Today we are going to think about another bait, “Opposition”. This bait comes to us in our every day life and also in our ministry. This bait is very subdued in our lives and so it is very easy to ignore it from our side; but we should be very vigilant about this. As we read “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy…” (John 10:10). Satan will be coming as a thief; it is too hard to know when, where and how he is coming to us. Satan opposes “God’s Work, God’s People, God’s plan, God’s will, and God’s word. In other words, Satan fights against everything that gives glory to God. Satan opposes churches also by spreading disunity and reducing love among believers. Beware of him and be very vigilant.
“And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel” (1 Chronicles 21:1). As a King of Israel, David might not have done any mistakes. But the bible clearly teaches us that his act was against the will of God. And look at Satan’s work; he made David to stand against God’s will.
Let us consider another incident from the bible. Mark 8:33 reads “He rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan..”. You must be wondering why Jesus rebuked Peter calling him satan. Actually, Jesus rebuked Satan, because Satan used Peter for opposing God’s plan. If you look into the life of Jesus on this earth, we could see that there were several attempts to destroy Him from this earth so that God’s plan will not be fulfilled. But God’s plans were fulfilled in all those cases.In mark 8:31 we could see that Jesus was explaining His sufferings, death and resurrection. This was God’s plan. There are several prophecies from the Old Testament about the death of Jesus Christ and his victory over Satan. But Satan tried to oppose God’s plan of salvation on the cross. In Mark 8:32 , we read “…Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him”. When Jesus explained about his death to them, Peter could not comprehend it completely and so he tried to oppose the death of messiah. Jesus clearly knew that these words were not coming from Peter but Satan was working through him to oppose God’s plan. So Jesus rebuked Satan.We might face the same kind of attacks from Satan, he will come against your ministry, and even against your prayer life. Look at Peter, he really loves Jesus and he doesn’t want these sufferings and death to his dearest master, Satan took that opportunity to destroy God’s plan. Remember , the bait always looks tempting and harmless from this side, but it is the hook on the other side that makes it deadly.
Another way of opposing God’s plan is by stealing God’s words from our heart. We read from Luke 8:12 “Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. Salvation is God’s plan but Satan’s plan is to destroy that. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 says “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. If one feels not to follow the word of God, understand that he is going away from the light.
Satan opposes God’s people in their ministry. “Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us” (1 Thessalonians 2:18). If we read verse 1 from same chapter we could see that Paul’s visit was not in vain. There was a purpose behind Paul’s visit. I strongly believe that Satan tried to stop this victory by hindering his way. Satan fights against our ministries too with several hindrances. It may be our health status, our co-believers, our family members, our work schedules, our time, or even our financial status. If you are unable to do God’s work, or if there are any hindrances in your prayer life, or if you are frequently unable to attend fellowship meetings, or if you are running out of time to do God’s work, beware Satan is trying to attack you with his “opposition” bait. Submit yourself to God; He will deliver you from this situation.
As we read from 1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” Satan will come to you in several forms or ways. Now a days, wrong doctorines are spreading arround the world, and I am amazed at how people accept it with a whole heart. Remember Paul’s warning on this “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”(2 Corinthians 11:3-4), “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2 Corinthians 11:14-15). Remember God has a plan for you, be strong in God and let us all do God’s work together. May the good God help you in your life and in your ministries.
With Prayers and Blessings
Anish Kuriachen
Redeemed Ministries
Six Measures Of Barley 