What is the true goal of satan?
by Pastor Adebowale Ibukun Tosin
Satan isn't
fighting many things as we think. His main fight is against the word of God!
Now, I haven't said he doesn't deal in oppression and afflictions. Of
course, he does!
Acts 10:38(NIV)how God anointed Jesus of
Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and
healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with
him.
The
verse above shows that he is found in sicknesses and diseases. Why does he do
this also? To cut short people's lives so they don't encounter the gospel! A
believer who is always sick also cannot be as effective in the ministry. All
the trials and afflictions in the world are designed to weaken convictions and
effectiveness!
However, we miss it
when we feel the devil is out there to make sure people are poor alone. Yes, he
can be found in lack and scarcity but he's not totally against people becoming
rich as much as he's against people getting saved and growing in Christ! And
this is why there are rich men who are already blinded by their trust in
wealth. Remember what Christ said about the young rich ruler? ''It is hard for
those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God."
Some folks think
the devil doesn't want them to have the loudest wedding trending on ovation,
Bella Naija etc. Well, he'd rather have you have that cheaply as long as you're
deceived that's the ultimate! He's not really out to make people lose their
jobs. He'd rather have people so busy with their jobs and successful as long as
it hinders them from being saved and growing in the knowledge of God. The
problem of this nation is more human than devilish. Neither poverty nor riches
prevents his reign. In Europe, the reason why many have become atheists is
because of a better system working and people do not see a need for God
anymore. In Nigeria, poverty and lack still drive people to church. The devil
would rather have the prosperity of America that produces atheists than have an
economy that encourages seeking God. Because sometimes, people eventually get
saved if they go to the right places. One of the amusing things in history is
how nations dominated by unbelievers thrived well economically. From bible days!
In the temptation
of Christ, he offered him all the kingdoms of the earth (Luke 4:6). See, as a believer, you might be given very
juicy opportunities that would make you abandon your commitment to the word and
then the work of ministry. You begin to entertain the thought that God is
everywhere and you don't need church meetings since your work is now every day
of the week and you no longer study and pray and share the gospel as you
should, but you still feel good!
In the parable of
the sower, Jesus made reference to something called the 'deceitfulness of
riches.' See this...
Mark 4:18; "Now these are the ones sown among thorns;
they are the ones who hear the word, and the CARES OF THIS WORLD, THE
DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES, AND THE DESIRE FOR OTHER THINGS entering in CHOKE THE
WORD, and it becomes unfruitful.
Mark those words in
capitals. Cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches and desire for other
things choke the word and lead to unfruitfulness.
Quit that mindset
that says the main thing
the devil is fighting is you not being successful! Satan is not against you
hustling to be rich. He loves your hustle! As long as your hustle is choking
spiritual commitments to the word and prayers and sharing the gospel to others.
He'd rather have you hustle so much and become too successful to be committed
as a believer! Even the poor man is caught in this web of chasing riches like
it's the ultimate. His lack and poverty have become his distraction.
Also, notice that
in the parable of the sower the only thing being fought is the Word! The first
set of people had satan come to take the word that was sown at verse 15. The
second set of people had tribulation and persecution arise FOR THE WORD'S SAKE
(verse 17). The third set of people are the ones we saw in verse 18. It was all
an onslaught against the word!
This is because
your wedding, business, success, riches and all do not affect his reign and
rule on the earth! The only thing that shakes and unsettles his kingdom is the
Gospel which is the power of God! So your wealth, success, marriage etc are no
threats unless they are for the support of the gospel! The main thing
he's fighting in the life of the believer right now is the word!
Why? See this
simple equation - In 2
Corinthians 4:3-4, he's described as one who veils men from seeing the glorious
gospel of Christ. Their minds are blinded by him, the god of this age. This is
his singular ambition. He's busy at it daily!
The Believer, on
the other hand, has been sent to preach this same gospel that is the power of
God unto salvation! You are the one who has the power to remove the veils he's
put on people's minds. So, what do you think he's targeting in your life? That
same gospel! He'd bring lots of distractions your way to make sure you have no
time for it.
He hasn't achieved
a thing by your not being rich if you're still passionately preaching and
getting men saved. He has achieved nothing by your unemployment if you're still
passionately preaching and getting men saved. The aim of all hardships and
trials is to weaken conviction and participation in the ministry. The goal of
temptations too is not the 'falling into it' but to make you begin to doubt
what God says about you, wallow in guilt, feel too unworthy to preach the word.
That's the main aim!
Don't be FOOLED!
If he's fighting
the influence of the gospel, his main fight is against those who have this
influence. To make us so pre-occupied with life and other things.
Don't be FOOLED!
”There are dozens
of references to God in the Scriptures for everyone to the figure of Satan.
This reflects a sometimes forgotten theological truth that the devil is by no
means God's counterpart. He is a creature, not the Creator.” -
John Ortberg
About the Writer
I’m Adebowale
Ibukun Tosin, a Pastor at TSK Church, Lagos. I’m passionate about raising sound
believers, equipping them to fulfil their ministry, with an emphasis on the
word and prayers as vital ingredients.
Awesome truth.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. God bless you.