Giving Satan His Due
Posted by:
Bible Blogger on
February 20, 2007 at
3:05PM EST
A lot of Christians I know don't even like to talk about Satan much yet
give him any credit for anything. They spew the stock Christian
response that God allows everything to happen and Satan's just doing
what he does because God wants it happening that way. They refuse to
acknowledge that Satan is real, that he's a being and that he has the
ability to think and impliment schemes and attacks.
I can understand their desire not to give Satan credit because you
certainly don't want to hold him up as some kind of leader you wish to
follow. Still, he has his minions and they follow him with the
devotion that you only see matched by the angels following the Lord.
Even we as Christians don't follow our leader (Christ) as completely as
the demons follow Satan. It's an army, it's organized, it's creative
and they will stop at nothing to destroy that which is God's.
Consider these passages (emphasis added by me):
"Do not deprive one another,
except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote
yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may
not tempt you because of your lack of self-control." - 1 Corinthians 7:5 (ESV)
"10Anyone whom you forgive, I
also forgive. What I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has
been for your sake in the presence of Christ, 11so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs." - 2 Corinthians 2:10-11 (ESV)
"18because we wanted to come to you--I, Paul, again and again--but Satan hindered us."- 1 Thessalonians 2:18 (ESV)
Look at the ways the word of God itself gives credit to Satan for his
ability to draw believers away from the faith and to keep those who do
not believe in their ignorance of the truth of Jesus Christ. Satan is
smart and powerful (although not as smart or powerful as God.) He
knows our weaknesses like a lack of self-control and he is likely
smarter than many of us and could outwit us very easily if we aren't
relying on our Lord.
Look at how even Paul...the great Paul...was hindered by Satan. Here
is someone who is one of the greatest leaders in the history of
Christianity and he still would fall prey to the schemes of Satan.
Now...Satan never beat him...but that doesn't mean he didn't delay or
cause alterations in plans. I'm sure Paul didn't want to die when he
died because there were many more people to reach with the gospel but
Paul also knew when the time came that Satan lined up enough of his
followers to kill Paul that his death would be Christ's gain.
My friends PLEASE do not underestimate Satan and his followers. Do not
sit around thinking that he's not going to come after you or he's not
going to put someone or something in your way that's going to cause you
to stumble or stray from God's will.
Let me give you a few examples of how subtle the attacks can be upon you.
Let's say you're someone who's doing all you can to lose weight and to
get into shape. After all, your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit
and we should take care of it via exercise and eating right. Sure, the
occassional chocolate bar or Quarter Pounder isn't going to kill you
but if you live on it you'll end overweight with serious health
problems.
Satan would come at you by keeping you too busy to eat good and regular
meals. He would get your life so hectic with work and school and kids
and even church that you never have time to relax and make a nice salad
and eat it slowly. It'll always be drive-thru on the way to the next
event. Suddenly you're twenty pounds heavier and you can't see to
break the habits of eating out. That temptation has pulled you astray.
Perhaps you're someone who's very lonely because you haven't found the
person God has for you. You've prayed for God to bring them to you and
you watch and wait for them to come into your life and give you the
happiness and fulfillment that can come from a solid, loving,
Christ-centered marriage. You've been vigiliant and you haven't given
in an inch so far but the days turn into months and then into years.
Suddenly you find yourself in a situation where a Godly man or woman is
right in front of you. They're great people. They love the Lord and
they have things in common with you. Not a lot but some. You don't
feel the "spark" and you don't really feel like they are "the one" for
you but you're lonely. It sure would be nice to have a
boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife. Then you wouldn't be the fifth
wheel when you're out with friends and family members who are married.
So you give in and you start settling for someone who you know isn't
"the one" God has planned for you. In the end, you may even have a
good relationship or a good marriage but it still won't be what you
were hoping it would end up to be. Satan put just enough of a
temptation in front of you that you stopped trusting God and waiting on
Him and did it yourself.
So beware my brothers and sisters. Satan's good at what he does and
it's a mistake not to give him his due for the ability he has in the
area of tempting us into sin and away from our Lord.
(1) Comments
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Posted by: Lucion on January 18, 2008 10:08PM EST
Nice article, we do need to beaware of Satan's devices and trust God at all times.
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