Brian Maloy

We are in a battle, yet many of us fail to see it. This week’s lesson I for Sunday School is 1 Peter 5:1-11, there are a couple themes we could pick apart. Initially, it touches on elders and their leadership, the humility needed for their work. Then it builds to the humility needed by us all. Lastly, Peter makes a charge to us to remain alert, and sober minded, watchful — because our enemy is prowling, looking for someone to devour.

While I love the topic of humility, something we sadly see little of in our culture, I think that in this passage, I’ve always seen humility the primary focus. That said, this time through studying it, I was struck by the warning Peter gives the followers of Jesus he’s writing to, be watchful. I think having heard that verse and warning many times, it’s become easy to gloss over, not lingering to consider.

So that said, for these notes I wanted to share & delve into the portion that really struck me differently this time –> that of 1 Peter 5:8-9 LSB:

“Be of sober spirit, be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished among your brethren who are in the world.”

How many times have I read or heard this verse, surely it’s pushing 100, nevertheless it’s become familiar. For myself anyway, when things become familiar, it’s easier to neglect the charge, and the depth of meaning. This week while studying for Sunday, that portion hit me differently. I lingered there longer, and it caused me to ask more questions, versus leaving me when a reminder to be cautious…

First Question I had –> How do we truly recognize (be watchful of) the schemes of Satan?

If we are called to be watchful, what does that look like? I don’t live in a castle (although our current rental house post-fire is the closest I’ve gotten being it’s 3 story tall row house with a flight of stairs to the front door), so I don’t have a physical “lookout” for the enemy. We are dealing with spiritual things, spiritual enemies. So naturally, we must learn to be watchful in a different way. I haven’t explored this extensively, but for prepping to teach Sunday, a few basics came to mind that likely apply to all who seek to faithfully follow Jesus.

• Stay Rooted in Scripture – Satan often distorts truth, just as he did in the Garden of Eden. Knowing God’s Word deeply helps believers discern deception and stand firm in truth.
• Cultivate a Strong Prayer Life – Prayer keeps believers connected to God and strengthens their ability to resist temptation. Jesus Himself modeled this in the wilderness when facing Satan’s attacks.
• Guard Against Distraction – Satan often uses busyness, entertainment, or even seemingly harmless pursuits to pull believers away from their spiritual focus.
• Recognize the Power of Community – Isolation makes believers more vulnerable to deception. Staying connected to a Christ-centered community provides accountability and encouragement.
• Be Aware of Emotional Manipulation – Satan can stir up fear, anger, or discouragement to cloud judgment. Walking in the Spirit helps believers respond with wisdom rather than reacting impulsively.
• Put on the Armor of God – Ephesians 6:10-18 outlines spiritual defenses, including truth, righteousness, faith, and the Word of God, which equip believers to stand against Satan’s schemes.

I know myself, and given the time to type for days, numerous stories come to mind applicable to all of those simple things above. While the list above are not radical things, they are the same exhortations we’ve heard since Sunday School as a child; to a world that doesn’t seek to follow Jesus, and submit to His authority, these are radical steps.

Second Question I had –> What does it look like to resist the enemy, to stand firm in our faith?

Again, this list is not radical… but also is… the manner and means of resisting the enemy are not rocket science, yet they are truly hard things to do. The list below is not extensive either, it’s just the initial things that come to mind. And if we’re being honest, they are an excellent place to begin.

• Submit to God First – James 4:7 instructs, “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” True resistance begins with surrendering to God’s authority.
• Be Ruled by the Word – The Bible is the ultimate safeguard against deception. Thomas Brooks, a Puritan writer, emphasized that when believers stray from Scripture, they become vulnerable to Satan’s snares.
• Beware of Grieving the Holy Spirit – The Spirit enables discernment and strength against temptation. A believer who neglects the Spirit’s guidance weakens their defenses.
• Resist the First Stirring of Temptation – Sin often begins with small compromises. Brooks warns, “He that will play with Satan’s bait, will quickly be taken with Satan’s hook.”
• Put on the Armor of God – Ephesians 6:10-18 outlines spiritual defenses: truth, righteousness, faith, and the Word of God. These equip believers to stand firm against Satan’s schemes.
• Recognize Satan’s Strategy – He often tempts believers to doubt God’s goodness, just as he did with Eve in the Garden (Genesis 3) and Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4).
• Live in Obedience – Christ’s victory over temptation in the wilderness (Luke 4) serves as a model. He resisted by knowing and applying Scripture faithfully.

Like I mentioned, not radical per se, but also extremely challenging and difficult in a world that does not see or recognize Jesus as Lord. These are things that are surely going to make us “set apart” from the rest of culture, perhaps weird even. Good. The world needs to see followers of Jesus who pursue humility, and take their growth in the Lord sincerely, steeped in the Word, more worried about following their Shepherd than following trends and waves of culture.

Lastly, we also must know ourselves well. How are we most likely to be led astray, to be tempted down a path we don’t want to follow? It takes a great deal of humility, self-awareness, and likely for most of us — a seeking of the Lord to have Him show us where our weaknesses lie in wait. We are warned that our enemy is prowling, looking for opportunities, which means we must know our vulnerabilities. I know that I am easily distracted, sometimes pile too much on my plate, fail to pray with the consistency I wish I did, and in my overload, neglect the things of utmost importance in the Kingdom. I am praying the Lord shows me more, so I can learn to better walk in the rhythms of His grace and mercy.

I hope and pray this encourages you as much as it does me, as you learn to follow after Jesus each day.