The Adversary’s Single Ambition
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. - (John 10:10)
In the book of Acts, we see the Holy Spirit moving mightily, poured out in great power. Thousands of people believed. Miracles were taking place. And then what happened? The apostles were threatened (see Acts 4).
To say the least, the devil was not happy. He always fights the church when the church is on the move. As the great British preacher C. H. Spurgeon said, Satan never kicks a dead horse.
The person who wants to serve God, the one who is serious about his or her faith, is trouble as far as the devil is concerned.
We need to remember that Satan’s single ambition is to turn you and me away from God and all that is good. His ultimate agenda is summed up in a statement Jesus made: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10). And the two primary ways the devil will attack are outwardly and inwardly.
First he comes with outward attacks, like a lion. We read in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” This attack could be in the form of someone harassing you, mocking you, or even threatening you.
But then he changes his strategy and comes with an inward attack, slithering in like a snake. If he can’t win by persecution on the outside, then he will try pollution on the inside. An inward attack will be more subtle, often coming in the form of temptation.
So if you find yourself being attacked, if you find yourself being tempted, if you find yourself facing opposition as a follower of Jesus, congratulations. These things would be an indication that you are on the right track.
Summary sentence: Satan never kicks a dead horse!
Tags: Temptation, Satan, persecution
Copyright © 2012 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org
and
Listen to Greg Laurie's daily broadcast on OnePlace.com.
Watch Greg Laurie's weekly television broadcast on LightSource.com.
SPECIAL OFFER
You can receive, Seal of God by Chad Williams, as our thank-you for your financial support of Harvest Ministriesthis month.
“I had no idea that in the crowd that night was a soldier, a Navy Seal who was dealing with an emptiness in his heart and the knowledge that something was wrong on the inside. And it is amazing to see how God’s Word resonates; the Lord got a hold of this soldier that very evening and turned his life around.” --Greg Laurie
Your gift reaches people like Chad every day with the hope of God’s Word through our daily broadcast A New Beginning, our crusades, and our online ministry channel, and this year across the country through Harvest America.
