Satan’s Strategy for Your Life #32: Stealing Conviction
“Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.”—Matthew 13:18-19
Conviction—God’s blessed gift that He is in the world and calling those of out of the world to life in Him. But, when one hears the word of God’s kingdom—that Christ came to save sinners and all of us need to respond in repentance and faith—Satan desires to steal that conviction before it gives birth to repentance and faith.
Jesus had just taught the crowds about the Parable of the Sower. The sower had gone forth sowing seed in the field, with the seed falling in various places yielding various results. The specific seed that Jesus addresses in our verse had fallen on the path and the birds came and took it away (Matthew 13:4), which Jesus equates as a metaphor for the work of Satan.
The Word of God is “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart”—Hebrews 4:12. The Word of God is living because it is “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16)—which suggests the same imagery as God’s creation of Adam. God created Adam from the dust of the ground and then breathed the breath of life into him (Genesis 2:7) making him into a living being.
The Bible is alive and by its being preached, conviction comes and then faith is given. Which is why preaching is so necessary in the life of the church. Paul said his purpose was to “preach the gospel” (1 Corinthians 1:17) and wrote to Timothy to, “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching”—2 Timothy 4:2. Why should Timothy be ready to preach the word at any moment? Because faith is given when the Word of God is preached. As Paul wrote, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”—Romans 10:17.
Satan desires to sabotage the preaching of the Word and the conviction that comes thereafter. He will attempt to distract hearers and those who have heard in order to remove the conviction that leads to faith. How? His devices and strategies all find their foundation in lies, which may include making Christianity look foolish, faddish, emotional, or all too difficult to live out.
It is imperative for the believer in Christ to recognize Satan’s strategy and continue on in persevering prayer. Because it is through prayer that the enemy is stilled, while the Word of God goes forth in full-power bringing conviction, faith, and salvation, “At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison”—Colossians 4:3. And again, “Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you”—2 Thessalonians 3:1.
Don’t let Satan steal the conviction that comes through the proclamation of the Word! Conviction must give birth to faith and salvation! Pray that God would still the enemy as God’s Word brings life to all of those who hear. And may many come to know the living Christ because of it. Amen.
Conviction—God’s blessed gift that He is in the world and calling those of out of the world to life in Him. But, when one hears the word of God’s kingdom—that Christ came to save sinners and all of us need to respond in repentance and faith—Satan desires to steal that conviction before it gives birth to repentance and faith.
Jesus had just taught the crowds about the Parable of the Sower. The sower had gone forth sowing seed in the field, with the seed falling in various places yielding various results. The specific seed that Jesus addresses in our verse had fallen on the path and the birds came and took it away (Matthew 13:4), which Jesus equates as a metaphor for the work of Satan.
The Word of God is “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart”—Hebrews 4:12. The Word of God is living because it is “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16)—which suggests the same imagery as God’s creation of Adam. God created Adam from the dust of the ground and then breathed the breath of life into him (Genesis 2:7) making him into a living being.
The Bible is alive and by its being preached, conviction comes and then faith is given. Which is why preaching is so necessary in the life of the church. Paul said his purpose was to “preach the gospel” (1 Corinthians 1:17) and wrote to Timothy to, “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching”—2 Timothy 4:2. Why should Timothy be ready to preach the word at any moment? Because faith is given when the Word of God is preached. As Paul wrote, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”—Romans 10:17.
Satan desires to sabotage the preaching of the Word and the conviction that comes thereafter. He will attempt to distract hearers and those who have heard in order to remove the conviction that leads to faith. How? His devices and strategies all find their foundation in lies, which may include making Christianity look foolish, faddish, emotional, or all too difficult to live out.
It is imperative for the believer in Christ to recognize Satan’s strategy and continue on in persevering prayer. Because it is through prayer that the enemy is stilled, while the Word of God goes forth in full-power bringing conviction, faith, and salvation, “At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison”—Colossians 4:3. And again, “Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you”—2 Thessalonians 3:1.
Don’t let Satan steal the conviction that comes through the proclamation of the Word! Conviction must give birth to faith and salvation! Pray that God would still the enemy as God’s Word brings life to all of those who hear. And may many come to know the living Christ because of it. Amen.
Comments
Post a Comment