We are full into orientation and settling into our schedule. This week, the president of IMB Jerry Rankin is speaking to us about spiritual warfare. We've heard some on this, and I believe in it, but being exposed to how we actually are attacked by the enemy has opened my eyes to why Satan does what he does, and how he does it. Satan attacks us in very subtle ways, ways that we think are our own sinful nature. He does it not to rob us of our salvation, because he cannot do that. We cannot be snatched out of the hand of our Heavenly Father, ever. But I learned that he also does not do the things he does because he wants us to suffer. Satan attacks us because he does not want us to glorify God. He wants to glorify himself and rob God of His due glory. So when we as believers choose to sin, or not do quiet time, do things that ruin our witness as Christ Followers, this robs God of His glory, and the enemy delights in this.
We are to understand that Satan is merely a fallen angel, and an angel is a messenger. He is not on par with the Holy Spirit. He speaks to our minds and lies to us. The lie that tells us to stay in bed another 30 minutes rather than get up and talk to God and have quiet time on a regular basis. The enemy tells us that it's OK to laugh at the jokes of our co-workers, or tell a little lie, or just take little supplies from the office. We need to be alert and conscious of Satan's schemes, and realize that he is a defeated foe! Jesus has won the victory already!
Now on the other hand, we can be completely obsessed with Satan and how he is working to try to defeat God through us, and that is unhealthy. God's word does tell us to be vigilant and alert:
Ephesians 6:10-12 says be strong and put on the full armor of God.
1 Peter 5:8-9 says be firm against the prowling lion.
Ephesians 6:16 says take up the shield of faith against the flaming arrows of the evil one.
James 4:7 says resist the devil and submit to God.
(the above are not direct quotes but my quick interpretations)
It seems pretty obvious that we are to pay attention and be alert to what the evil one is doing, and he does it in quiet ways to destroy our witness and keep us from bringing God glory. Satan cannot take us away if we are already saved, but he surely can ruin our witness and keep us from bringing more lost souls into the kingdom through his lies and deceit.
In a few months, I will be taking my family into a dark and lost land. The devil has made South Asia one of his many homes on earth where Jesus is not known, and Satan has control of over a billion people. Please pray for us that we stay strong in the Lord, and rely on His word to bring glory to Him where we are going. Pray for protection from the evil one, for hearts to turn to the Father and away from the evil that has been lying to generations of families for thousands of years.
7 comments:
Great Stuff SAM. I am interested in what you learned about "But I learned that he also does not do the things he does because he wants us to suffer." This is a new idea for me. Where was this idea gleaned from?
Though I am sure you are aware, but I feel lead to say, the enemy does all that you said, but he does so much more too, he tries to get us to trade our desire and obligation for holiness as believers who want to be like Christ and trade it for a mediocre form of Christianity. He does this by getting us to entertain ourselves with foolishness and ungodly forms of T.V, Music, Video Game, books and the like. I never really knew how bad the things I watched and listened to were, until I took a simple enough challenge, "watch no television, listen to no music, read no book unless it Glorifies God, unless it edifies you in the ways of the Lord, for one month. My friend and brother at the end of that month I was a changed man and my eyes were opened wide to the reality that 99.99% of the media is godless. We pray that you will stay focused not so much on the people and their plight but on why you are going, I heard an old man recount his missionary journey to Africa, he said "he went with the intention to bring a knowledge of God to these poor lost people but when he got there he soon realized they knew a lot about God, but did not want Him, the loved their sin and were bound and determined to stay in it, it was then that he went back to His tent and fell on his knees and began to argue with God about the purpose of his journey to this people and soon God revealed to him that God had not sent him there so much for this people but that for His Glory, so that Christ might have the Glory of His suffering." I hope you and the family know you have our prayers and that we are so proud of you all for submitting to God in every area of your lives and living that submission out before us all, may God receive much Glory from your obedience.
In Christ
Steve
Darrell,
Dr. Jerry Rankin has been teaching us and will the rest of the week on spiritual warfare. He re-stated again today, that Satan does not care about us, that we are only pawns for him to use to keep God from getting glory. I'm sure Satan does delight some in our failure, but he delights much more in our failure to glorify God. It is a new idea for me as well, but we think too much of ourselves that we must think that Satan does tempts us and lies to us to bring US down. He is getting back at God. Brother, I feel that I am on spiritual retreat and will be shown much more by the Holy Spirit through all who speak here. I only hope to pass some of the knowledge I learn here. Please keep asking questions if I am not clear in my posts. Thanks.
Steve,
Thanks for the encouraging words. I have been talking today about TV and how I have been so bound by it my whole life. And now being here, I do not miss it a bit, neither do the kids. All we are thinking now is how to draw nearer to the Father to equip us further for going overseas. Getting as much information from our speakers as possible and equipping ourselves with tools and weapons to help us on the field. Thanks again, and join with us in mobilizing our church back home by encouraging those who may have the question whether or not they can obey a call from God to the ministry or to the mission field.
I am praying for you guys. We love you and we are asking the Lord to give you strength and wisdom.
Thanks Kyle for your prayers and leadership that helped us to get to this point in our obedience with God.
Wow. You know you are right SAM. Satan does want us to suffer and to rob God of His glory. This is good stuff. Know that there are many people praying for you on this end. I know for a fact of 30 ladies who pray for you daily.
Thanks Debbie. Let them know that we definitely covet their prayers!
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