We are talking today about walking circumspectly because that is word God gave me today. It matches perfectly with what Peter is saying here to be cautious at all times.
1 Peter 5:8 Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. 9 Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset—rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world.
Whether we realize it or not the enemy is as Peter said roaming around like a roaring lion —hunting down his prey! Well he isn’t going to eat us but he is going to overtake us with doubt if we let him. If we are unaware of his on-goings and are not ready to withstand him he will take advantage of our ignorance and take control of us.
The enemy knows that it is impossible to please God without faith. He also knows that faith is our assurance with God; faith gives us the confidence to live in God’s Kingdom and in His power as over-comers. Therefore that is his focal point to steal our faith from us.
Faith is a big Word. Faith is trust in God, faith is God and the revelation of God, faith is our assurance of what we have hope of, faith is the Word, and the Word is God. Faith is revelation knowledge and our trust in what is revealed to us by God!
Jesus said as soon as we hear the Word the enemy will come and try and steal it. The Word (John 1:1) is God and God is our faith, thus He is trying to ultimately —steal God from us. When he steals God from us he has stolen everything from us!
Peter said he roams around in fierce hunger. Fierce is defined as aggressive, violent and even vicious! That makes me think of a dog with rabies! If he is that hungry to devour us, to be in control of us and steal God from us, then we have to be that much more on guard.
No wonder God gave me that Word today. The enemy is roaming around devouring God’s people’s all the time and they are not even aware of it. Are we resisting him, or are we are settling in with him.
God once gave me a vision of taking boards and nails and bolting my front door shut so he couldn’t get in. In my vision I could see him peaking in to see if he could get in, it seemed that I missed a spot that he could almost sneak in. That is an extravagant action you may think, if you are not aware of the damage he can cause if you let him in your life, your house!
When is the last time you took authority over the bad things happening in your life? When is the last time you commanded sickness to leave you instead of put up with it? When is the last time you decided not to get offended but love instead? When is the last time you resisted your flesh, just told it no?
When he comes you can tell he is like a storm that comes with one evil thing after another! Peter said catch him on his onset, don’t let him in, be immovable in your faith, rooted and grounded, established and determined not to move out of you faith place.
Don’t let him take God from you!
If we are not immovable then we are passive and indecisive. If we are not sure —we are not grounded and established in our relationship with God. If that is you, if you are in an unsure state of mind then Satan will be successful in stealing God from you—with just a lie.
What lie? Lies like God isn’t going to heal you this time, your not good enough, you’re a loser, God doesn’t care, you are not going to make it, and all kinds of other detrimental things to keep you in doubt of God and His love for you.
It’s a mind game he plays with you to try and take God from you and be in control of you. Just like in the garden when he said, did God really say? He is saying things to you today that are the same—to steal your confidence in God.
I have a friend I was teaching to resist sickness. She had a lot of pain in her body that she was commanding to leave. Suddenly she saw in the spirit these cute little demons of pain. She said they were so cute and they were asking her in a sweet way, do we really have to go? She said they were so sweet that she didn’t want to tell them yes you have to go!
That is the con Satan is, he is always working against us to control us. He studies us and so like my friend he knew exactly what to say to try and con her.
I have had similar experiences with being too passive in circumstances that I was submitted to God in and was complacent because I was feeling sorry for someone. I didn’t want to make the person uncomfortable in what they were doing, so I withheld truth I knew I was suppose to say.
God sends me to churches to admonish for Him. I don’t like it because I am not liked when I follow my instructions from God. Therefore I have held back just to be liked at least for a little while. I like to fit in and have friends and be like everyone else and the enemy knows that. He knows my position, he knows my calling therefore I have to be careful, circumspect, and prudent about what I am thinking, and about what I am doing so that I don’t blend in!
It is far better for me if I am persecuted because He was persecuted, that they hate me because they first hated Him!
If we are double minded or indecisive and live by our feelings the enemy will overtake us. He will be in control and we may not even be aware. If we are not aware of God, if we don’t know Him or hear Him, if we don’t take heed to Him then we will never even notice we have been deceived and stand in the enemies’ threshold.
If I lived by my feelings I would be hurt by the church— I would have blended in with them for acceptance.
I heard Jesus —the first time I was rejected He said, “Now you know how I feel,” then He put His loving arms around me and held me while I cried.
What do we do to feel better, how do we lick our wounds? Be careful what you are thinking and how you are feeling that you are not being overtaken by the evil one!
Instead be sober, self controlled, vigilant, prudent, cautious, walk circumspectly, because that enemy of yours roams around looking for someone he can trick into living with him, in hell, and in hell on earth!
The bottom line, make a choice to serve God and don’t be moved by anything else. Be strong In Him, be His witness!