When Satan in mentioned, many minds go to a cartoon character with horns, a forked tail and bright red body. By reducing this fallen and rebellious angel to this image, the next step is to take him lightly or dismiss him from existence.
Paul didn’t do that. He was aware of this enemy whom Jesus called the Liar and Destroyer and several times mentioned how Satan hindered him.
But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, because we wanted to come to you — I, Paul, again and again — but Satan hindered us. (1 Thessalonians 2:17–18)
When I am praying, I’m aware that God does not need my persuasion. He is eager to bless people and do good. The Bible indicates prayer is spiritual warfare and the enemy and opposition to all that is good is Satan. He hindered the work of Paul and he tries to hinder everything that anyone attempts in service to Jesus Christ, including prayer.
Paul also knew that this enemy had various methods for stopping God’s people. Of course the big two are unbelief and sin. If he can get us to stop trusting God and tempt us to go our own way, this will effectively immobilize our efforts.
He does this in several ways. He lies. He makes suggestions that sound good at first but are contrary to the Word of God. He tries to make us think we can do good even in disobedience or that God is not interested in “this little sin.” He dares us to step out without relying on the Holy Spirit. He discredits the character of God and accuses God’s people. He tries to get us focused on minor issues, or pushes us to fight with one another. When rifts and spats happen, he knows that forgiveness is an important testimony to our faith, so he tries to stop that from happening.
Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs. (2 Corinthians 2:10–11)
He also uses false teaching and false teachers who disguise themselves as messengers of God, even as “angels of light” who appear to be genuine but are telling lies. For those, God’s people need to have sound doctrine and be very alert.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)
When Satan tempted Jesus, he preyed on his physical weakness and extreme need at that time (hunger). He also promised worldly authority and power. Jesus resisted and answered him with Scripture.
Satan wants to silence the gospel and stop the spread of God’s Word. When the gospel is preached or shared, he tries to blind people’s understanding so they cannot grasp the meaning of the message. He might use violence and affliction as a way of deterring faith. He certainly uses distractions like the cares of this life and worldly pleasures. He will hit our weaknesses and make us proud of our strengths.
I don’t look for Satan under every rock and think he is behind every activity that goes contrary to my plans, but I am aware that when God calls me to a task, there will be opposition. Sometimes I do not “feel” like obeying or am pulled aside by doubt, reasoning, or my own wants and wishes. However, the Spirit of God is more powerful than all of these. As I pay attention to Him, Satan’s methods begin to lose their strength. This is a very real war. I can win it by one major tactic . . .
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)
Faith is vital, but so is obedience. Submission to God gives me what I need to resist this enemy, and not only does he lose, he must also take flight. He cannot do anything to me when I am yielded to the Lord.
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Father, these days of blessing are also filled with war. It seems that when Your goodness is at work, this enemy intensifies his efforts to deceive, distract and destroy. Keep me alert. Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil — that You and Your name are glorified.
Perseverance is a continual battle. I’m not the persevering sort. Every chore on my list requires great determination to start, never mind finish. Even the things I enjoy require perseverance. I started a quilt last week and even though I enjoy making quilts, had to push myself to finish it. Even though spending time with God is more delightful than anything else (including quilt making), pressing on in prayer is far more challenging than all other things, easy or difficult.
This morning, my read-through-the-Bible-in-a-year brought me to Malachi 3:14. God is rebuking His people. They go about as if they are sorry for sin, then complain that this religious activity has no profit. God says, “You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God; what profit is it that we have kept His ordinance, and that we have walked as mourners before the Lord of hosts?’”
My prayer burden for other people and sorrow for their sin and mine is genuine, yet at times I fall into thinking that prayer is a huge waste of time. It is useless to serve God this way. I don’t see any answers and I’ve much to do that seems more useful.
This verse rebuked me too. Whining about lack of results and thinking that something God commands me to do is useless is just as bad a sin as the hypocrisy in Malachi’s day. In fact, God has shown me the importance of prayer over and over again. In Amos 3:7, He says, “Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.”
That verse strongly suggests what my experience verifies; when God is going to do something, He first reveals it to those who will pray (His prophets), and does not act until that prayer is offered. It is the will and plan of God to include the prayers of His people in His activities.
Then I think, my prayers are just words, I’d rather be doing something. I read 1 Corinthians 4:20 this morning too. It says, “For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.”
This is another rebuke. God’s kingdom isn’t built or established by mere talk, but it is established through the power of prayer. Prayer is not mere talk. It is communication with God. Actually, it is not so much me talking to Him, but if I am in tune, it is God speaking to my heart and out of my mouth. Prayer is God using His people to say His thoughts back to Him.
This is a stupendous truth. He will act, but first He reveals His desire and expects me to say it. As I do, He answers. Why He works this way is a mystery, but He does use prayer.
Last month I prayed every day for a man who has withdrawn from his family. Months go by with no word at all from him. This week he showed up at a family gathering. Not only that, he spent time with one person with whom there has been no communication for years and years. How can I say that it is useless to pray, to serve God this way?
A few years ago, I read (also in Malachi) that God will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children. I prayed for a certain person who had left his family. In a few months, the family was back together—the heart of the father restored to his children and to his wife also. How can I say it is useless to pray, to serve God this way?
My conclusion is that the whispered words of ‘useless’ are not my own. My enemy, the liar and father of lies, wants me to stop. I’m messing with his plans and he knows too that God does not act unless He reveals His secrets to His praying people. If he can keep me from praying, then he can thwart the plan of God.
Yet this scheme is not a secret that he can hide. God reveals it to me to encourage me to keep praying. He reminds me too that every prayer is heard and He uses every prayer to build His kingdom. Prayer is not mere words but power, not my power, but the power of God.