DRAWING NEAR
September 9
Attacks on God's People
"Stand firm against the schemes of the devil" (Eph. 6:11).
Satan wants to catch you off-guard.
Yesterday we saw how Satan attacks God's Word. Today we will see how
he attacks God's people. Persecution, peer pressure, and
preoccupation are three weapons he employs with great effectiveness.
Persecution should never take Christians by surprise because
Scripture repeatedly warns us that it will come. For example, 2
Timothy 3:12 says, "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ
Jesus will be persecuted." Yet such warnings are often overlooked in
the health, wealth, and prosperity climate of contemporary
Christianity.
As the greed perpetuated by such a movement continues its assault on
Christian virtue, many professing believers have come to expect a
pain-free, trouble-free life. When trials come, they're caught off
guard and often disillusioned with the church or with God Himself.
Some prove to be phony believers, whom Jesus described in His parable
of the four soils: people who initially respond to the gospel with
joy, yet fall away when affliction or persecution arises because of
the Word (Matt. 13:21).
Satan also uses peer pressure as an effective weapon. Many people
never come to Christ for fear of losing their friends or being
thought of as different. For them the cost of discipleship is too
great. Even Christians sometimes struggle with peer pressure,
compromising God's standards to avoid offending others.
Another weapon is preoccupation with the world. Often the hardest
place to live the Christian life is in the easiest place. For
example, becoming a Christian in America isn't the life-threatening
choice it is in some parts of the world. Some who stand boldly
against persecution or peer pressure might falter in a climate of
acceptance. Often that's when the danger of spiritual complacency and
preoccupation with the world is greatest.
To guard against those attacks, remember that God uses persecution to
mature you and bring glory to Himself. Also, make a conscious choice
each day to please God rather than people. Finally, evaluate your
priorities and activities carefully. Fight the tendency to become
preoccupied with things unrelated to God's kingdom.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Ask God to keep you spiritually alert throughout this day so the
enemy doesn't catch you off guard.
For Further Study:
Read Matthew 26:31-56. What might the disciples have done to avoid
being caught off guard?
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
Matthew 13:21
21 Yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For
when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word,
immediately he stumbles.
Matthew 26:31-56
31 Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble
because of Me this night, for it is written: 'I will strike the
Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'
32 "But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee."
33 Peter answered and said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble
because of You, I will never be made to stumble."
34 Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night,
before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."
35 Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not
deny You!" And so said all the disciples.
36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said
to the disciples, "Sit here while I go and pray over there."
37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He
began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.
38 Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to
death. Stay here and watch with Me."
39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed,
saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me;
nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."
40 Then He came to the disciples and found them asleep, and said to
Peter, "What? Could you not watch with Me one hour?
41 "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit
indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, "O My
Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your
will be done."
43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were
heavy.
44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time,
saying the same words.
45 Then He came to His disciples and said to them, "Are you still
sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man
is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46 "Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand."
47 And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the
twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the
chief priests and elders of the people.
48 Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "Whomever I kiss,
He is the One; seize Him."
49 Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and
kissed Him.
50 But Jesus said to him, "Friend, why have you come?" Then they
came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.
51 And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his
hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and
cut off his ear.
52 But Jesus said to him, "Put your sword in its place, for all who
take the sword will perish by the sword.
53 "Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will
provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?
54 "How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen
thus?"
55 In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come out, as
against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with
you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me.
56 "But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might
be fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@gty.org
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
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To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
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