God of all Grace

When my first book was about to be released, one of my friends told me she was praying specifically against Satan’s attacks. A few weeks later, another friend told me the same thing. I was somewhat surprised but appreciated the prayers. I had no idea how much I needed those specific prayers. I know there is constant spiritual warfare going on. I’ve even had times where I felt I was being attacked, but certainly nothing that compares to the past two and a half years.

There is a song that was especially comforting to me during this past year – “Look What You’ve Done” by Tasha Layton.

Look what You've done, look what You've done in me You spoke Your truth into the lies I let my heart believe Look at me now, look how You made me new The enemy did everything that he could do Oh, but look what You've done

The chorus reminded me of 1 Peter 5:6-11. I’ve felt like the enemy has been throwing everything he could at me these past couple years, but that isn’t the final word. Look what God has done (vs 10)! Let’s read 1 Peter 5:6-11 and work our way through it.

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, 7casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To Him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

In this section of 1 Peter, Peter addresses the elders in the church, exhorting them to lovingly shepherd those under their care. Then he instructs both the elders and the church body to be humble. This is where we pick up in verse 6.

When I think of spiritual warfare, my first thoughts have more to do with fighting in my own strength. Paul in Ephesians 6:10 commands us first to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might” (emphasis added). Spiritual warfare begins with knowing where our true strength rests – in God not ourselves. Likewise, Peter tells us to humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand (vs 6). Humility recognizes that we cannot do spiritual battle on our own. Humility trusts and depends on our mighty God.

Next Peter directs us to cast all our anxieties on God because He cares for us (vs 7). “Casting” is a full action verb. It indicates throwing our anxieties away from ourselves. Think of a fisherman casting his hook out into the lake or river. Paul similarly wrote to the Philippian church to “not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). We cast our anxieties on God because He cares for us. In studying the Psalms, we see repeatedly how much God cares for us – He draws near, inclines His ear, is with us, provides for us, is our shelter, and is our Shepherd. God’s most amazing care for us was demonstrated in the sending of His only Son Jesus to atone for our sins and reconcile us back to the Father. Whatever spiritual battle you are in, be assured that God cares for you. You can bring every anxious thought and moment to your mighty Father who is the only One completely worthy of our trust.

Peter has pointed us in the right direction – trusting God. Now in verse 8, he warns us to be sober-minded and watchful. We get complacent. We forget that there is more afoot than what we observe with our senses. We need to set our minds on things above (Colossians 3:2). We need to be alert, vigilant, observant, and discerning of what is going on. We need to recognize that the real enemy isn’t other people or things but the devil.

Peter describes the devil first as our adversary (vs 8). Make no mistake, the devil is wholeheartedly against you. Peter also describes the devil as a roaring lion (vs 8). I’ve seen roaring lions up close and personal in the wilds of Kenya. The roar alone was terrifying. I was thankful to be in a van. However, when it comes to Satan, we need to remember that although Satan still has power to steal some of our effectiveness as Christians, Jesus disarmed him on the cross (Colossians 2:15). He is limited in what he can do (Job 1:6-12). Satan may be looking for someone to devour, but he cannot destroy those who are in Christ.

In Psalm 91:3, Satan is described as a fowler, someone who hunts birds. A fowler is silent and sneaky. Both the lion and the fowler are hunters. Peter does not give us a picture of a lion dozing in the shade waiting for Door Dash to drop off his dinner. The lion is prowling. He is looking. He is on the hunt. His goal is to devour. In 2 Corinthians 11:14, we are told that he even disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore, we need to be watchful not as a spectator but as one fully engaged in the war.

Spurgeon said it this way, “He can never be content till he sees the believer utterly devoured. He would rend him in pieces, and break his bones and utterly destroy him if he could. Do not, therefore, indulge the thought, that the main purpose of Satan is to make you miserable. He is pleased with that, but that is not his ultimate end. Sometimes he may even make you happy, for he hath dainty poisons sweet to the taste which he administers to God’s people. If he feels that our destruction can be more readily achieved by sweets than by bitters, he certainly would prefer that which would best effect his end.”

In the face of this roaring lion, Peter calls us to resist the devil and stand firm in our faith (vs 9). “Resist” is comprised of two Greek words – stand and against. Just as Satan is our adversary and against us, we must stand, planted firmly in our faith, against Satan. Like a ship, we drop our anchor of faith and stand firm. This brings us back to where we began in verse 6 – trusting God. We are driven to prayer. We recall regularly who God is and what He has already done. Our ability to stand firm rests in God. Remembering God’s character, strengthens us. It reminds us of truth – God cannot be devoured or defeated. Jesus was already triumphant over Satan on the cross, and Satan’s final doom is a sure thing.

Spiritual warfare can feel lonely, but not only does God care for and is with us, but Peter encourages us that other brothers and sisters in Christ are undergoing Satan’s attacks too. In the battle, we support others, and they support us. We are not alone. I treasure the prayers of those who are praying specifically for me through spiritual warfare. What a precious gift to support me.

I like that in verse 10 Peter comforts us with the truth that the suffering is only for a little while. The suffering can seem like it is never-ending. More suffering is piled on top of the current suffering. When will it end? Paul speaks to this in 2 Corinthians 4:17, “For this light and momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” Spiritual warfare will continue while we are on this earth, but we are promised that compared to the eternal glory that awaits us, the present suffering is only for a little while.

For me, the highlight of this passage is “the God of all grace” (vs 10). What a beautiful reminder amidst spiritual warfare and suffering. The God of all grace has not forgotten us. He is for us. He is with us. He has called us to an eternal glory. He personally will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish us. The devil may be seeking to devour us, but God is relentless in chasing us with His goodness and mercy (Psalm 23:6). The only response to the God of all grace is to praise God with Peter, “To Him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” That word dominion reminds us that God is sovereign not Satan. In Christ, we have been taken from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of Jesus.

It may be tempting to pray that we would never experience spiritual warfare, but perhaps it is better to pray, “Lord, it is not hard to see why Satan attacks. May I continue to be enough of a threat to him to merit his attention! Don’t let me become so anemic in my Christian walk that he doesn’t need to bother with me. Amen.” Ron Egger, Tozer on Christian Leadership

Reflection

1. Are you sober-minded and watchful when it comes to the enemy’s attacks or do you learn toward “blissfully” ignorant? After today’s study, what is something you will do differently going forward?

2. Are you more apt to trust in your own strength and ability than to humbly cast your anxiety on your mighty Heavenly Father? Saul wanted David to trust in his armor when he went to battle with Goliath, but David rejected Saul’s armor and trusted God. Begin a daily habit of trusting the Father with your cares.

3. Spend time praising the God of all grace for His loving care, His sovereignty, His mighty hand, His grace, and His provision.