SATAN the Destroyer

SATAN'S STRATEGY AND OUR DEFENSE - THE DESTROYER
Example: JOB Scripture: Job 1, 2

SATAN’S TARGET = THE BODY [Job 2:5-6] ‘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 hand, but spare his life.”

1) The body is God’s temple - 1 Cor. 6:19-20. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

2) The body is God’s tool - Rom. 6:12-13. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments [armor, instrument, weapon.] of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

3) The body is God’s treasury - 2 Cor 4:7. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

4) The body is God’s testing-ground - 1 Cor 9:27. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

SATAN’S WEAPON = SUFFERING (GOD IS ALWAYS IN COMPLETE CONTROL!)

1) Servants Suffer at Satan’s Hand- 2 Tim 3:12. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. (Suffer for God, not self - 1 Pet. 4:15- 16)

2) Suffering Precedes Serving - Luke 22:31-32. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon! Indeed,

Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

SATAN’S PURPOSE = IMPATIENCE WITH GOD'S WILL

1) Patience Reveals God’s Mercy and Love - James 5:11. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord; that Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

2) Patience Perfects Us - James 1:2-4. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

OUR DEFENSE = IMPARTED GRACE OF GOD

1) Grace gives Joy in trials - 2 Cor 12:10. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in

reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2) Grace Will Lead us Home! - 1 Pet 5:10. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

3. Can you think of a time when you had to exercise patience and endure a hard thing?

5. What do you think about the Destroyer’s attacks on our body to make us suffer and become impatient with God’s will, especially when you know that God’s grace is available?