Finding Hope in the Battle & Beyond

1 Peter 5:8-14

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

12 With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.

13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love.

Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

Video for this Service can be viewed @ June 5, 2022

Hope in the Midst of the Battle & Beyond

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil.
He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
Stand firm against him and be strong in your faith.
1 Peter 5:8-9
What do you do to prepare and stand strong in the Lord against the enemy of God who has had the whole of human history to strategize your undoing?

We come to conclusion of Peter's first letter to those amazing followers of Jesus who are undergoing some pretty intense suffering. He did not want them to be caught off guard about how Satan and his followers will use those moments of weakness to turn our eyes from Jesus.

We looked at the Apostle Paul’s reminder a couple of weeks ago from Ephesians 6 when he said the same thing to other believers: “A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.”
Has that become one of your daily disciplines?

I must confess that in looking back at key moments in my life God's mighty hand have pulled me from situations that would have destroyed my marriage, my friendships, my health, and my calling. God has proved himself strong in the midst of my weakness as I became more aware of how I (and the adversary) could mess up my life.

May this Sunday Worship gathering help you…
1) Draw close to Jesus through worship, prayer, and testimony.
2) Become more alert to those areas of your life where you are most prone to get attacked.
3) Understand that because of your willingness to suffer, Jesus “will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.”

Grateful to be on this journey with you,
Pastor John