When We Don't Understand What God Is Doing Or Why His Ways Can Seem Perplexing. The Times When Ungodly People Seem To Triumph Over The Righteous Make Us Scratch Our Heads And Wonder Why The Lord Doesn't Intervene. But The Truth Is, He Often Uses The Wicked To Accomplish His Purpose. The Wicked May Triumph For A Season, But The Final, Eternal Victory Belongs To Christ And His Righteous Followers.
Joseph faced one hard-hearted individual after another during his years in exile. His brothers shipped him off to Egypt. His boss's wife accused him of an unspeakable crime. And even those he helped, like Pharaoh's cupbearer, forgot about him (Gen. 40:23). The actions (or seeming inactions) of God make little sense at this point.
But once the story of Joseph's life was written in full, it was clear that everyone who harmed or neglected the young man contributed to God's plan. The Lord used numerous people across several years to bring a humbled young Hebrew unexpectedly to power at the right moment to spare his family--who was the Messiah's ancestors--from the effects of famine.
In our circumstances, we can see God's actions only from the limited vantage point of our humanness. We experience the events He has allowed or caused but can't discern what He is thinking. So often, the Lord's goals and purposes are hidden from us until His plans come to fruition.
God is sovereign over all the earth. We may wonder at the strange or even terrifying turns our lives take, but we can be confident that He is in control and at work.
Whether we like it or not, every Christian must come to terms with the fact that there is a real enemy. Known by many names, including Satan, Lucifer, Beelzebub, and the devil, he clarifies from his first encounter with humanity in Genesis 3 that he has nothing but malicious intent for God's creation. So much so that Jesus says this regarding his character, "He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his character, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:44)
In other words, there is no truth, no good, no love, and no hope that can come from the devil. When we allow the words of the enemy to have power in our lives, we agree with things that directly oppose God's Word. He desires to "kill, steal, and destroy" anything that brings God glory, including bringing destruction to humankind themselves.
Here are six things Satan wants more than anything else:
1. To Make You Doubt God's Word
Satan shows his greatest trick during the first encounter with mankind in Genesis 3.
"Now the serpent was craftier than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, 'Did God say, "You[a] shall not eat of any tree in the garden"?' The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'" "You will not certainly die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat from it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
Yes! Since the beginning of time, Satan has been convincing people to doubt God's Word. To this day, the enemy has convinced people to question the inerrancy of the Bible and even the promises listed in His Word. Many have become skeptics and spend more time proving God wrong than accepting God's love for them. By doubting even one Word of what God has spoken, we start to second guess all other things that have been said and that will be said. Just like faith can move mountains, one seed of doubt can spread like an infection across entire families, causing many to stumble, just like we see in the Garden of Eden. Above all else, we must remember that God does not lie.
"God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?" (Number 23:19)
2. To Paralyze You with Fear
Fear is another tactic of the enemy. If our lives have become riddled with fear, we will find that we are consumed with the "what ifs." Life becomes focused on what we can and cannot control versus putting complete faith in God. Fear will keep us from taking a step of faith into a new career, praying for a friend who may reject us, and even being able to rest. God does not give us fear. Instead, His Word brings peace, wisdom, love, and a sound mind.
"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love." (1 John 14:18)
3. To Silence You from Sharing the Gospel
A Christian who hoards the Gospel to themselves is ineffective. One of our primary roles as followers of Christ is to make more followers of Christ. Matthew 28:19 would deem it to be our most extraordinary mission. Yet, one trick of the enemy is to silence Christians. We see this in modern social media as many Christians feel nervous about sharing God's Word for fear of being virtually attacked or not wanting to be associated with the "church."
We can see how many Christians prefer to worship quietly not to cause anyone to be offended. Yet, followers of Christ should take every moment they can to spread the Gospel. When we shrink back from doing so, the enemy wins! If we aren't an influencer for Christ, the enemy will undoubtedly find opportunities to influence those around us. Let us no longer be ashamed to share the Gospel by any means necessary.
"For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and the Gentile." (Romans 1:16)
4. To Cause You to Live in Shame
Reminding you of your past indiscretions or current insecurities is another scheme of the enemy. If the enemy can convince you that your past has disqualified you from receiving God's love or grace, you will never come to accept the Word of God fully. In this manner, you will remain defeated and frustrated, only receiving some of God's Word. Shame keeps our eyes focused on ourselves, reminding us repeatedly of what we did wrong or how we don't measure up.
Truthfully, the enemy has no issue reminding you of these things and making you feel like you aren't worthy to worship God, do something that He has called you to do, or receive His promises. Even more so, this shame will keep you from praying to God and even sharing the Gospel with others. If the enemy can keep you in self-pity, you will never walk in God's peace. Remember, we are not a sum of our past behaviors. Instead, when we choose to turn away from sinful desires and walk towards God's love, He will show us how to live a life that is rewarding and where we can be free from condemnation.
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8:1)
5. For You to Worship an Idol
An idol can be anything that we place before the Lord. This was clear to see in the Old Testament as they worshipped literal objects. Although most Christians don't have a golden calf or statue of Jesus that they praise, there are still many idols that have taken their place in our hearts.
From worshipping our favorite celebrity, spending hours on social media, and living a life that is highly focused on self, we can make anything an idol. This enemy trick is much cleverer as it may not be realized right away. We can spend years worshipping things that seem good on the outside but suddenly become obsessed with where "it" becomes our primary focus in life. Thus, what started as a positive thing, such as going to the gym daily, going on vacations, making money, or finding a spouse, can become our primary source of hope and happiness.
Before long, we can start to look to those things more than we look to God. This can be dangerous, as when these things fade, we are left with a sense of hopelessness. Although God wants us to have good things, we can never worship them more than the one who gives them to us. Therefore, we must be willing to lay down whatever the Lord leads us to if it is standing in the way of a life that is submitted to the Lord.
"You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments." (Exodus 20:3-6)
6. For You to Be Deceived
It has never been more important for Christians to stand on the Word of God. But unfortunately, in today's culture, we see so many accommodating the Word to fit their lifestyle instead of adapting it to match the Word. This form of trickery is Satan's attempt to make Christians pick and choose which aspects of the Bible make them feel good.
Instead of seeking a life that follows the Spirit, we look to our flesh and concept of morality to find the truth. In many ways, we become like Eve, who only wants to accept portions of God's Word but prefers our will over His. The truth is, if the enemy can keep Christians lukewarm and hypocritical in their faith, he can cause many not to want to follow the Lord.
We must remember that Satan will do anything to confuse, including using Christians with so many different beliefs that it appears to be dozens of other religions mixed into one. We must know that anything we believe that contradicts the Word of God is simply another ploy of the enemy. Let us not give the enemy any more power over our minds and action and walk fully in God's Word.
"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their passions and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths." (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
Why Does Satan Hate You? Will you be Loyal to God or Satan?
Satan failed in his rebellion, but he remains in the office God gave him. So how is the right to Rule won between God & Satan? Many think it is by power, but it is not; there is one thing that we fail at, and Satan knows this.
The devil fights with lies, and sometimes his lies sound like truth, but only believers have God's truth, which can defeat the devil's lies. The devil often attacks the heart-the seat of our emotions, self-worth, and trust. God's righteousness is the body armor that protects our hearts and ensures his approval. He approves of us because he loves us sent his Son to die for us.
The devil wants us to think that telling others the Good News is a worthless and hopeless task- the size of the job is too big, and the negative responses are too much to handle. But the shoes God gives us are the motivation to continue proclaiming the true peace that is available in God-news everyone needs to hear.
We see the devil's attacks in the form of insults, setbacks, and temptations. But the shield of faith protects us from the devil's fiery arrow. We can see beyond our circumstances and know that ultimate victory is ours with God's perspective. The devil wants to make us doubt God, Jesus, and our salvation. The helmet protects our minds from doubting God's saving work for us.
The sword is the only weapon of offense in this list of armor. However, there are times when we need to take the offensive against the devil. When we are tempted, we need to trust in the truth of God's Word.
We become so engrossed in what we see, feel, and hear that we operate within our natural senses rather than our spiritual ones! However, the Bible instructs us: "THROUGH YOUR FAITH, God is protecting you by His power" (1 Peter 1:5 NLT). Therefore, you need to keep in mind that your "FAITH" is what activates the Power of God!
Look at it this way: Before a stone becomes a diamond, it's just carbon put under tons of pressure! This helps us understand better what the Bible means when it says, "These TRIALS will show that your FAITH is genuine" (vs. 7 NLT).
The truth is, you don't know much about your faith when your bills are paid, your body is healthy, your children are acting right, and your marriage is intact! But, WHEN ALL HELL IS BREAKING LOOSE AND YOU TRUST GOD TO BRING YOU THROUGH IT, YOU KNOW YOU'VE GOT GENUINE FAITH!
You see, I've learned from personal experience when you get DESPERATE enough, you won't care who God uses to fuel your faith; you'll be willing to receive any help He sends your way! Just ask Naaman! Naaman the leper, a five-star general in the Syrian army, humbled himself and eventually became willing to listen to a girl who washed dishes and made beds in his house! Naaman was even ready to finally dip seven times in the dirtiest river around, to come up clean (2 Kings 5:1-19). So, WHY LIVE WITH A DISEASE WHEN YOU CAN BELIEVE GOD, TRUST WHAT HE SAYS, AND PUT YOUR FAITH TO WORK?!
Luke records: "As He passed through Samaria there met Him ten lepers, who lifted their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" So, when He saw them, He said…' Go show yourselves to the priests.' And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed" (vs. 11-14 NKJV). Lepers were social outcasts, So They Lived Together In A Colony! But The Problem Is, You Can't Get Well Hanging Around People Who Are Just As Messed Up As You Are! That's why you need to bring the problem to JESUS! Notice the words, "He Passed Through"…Jesus didn't go to the leper colony. He was passing through. What do you do when you're losing your life, your family, your joy, your finances, etc., and Jesus doesn't even seem to be looking in your direction? You can get frustrated when it feels like He's blessing everybody, but you and wonder, "Lord, when is my turn coming? I've served You faithfully, yet it seems like everybody else is the object of Your attention."
Right There, It's Time To Cry Out, "Jesus, Have Mercy On Me!" Desperate People Pray Desperate Prayers, And God Responds! Listen: When You're In A Bad Situation, Sometimes You Have To Break Out To Break-Through!
You've got to do what David did "I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill" (Psalm 3:4 NKJV). Desperate People Are A Determined People! And When You Have Nothing Else To Lose, You Go All The Way In!
Let's look again at the ten lepers Jesus healed. In the Final Stages of their disease, The Flesh Began Dropping Off Their Bodies! But notice, Jesus didn't lay hands on them or pray for them. He didn't even address their leprosy. How odd. To some of us, it might even seem ridiculous. But Often, Before God, Does The Miraculous, Sometimes He'll Ask You To Do The Ridiculous!
Indeed, when He tells you to do something, it may not seem like it's even related to what you're praying about at all. When that happens, you have a decision to make doubt Him or obey Him! My Suggestion: Instead of discussing the issue endlessly, DO WHAT HE'S TOLD YOU TO DO!
Genuine Faith In Action Needs No Explanation To Act!
We see the devil's attacks in the form of insults, setbacks, and temptations. But the shield of faith protects us from the devil's fiery arrow. We can see beyond our circumstances and know that ultimate victory is ours with God's perspective. The devil wants to make us doubt God, Jesus, and our salvation. The helmet protects our minds from examining God's saving work for us. The sword is the only weapon of offense in this list of armor. There are times when we need to take the offensive against the devil. When we are tempted, we need to trust in the truth of God's Word.
Why does Satan hate you? Answer: You are forgiven; he is not. You will one day forget your fallen state; he is doomed to his fallen state forever. Psalms 85:2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah. Ezekiel 18:21. But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he has committed, keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 22 All the transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done, he shall live.
Satan was created. This sets to rest several in-church urban legends. Satan is not omniscient, knowing all things, like God himself. Created beings do not have the ability to know things that are not revealed to them by some outside source. God is a self-contained source, so He knows all. This means that Satan does not know what you are thinking. God has reserved that for Himself:
"The Enemy Uses These Three Things, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, to entice us to sin." Scripture shows this process at work in both the Garden of Eden and on the Mount of Temptation. 1 Peter 5:8 be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walking about, seeking whom he may devour:
How can Satan harm you? Satan can devour people. The Fellowship Between Satan and Humans Is Never Based On Love, Constructive Activity, Or On Redemptive Actions. It is all about hate, lust, and murder. He is the great devourer: Satan operates through humans in the flesh and the flesh. The five senses, taste, touch, smell, hearing, and seeing, all report to the carnal mind – which is the enemy of God. These senses are what Satan uses to tempt us! The lust of the flesh includes tasting, touching, smelling, and hearing. The lust of the eyes is seeing.
The pride of life is thinking you are unique because of who you are, what you have, what you know, or what you look like. It is all effortless. Satan cannot have his office in heaven back, and he cannot stop Jesus from doing His work: Matthew 16:18 And I also say unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. So, all Satan has left to do is destroy people by tying them up so well in sin that they cannot reason and understand the Gospel. Then, if he loses someone to Christ, he attacks them to destroy their Christian victory.
So, why does Satan hate you? Answer: You know more than he does regarding the more profound things of the Lord and his work. John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abides in you, and ye need not that any man teaches you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. Therefore, Satan will never again be with the Lord, but you will.
Satan hates it that mortal beings like you can be forgiven (he cannot) and be like God in some way that we do not fully understand.
1 Pet. 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. This was spoken to Christians! Unfortunately, our enemy also masquerades as an angel of light. We need to be aware that the enemy is deceitful and can work through people who act as though they follow Christ. It looks like they are, but by their false prophecies, preaching of a different gospel to all outward appearances. We can discover that they are really demonized false apostles by the fruit of their actions.
God will never leave us wanting; He will fulfill every need. Satan can touch your POSSESSIONS, but he can't take your PROMISE! There is NOTHING Satan can do for us.
Blessings
J.P. Olson
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