Share
anglican devotional

The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 17 August 2025: The Restless Enemy

Click HERE to Read Previous MESSAGES

TOPIC: The Restless Enemy

READ: 1 Peter 5:1-11 (NKJV)

  1. The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:
  2. Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
  3. nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;
  4. and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
  5. Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to [your] elders. Yes, all of [you] be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
  6. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
  7. casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
  8. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
  9. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
  10. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle [you.]
  11. To Him [be] the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

THE MESSAGE:

In our text today, Apostle Peter, knowing the weight of the responsibility upon the elders of the Church in providing spiritual nourishment for the flock, and protecting them from the activities of false teachers, advises them to do so with the mind of Christ, without minding personal gain. He encouraged them with the hope of the crown of glory that will be given at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. Although they might have their individual needs, he reminded them of the care of God to which they have been privileged. He however warned that we have a restless enemy positioned against us, so we need to be sober, vigilant, and careful. This is like putting the armed forces of a nation at high alert for eventual response to any activity of an enemy-nation.

We must pay attention to Peter’s description of the devil here as a restless enemy filled with evil intentions against God’s people. This means that we must not become careless since our enemy does not rest. We must watch every activity around us and be discerning so we can resist the enemy. We must also tarry in prayers and study of God’s word for these are the weapons provided for our victory.

PRAYER: Teach me, Lord, to be sober and discerning over my life, Amen!

Share