I have been working on seeking the Lord more and also trying to do some things in the area of sharing my faith in Christ with others. This is just in the past 2 days basically. Not surprisingly what has happened is I have been the recipient of some spiritual opposition. Interpersonal conflict through people is the most common way this happens. I was traveling on, spending some good time in the Lord trying to get stronger and grow in him, and I had some crazy plans to share the Lord with neighbors through bringing them brownies and hoping I could come up with a way to invite them to church. (we have a special 4-week sermon series coming starting next week and my wife and I have discussed inviting friends or neighbors)
So, I'm pretty frustrated and I needed to vent about this. If it is something you can relate to as well, all the better.
Well, I don't want to throw anyone under the bus so I won't mention any names but the enemy created some totally unnecessary conflict between me and someone directly around my devotional time today and then the brownies idea. Sometimes conflict is so stupid by the way. Anyway, the enemy picked away at me all day through people and eventually I lost it. I was so "set-up" in the way that I finally lost it that to this minute (it just happened 45 minutes ago) I don't know how I could have detected it. In fact, to get over the conflict I am having to shut off my brain and just accept what someone is saying in direct opposition to all evidence in the situation.
Spiritual opposition is the work of the Devil. He is opposed to God and anything about God. He works in subtle ways, primarily through influencing the thoughts of people. Generally people don't even know the wicked, hurtful, wounded, or manipulative thoughts may not be 100% from them. They are influenced, planted, and hinted at in various ways by the Evil One. If you don't believe in this and think its weird, I hear you- it is weird. Its less shocking that there is a Devil than that he can mess with people. Frankly, I don't like the fact at all.
The Bible says, "Everyone who desires to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." Oftentimes persecution is not so severe as being physically hurt or publicly mocked. Usually it is just related to stress, tough circumstances, and people-related conflict and struggle. Persecution is opposition to the Kingdom of God in and through our lives.
I am not a real expert on how to combat this but I do know of 3 principles out of the Bible:
1st - Expect opposition and keep an eye out for it.
2nd - Persevere, stick it out.
3rd - Submit to God, keep spending time with him, and resist the Devil.
The Bible says when you do this the Lord will restore you after a little while and the Devil will flee from you.
The message: keep trusting God, spending time with him, keep doing good... this opposition is temporary.
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