Satan's Dread!
But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew, and they were in dread of the children of Israel. Ex. 1:12
At this point in history the Israelites were in Egypt, because of God’s sovereign work through Joseph. They had been living in freedom and peace, when a new king comes into power and sees the prosperity of the Israelites. He then became concerned with their growth, so he and the Egyptians begin to oppress God's chosen people, but the more they afflicted them, the more they grew.
Within this historical truth we find a spiritual truth. Many people live in fear and dread of Satan, and his demons, but as children of God we need not fear, for even Satan is fulfilling God’s will in our lives. He is so blinded with pride that he thinks he is thwarting and putting to ruin God’s plan but is in fact helping to fulfill it.
When the Lord allows Satan and his demons to mettle in a Christian’s life, it is for a good reason. We know this because all things work together for the good of those who love Him. God has started a good work in us that He will finish, and the more we are afflicted the more we grow. Until, to Satan’s demise, He is in dread of us.
An example of this can be seen in the life of Peter. Satan, during the crucifixion, asked to sift him, and God allows him to do so. As a result of this sifting, Peter commits one of the most heinous sins possible, he denies Christ. Failure and affliction have hit hard, but to Satan’s dismay it is this fall that causes Peter to grow in faith and become more like Christ. He then goes on to lead thousands to the Lord and his testimony is still encouraging people today. Peter became a dread to Satan. You can bet that Satan regrets ever tempting Peter in that way.
Now many may say, it’s how you respond to affliction that matters. But we need to look at why Peter responded correctly. He responded correctly because God convicted him of his sin. God broke his heart instead of letting Peter harden it. God did it all. Why? Because Peter was one of His, and of us He will not lose one. Sanctification is what God does in us and not what we do for God. What we end up doing for Him is merely a response of what He is doing in us.
As we face the schemes of the Devil, remember, God is always working in His Children and uses many things to grow our faith, even affliction. So when you feel that the prince and the power of the air is winning the fight, remember he is only playing right into the hands of our Father.
-Doug Eaton-
posted by Doug E. @ 3:35 PM
12 comments
12 Comments:
This has nothing to do with your post, but I saw that you were reading Postmodern Youth Ministry. Just curious. What are your thoughts? Is it any good?
Doug great post On "I only need the Bible" I love that spergeoun quote. I read it somewhare else before. Anyway, I pasted it to word so I can use it with my Calvary Chapel friends. Speaking of Calvary Chapel, You are in Orange County and they are on every corner. Hey Robert Morey is there in irvine, my friend Dan and I want to drive down there in the future and go to his apologetic class and we will need a place to chill..
Talk to ya latter
Daniel,
I'm actually going to start it soon for a class, I just got the book. I've read a bit of the emergent stuff, and I'm usually not too impressed. I am taking a class with professor Craig Hawkins in which we are studying culture and it's influence on the church. So I'll keep you posted. Have you read it?
I see you are a youth pastor, so am I. It's always nice to meet someone up for the challege.
Doug
"Sanctification is what God does in us and not what we do for God. What we end up doing for Him is merely a response of what He is doing in us."
Love that statement! It's hard to change people's perception about that, but once they grasp it, it will transform their Christian life.
Doug you brought the whole purpose of affliction out so well. Most people want to claim Romans 8:28, and totally ignore the next verse. The "good" that all things work for is conforming us to the image of Christ. Great post!
Great Illustration of Peter and Satan.
If there is another character of the bible who knows what it is like to have Satan after him it is Job.
Here is good old Job agreeing with every word of this post. Notice how Jobs lot never rested with Satan but with God.
...I know that You can do all things And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. Job 42:2
Great post, Doug.
God Bless
Doug,
That was a great post! I especially like your take on santification. It is God's work in us, not what we give to God.
Mark
Doug,
What type of church are you at? How long have you been in youth ministry? Where are you going to seminary?
great post! we were actually have some family discussions on some of these things this weekend...how often satan uses distraction to keep us from growing.
thanks for sharing your insight!
lisa
Hey Daniel,
I currently work with youth at a small Southern Baptist Church in Downey, CA. I have been working with youth for about ten years now. All three churches have been southern Baptist.
I'm not actually attending seminary, but pretty much the next best thing. I work for Trinity Law School in Santa Ana, CA (www.TLS.edu) which is Part of Trinity International University out of Deerfield IL. I am earning a master's degree from the Graduate School in Communication and Culture. We study a lot of theology and philosophy (worldviews).
Where are you working with youth?
Doug
Doug,
I'm in Western Nebraska. I work in a Berean church, which is basically a dependent Bible church. The Berean Fellowship was started in North Platte, NE. We're a small fellowship of about 50 churches. Most of these churches are in Nebraska, Wyoming, Kansas, Colorado, and there's a couple in Northern California.
In the south, there's also some hyper-dispensationalism folks that call themselves Bereans, but they're not associated with our denomination.
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