September 24 Satans Strategy Luke 22:31-62 All of us make tracks through the valley of failure. The question is, How are you going to respond? Plenty of people give up and exchange a vibrant kingdom-serving life for a defeated existence. But failure need not be an end. Its a chance for a new beginning living in Christs strength. Peter had a life-altering failure. Jesus warned that Satan had asked permission to sift the disciple like wheat (Luke 22:31)—vigorous shaking is required to separate wheat kernels from debris. The Enemy wanted to shake Peters faith hard in hopes that hed fall away from Jesus like chaff. Peter fervently believed the promise hed made to Jesus: Even though all may fall away, yet I will not (Mark 14:29). But Satan knows a few things about the power of fear. Whats more, he realized that the disciple would be wounded by his own disloyalty. A man with tattered pride cant help but question his usefulness. When Satan sifts believers, his goal is to damage our faith so much that were useless to God. He wants us shelved far from the action of the Lords kingdom. Therefore, he goes for our strengths—the areas where we believe ourselves to be invincible, or at least very well protected. And when the Devil succeeds, we are disappointed and demoralized. But we dont have to stay that way. If we are willing, God can use failure to do spiritual housecleaning. Peter laid down his pride and instead put on the Holy Spirits courage. Thereafter, he risked humiliation, persecution, and death to proclaim the gospel. Failure was the catalyst that brought forth greater faith and true servanthood. Extra column On the Enemy The Devil often transforms himself into an angel to tempt men, some for their instruction, some for their ruin. —Augustine of Hippo The deceit, the lie of the Devil consists of this, that he wishes to make man believe that he can live without Gods Word. —Dietrich Bonhoeffer The existence of the Devil is so clearly taught in the Bible that to doubt it is to doubt the Bible itself. —Archibald G. Brown The Devil can counterfeit all the saving operations and graces of the Spirit of God. —Jonathan Edwards The Enemy will not see you vanish into Gods company without an effort to reclaim you. —C. S. Lewis For where God built a church, there the Devil would also build a chapel. —Martin Luther That there is a Devil is a thing doubted by none but such as are under the influences of the Devil. —Cotton Mather The more God uses us, the more Satan will attempt to harass us. —Dr. Charles F. Stanley The Devil is a better theologian than any of us and is a devil still. —A. W. Tozer The Devil does not tempt unbelievers and sinners who are already his own. —Thomas à Kempis For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit intouch.org.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 08:31:56 +0000
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