Hebrews 12I've been thinking why it's easier to identify oppression, conflict, and suffering as Satanic attack rather than God's discipline. I have a hypothesis. If we identify something as Satanic attack, the implication is that Satan is trying to get me to sin and fall. But when God disciplines us, instead of Satan being the problem, we realize that WE actually are the problem. We have already sinned and fallen, but God is disciplining us (discipling us) to correct us and teach us a better way to live and make choices.
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes (scourges) everyone he accepts as a son."
7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.
My prayer right now is for those who are feeling oppression and suffering because the Lord is disciplining them away from their sin and toward righteous repentance. May we all recognize our sin and realize that it is the enemy WITHIN us that is our greatest adversary, and it is the discipling of the Lord that is our greatest ally.
1 comments:
This is an area that really is in need of more detailed and thoughtful exploration. Being familiar with deliverance minstry I am also familiar with this idea that all oppression we are going through is satanic attack, as in there is nothing of concern in nmy life, satan is just making me miserable unjustly. And yet satan asked for and got, perission to sift Peter like wheat. Paul had a messenger from satan that buffeted him which he concluded was intended to help him stay humble and dependent on God lest he become full of himself after such a God encounter. He asked three times for God to take it away and He did not. And of course, Job was just minding his own business when all hell broke loose in his life.
Perhaps some of what we experience as vexing torment, oppression and lack of peace is really about things in our lives that block our fellowship with God. Unforgivness cuts us off from God's grace. Spiritual pride and rebellion are considered as witchcraft; God cannot bless a life that continues in this way. A defiling root of bitterness will block the grace of God in our lives and pollute that clear stream of God's grace and presence. So will idolatry. Scripture records that if I harbor sin in my heart, God will not hear me. Elsewhere it refers to God not hearing us when we wwail upon our beds; apparently He is not interested in listening to our pity parties.
I have no doubt that satan is a real adversary and am sickened often by the way many christians seem to see it as a mark of superior spiritual wisdom that they ignore the enemy almost entirely. There is no place in the bible where one of the articles of the armor of God is listed as "denial". But the darkness in our own hearts often gives him a place to hang his hat. Jesus commented that the ruler of this world is coming but HE HAS NOTHING IN ME. Isn't that an interesting comment. Nothing in me. Only Jesus could say that. There were no ares of darkness or compromise that could give satan any advantage at all. How does that speak to our battle with the ememy?
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