SATAN STRIKES ONLY WHEN GOD ALLOWS!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY OCTOBER 24, 2021.

SUBJECT : SATAN STRIKES ONLY WHEN GOD ALLOWS!

Memory verse: “Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered Amy servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.” (Job 2 vs 3.)

READ: Job 1 vs 13 - 19:

1:6: Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

1:7: And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the LORD, and said, “From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”

1:8: Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and shuns evil?”

1:9: So Satan answered the LORD, and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing?

1:10: Have you not made a hedge around him, and around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.

1:11: But now, stretch our Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”

12 And the LORD said to Satan, Behold, all that he has is in thy power; only do not lay a hand on his person. So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

INTIMATION:

God is fully aware of Satan’s every attempt to bring adversities on us. The conversation between God and Satan in Job 1 vs 6 - 12 clearly gives us the understanding that Satan also presents himself before God with the mission to incite God against His people. For instance, in Zechariah 3 vs 1 - 2, Satan accused (“opposed”) Joshua the high priest who was before the Lord representing the nation of Israel. His accusations were accurate—Joshua stood in filthy garments (sins of the Israelites). Yet God revealed His mercy, stating that He chose to save His people in spite of their sin. 

Part of Satan’s mission is to accuse us before God and incite Him against us for our sins (Revelation 12 vs 10). But he greatly misunderstands the breadth of God’s mercy and forgiveness toward those who believe in Him. Satan, originally an angel of God, had become corrupt through his own pride, and has been evil since his rebellion against God (First John 3 vs 8). He tries to hinder God’s work in people, but he is limited by God’s power and can do only what he is allowed to do. 

Jesus emphasized Satan’s mission ana limitations when He said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” (Luke 22 vs 31 - 32.) Satan wanted to crush Simon Peter and the other disciples like grains of wheat. Jesus assured Peter of His intervention in prayer, and that his faith, although it would falter, would not be destroyed. God would not allow Satan to afflict him.

Again, from God’s conversation with Satan, we have learned that he is real, active on earth and is accountable to God. All angelic beings, good and evil, are compelled to present themselves before God. God knows Satan’s intents—to kill, to steal, and to destroy, but he cannot do anything without God’s permission. God puts limitations on what Satan can do. God’s people can overcome his attacks through God’s power. Although Satan is a spirit being, he is not omnipresent, he can only be at only one place at a time. His demons aid him in his work; but as a created being, he is limited; he cannot see our minds or foretell the future. If he could, he would have known that Job would not break under pressure.

Although God loves us, believing and obeying Him do not shelter us from life’s calamities. Look at Job, whom God personally testified about, Satan still incited God against him, saying, that Job was blameless and had integrity only because he had no reason to turn against God. Ever since he had started following God everything had gone well for him. Satan wanted to prove that Job worshipped God, not out of love, but because God had given him so much, and if God would take away all the blessings, including his health, that he would deny Him and curse Him to His face. 

God allowed Satan to attack him in an especially harsh manner. Yet Job was a model of trust and obedience to God. Setbacks, tragedies, and sorrows strike Christians and non-Christians alike. But in our tests and trials, God expects us to express our faith in Him to the world. How do you respond to your troubles? Do you ask God, “Why me?” or do you say, “Use me!”? or are you one of the people that would say, “It is not my portion!”

Satan accurately analyzed why many people trust God. They are fair-weather believers, following God only when everything is going well or for what they can get. Adversity destroys the superficial faith. But adversity strengthens real faith by causing believers to dig their roots deeper into God in order to withstand the storms. How dip does your faith go? Put the roots of your faith down dip into God so that you can withstand any storm you may face.

God allows Satan to attack some of His children because He knows the eventual outcome of the attack. He is All-knowing, and cannot be fooled by Satan. The suffering and trials can be a test for His people like Job, and to prove Satan wrong. It is not any surprises to God.

When hit with adversity, we can be astonished and are free to express such emotions. God created our emotions, and it is not sinful or inappropriate to express them. If you have experienced a deep loss, a disappointment, or a heartbreak, admit your feelings to yourself and others, and grieve. But never lose your trust in God. People ought to love God for who He is, not for what He gives.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of resilience, and complete trust in You, in all life’s circumstances, to the glory of Your name, and shame to the devil, in Jesus’ mighty Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!