He Made You Do What?

I don’t think so…

“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them….Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”  (Job 1:6, 8)

Job was the best that God had on the earth and his faith stood out.  Obviously God knew Job’s faith could withstand any attack.  As a result, He gave Satan power over all that Job had, with only one stipulation, “do not lay a hand on his person”, Job 1:12. Read Job 1:13-19 to see what Satan did.  When Job began to feel the affects of Satan’s rampage, he fell on his face and worshipped God, “blessed be the name of the Lord”, Job 1:21. The bible says, “In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong”, Job 1:22. How often does God get blamed for all the negative events that happen in our lives?

Everything was taken from Job but he maintained his integrity.  Satan later went back to God, Job 2:2. “Then the Lord said to Satan, have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?  And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited me against him, to destroy him without cause”, Job 2:3.

Satan wasn’t satisfied with the results, “So Satan answered the Lord and said skin for skin!  Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life.  But stretch out your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse you to your face! And the Lord said to Satan behold, he is in your hands, but spare his life”, Job 2:4-6.  God did not touch Job, he gave that power to Satan, and the attack was on.  Job had boils from the top of his head to the soles of his feet.  You know the rest of the story.  Everyone around Job wanted him to curse God and die.  Job did not do that, instead he said of God, “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I shall come forth as gold”, Job 23:10.

Satan is head of the principalities, powers and rulers of the darkness of this age, and spiritual wickedness in heavenly places, Ephesians 6:12.  He commands an army, and will send the necessary forces against Christians.  Never is he able to make you do anything. You choose to identify with him by letting your flesh act upon the situations he brings into your life. Choose to allow your spirit to respond and identify with God.

It is unfortunate, that Satan knows where to attack us.  Just like with Job, if touching our family and personal belongings does not turn us against God, he will attack the body.  Our response to the attack is what matters to God.  Will we continue to worship him if we have nothing?  Will we continue to worship God in the midst of sickness and disease?  Will we worship God when family and friends say give up it’s not worth it?  Or will we choose to satisfy our flesh, and make ourselves feel good?  Will we choose self over God?  Will we choose family and friends over God?  (That is still choosing self.) The flesh will not be denied; therein lies the struggle between the flesh and the spirit.  It will be that way until Christ returns for his church and we receive our glorified body (Philippians 3:20-21).  So, who is in control….your spirit or your flesh?

Taking control,

Rosita