How Satan Serves God

 How Satan Serves God

Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. (James 5:11) 

Behind all disease and disability is the ultimate will of God. Not that Satan is not involved — he is probably always involved in one way or another with destructive purposes (Acts 10:38). But his power is not decisive. He cannot act without God’s permission.

That is one of the points of Job’s sickness. The text makes it plain that when disease came upon Job, “Satan . . . struck Job with loathsome sores” (Job 2:7). His wife urged him to curse God. But Job said, “Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2:10). And again the inspired author of the book (just as he did in 1:22) commends Job by saying, “In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”

In other words: This is a right view of God’s sovereignty over Satan. Satan is real and may have a hand in our calamities, but not the final hand, and not the decisive hand. 

James makes clear that God had a good purpose in all Job’s afflictions: “You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful” (James 5:11).

So, even though Satan was involved, the ultimate purpose was God’s, and it was “compassionate and merciful.”

This is the same lesson we learn from 2 Corinthians 12:7, where Paul says that his thorn in the flesh was a “messenger of Satan” and yet was given for the purpose of his own holiness — to keep him from becoming conceited. “Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited!”

Now, humility is not Satan’s purpose in this affliction. Therefore, the purpose is God’s. Which means that here Satan is being used by God to accomplish his good purposes in Paul’s life. In fact, for God’s elect children, Satan cannot destroy us, and God turns all his attacks finally against him and for us.

Every day in the God's Word

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 11, 2026.

SUBJECT: OUR CONFESSION IS OUR SOLID FRONT!

Memory verse: "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10 vs 23.) 

READ: Hebrews 4 vs 14 -16; 10 vs 21 - 23:

4:14: Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, Let us hold fast our confession.

4:15: For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weakness, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

4:16: Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

10:22: Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

10:23: Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

INTIMATION:

Most Christians have never realized the vital place that their testimony or confession holds in their daily lives. The steadfastness of our faith in Christ is anchored on our persistent, intelligent confession of what we are in Him, which consists the solid front we put before the Adversary. The continual confession of the solidity of our faith in Christ is the bane of Satan, and his cohorts. 

For even Satan knows that God is ever faithful to His promises. In Revelation 12 vs 11, the Scripture says, "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony...." Christ has already finished the work for us in redemption. Ours is to believe in our hearts the finished work and confess with our mouth our rich heritage in Him, and the confession is our solid front against the adversary.

We believers should anchor our absolute faith in Christ just as the apostle Paul advised the believers in Philippi, and daily confessing and testifying of the steadfastness of our faith in Him. The apostle Paul told the believers in Philippi that their conduct would be worthy of the gospel of Christ, ensuring that they, at all times, are expressly demonstrating in their conduct, their trust and confidence in Christ. (Philippians 1 vs 27.) 

Also, knowing the efficacy the believers’ confession of their steadfastness of faith in Christ, the apostle Paul rejoiced with the believers in Colosse, saying, "For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and steadfastness of your faith in Christ.” (Colossians 2 vs 5.) He was thrilled by the faith of the believers in Colosse, their absolute trust and confidence in Christ.

Now, the 'new man,’ (the beliver) with the recreated spirit, knows that every Word of God is pure, purified, proven, and is a shield to all who trust in Him. In realization of this fact, it is very vital that we hold fast to our confessions of faith in Him and His Word. Many believers repudiate their prayer by the confession of doubt or admission of doubt into their consciousness. Therefore, when we have prayed, we should never go back on our prayers with counter confession, but rather we should be steadfast in our faith, confessing the same faith we started with in prayers. 

Our complete trust, and hope should be in the Word of God without any iota of doubt. The heart must be rooted and grounded in the Word so that what He says is final with us. And we would continually be confessing the words as it’s written: "So shall My Word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55 vs 11.) Satan knows that God never goes back on His promises, and whenever believers put Him in remembrance of His Word, when it they bring it before Him with strong reasons, He is under obligation to perform His Word—His Word is His Will.

You have prayed and spoken His Word, continual confession, and holding fast to those confessions of faith is the solid front put before Satan that he can never overwhelm. Knowing this fact, you stand firmly by your confession in prayer, not letting the enemy steal it away from you. It is obvious he will come with his lies, and we know he is the father of lies (John 8 vs 44.), but resist him and he will flee from you (James 4 vs 7).

Prayer: Abba Father, my absolute trust and confidence is in You, and Your Word. Give me the grace to continually confess my steadfast faith in You and Your Word in all circumstances, in Jesus’ Name I prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

We Are His House

 We Are His House

Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses — as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. (Hebrews 3:3–6) 

The people who boast and hope in Jesus Christ are the house of God. Which means that Jesus this very day — not just back in Moses’s day or in his own days on earth — but this very day is our Maker, our Owner, our Ruler, and our Provider. 

Jesus is called the “builder” of this house. Moses was not the builder. He was part of the house. So it says, “Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses — as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself.” So Moses, as great as he was in leading the house, and giving God’s word to the house, was still just a part of the house. But Jesus built the house. 

So if we boast in Jesus and hope in Jesus, we are the house, and Jesus is our Builder, and Owner and Ruler and Provider. He does not let his house be destroyed or fall into ruin.

Then the writer changes the imagery — from builder and house, to son and servant. “Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant . . . but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son.” So Christ did become part of the house — part of the household — he built. But even so, his honor is far above Moses. Moses was a servant. Christ is the Son. The heir. 

And we are part of this household. Hebrews 3:6: “And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.” By all means, let us respect and give Moses his due. But the point of the whole book of Hebrews is: Christ is greater. Greater in every way. He is the builder of the house of God’s people. And he is the Son in the house of God’s people. Let us respect Moses. But let us worship Jesus — our Maker, our brother.

Every day in the God's Word

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 10, 2026.

SUBJECT: THE CHRISTIAN GROWTH PROCESS!

Memory verse: "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1 vs 6.)

READ: Mark 4 vs 26 - 29: 

4:26: And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground,

4:27: and should sleep by night and rise up by day, and the seed should spout and grow, he himself does not know how.

4:28: For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head.

4:29: But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.

INTIMATION:

Christian growth and maturity is a lifelong process. This process began when we accepted Christ, and continues until He returns. The God who began a good work in us continues it throughout our lifetime and will finish it when we meet Christ face to face. Although we have a new nature, we don’t automatically think all good thoughts and have all pure attitudes when we become new people in Christ. But if we keep listening to God, we will be changing all the times. As you look over the year before, you will observe some changes for the better in your thoughts and attitudes. Change may be slow, but your life will change significantly if you trust God to change you.

God’s work for us began when Christ died on the cross in our place. His work in us began when we first believed. Now, the Holy Spirit lives in us, enabling us to be more like Christ every day. God has not left us alone in our struggles to do His Will. He reaches down to us and asks for our response. He wants to come alongside us and be within us to help. God gives us the desire and the power to do what pleases Him (Philippians 2 vs 13). The secret to a changed life is to submit to God’s control and let Him work in us. 

Life in Christ here on earth is never complete. Heaven promises completeness; until then, growth is the normal pattern. Growth often endures seasons of drought and drabness. The key to growth includes daily devotion to Christ through Bible study and prayers. Perhaps you need to intensify your study and find helps that provide more substance. Perhaps you need to grow by engaging in new areas of service that express your faith. Seek God for how He would have you keep growing in your faith. Think about what you are doing that might be spiritually ineffective or obsolete. 

We often expect quick changes in our lives and quick victories over sin. However, our journey with God is a lifelong process, and the changes and victories may take time. It is easy to grow impatient with God and feel like giving up hope because things are moving too slowly. You may sometimes feel as though you aren’t making progress in your spiritual life. 

It’s noteworthy that when God starts a project, He completes it! God will help you grow in grace until He has completed His work in your life. Although when we are close to a situation, it is difficult to see progress. But when we look back, we can see that God never stopped working.

Christians have entered into a covenant with God through Jesus Christ and should be responsive to what God expects in a growing relationship with Him. God’s followers should learn and understand His Word, accept and absorb them, and put them into practice. Many spiritual functions parallel physical functions. As our bodies hunger and thirst, so do our souls. The living Word, Jesus Christ, and the written Word, the Bible, can satisfy our hungry and thirsty souls. 

Have you made spiritual progress lately? Recording your thoughts about God and lessons you have learned over a period of time can be a valuable aid to spiritual growth. A record of your spiritual pilgrimage will let you check up on your progress and avoid repeating past mistakes. 

No one is competent to carry out the responsibilities of God’s calling in his or her own strength. Without the Holy Spirit’s enablement, our natural talent can carry us only a bit far. We need the character and special strength that only God gives.

When you are discouraged, remember that God won’t give up on you. He promises to finish the work He has begun. When we feel incomplete, unfinished, or distressed by our shortcomings, remember God’s promise and provision. Don’t let your present condition rob you of the joy of knowing Christ or keep you from growing closer to Him. 

All who believe in the Lord Jesus will be considered blameless when Christ returns. Today’s struggles, difficulties, and failures don’t tell the whole story. Keep the big picture in mind. If you have faith in Christ, even if it is weak, you are saved.

Prayer: Abba Father, let Your abundant grace and fellowship of the Holy Spirit abide with me all through my spiritual growth process, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Wipe Your Fears Away

 Wipe Your Fears Away

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. (Psalm 56:3)

One possible response to the truth that our anxiety is rooted in unbelief goes like this: “I have to deal with feelings of anxiety almost every day; and so I feel like my faith in God’s grace must be totally inadequate. So I wonder if I can have any assurance of being saved at all.”

My response to this concern is: Suppose you are in a car race and your enemy, who doesn’t want you to finish the race, throws mud on your windshield. The fact that you temporarily lose sight of your goal and start to swerve does not mean that you are going to quit the race.

And it certainly doesn’t mean that you are on the wrong racetrack. Otherwise, your competitor — your adversary — wouldn’t bother you at all. What it means is that you should turn on your windshield wipers.

When anxiety strikes and blurs our vision of God’s glory and the greatness of the future that he plans for us, this does not mean that we are faithless, or that we will not make it to heaven. It means our faith is being attacked.

At first blow, our belief in God’s promises may sputter and swerve. But whether we stay on track and make it to the finish line depends on whether, by grace, we set in motion a process of resistance — whether we fight back against the unbelief of anxiety. Will we turn on the windshield wipers?

Psalm 56:3 says, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”

Notice: it does not say, “I never struggle with fear.” Fear strikes, and the battle begins. So the Bible does not assume that true believers will have no anxieties. Instead, the Bible tells us how to fight when they strike. It tells us how to turn on the windshield wipers.

Marveling at the End of History

 Marveling at the End of History

[God will] grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed. (2 Thessalonians 1:7–10) 

When Jesus returns to this earth, which he has promised to do, those who have not believed the gospel, Paul says, “will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.” This is a terrible prospect that should terrify all unbelievers who hear this truth.

And oh, how it should sober us who do believe and fill us with seriousness about what is at stake in this world. Oh, how it should cause compassion to rise in our hearts for those who do not believe, or do not even know, the gospel.

But to sustain us in all our afflictions here Paul gives us two amazing words of encouragement and hope. “[God will] grant relief to you who are afflicted.” If we experience a terrible intensification of affliction near the end of history, God’s word is: Hold fast: relief is on the way. Your afflictions will not have the last word. And your seemingly powerful adversaries will regret the day they touched the Lord’s people.

But then comes the best word of encouragement and hope. Not only will we get relief when the Lord comes, but we will get the greatest experience that we were created for in the first place: We will see his glory, and marvel at it in such a way that he will be glorified in us for all the world to see. 

Verse 10: “He comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed.” We were made to marvel. Nothing and no one is more marvelous than the crucified, risen, returning King of glory, Jesus Christ. He will attain the destiny of his glory, and we will attain the destiny of our joy as we begin the perfect, sinless, never-ending marveling at the greatest marvel.

We Honor What We Enjoy

 We Honor What We Enjoy

“If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; then you shall take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth.” (Isaiah 58:13–14)

It is possible to pursue God without glorifying God. If we want our quest to honor God, we must pursue him for the joy of fellowship with him.

Consider the Sabbath as an illustration of this. The Lord rebukes his people for seeking their own pleasure on his holy day. “Turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day.” But what does he mean? Does he mean that we should not seek our joy on the Lord’s Day? No, because the next thing he says is, “Call the Sabbath a delight.” And in verse 14, “You shall take delight in the Lord.” So what he is criticizing is that they are delighting in their own business on the Sabbath rather than delighting in the beauty of their God and the rest and holiness that this day stands for. 

He’s not rebuking their hedonism. He’s rebuking the weakness of it. As C. S. Lewis said, “We are far too easily pleased.” They have settled for secular interests and thus honor them above the Lord.

Notice that calling the Sabbath “a delight” is parallel to calling the holy day of the Lord “honorable.” “If you . . . call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord honorable . . .” This simply means you honor what you delight in. Or you glorify what you enjoy. 

The enjoyment of God and the glorification of God are one. His eternal purpose and our eternal pleasure unite in one experience of worship. This is what the Lord’s Day is for. Indeed, this is what all of life is for.