SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 4/24/2014 9:40 AM
My Worship Time Focus:
Paul Knows his Enemy
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: 1 Thess.
2:18b
Message of the
verses: “and yet Satan hindered us.”
I am not sure how much we have looked at the activities
of Satan in the SD’s that I have posted, but lets just say this: Satan is a real being who was the first being
that ever sinned against God. He is a
created being who fell, and pride was his sin as we read about his fall in two
places in the OT. “13 “But you said in
your heart, ’I will
ascend to heaven; I will
raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the
recesses of the north. 14 ’I
will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High’
(Isaiah 14:13-14).” The prophet Ezekiel
also speaks of his fall in chapter 28 and verses 1-10. Ezekiel speaks about the leader of Tyre, but
actually is speaking of Satan.
John MacArthur begins his commentary on this section with
these words: “A second reality that Paul understood well in his ministry and
relationship with the Thessalonians was that he faced satanic opposition. He had the spiritual discernment and
understanding to realize that God has allowed Satan to oppose the kingdom of God
in a variety of ways. Scripture mentions
many of them: the devil tempted Christ
(Matt. 4:3-10); he opposes the gospel (Matt. 13:19; 2 Cor. 4:4); he performs
counterfeit miracles (Ex. 7:11; Acts 8:9-24; 13:8; cf. 2 Thess. 2:9; Rev.
16:14); he seeks to deceive believers (2 Cor. 11:3, 14; Eph. 6:11); he
perpetrates lies and murders (1 Kings 22:22; John 8:44); he attacks individual
churches (Acts 5:1-11; Rev. 2:9, 13, 24; 3:9); and he especially attacks
spiritual leaders (Job 1:6-2:8; Luke 22:31-23; 2 Cor. 12:7-9; 1 Tim. 3:7). The New Testament reports that he was present
at the churches of Jerusalem (Acts 5:1-10), Corinth (2 Cor. 2:1-11), Ephesus (1
Tim. 3:6-7), Smyrna (Rev. 2:9-10), Pergamum (2:13), Thyatira (2:24), and
Philadelphia (3:9).”
Perhaps this is a good time to talk about the many books
that are out on the market today that speak of people going to heaven and then
returning. I have read several of these
books, and my conclusion is that perhaps these books are being used by the
enemy to, at least take believers minds off of the things that they should be
studying. I have heard John MacArthur
speak briefly about these books and his opinion is that they are not real, and
I have to agree with this.
We will end this portion of this SD by talking about the
word hindered. Warren Wiersbe writes
“Paul made every effort possible to return to them, though Satan was ‘breaking
up the road and putting up obstacles’ (literal meaning of ‘hindered’ in 1
Thess. 2:18).” Paul does not mention how
Satan was hindering him, but he knew that he was.
Spiritual meaning
for my life today: One of the first
times that I got to speak in a church service was when my wife and I were
living in Aruba. God had given me a
message a few months earlier and the message that He gave to me was on the
spiritual battle that we as believers face.
My computer had a virus in it and my son-in-law came to help me with
it. As he was doing this I began to think
about how we can take measures to help stop a computer of getting a virus and
this I equated in a Spiritual way in our battle with our enemy, Satan. An example having a program on your computer
that will help stop a virus, an anti virus program and this would equate with
putting on the spiritual armor in the morning.
There are other things we can do like to know our Bible which tells us
how we are being opposed by the enemy.
One thing for sure is that Satan was tempted and attacked by Satan and
so will believers.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Put on the Spiritual Armor as described in
Ephesians chapter six.
Memory verse for the
week: Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with
Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life I
now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave
Himself for me.
Answer to yesterday’s Bible
question: “Because he will be filled”
(Luke 2:21).
Today’s Bible
question: “According to 1 Thessalonians
4:18 what should Christians do concerning His coming?”
Answer in our next SD.
4/24/2014 10:32 AM
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