This week, we have studied Biblical strategies for dealing with opposition. We have seen that our first response should be prayer, and that we should then work with all our hearts and also remain vigilant in the face of the enemy.
Lastly, we will see in the fourth chapter of Nehemiah, that we should keep our minds focused on the Lord.
After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” (v 14)Nehemiah reminded them that the Lord is great and awesome; he directed their focus away from the wiles of the enemy to the mighty power of God.
It's easy sometimes when opposition hits to get our focus off the Lord. We tend to focus on those problems. When this happens, let's remember what Paul told us:
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:1-3)If we believers are tempted to give in to opposition; if we are tempted to give in to sin, remember the ripple effects that it will start . . . first it will affect us; then it will affect our families; then it will affect others who see our testimony.
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (I Corinthians 10:13)Let's keep our minds focused on the Lord!
If we are Christians and we try to accomplish anything for the Lord, we will experience opposition. We can take the example of Nehemiah and respond positively -- keeping our focus on the great and awesome God whom we serve.
Now, we've had some good discussions in the past.....I 'd like for us to consider this question and leave comments for others to consider.
Does Satan use believers to oppose God's work today? If the answer is yes, how?
I think the answer is yes, as, speaking from my own experience, the devil uses apathy in the believer an awful lot in order to thwart God's work. Apart from apathy, believers can also be seduced by wrong doctrine and (at least at first) unknowingly be enthusiastically led down a path where ultimately it ends up being the opposite to God's plan. The devil is jumping with joy when that happens. We all know the analogy of the tall building having slightly askew foundations which actually doesn't impact until the building is complete. Then there is complacency! We can, as Christians, get pretty smug about our salvation.
ReplyDeleteI really do think that the main reason the devil can use Christians to oppose God's work is the lack of biblical knowledge and understanding it as an organic whole, in context. It is seen as an anachronism which if Christians choose to ignore of course Satan is delighted and will be rubbing his hands together in glee. For so many Christians today it is more to do with how we feel than who we are in Christ.
Hope some of the above makes sense!
It does. I especially like the sentence:
ReplyDelete"For so many Christians today it is more to do with how we feel than who we are in Christ".