Is the devil really our problem?
1Tim 4:1-6 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. 6 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. (NKJ)
There is a subculture coming out and rapidly becoming mainstream that is anti-everything…anti-American, anti-constitution, anti-authority, anti-structure and order, anti-marriage, anti-family, etc.
72,000,000 children are under 18 and 33% of them with go to bed in a home without a biological father. 40% of 1st marriages end in divorce affecting 1,000,000 children each year. 33% of all children are born out of wedlock. 24,000,000 children don’t live with their biological fathers. 50% of all children living in a broken home have not seen their father in over a year. Children coming from fatherless homes are 5 times more likely to live in poverty, have emotional problems, and repeat a grade.
Sociology and psychology offer various solutions much like pills, salves, surgery, and medicines treat symptoms and consequences but seldom do they treat the problem. Systemic problems require systemic solutions. The root problem is that men have not been properly discipled in the home and in the church.
2Tim 3:1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
I. the devil made me do it?
We would like to attribute these problems to some demonic attack and cause outside of ourselves and they certainly have their place in such things. But to view ourselves as some innocent victim in these things is to abdicate any responsibility for their existence.
A. a medical look at social ills
Several respected professionals in the mental health profession have suggested that well over 90% of “mental sickness” is really a result of sin that has not been properly dealt with over a period of time.
Even the well known O. Hobart Mowrer, who was a humanistic psychologist and author, made some startling statements in this regard. He opposed the “Medical Model” for counseling, stating that it removed responsibility from the individual.
For example: since a person cannot be considered blameworthy for catching the flu, his family treats him with sympathetic understanding, and others make allowance for him. This is because they know that he can’t help his sickness. He was invaded from without. It was not his fault. He must rely on experts from the outside to help him get well. Following this logic, many psychologists search into the past to find others (parents, the church, society, friends, school, grandparents) on whom to place the blame.
We saw this emerge in the 1970’s when society began to refer to alcoholism as a “sickness” rather than holding people personally responsible for their drinking problems.
Mowrer once said that “the Bible would be fine if the vertical dimension could be removed from it.” Even this non-Christian could see through the “blame someone else” mess that our society has gotten itself into. He suggested that mentally “sick” people could be helped by confessing deviant behavior and assuming personal responsibility for it. He then proposed a “Moral Model” of responsibility. He said that the “patient’s” problems are moral, not medical. The “patient” suffers from real guilt, not guilt feelings (false guilt).
Jay Adams says that “the idea of sickness as the cause of personal problems vitiates all notions of human responsibility. This is the crux of the matter. People no longer consider themselves responsible for what they do wrong. They claim that their problems are allogenic (other-engendered) rather than autogenic (self-engendered). Instead of assuming personal responsibility for their behavior, they blame society. Society is easy to blame since what is everyone’s responsibility is no-ones responsibility.”
When you put God back into the equation and when you accept personal responsibility, that suggests that we could avoid a lot of “counseling fees” and get rid of a lot of hospital beds if we would just train our children (and ourselves) to:
Avoid sinful behavior
Accept personal responsibility (it is rarely someone else’s fault)
Deal with sin in our life Biblically (confess, repent and make restitution).
B. the root cause of society’s ills
As we’ve seen from a medical perspective, I also believe society’s ills have a human component. While we can “blame the devil” it is really our responsibility or lack thereof that allows he and his minions access to our life. Consider teenage pregnancy: if men discipled their sons to respect and value women through the way they treat their mothers then very few boys would be pushing for such encounters before marriage. If mothers would train their daughters about moral purity and self respect then the little “hoochie” mammas running rampant would be nearly non-existent. One merely needs to examine any statistical model to see the correlation between moral decline and the increase of decadence in the society.
II. the real cause
In both of our texts we can see that the real cause is men turning from God. Phrases like “giving heed”, “departing from the faith”, “will be” all refer to a willful shift from one to the other. This process is helped along by demonic forces but cannot be initiated by them. Today’s believer is led to believe that by some magical prayer he can cure the problems of his family, his body, his life. Miracles do happen, healing is for today, prayer does work, men can be delivered, but there must be a transformation of mind and heart in man also, and the church is falling woefully short. Consider the following facts concerning men in the church:
Nine will have children who leave the church.
Eight will not find their jobs satisfying.
Six will pay the monthly minimum on their credit card bills
Five will have a major problem with pornography.
Four will get divorced-affecting one million children each year.
Only one will have a biblical worldview.
All ten will struggle to balance work and family.
Ask pastors to list the problems and struggles their members face. They sound like the chapter headings in a social work textbook: alcohol and substance abuse, domestic violence, juvenile crime, depression, shattered relationships, to name just a few.
A. What is happening?
I believe, that most of the major societal problems we face can be traced back to the failure of men and so the question needs to be asked, why aren't men in the church doing any better than men outside of the church? The answer? We are not discipling men to be followers of Jesus Christ. Our churches are not effectively helping men understand what it takes to be a godly husband, a godly father, and a godly man. Men attend church, attend events, attend rallies, discipleships, outreaches, but can we continue to see significant change in priorities, attitudes, growth, and development beyond the initial spurt of growth shortly after conversion?
B. What To Do?
Mt 28:19-20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. (NKJ)
This short speech contains all the elements necessary to transform society but it also contains the reason we’re not. To get society right we have to get the church right and to get the church right we have to get families right and to get families right we have to get marriages right and to get marriages right we have to get men right. Ordinary men just the ones that fill our congregation can be trained “in the way they should go” so that when they’re older in the Lord they will not depart from it (Pro 22:6 adapted to discipleship).
A breakdown of Jesus’ disciples show us that some were small business owners (Peter, James, and John were fishermen); Nathaniel was somewhat aloof (racist or bigoted: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?); an accountant and thief in the person of Judas Iscariot; a super spiritual religious guy names Simon the Zealot; a government employee named Matthew the tax collector; and several young guys like Andrew. Jesus discipled these men and they changed the world.
C. What’s wrong?
Could it be that we’ve gotten off track in the area of training? We certainly teach the Bible, and truth, and what we should be doing.
A small boy observed his mother put a penny on the offering plate at the morning service. On the way home from church, she freely criticized the poor sermon they had heard. "But, Mother," said the boy, "what could you expect for a penny?"
If you train up a child to give pennies, when he is old he will not depart from it.
III. a return to the old ways
Jer 6:16 Thus says the LORD: "Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, `We will not walk in it.' (NKJ)
Pro 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go: And when he is old he will not depart from it."
This applies to disciples and believers, as well as to children. There is a difference between training and teaching. All of us are being taught the way they should go, but most of us are neglecting to train in the way we should go.
The dictionary gives the meaning of the word train "to mold the character, instruct by exercise, drill, to make obedient to orders, to put or point in an exact direction, to prepare for a contest."
1Cor 9:27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. (NKJ)
Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
There are two examples in Scripture; one in which the child was trained the way he ought to go and the other example, two brothers who were taught the way they ought to go, but not trained.
In 1Samuel 1:11, Hannah asked the Lord for a son. She prayed, "Give me a son, Lord, and I will give him back to you." She did not say, "Lord, if You give me a son I will do my best to teach him to serve you and if he is willing and won't object, I will take him up to the temple to serve You."
No, she never doubted that Samuel would do anything else but what she chose for him.
1Samuel 1:27 "For this child I prayed: And the Lord has given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore I have lent him to the Lord; As long as he lives, he shall be lent to the Lord. And he worshiped the Lord there."
Samuel did go to the temple and was a willing servant to Eli, the priest. That Samuel had been trained to obey is evident in 1 Samuel 3 when, as a young boy, three times he gets out of bed to run to Eli and ask him what he wants. And he served God as long as he lived.
In contrast we have the two sons of Eli, the priest:
1 Samuel 2:12 "Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial: They knew not the Lord."
The Scripture goes on to tell how Eli's sons were disobedient and immoral. Eli knew what his sons were doing and he no doubt taught them what was right. In 1 Samuel 2:23-24 Eli scolds his boys,
"And he (Eli) said to them, why do you do such things: For I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. No, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: You make the Lord's people to transgress."
A. But scolding isn't training. Neither is teaching right from wrong.
Eli neglected to train his sons, "but they hearkened not to the voice of their father." And the Lord cut off the generations of Eli from being priests. 1 Samuel 3:13 says,
1Sam 2:29 "For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not." He "honored his sons above the Lord."
Eli loved the Lord, he was sincere, he performed the office of priest, but he did not train his sons to obey.
B. the key is in training
All of us are in training in some way either consciously or unconsciously.
James 1:23-25 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. (NKJ)
Phil 4:9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. (NKJ)
What we give our selves to, what influences our behavior, what moves us, is what is training us. Training is designed to build muscle memory…to construct automatic reactions to situations.
Adversity has the same effect on a man that severe training has on the boxer--it reduces him to his fighting weight. -- Josh Billings
Again the dictionary gives the meaning of the word train "to mold the character, instruct by exercise, drill, to make obedient to orders, to put or point in an exact direction, to prepare for a contest."
One man likened this unto a coach preparing his team for the season. There’s the instructional part of training much like the classroom. Here one learns the philosophy and why of the plan including the plays and moves to carry out the plan. Then there’s the hands-on walkthrough of the various moves and plays. However, it is in the drilling and practice that all that is learned becomes second nature. There’s no thinking in the battle or game, just reacting correctly and as trained.
C. problems to consider
Mt 17:19-21 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast him out?" 20 So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, `Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 "However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting." (NKJ)
They had the motions down but not the “philosophy”…they had no understanding of who was the real source of their power…God. People are baptized without first being converted; people give money to the church without really tithing; people lay empty hands on empty heads and see nothing take place; people come week after week to church but see no continuing change in their life.
D. practice makes perfect
This social proverb has direct application to the Christian life. Learning involves understanding and doing; teaching and practicing; hearing and acting.
Phil 4:9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. (NKJ)
James 1:23-25 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. (NKJ)
E. back to the devil
It is easier to blame the devil than to correct our behavior, attitudes, habits, and perspective. If we can come and get “delivered” without taking responsibility for change then by all means lets. There seems to be a mindset running through the “spirit filled” churches that every problem is a demon problem; every bad thing has got to be the work of the devil; that believing God is a direct connection to heaven’s storehouse. Such thinking removes the element of practicing the Word of God. Why practice when we can have hands laid on us and our body is healed, our mind is transformed, our joy is restored, and our finances are guaranteed? Of course, none of these things are really true but it sure makes for exciting meetings, large churches, and popular TV broadcasts.
The problem is that there really are demonic forces at work in all these areas and the devil is a real adversary but have we given him more credit and attention that is warranted by the scriptures? I believe we have. As I’m closing this essay let us consider the role of the adversary in God's purpose.
IV. who is he, what can he do?
John 8:31-32 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (NKJ)
It is clear that “knowing the truth” makes us free. Knowledge of the truth and acting on it is “living by faith”. It would do us well to find out “the truth” concerning the enemy of our soul, therefore we want to consider the adversary, the devil, slewfoot, the serpent, the dragon, tempter, and father of lies. In Arabic his name is Shaitan from a root word meaning “to be hostile, to accuse”. His most popular name is diabolos a greek word meaning “slanderer”.
The titles "the dragon", "the old serpent" refer to Satan in the Book of Revelation 12:9, 20:2; "the prince of this world" in the Book of John 12:31, 14:30; "the prince of the power of the air", and "the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience" in the Book of Ephesians 2:2; and "the god of this world" in 2Cor 4:4.
Everyone is aware that the Devil is opposed to everything and anything having to do with God. We need to remove some of the myths and ideas about the devil and what he can or can’t do considering the airplay he’s receiving in many circles today.
A. the devil is tied to the purposes of god
Contemplate what Jesus is saying about the thief which most believe is a metaphor of the devil.
Jn 10:10 "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
1Jn 3:8 "The Devil sins from the beginning" KJV
His sin lies in the motive behind his actions, but all his actions are required for the purpose of God to be fulfilled. This is seen in the death of God's Son. Those who demanded that He be crucified, did so with a sinful motive: to steal, to kill, and to destroy BUT in the same event, same time, same situation “abundant life” is given!
After His resurrection, Jesus asked—
Lk 24:26 Wasn't it clearly predicted by the prophets that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?"
Yes, He had to suffer. Without His suffering and death there could have been no salvation! And there would have been no sinners to be saved if the Devil, or Adversary (which is the better translation), had not sinned from the beginning, for it was he who introduced sin into the universe and among the human family. Can we say that he did this outside the knowledge and purpose of God?
His motive was to defeat God, and his motive constituted sin. But without sinners to be saved, there would have been no need for the Son of God to come and go through His sacrificial suffering. Note these various renderings of Revelation 13:
Rev 13:8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (NKJ)
Rv 13:8 And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life, which belongs to the Lamb who was killed before the world was made. NLT
Rv 13:8 And all the inhabitants of the earth will fall down in adoration and pay him homage, everyone whose name has not been recorded in the Book of Life of the Lamb that was slain [in sacrifice] from the foundation of the world. AMP
Rv 13:8 "All the people in the world will worship him, except those whose names had been written ...."
Rv 13:8 "Almost everyone will worship the beast. But some will not worship him; those who have their names written ... will not worship him."
Rv 13:8 "except those whose names were written before the creation of the world in the book of the living."
Rv 13:8 Everyone on earth will worship him, except those whose names were written in the book of the living before the world was created. That book belongs to the Lamb who was killed.
Rv 13:8 ... whose names were recorded in the book in which God has written down before the world was created the names of those who really have life. That book belongs to the Lamb whom people killed.
Regardless, it is inferred that God knew all things before the world was created and, therefore, no surprise attack can be attributed to the enemy. His purpose was malicious but God’s purpose was abundant life.
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (NKJ)
This verse has teeth because God’s will was established before the world was created.
Jesus Christ was in the divine purpose appointed from the foundation of the world to redeem man by his blood, he therefore is, in a very eminent sense, the Lamb slain from the creation of the world, i e. from the creation. A. Clarke
B. The Adversary does not act outside of what God has planned for him to do.
He does that which is required to be done for the future glory of God.
Eph 1:11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, (NKJ)
1. The Adversary in the past acted within God's purpose.
Dan 4:35 All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; he does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, "What have You done?"
The Adversary himself is the work of God's hand according to Job 26:13 for "by His spirit He hath garnished the heavens; His hand formed the crooked serpent" (Job 26:13).
While some commentaries hold different opinions, Adam Clarke does a masterful job of proving that the crooked serpent is "the Adversary and Satan" mentioned in Rev.20:2. The Adversary, in the form of a serpent, beguiled Eve (Gen.3:13), thus proving that he was, and is, the deceiver.
1Tim 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. (NKJ)
Eve’s deception fell within the scope of God’s plan and purpose.
1Cor 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (NKJ)
The Adversary was under God's control, just as the woman was.
Job 12:10 In God’s hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. (NKJ)
Both the Adversary and Eve were His, and He used them to bring about an increase of knowledge. God well knew that the Adversary would deceive Eve, for He formed him to be an Adversary and a Deceiver.
Romans 9:20-21 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" 21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? (NKJ)
The Adversary was a vessel unto dishonor and was fulfilling God's intention when he deceived Eve. It was part of God's purpose, to bring about an awareness. The woman did not partake of the fruit until she saw that it was desired to make one intelligent. The serpent said to the woman:
Gen.3:5, 6 "God doth know that in the day that ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise (intelligent), she took of the fruit thereof and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat".
While the motive of the Adversary was sinful, yet what he did in deceiving the woman was something within the purpose of God, for the result was an increase of awareness, in as much as we read that “the eyes of both the man and the woman were opened, and they knew that they were naked" (Gen 3:7).
I believe we see an early image of the purpose of the law…to open our eyes to our nakedness, our frailty, our weaknesses, and ultimately our need for a savior.
C. the modern believer fails to see the sovereignty of god in their life
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (NKJ)
Many believers are blinded concerning the truth. Few can see far enough into the future to trust God for the present. Ours is not a blind faith but rather a faith that sees the hand of God working all things according to the counsel of His own will. Do not confuse God knowing with God ordaining individual decisions like a puppet on a string. Because He knows He is not surprised by anything we do or don’t do. All contingencies are accounted for in the working out of His will and purpose. “Free will” is best explained as our right to choose, and that right to choose is subject to outside influences.
My choices for behavior are greatly restricted by birth, upbringing, race, marriage, career, salvation, etc. Thus “free will” rapidly becomes defined for me by such influences.
D. God’s sovereign hand in the affairs of men.
There are those who say that God did not have, and is not having, anything to do with Satan and his works.
If we consider the case of Joseph we might ask, "Why did Joseph's brethren sell him?". The answer is "Because they hated him." And this, of course, is true, but:
Gen 45:4-8 And Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come near to me." So they came near. Then he said: "I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 "But now, do not therefore be grieved nor angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 "For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. 7 "And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 "So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. (NKJ)
Many do not like to believe that God actually did evil to Joseph. They want to place all the blame on his brethren. Of course, God cannot be censured, but the truth is that Joseph's brethren did exactly what God intended them to do. There is no doubt that it was the Adversary who suggested their actions to them, but the Adversary belongs to God in the sense that God created him and can use him as He wills. Satan’s motive and intention was evil and destruction but God gave life and that more abundantly!
What an encouragement to us God’s children!
God used Satan, and Joseph's brethren, to preserve life. This seems strange, for the Adversary is a murderer, but God can, and does, use him for the opposite purpose whenever He pleases to do so.
Consider the contrast in our text:
John 10:10 "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy but I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (NKJ)
E. The Adversary is subordinate to God
Satan never thwarts God's plans: instead, God uses him in carrying out His plans, as has been shown. A look at the book of Job will show that Satan does whatever God intends him to do. And if we are to take the record in Job as a model, he does not do more than God allows him to do. God gave him authority to afflict Job, but told him to spare his life, and Satan obeyed implicitly. He afflicted Job and spared his life.
In the temptation in the wilderness, Satan did just what God had purposed him to do, when he tested Jesus. The Scriptures say that Jesus "was led by the spirit into the wilderness to be tried by the Adversary" (Matt.4:1).
When the period of testing was over, Jesus told him only once to go away, and immediately Satan left Him.
Mt 4:10-11 Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, `You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.'" 11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
Ro 11:36 For everything comes from him; everything exists by his power and is intended for his glory. To him be glory evermore. Amen.
God is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent and omniparous (Producing all things; omniparient) That is, He is able to do all; He knows all; He is present everywhere at the same time; He is the producer of all.
If He is able to do all, then He is able to keep the Adversary from going contrary to His intentions, and He is able to have him do whatever is in accord with His intentions.
This thought has been lost in most of the church today who’ve been deceived into thinking that every bad thing happens apart from the will of God. The devil is not equal with God but is limited in the same way you and I are. He is used by God to bring about His purposes in the earth. The Adversary’s motive is evil and sinful and he desires our destruction but he always operates within the scope and purpose of God’s will. Always. Therefore we can have confidence in God working all things together for OUR good if we love God and are following His plan and purpose for our life. God’s good will be worked out but our involvement in that good is determined by our willingness to submit and obey. If not, we will be as much a part of God’s moving as the devil is, and we’ll see as much of God’s blessing in our life as the devil does.
Is 1:17-20 Learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow. 18 "Come now, and let us reason together," says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; 20 But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword"; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken. (NKJ)
F. Paul’s thorn
2Cor 12:7-8 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. (NKJ)
Paul didn’t go into prayer to bind the devil but rather went to God, the real source and asked for grace.
2Cor 12:9-10 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (NKJ)
You see God knows all—even the end from the beginning (Isa.46:10). God knew and knows beforehand just what Satan going to do at all times. God is also present everywhere at the same time and Satan has never been able to hide from God, and finally God is the Producer of all, and therefore He made the Adversary as well as everything else and so:
G. SATAN CANNOT WITHSTAND GOD'S INTENTION
John 10:10 "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (NKJ)
In testing Jesus, the Adversary was doing just what God intended him to do. When we attribute false values to the Adversary, we also attribute false values to God, for we assume that the Adversary is operating independently of God, and that God cannot have it otherwise. The fact remains that the Lord God is the Lord God of the Adversary (though Satan would not acknowledge this), for the Lord Jesus established God’s authority and power when He quoted the word of God.
Mt.4:7 Jesus said to him, "It is written again, `You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'"
Luke 4:12 And Jesus answered and said to him, "It has been said, `You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'" (NKJ)
As I was reading this it occurred to me that Jesus may have been telling Satan that He was God. Of course, the devil didn’t believe Jesus anymore than the Pharisees did. Why? Because they were children of the devil.
A final truth to consider is our justification before God. Paul understood this and wrote:
Rom 8:28-40 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
V. discipleship requires active involvement in the process
The final outcome is that we need to be trained to act on God’s word. This means we are to be growing more kind, more patient, more loving, etc. We are to be taught and drilled in the ways of God. This requires active intelligence not passive information. We are to give ourselves to the disciplines of godliness.
1Cor 9:25-27 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. (NKJ)
1 Timothy 4:7 Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives' tales. Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. NLT
1 Tim 6:11-1211 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (NKJ)
Heb 5:14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (NKJ)
