Something that many people don't understand is that God is not the author of pain and suffering, chaos, confusion and death. He is loving, kind, tender, full of compassion, and full of mercy. His character is shown in that when there was no hope for us, He sent His Son to take our punishment of death for us. He offers us life in a world where there is death, destruction and hopelessness.
Realize that Satan is the god of this world, as Jesus told us in John 12:31, 14:30, 16:10, and Paul in 2 Cor. 4:4. Satan's plan is simple, he comes to "steal, kill and destroy," John 10:10. But Jesus Christ makes it possible for us to have every victory, even over this ungodly world ruler. He told us, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly," John 10:10. Indeed, this is true.
How did Satan become the god of this world? It happened when Adam and Eve sold out. In the beginning, they were given authority to rule this world by God Himself when He said, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, over every living thing that moves on the earth," Genesis 1:28. But Adam and Eve succumbed to temptation. They fell, and in that fall Satan stole the authority they had been given. Hence when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness, he showed Jesus "all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, and he said to Him, 'All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.'" Jesus rebuked him with the word of God, using that sword of the Spirit we still use today, Matthew 4:10. My point is, Jesus did not deny that Satan had all these kingdoms. He has them, Satan is the ruler of this world.
Realize, therefore, that the "acts of God" we read about--hurricanes and other natural disasters--are not acts of God at all, they are acts of Satan. Realize that disease, sickness, suffering, all of these were not introduced by a loving God, but by Satan who is using his authority over creation to create evil in the vilest forms, who comes to "kill, steal and destroy," John 10:10.
What do we do about it? Realize one more thing: in the cross Jesus Christ triumphed over every evil, nailing the requirements against us to that same cross, Colossians 2. WE CAN TAKE AUTHORITY OVER SATAN IN JESUS CHRIST'S NAME!
How? By first of all taking ourselves out of Satan's kingdom and being translated into the kingdom of God's only Son, Jesus Christ. Recognize that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Recognize that our sin has separated us from a holy God, Romans 3:23, and that sin results in death, always, Romans 6:23. Ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart and be your Lord and Savior, to forgive you of your sins, to cleanse you and deliver you completely from evil. Ask Him to make you the man of God He desires you to be--let this last part be a daily prayer.
Grow. Get baptized by immersion, because in baptism bondages are broken, Romans 6, and in baptism you put on Christ, Galatians 3:27.
Grow some more. Ask God your heavenly Father to fill you with His Holy Spirit, Ephesians 5:18; Acts 2:38-29. Believe that when He fills you, He will lead you and guide you into all truth and teach you, if you ask, and if you are willing to listen and do the things He teaches, John 16:13-15; John 14:26; 1 John 2:20; James 1:22-25.
Grow even further. Find a fellowship or church that teaches the word of God, and be strengthened by other Christians, Hebrews 10:25.
Then you will find it easy to do this next thing: Take up your stand against Satan and all his evil, deception and works. Have nothing to do with the kingdom of darkness, but rather come against it, as led by the Holy Spirit. Learn to put on the full armor of God, Ephesians 6:10-18, learn to tear down strongholds, 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, learn that EVERY believer has authority over darkness in Jesus Christ's name. A lot of suffering could be avoided if we could only learn this and do it!
Jesus said that He came that we may have life, and that more abundantly, John 10:10. Ultimately, the victory is ours, ALWAYS, but in this life we must fight for it, not only for ourselves, but also for others around us.
We have the victory, His name is Jesus Christ. Our God is good, kind, merciful. He has made a way for us to win, even though we are born into a world that is not ruled by Him.
Realize that Satan is the god of this world, as Jesus told us in John 12:31, 14:30, 16:10, and Paul in 2 Cor. 4:4. Satan's plan is simple, he comes to "steal, kill and destroy," John 10:10. But Jesus Christ makes it possible for us to have every victory, even over this ungodly world ruler. He told us, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly," John 10:10. Indeed, this is true.
How did Satan become the god of this world? It happened when Adam and Eve sold out. In the beginning, they were given authority to rule this world by God Himself when He said, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, over every living thing that moves on the earth," Genesis 1:28. But Adam and Eve succumbed to temptation. They fell, and in that fall Satan stole the authority they had been given. Hence when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness, he showed Jesus "all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, and he said to Him, 'All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.'" Jesus rebuked him with the word of God, using that sword of the Spirit we still use today, Matthew 4:10. My point is, Jesus did not deny that Satan had all these kingdoms. He has them, Satan is the ruler of this world.
Realize, therefore, that the "acts of God" we read about--hurricanes and other natural disasters--are not acts of God at all, they are acts of Satan. Realize that disease, sickness, suffering, all of these were not introduced by a loving God, but by Satan who is using his authority over creation to create evil in the vilest forms, who comes to "kill, steal and destroy," John 10:10.
What do we do about it? Realize one more thing: in the cross Jesus Christ triumphed over every evil, nailing the requirements against us to that same cross, Colossians 2. WE CAN TAKE AUTHORITY OVER SATAN IN JESUS CHRIST'S NAME!
How? By first of all taking ourselves out of Satan's kingdom and being translated into the kingdom of God's only Son, Jesus Christ. Recognize that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Recognize that our sin has separated us from a holy God, Romans 3:23, and that sin results in death, always, Romans 6:23. Ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart and be your Lord and Savior, to forgive you of your sins, to cleanse you and deliver you completely from evil. Ask Him to make you the man of God He desires you to be--let this last part be a daily prayer.
Grow. Get baptized by immersion, because in baptism bondages are broken, Romans 6, and in baptism you put on Christ, Galatians 3:27.
Grow some more. Ask God your heavenly Father to fill you with His Holy Spirit, Ephesians 5:18; Acts 2:38-29. Believe that when He fills you, He will lead you and guide you into all truth and teach you, if you ask, and if you are willing to listen and do the things He teaches, John 16:13-15; John 14:26; 1 John 2:20; James 1:22-25.
Grow even further. Find a fellowship or church that teaches the word of God, and be strengthened by other Christians, Hebrews 10:25.
Then you will find it easy to do this next thing: Take up your stand against Satan and all his evil, deception and works. Have nothing to do with the kingdom of darkness, but rather come against it, as led by the Holy Spirit. Learn to put on the full armor of God, Ephesians 6:10-18, learn to tear down strongholds, 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, learn that EVERY believer has authority over darkness in Jesus Christ's name. A lot of suffering could be avoided if we could only learn this and do it!
Jesus said that He came that we may have life, and that more abundantly, John 10:10. Ultimately, the victory is ours, ALWAYS, but in this life we must fight for it, not only for ourselves, but also for others around us.
We have the victory, His name is Jesus Christ. Our God is good, kind, merciful. He has made a way for us to win, even though we are born into a world that is not ruled by Him.
