According to Mirriam-Webster dictionary, the word resist means: 1) to fight against; 2) to try to stop or prevent; 3) to remain strong against the force or effect of; 4) to not be affected or harmed by
In the world of physical exercise, we are encouraged to utilize resistance exercise to increase strength and overall well-being. According to the online site "Fit Day", resistance exercise is ... "any form of exercise that forces your skeletal muscles (not the involuntary muscles of your heart, lungs, etc) to contract. An external resistance (such as heavy weights) is used to cause the contractions, and those contractions lead to increases in muscular mass, strength, endurance and tone."
Resistance.
After encouraging the elders of Christ's Church in the first 4 verses of chapter 5, Peter turned his attention to "all of us" ... all believers. Let's listen ...
Read 1 Peter 5: 5 - 14
I see four areas of resistance in Peter's words.
First, we are to resist our natural bend toward pride. It was pride that led to Satan's fall from heaven. It was pride that lured Eve and Adam to step outside of God's wisdom. At the root of pride is the desire to be God. It is idolatry. That cannot, must not, be our position - ever! So Peter, in wisdom, tells us to "humble ourselves under God's mighty hand." Scripture is filled with instruction and warning about pride. Just a few ...
John 13: 3 - 16: Jesus, Himself, models a servant heart, a servant's behaviors, a servant life for us. And then He tells us to "do as He did". Will you?
Romans 12: 3 "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you."
Romans 12:16 "Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited."
Proverbs 8:13 The writer personifies God and says, "I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech."
Proverbs 16:18 "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall."
A humble spirit knows full well that God is God ... and I am not.
We must resist pride. Deliberately. Moment by moment. Circumstance by circumstance.
Second, we are to resist anxiety. Anxiety eats away at your peace of mind and heart. Anxiety is physically harmful. Anxiety is prevalent in a heart that believes it is in control. Anxiety belies trust in God. Anxiety feels isolated and alone. Peter tells us to "cast our anxiety on God. Why? Because He cares for you!
Proverbs 12:25 "An anxious heart weighs a man down ..." Isn't it the truth!
But how do we do that? How do we "cast our anxiety on God"? Paul tells us how to do what Peter is saying.
Philippians 4:6 - 7 "Do not be anxious about about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition,, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
We must resist anxiety ... trust prayer ... trust God.
Third, Peter tells us to resist careless living. We do that through self-control. No excesses. Not busy-ness, not food, not alcohol, not anything. Remember that self-control is part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit in us. God can and will grow that grace in you. Will you resist so that those 'muscles are strengthened'? Another way we resist living carelessly is by staying alert. We stay in tune with God through His Word ... through prayer ... through awareness of God's life in us and in others.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:12 "Everything is permissible for me - but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me - but I will not be mastered by anything."
We must resist the temptation to live life like a pool ball - just bouncing off every circumstance that hits us. No carelessness - self-controlled and alert.
Last, we are to resist Satan. We do that by refusing to listen to his voice in our head but by listening to the Word of God. We do that by standing firm in our faith ... standing firm in God. Knowing and reminding ourselves of what God has promised. Be alert to the ways you see Satan luring you away from your God.
We must resist Satan ... every day ... in every circumstance.
As we resist, God does some amazing things. Notice the way Peter closes this passage ...
God will ...
restore you (NASB uses the word, 'perfect you')
make you strong
make you firm
make you steadfast
And that, my friends, is a worthy goal! Resist ... so that God, Himself, will strengthen your spiritual muscles in ways we cannot fully grasp or understand. I want to be strong - don't you?
"Resistance is NOT 'futile'!"
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