God Uses Satan for His Purposes

 

The devil cheated Adam and Eve out of their dominion over the earth by his deception, manipulation and lies. This was part of God's eternal design. What Satan plans to use to harm us, God means for our good (Genesis 50:20).

Satan also schemed in his heart to destroy Jesus and to protect his place as the god of this world. Yet, Jesus went to the cross with joy in His heart as He focused on the glory awaiting Him in Heaven (Hebrews 12:2).

We live life with this same joy in our own hearts, regardless of our circumstances, looking forward to sitting together with Christ and serving Him for eternity (1 Corinthians 4:9-13; 2 Corinthians 6:8 10; Ephesians 1:21, 2:4-6).

There is no need for us to spend time fighting Satan. We draw near to God, resist the devil and he must flee from us (James 4:7). Satan has no authority of his own. He can only do the bidding of our Father God.

For example, Jesus, the Lamb of God, who is opening the seal, bowl and trumpet judgments during the Great Tribulation, directs the plans and purposes of the anti-Christ (Revelation 5:2-10).

God uses Satan for His eternal purpose on the earth. He gives Satan the power to employ sin's temptation to draw hearts away from God, which were never sold out to Him in the first place.

These people sit on the fence, giving lip-service to God and serving and giving to God's Kingdom; but they are just going through the motions (Mathew 7:22). They were never truly converted in their spirit.

When we totally surrender our will to God in salvation, His Spirit enters our spirit. He directs our every thought, word and deed. We actually become the love of Christ to the world of lost humanity around us (John 2:12-14; Exodus 33:13).

Prayer:

Father God, as authentic Believers, we submit to You, then resist the devil, and he has to flee from us (James 4:7). This does not mean our tribulation in life will end, but that You love us and make us more than conquerors through every trial (Romans 8:37). We can trust in You through everything that we experience in life, because You care for us (1 Peter 5:7).

You even make all of our paths straight because of our enemies (Psalm 27:11; Zechariah 4:7). Jesus is exalted in us as we overcome life's hurdles. He makes us His joint heirs by His power within us (1 John 3:2; Ephesians 3:6). We find our true self, hidden with Christ in You (Colossians 3:3). Help us to respond to You when You call us out of sin into Your glorious life (1 Peter 2:9).

Thought for the Day:

Problems are simply opportunities for God to prove Himself strong on our behalf; we find out what He is doing in every situation and then join Him.

God's Plan for the Ages

Society today scoffs at Believers in the same way that people in Noah’s day mocked him (Matthew 24:37). God’s mercy and grace have dealt with mankind since the beginning of time. However, if we reject God’s call to repentance, He will pour out His righteous wrath on our sin, rebellion and pride.

God gives us His precise timeline in His Word, which includes detailed information from Genesis to Revelation. These specifics alert us to His plan, which is unfolding throughout world history, as well as in current events. These prophetic words warn us of both coming destruction and Godly deliverance, which awaits us in the near future.

God’s final judgment on the nations and the devil is called the Great Tribulation (Revelation 5:17). God even gives a specific timeline of events during the Great Tribulation period, as a warning of His coming judgment (Revelation 10:1-7). God uses this time to accomplish three main purposes: To judge unrighteous nations, to save those in Israel who are willing to believe, and to end Satan’s dominion on the earth, which Adam and Eve relinquished to him in the Garden of Eden.

Repenting of our sins and trusting in Jesus Christ allows Believers to escape the terrible Day of the Lord and to enjoy eternity as the Bride of Jesus and co-heirs with Christ in the Kingdom of God (Joel 2:31). As we put our trust in the Lord, we can draw near to His presence continually throughout the day; and experience, as well as share with those in need, the miracles He provides through every trial we ever encounter ((2 Corinthians 1:3-4; Psalm 73:28).

Prayer:

Father God, we suffer now on this planet because of the sin rampant in the world; however, You always make all things beautiful in Your time (Ecclesiastes 3:11). We know that You work out everything for the good of those who are called according to Your eternal purpose and who love and obey You (Romans 8:28). We bless You, Lord, for Your mercies and comfort, even in our tribulation in this present age. You are our refuge and our strength in any time of trouble; therefore, we have no need to fear (Psalm 46:1-2).

Thought for the Day:

God’s plan for the ages is amazing and brings us to our knees in humility and gratitude.

Unchanging Father

Read: Colossians 3:1-4

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him”. - Jeremiah 17:7

 

 

God is the awesome Creator of the universe, who paints a new day for us with each bright sunrise (Psalm 113:3). He brushes in more of His blessings as the day progresses – the beauty of a flower, familiar shapes in the clouds, a bird’s song, a slight breeze to cool a brow, a smile, a hug, an encouraging word or compliment, a deep breath, soothing waves on the beach, an unusual seashell, a rainbow and unexpected savings at the retail store. All of these gifts, and so many more, are signs from God that I am still the apple of His eye and He is hiding me under the shadow of His wings (Psalm 17:8).

Nothing can separate us from the love of God, as He escorts us toward His plans and purpose for each and every day of our lives (Romans 8: 38-39). Still, we often take God’s gifts for granted. How many people do not have the advantages we have because they are poor, blind, deaf or imprisoned? God even gives advantages to the disadvantaged, however.

He shows no partiality and He gives beyond what our mind can conceive to those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9). He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry, He sets prisoners free, He gives sight to the blind, He lifts up those who are bowed down, He loves the righteous and He watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow (Psalm 146:7-9).

God is unchanging (Hebrews 13:8). No sin separates us from Him once it is repented (1 John 1:9; Psalm 103:12). No person or event can ever negate His calling on our lives. We walk with Him in the unity of His Holy Spirit, and we live our lives in service to His will (Ephesians 4:3). Even in negative circumstances, He calls us to trust in His goodness and to confidently receive His provision for all of our needs (Romans 11:22; Philippians 4:19).

God raised us with Christ and calls us to take our eyes off earthly issues and to set our affections only on matters affecting His eternal purpose (Colossians 3:1-2). He instructs us to keep our focus on Christ, who is seated at the right hand of our Heavenly Father (Hebrews 12:2). In Jesus, we have died, and our life is now united with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3,Galatians 2:20). When Christ, who is our life, appears in clouds of glory, then we also will have the privilege of appearing with Him and worshiping Him throughout eternity (Revelation 1:7; Colossians 3:4).

Even before the foundation of the world, God had everything in His control (Ephesians 1:4). Nothing takes Him by surprise. Therefore we do not need to worry about anything (1 Peter 5:7). Daily, He showers us all with an abundant supply of everything we need as He unfolds our life to us one moment at a time (Philippians 4:19). God carefully orchestrates every issue in our life for our ultimate good (Romans 8:28). Take a deep breath of God’s peace; relax the tension in your shoulders; look up into God’s face and smile; then breathe out all of the toxic, negative emotions pent up in your heart, and put your trust in His faithfulness (Psalm 36:5).

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help us to live our life for You, regardless of our sorrows and disappointments. Hide us under the shadow of Your wings, and nurture our soul as You strengthen our spirit. Give us Your peace, wisdom and joy to face each new day. Help us to finish our race victoriously, as You did Yours.

Thought for the Day:

Our day flourishes when we seek the face of God before we ever see a human face – even our own face in the mirror!




Thank you, Jessica Greek, for the use of your photo.