Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Foreign.
[00:00:04] I'm Pastor Chuck Allen and thanks so much for joining me on today's weekday podcast where I'm in day five as we talk about spiritual warfare. I'm going to wrap this series up today, but I got to tell you, I hope that you're sharing these with friends and family, as I know that you, you know, people like me and you that are battling forces that we're struggling with. There's somebody out there that probably needs to hear this. Would you with them today?
[00:00:33] So let's talk about Peter. This dude is all heart, man. I mean, walking on water, blurting out answers, swinging swords and gardens. But there's this sharp moment later in his life when Peter writes this. In 1st Peter 5, 8, 9, he says, stay alert.
[00:00:52] I love that. 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. Remember that, your faith of believers all over the world. I love that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.
[00:01:15] You see, spiritual warfare isn't just about wild stories or dramatic exorcisms.
[00:01:22] It's everyday stuff.
[00:01:24] The voice in your head. I mean, the pressure to compromise, the weight of regret.
[00:01:29] I mean, just the world's full of ways in which Satan wants to distract you and get your mind off of Christ.
[00:01:37] Peter says this enemy is real. He says he's loud. He says he's hungry and he's patient. He'll wait in the tall grass, watching and waiting for you to stumble, for you to just forget, for you to doubt, for you to be distracted or maybe just be in one of those moods where it just feels like it's you against the world and you find yourself where you're absolutely in trouble. And then he pounces.
[00:02:01] Because Satan likes to pick on us when we're weak. He likes to pick on us when we're vulnerable. But Peter, you know, he didn't always get it right any more than we do. Remember Peter. It was him who told Jesus, I'll never deny you. And then on the night, I mean, he goes out and does it three times.
[00:02:19] The spiritual fight isn't always out there. Sometimes it's right here. Words said in anger, choices made in fear. Moments when you forget who you are. Jesus warned Peter that Satan wanted to shift him like wheat. Jesus didn't pray that Peter wouldn't fail. He prayed that Peter's faith wouldn't fail. This is a big part of spiritual Warfare, y'. All. After Peter's lowest moment, Jesus finds him. Jesus restores him. He reminds him who he is.
[00:02:48] That's the warfare. Refusing to let your worst moment be your last word.
[00:02:52] Letting Jesus voice drown out the roar of accusation, of lies and desperation.
[00:02:59] Peter learned the battle isn't won in your own strength. Standing firm means standing in faith, trusting God more than your feelings, remembering that you belong to a much bigger story.
[00:03:11] The enemy isn't just after individuals. He wants to isolate. He wants to divide. He wants to convince you that you are all alone, man.
[00:03:19] But Peter says, hey, remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are. You're not fighting solo. You're part of a family. You belong.
[00:03:31] But, you know, we put on faces and we put on clothes and we dress up like we got our junk together, but we're all fighting a battle.
[00:03:40] So what if today, instead of being surprised by the fight, we choose to stand not perfectly, not always bravely, but always honestly, saying yes to faith, no to fear, yes to grace, and no to shame? Because at the end of Peter's letter, he gives us this promise in 1st Peter 5:10, he says, in his kindness, God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.
[00:04:18] Friends, spiritual warfare isn't about getting through, just getting through tough times.
[00:04:23] Spiritual warfare isn't just about being tough enough or smart enough.
[00:04:27] It's about being honest enough to say, jesus, I need you, and bold enough to trust that he's stronger than whatever is prowling through the grass, waiting to pounce on you.
[00:04:37] So today, friends, stay alert. Stay. Stand firm. Trust, grace. The battle isn't just about what you face. It's about who's fighting for you, who's never letting you go, who's always leading you home. Friend, that's the battle. You gotta let him fight it. It's the only way we win. Because we know in every instance, he's the winner. And without him, we have no chance of winning. So stand strong.
[00:05:05] Stand in faith. Stand in trust. Watch him do the. Watch him do the work in you, through you, and for you. God bless you, friend. Thanks so much for joining me on today's weekday podcast.
