The second component in the process of change is dealing with opposition. Since the purpose of change is to cause us to idolize God, form us into his image, bring us into his inheritance and to increase his ministry through our lives, Satan tries to stop this from happening.
Now let me clarify my theological beliefs before I continue. I believe in Christ’s total victory over Satan through his death on the cross, and His resurrection from the dead. The devil is defeated…no if, ands, or buts. I do not believe at all that there is a power struggle between God and the devil. The only power the devil has is that which we give him through our disobedience and sin.
Having clarified this issue, I do believe the devil knows his time on earth is short and he tries to bring as much destruction to the human race as possible. He exists to kill, steal and destroy our lives (John 10:10). Being a strategic adversary, one of the main ways he tries to destroy us is by opposing our seasons of change. Some of the ways he does this is through deception, temptation, accusation and opposition.
Apostle Paul faced opposition from the adversary as he labored to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. In 1 Thessalonians 2:17-18 Paul says, “But, brothers, when we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. (18) For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan stopped us.” Also, in 1 Corinthians 16:8-9 he writes, “But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, (9) because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.”
Apostle Paul understood the victory a believer possesses in Christ probably better than any Christian who has ever lived. However, this did not prevent the fact that he still had to fight the good fight of faith.
Moses is another leader in the Bible who faced evil opposition in his season of change. God gave Moses the command to go deliver his people, the Israelites, out of slavery and suffering from Egypt. Moses goes with a promise from God that he will be with him during his mission.
At first, all seems to be going well for Moses. Moses and Aaron bring together the elders of the Israelites, Aaron tells them everything the Lord said to Moses, and Moses performs the signs before the people. And when the elders heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped (Exodus 4:29-31).
After this, Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh and tell him what the Lord commanded concerning the exodus of the Israelites and this is how Pharaoh responds. Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go.” (Exodus 4:2)
Upset at this request, Pharaoh orders his slave drivers and foremen in charge to require the same amount of bricks from the Israelites while taking away their supply of straw. Pharaoh’s plan was to keep the Israelites busy through harder work so they would pay no attention to the will of the Lord. Not only were they forced to work harder with impossible demands, but they were beaten for their lack of production.
As the Israelite foreman appealed to Pharaoh about his impossible work demands, they realized they were in trouble because Pharaoh would not change his mind. After their meeting, they run into Moses and Aaron and say, “May the Lord judge you! You have made us a stench to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.” Moses returns to the Lord and asks him, “Why have you brought this trouble on your people? Ever since I went to speak in your name, trouble has come upon this people, and you have not rescued them at all (Exodus 5:22-23).”
The Lord tells Moses to go back to the Israelites and tell them that he will bring them out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. Moses reports this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and cruel bondage.
What a first day on the job. Moses faces opposition from his enemy and discouragement from his people in his new season as God’s chosen leader. Why does the Lord allow us to face opposition in our seasons of change? It is because he is developing his character, perspective and nature inside of us through this process.
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