1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
God makes it clear who our adversary is in life. Many have misappropriated adversarial actions toward people who they don't like when their attack should be against the true adversary. The true adversary in life is the Devil; every attack we make should be toward him and his agenda.
Sadly, many treat the Devil better than they treat fellow believers whom they consider their adversary. Someone does them wrong, and they attack the person through gossip and slander in hopes of trying to defeat them when their attacks should be toward their true adversary, the Devil.
Your adversary is not the one you disagree with, but your adversary is the Devil. Your adversary is not your spouse who has been unfaithful, but your adversary is the Devil. Your adversary is not the parents who have hurt you, but your adversary is the Devil who got your parents to do wrong. Your adversary is not the preacher who has fallen in sin, but your adversary is the sin that the Devil got that preacher to do. Your adversary is not a fellow believer who has wronged you, but your adversary is the Devil and the sin he got them to do. Satan’s goal in life is to get you to switch your focus on who the true adversary is, and by doing so, you allow him to continue to do his work of destruction. So, what are the tools Satan uses to devour us?
First, he uses sin to hurt us. Satan is a master at getting people to focus on the one who sinned instead of focusing our attack against the sin. Just because someone has fallen in sin does not mean we should destroy them, but we should get angry at the sin that destroyed the one who has allowed their sin to hurt us. When sin is removed from any person, that person becomes a good person. Keep your attack against sin instead of focusing your attack against people.
Second, he uses gossip and slander to hurt us. Satan is seeking whom he may devour, and he has devoured the testimony of many good believers through gossip. My friend, it is just as wrong to listen to the gossip about others as it is to be the source who spreads the gossip. When you spread gossip or listen to it, you have succumbed to being a tool of Satan to hurt people.
Third, he uses worldliness to hurt us. The world has lured many people away by painting a pretty picture of what it will do for them. However, the world never shows the back door of what its lifestyle will do to you, your dreams, and to those you love. The world and its love for pleasures and money has been used by Satan to destroy many good believers.
Fourth, he uses our freedom in Christ to hurt us. Many have fallen for Satan’s ploy to get them to do what they want to do instead of doing what God’s will is for their life. What you want may not be “bad,” but when what you want is not God’s will, it becomes bad and hurtful to your life and those you could have influenced. You don't have a right to do your will because you belong to God. You are God’s steward, and as His steward, you are to do His will for your life. Any will but God’s will is the wrong will for your life.
Let me remind you that your adversary is the Devil. Remember that he is out to devour you; therefore, treat him as the adversary and fight him by doing what God’s Word says is right.
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