The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Adversary

  • Don’t Quit

    “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

    Galatians 6:9

    God stirred the heart of Cyrus to send His people home (to Jerusalem) to rebuild the house of the Lord. The first group to return to Jerusalem was led by Zerubbabel, a descendant of David.

    Once they reached Jerusalem, Zerubbabel remained a leader, and Joshua was the high priest. These two men led the people to rebuild the altar of the Lord. They then began to rebuild the Temple. However, when they completed the foundation, the troubles began.

    Do you remember what happens when God’s people begin to serve God? The adversaries make themselves known. “1. Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel; 2. Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do…” (Ezra 4:1-2). Adversaries means “one who troubles; an opponent; or an enemy.” Once the work of God had begun, the adversaries made themselves known. However, Zerubbabel recognized that they were not for God so he would not allow them to help. Although they declared they wanted to “help”, they were not trying to help the work of God. They were trying to stop it. This was not a one-time trouble. They caused difficulties for years and years, stopping the building of the Temple – which was the ulterior motive (see Ezra 4:3-5). The adversaries’ purpose had been accomplished, and the building had been stopped (see Ezra 4:23-24).

    When the adversaries came and the building stopped, God sent His prophet, Haggai, to encourage the people to build the house of the Lord. First, he scolded them for living in their nice houses while the Temple of the Lord was not completed. He reminded the people to “consider your ways”, and that God was to come first (see Haggai 1:4-8). Haggai then encouraged the leaders to complete the Temple. Once the people began to obey, God encouraged them. “I am with you, saith the LORD” (Haggai 1:13b).

    After the people decided to obey God, and God encouraged them that He would be with them, recognize what else God did for His people. “And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God” (Haggai 1:14). God did not leave His people alone. He stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel and Joshua to lead the people. He even stirred the spirit of all the remnant. God understood that His people needed to have physical leaders that they could see, hear, and with whom they could communicate.

    God gave them the encouragement they needed. “Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts” (Haggai 2:4). Three times God said to be strong. This is the same encouragement God gave to Joshua when he was preparing to lead the people into the promised land years earlier. The secret of Joshua’s successes was his faith in the Word of God (see Joshua 1:7-9), its’ commandments, and its’ promises. God’s Word to Joshua was “Be strong!”. This is the same message for His people today! See the following:

    • “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13).
    • “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might” (Ephesians 6:10).
    • “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:1).

    God had specific words for the leaders. When the leaders acted upon those words, the people followed and the work began again. Zerubbabel, Joshua, the high priest, and the remnant of the people stepped up and began working on the Temple again – and God kept the enemy from stopping them.

    Just as the adversaries stopped the building of the Temple, even today, Christians have an adversary who is set about to stop the work of the Lord in this world. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

    Knowing Satan wants to defeat (and destroy) Christians, how can we survive his attacks? “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). When we submit to God and His will in our lives, we can defeat Satan.

    “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9). We are to never quit serving God as the Israelites did when the adversary opposed them. We must not only recognize who the adversaries are that try to stop God’s work, but we must continue with what God has for us to do. God will also encourage us through His Word (the Bible) just as he encouraged the Israelites through His prophet, Haggai.

    Have you chosen to ignore your adversary, be encouraged through God’s Word, and complete the work God has for you?

  • Sifted as Wheat

    “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:”

    Luke 22:31

    On the last night that Jesus was with His disciples, He gave Peter a great warning. Notice that He called him Simon, not Peter. Peter means “a rock”. This is what Jesus often called him (see Luke 6:14 and John 1:42). A stone, or a rock, is sturdy and stable. I believe Jesus was trying to warn Peter – even by calling him Simon. “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat” (Luke 22:31). This was an important warning. Peter believed he was a rock – sturdy and stable (read on to see his reply to what Jesus was trying to tell him in Luke 22:33). Peter needed to understand the situation. Satan means “opponent; adversary; the accuser, that is, the devil”. Satan wanted to sift Peter.

    First, consider what the purpose of sifting was in those days. When they sifted their grains, it was a screening process that would allow them to remove the trash. Oftentimes there were rocks or debris that would be left after the sifting process so that those things could be removed. They would then be left with the grain, no longer filled with trash and debris. This purified grain could be used.

    Satan wanted to sift Peter much like this – only Satan wanted the trash and debris to be brought to the forefront. What should happen: when Peter was sifted, the debris in his life would separate out to the top where it could be removed and eliminated. It sounds like Satan was hoping that this sifting would reveal only the negative and worthless things that were in Peter. And, because Satan is an adversary or an accuser, he wanted to point those things out in Peter’s life, causing Peter to think he was unworthy to serve Jesus.

    We can understand the fact that Satan wanted to sift Peter (because he wanted Peter ineffective – for Satan could not have Peter). Take note that Satan desired to have Peter to sift him. This reveals that Satan had to have permission to do this. One cannot help but remember Job chapters 1-2. Satan had to have God’s permission to do anything to Job. The same was true with Peter. That should be of some comfort to Christians today. Remember: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). God only allows what one can handle (a way of escape). These are for our good. A refining time: eliminating the trash, revealing the good that can be used by God.

    The following verse should have brought great comfort to Peter that night. “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:32). Jesus prayed for Peter. Take note that Jesus knew that Peter’s faith would not fail him. And more than that, after coming through this time of sifting (where the trash and debris in his life would be revealed), Peter would be “converted”. Converted indicates that Peter would recognize this trash and debris in his life and remove it. He would then return back to his former firm standing – the rock that Jesus declared he was. And because of all of this, Peter would be able to strengthen his brethren. He would be able to encourage them and help them

    Peter had an adversary, and he revealed the dirt, the trash that was in Peter’s life. This sifting revealed the things that Peter removed. Afterward, Peter was stronger, preaching a great sermon on the day of Pentecost where many believed in Jesus (see Acts 2:14-41).

    Satan often does the same thing to Christians today. Satan wants to point out our faults before God – to accuse us. He is our accuser before the Lord. “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night” (Revelation 12:10). However, God’s Holy Spirit points out our faults not to accuse us, but to convict our hearts so we will confess sin and turn to God (see John 16:8 and Acts 2:36-38). Remember what King David wrote when he recognized and confessed that he had failed the Lord miserably. “11. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee” (Psalm 51:11-13). He was fearful God would remove His spirit as He had from King Saul. However, remember that King Saul was not repentant, nor did he turn back to the Lord. God was then unable to use him. David on the other hand, was not only repentant, he prayed for God’s restoration to His good pleasure. David recorded this prayer to teach us what we need to do, even today. Repent with a true heart, knowing God will not only restore but refine for use by Him. What encouraging words!

    Have you been sifted, revealing and then removed the debris and trash hidden in your life?

    Are you now able to help and encourage others in their faith as Peter did?

  • What will He Find?

    “I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”

    Luke 18:8

    Jesus told a parable about a woman who persistently cried to a judge day and night to “Avenge me of mine adversary” (see Luke 18:1-5). The judge would not, but after time passed, the judge agreed to avenge her “lest by her continual coming she weary me.” Because the woman repeatedly asked this of the judge, he granted her request. Jesus said to hear what the unjust judge said. Jesus wanted the people to understand something important.

    Jesus had just been teaching His disciples of the end times, and His coming kingdom (see Luke 17:20-37). He wanted them to know what was expected of them. God hears His people, and He will avenge them of their adversaries – if only they will ask it of Him. Do Christians have adversaries? We all know Satan is our Adversary (1 Peter 5:8). We are instructed to cast all of our cares upon Him (Jesus) (see 1 Peter 5:7), and then we are able to recognize that our adversary, the devil, is trying to destroy us. We are able to cast our cares upon Jesus through prayers. “And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?” (Luke 18:7). God desires that we take our requests to Him. Jesus is declaring that God’s people are to pray, with faith, that God will hear and answer, and Christians are to persevere in those prayers. We know that there are many adversaries – especially in the world today. Many Christians are persecuted and oppressed revealing a great need for prayer in these days “… but the prayer of the upright is his delight” (Proverbs 15:8b). Often times in Scripture, we are encouraged to ask for what we need. Remember what Jesus said, “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 18:19). God will hear our prayers. Yet often times, we fail to pray. However worse than that, we fail to pray correctly. There is something very important that Jesus is looking for in Christians. “Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak” (Mark 14:38). Jesus spoke the same thought in Matthew and Luke. In John, Jesus prayed this prayer for his disciples: “14. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil” (John 17:14-15). In these words, Christians are to understand that in our spirit, we are ready to be the best Christian we can be. Yet temptation is ever before us to fail in that respect. Jesus prayed that Christians would be kept from the evil that is in this world.

    The end of the parable about the widow and the unrighteous judge ends with this though. “I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). At the end of time, when Jesus returns, will He find anyone of faith on the earth? To better understand what this means, read what the word faith means. Faith means “appropriating what God in Christ has for man resulting in the transformation of man’s character and way of life; marking various predominant traits of Christian character as arising from and combined with Christian faith; meaning Christian knowledge.” Honestly, are there many “Christians” living this kind of faith in our world today? Have many Christians appropriated what God has for us, resulting in the transformation of our character and way of life?

    Remember what Paul wrote as an encouragement on what it is that a Christian is called to do: “12. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you” (Philippians 3:12-15). We must forget the things behind and press forward to the “high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” We must live in faith, “appropriating what God in Christ has for man resulting in the transformation of man’s character and way of life.”

    Do not be discouraged.

    Be transformed, by faith, into what Christ wants you to be in Him.

    Have you appropriated what God in Christ has for you, resulting in the transformation of your character to be like Jesus?

    http://biblicalpath.com/index.php/how-to-be-saved/

  • Christians who Endure Troubles and Sufferings

    “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.”
    Acts 8:4

    Stephen preached Jesus from the Old Testament to the religious leaders, but instead of receiving the truths he taught, they rejected those Words and killed him. He was the first person who was killed because he believed in, and preached, Jesus. It was at the time of his death that we were also introduced to one of the religious men present at Stephen’s death – a young man named Saul.

    “And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles” (Acts 8:1). Recognize that this incident was the catalyst for a great persecution against the church. After learning of Stephen’s death, people became afraid. Because of this fear, many of the people scattered abroad. Did you notice to whom the persecution was initially directed? The church. And they scattered abroad. The people of the church who scattered were new Believers. They had just believed upon Jesus a short time before, and they were just beginning to learn and grow in this new life. These new Believers were encouraged to continue, “stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). When Stephen was killed, many fled Jerusalem. What did the Apostles do? They stayed in Jerusalem. It would be later that the persecution would come directly to them. They stayed in Jerusalem, available, where the people could find them.

    Some people remained in Jerusalem, mourning the death of Stephen. Because “Saul was consenting unto his death,” read his response to this new “church” that was being formulated. “As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison” (Acts 8:3). We read that Saul “made havock” of the church. Made havock means “destruction; to ravage, waste; to disgrace as by insult; treat with indignity; injure or destroy.” Saul entered into houses and took men and women to prison – all because they belonged to the church.

    There is something very important that Christians today can learn from this event. Who is the enemy of a Christian? “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). The devil (Satan) is the enemy. We can read from this verse that he attacks and wants to destroy Christians. Our adversary, the devil, will attack all Christians. And he uses people to do his job. Remember that in the early establishment of the church, the first persecution was directed at one (Stephen) who was vocal, teaching Jesus aloud to the religious leaders. Stephen was physically silenced. Next, the persecution was against the church. This was all new. They had just experienced the most wonderful event in their lives. They had believed in Jesus, who had died for their sin paying their debt. They had experienced what we can now read in the following verse: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). I am sure that they had not expected this great persecution! We can read of a warning that was later written to the leaders of the church: “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock” (Acts 20:29).

    It is easy to see an event, like the death of Stephen, as tragic. And it was! He was a great man of God who did much good for the church in his short ministry. In addition, the persecution of the church was a terrible event, for people were imprisoned because they believed in Jesus. However, in hindsight, we can see much good that came from the martyrdom of Stephen and the persecution of the early church. The church that was in Jerusalem began to scatter abroad – throughout Judea and Samaria. Do you remember what Jesus wanted the Believers to do? “… And ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8b). Thus far, the church was growing in Jerusalem. Once this started, the people began to scatter. “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). As they scattered abroad, they began to spread the Gospel message everywhere, all because of the persecution that came after the tragic death of Stephen. Where did they go? The persecuted church “… all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria …” (Acts 8:1b). Now that persecution had begun, God’s Word was spreading specifically into the areas into which God had told His people to spread the Gospel message.

    Read some encouraging Words that Christians need to understand if, or when, we face persecution: “10. Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11. It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12. If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us” (2 Timothy 2:9-12). Did you notice why Christians are to understand why we must endure troubles and sufferings? So that people could “obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus.”

    Do you live a Christian life enduring, so others may obtain the salvation, which is in Christ Jesus?

  • Do You Know Your Enemy?

    “Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.”
    Psalm 64:1

    Who is the enemy of a Christian? “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). The devil (Satan) is the enemy. We can read from this verse that he attacks and wants to destroy Christians. Why do we need to know about our enemy, Satan? “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Corinthians 2:11).

    Before we continue, it is important that we understand a few things about Satan: 

    • He lost his position in heaven because of pride:  “12. How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13. For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High” (Isaiah 14:12-14).
    • He is the father of lies: “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44). This is what Jesus said about the devil when He was speaking to the religious leaders. We are to recognize that Satan is a murderer, there is no truth in him, he only speaks of his own, and he is a liar. These religious leaders obviously were not in righteousness – which is the distinction between those who belong to God instead of belonging to the devil.
    • He tricks through subtlety: “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” (2 Corinthians 11:3).
    • He appears as an angel of light:  “13. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:13-14).

     When Jesus came to earth, He came to defeat Satan (the devil), once and for all. “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). Not only do we learn that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, but we recognize just who belongs to the devil. (One who commits sin in this verse is “one who practices or lives in a prolonged form of sin.”) How can you tell the difference between those who belong to the devil and those who belong to God? “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother” (1 John 3:10). There is a definite distinction.

    How do Christians defeat our enemy, the devil?

    In the following verse, one can understand a warning: departing from the truth of God’s Word, becoming a friend of the world, causes one to become the enemy of God. “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4). Adulterer means “apostate.” Therefore, a Christian must resist the devil in the faith. “Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world” (1 Peter 5:9). If Satan can shake the faith of Christians and draw them into departing from the truths of God’s Word, he can defeat them. Christians must stand fast in their faith. “That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:5).

    Christians must be humble before God. “6. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7. Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7). It is important to humble a Christian life to God, understanding that He cares for those who belong to Him. How can this be done? “And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding” (Job 28:28). Fear the Lord and depart from evil.

    Do you recognize your enemy, standing fast in your faith while fearing the Lord and departing from evil?

  • Our Adversary

    “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour”
    1 Peter 5:8

    Remember what every Christian should have already learned about Satan: when he became proud, wanting to be greater than God, he became God’s enemy (see Isaiah 14:12-16).

    When Jesus came to earth, He came to defeat Satan (the devil), once and for all. “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). Not only do we learn that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, but we recognize just who belongs to the devil. (One who commits sin in this verse is one who practices or lives in a prolonged form of sin.) How can you tell the difference between those who belong to the devil and those who belong to God? “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother” (1 John 3:10). There is a definite distinction.

    What did Jesus say about the devil when He was speaking to the religious leaders? “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44). We are to recognize that Satan is a murderer, there is no truth in him, he only speaks of his own, and he is a liar. These religious leaders obviously were not in righteousness – which is the distinction between those who belong to God instead of belonging to the devil.

    What did Jesus do for those who wanted free from the devil? “14. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15. And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:14-15). Jesus became a man to destroy Satan (through Jesus’ death and resurrection). Each person is given the choice to choose the life Jesus offered (because of His death and resurrection) instead of the life into which they were born (lost and apart from Christ).

    The life Jesus offers is eternal. Read the promise to those who choose the life offered by Jesus. “29. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, 30. But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life” (Mark 10:29-30).  Christians are then able to understand that the promises of the life Jesus offered and gave are far superior to the life they had previously. For those who chose the life Jesus offers, they recognize that the life they lived until that time was only temporary, for it would have ended in the wrath of God and in eternal death. (“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” John 3:36)

    Once a person chooses Christ, they have a new life. (“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” 2 Corinthians 5:17.) Christians then have a new enemy – the devil (Satan).

    As God’s enemy, the devil wants to destroy God’s people. (Read what we must know: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” 1 Peter 5:8.) Christians must be on guard, understanding our enemy wants to devour us. What is one thing Christians are to remember? “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9).

    Do you live a vigilant life, on guard, understanding the devil wants to devour?