He says if you resist him, he cannot devour you. Then he says we must remain steadfast in the faith. That means we stand for God, and we stand for His word, and we stand strong in faith. It means we don’t yield to temptations, we don’t yield to sin, but we allow the Holy Spirit to give us the fortitude to go through everything we’re experiencing. He says whilst there may be suffering, and there may be pain, and there may be difficulty, remember you’re not the only one going through that. He says your brothers-in other words, other Christians-are facing the same thing.

So be steadfast and overcome this. The moment you think, «Oh, I’m a victim; I’m the only one going through this. Life is only hard for me, times are only difficult for me,» then you yield to temptation. But when you understand this is general, and everybody goes through difficulty, then you are strong, you are steadfast, and you resist the enemy. This year, the plans of God for you will come to pass, and the adversary will not rule over you.

Let’s pray. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, I resist every opposition of the enemy in my life. Thank You for total victory. In Jesus' name, Amen and Amen.» Well, I’ll catch you again tomorrow. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.