Put God's Concerns First (God's Concerns Series 1 - Mark 8:33)
Don't Be satan's Mouthpiece (God's Concerns Series 2 - Mark 8:33)
satan Wants To Weaponize Our Relationship With God (God's Concerns Series 2 - Mark 8:33)
The Bible calls satan the accuser of the brethren. It aims to steal, to kill, and to destroy every true believer in Jesus and His Father, God Almighty (John 10:10). It works tirelessly to warp minds, create distance between believers and the Lord, and desires to claim that God is untrue. The devil is a liar and there is no truth in it (John 8:44). It hates human beings because they have access to God and His mercy in a way it never will again.
The devil is an expert at interfering in people's godly spiritual journey. It will do anything it can to derail the process, including exploiting a person's commitment to Jesus and His Father, where it can. Thankfully, believers are not unaware of its tricks (2 Corinthians 2:11). Plus, we have received all we need for a godly life (2 Peter 1:3). Through salvation in Jesus, God's word and the Holy Spirit, people receive protection and warning of satan's agenda (Psalm 81:8). We thus can walk in humility, honoring God's concerns and plans. God puts the enemy to shame, and we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37).
Think about Joseph, the son of Jacob. The devil tried to take advantage of his fear of the Lord when it sent Potiphar's wife to seduce him multiple times. Instead of sleeping with her or being disloyal to his boss, he rejected her advances. He also stressed that he couldn't sin against the Lord (Genesis 39:9). She accused him of attempted rape, and he was unjustly thrown in prison (Genesis 39:20). Yet, Joseph stayed true to God, who released him from confinement. But his freedom wasn't the only reward. God elevated him to be equal to the Pharaoh of Egypt (Genesis 44:18). He enabled him to bring his entire family to Egypt, sparing them from the effects of a deadly famine.
Then there was Daniel. He was well respected in the Persian palace, and his jealous enemies wanted him dead. They conspired to have the king create a law requiring everyone to pray to the king, something they knew Daniel's religion forbade. They understood that the only way to eliminate him was to use his faith against him. But God knew Daniel was faithful and fulfilled His promise to protect His own. Although thrown into the lion's den, an angel shut their mouths (Daniel 6:22). Daniel was released, and his enemies became lion cuisine instead. Daniel 6:28 - So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
And let's not forget Jesus Christ. He went about teaching, healing, and feeding people. He criticized the religious leaders for failing to properly serve God and the people, which led to detractors who wanted Him killed. It was His very submission to the Lord that they leveraged for evil. They even got people to falsely accuse Him (Mark 14:55-59). Neither they nor the devil behind their schemes realized that God would use His Son's obedience for something greater - becoming a lasting sacrifice for our sin. His teachings continue to transform lives thousands of years later. He was given the most powerful name and stands at the right hand of God interceding for His children.
In these cases, satan attempted to take advantage of each man's commitment to God. Nevertheless, none shifted in their stance toward God, and their dedication was rewarded. However, the story of the Man of God from Judah in 1 Kings 13 is cautionary to all. God sent a messenger from his home in the Kingdom of Judah to pronounce judgment against the evil altar standing at Bethel in the Kingdom of Israel. The Lord further instructed him not to stop to eat bread or drink water and use a different route home (1 Kings 13:9). When Israel's king tried to get the man to return with him to his palace for a meal and a gift, he refused.
However, the devil used an old prophet to convince the man to disobey God's instruction. 1 Kings 13:18-19 - The old prophet answered, “I too am a prophet, as you are. And an angel said to me by the word of the Lord: ‘Bring him back with you to your house so that he may eat bread and drink water.’ ” (But he was lying to him.) /So the man of God returned with him and ate and drank in his house. The man from Judah trusted the 'prophet' and sadly believed the lie. He was devoured by a lion when he finally set off for home.
Be aware that the devil seeks to harm God's people. Despite this, know that the Lord will protect His children and keep them safe. As you study God's word, submit to His Holy Spirit and become more like Jesus over time, the devil will have fewer opportunities to weaponize your desire to honor God. As you grow in faith and spiritual strength, the less you will get 'punked' by your enemy. God is faithful. Do not fear the devil or men because the Lord will always care for you. He is not unfair. He always avenges and defends His own. Just as He didn't let satan have the final say over Joseph, Daniel, or Jesus, He won't let the devil have its way with you. Obey Him and let Him help you so that the enemy scores no more points against you.
To learn more, please read:
Put God's Concerns First (God's Concerns Series 1 - Mark 8:33)
Don't Be satan's Mouthpiece (God's Concerns Series 2 - Mark 8:33)
We recently focused on the need to Put God's Concerns First. In that message, we also learned that when we prioritize our human concerns over those of the Lord, there is a risk of being used by satan to speak or act contrary to God's will.
Today, we examine this issue further by looking at Job's wife. Her story begins when the devil sought a human to torment, and God recommended His servant Job, knowing that he would never break under the pressure the enemy would place on him. The Bible tells us that satan took Job's wealth, children, and health. Job's friends came to commiserate with him. However, they soon deemed their friend guilty of having done something to deserve the disasters he'd faced. Through it all, Job maintained that he hadn't sinned against God.
The Book of Job also mentions his wife, although she is not given a name. As her husband endured horrible sores, we are told that she encouraged him to "[c]urse God and die!” (Job 2:9). It is important to realize that these were arguably the words of a woman speaking from a place of great pain.
We can't forget that she lost ten children in a freak accident. She also watched her husband's wealth and reputation go down the drain. Then, she saw her husband become sick, his body covered in pus-filled sores. All that loss, pain, and having to care for a sick husband produced frustration and impatience in her. All of which was a perfect recipe for her to become satan's mouthpiece. Think about it, do you think she would have said what she did under normal circumstances?
And we must realize that when the 'right' buttons are pushed, we too could become like Job's wife - a man/woman pushed by grief, pain, and trauma to say something that glorifies the enemy instead of the God who loves us.
This is why it is so important to seek out and maintain an ever-deepening relationship with the Lord. You need to position ourselves at the well to draw from the everlasting water Jesus provides. Remember the Jericho Moments when He brought down walls and gave you reason to testify. What about the miraculous ways His Holy Spirit kept you safe? These and other situations build the connection that will restrict what you say when things go wrong in your life.
Consistent Bible study will teach you what you should or shouldn't even allow yourself to even think in the tough moments. Weekly and scriptural fasting will also help you to accept and receive the Holy Spirit's guidance to walk in godly humility and reverence for the Lord. That intimate relationship will enable you to hear God speaking through whatever vessel He chooses and will convict you to submit to His instruction.
These are some of the Kingdom Keys God gave His children so that they don't stray from the path of righteousness just because things don't go their way. They also help to keep His people from unknowingly becoming satan's mouthpiece, the way Peter and Job's wife did. Because when that happens, an individual can go from just saying to doing satan's bidding. May we all allow the Lord to have His way and place a guard on our lips so our words are never worthless but worthwhile for the glory of God our King, IJN, Amen.
To learn more, please read the following: