I'm beginning a new series called 'Back to Christian Basics.' In this series, we'll thoroughly explore each topic from a biblical perspective to strengthen our relationship with Jesus.
On this series the sixth and final topic is 'Struggles in Christian Life’ . In this we explore why we have struggles when we are close to God, Where is the source of this struggle, why God allows these struggles for our Spiritual maturity and why we should not give up on these struggles.
People usually want an easy, good life, but when things get tough, it can be hard. When we follow Christ we distance ourselves from the world, we encounter many spiritual challenges as we navigate through life.
Why do we experience these Struggles ?
Separation from World vs Faith
Prior to being saved in Salvation of Christ and When we were living according to the world, we used to satisfy the pleasures of world (Cravings of our’s / Lusts of us / Worldly pleasures etc..) all of our self desires comes from Satan’s temptations, we consciously give into them. As we commit those sins, satan was not worried on us. Ephesians 2:3-5 (NIV) 'All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. '
When you get baptized and have faith, you get closer to God. Through Jesus, we are protected from sin, and we can follow Him faithfully, as the Body of Christ is clothed in us, which makes us walk opposite to the desires of flesh (sin) vs spirit of God.
Galatians 3:27 (NIV) for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Galatians 5:17 (NIV) 'For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. '
Christian Struggle vs Worldly struggle
As we walk in our christian life, we may have struggles from unknown people, unknown sources, we may wonder why did this person oppose me whom we have not known or in close contact, We may experience some sickness which we have no past history of. Each of us have a story of our own. These struggles in christian life is a battle in heavenly realms (God’s people of the world) vs Satan (Worldly people), Christian life is a fight with the power of darkness (Satan) Ephesians 6:12 (NIV) 'For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. '
Satan tries to lead people away from God and into a sinful life by using the world and its temptations. Thats the main objective of this Christian Struggle vs Worldly struggle.
Jesus himself said that we will have to take up a cross and follow him. Cross represents struggles of the world when we follow Jesus. Matthew 16:24 (NIV) 'Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. '.
Some people think there won't be any struggles in life, but that's not true. Struggles aren't there to make us weak; they're meant to help us grow spiritually, understand God's plans, and get closer to Him. These challenges will keep coming because the devil knows his time is running out, so he keeps fighting. Just like it says in Revelation 12:12 (NIV): "Rejoice, you heavens and those who live there! But trouble is coming to the earth and the sea, because the Devil is very angry. He knows that he doesn't have much time left.”
Source / Methods of Struggles
We have understood why we experience struggle. The source of those struggle is from Satan. We need to know the enemy to fight the battle against him. In a spiritual battle, if we don’t know the enemy its hard for us to fight the battle and we tend to loose these battles and return back to our sinful ways. The intent of describing the enemy is not to glorify the enemy, its to know the enemy and his strengths, it helps us to fight the battle
Who is Satan ?
Satan was an angel of God (guardian cherub) - he was filled with pride (Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor.) as a result he sinned against God and because of his sin he was kicked out from Heaven. Detailed view of how he was created to kicking out is written in book of Ezekiel (This passage speaks of the fall of the proud King of Tyre. Prophet Ezekiel likens it to the fall of Satan) Ezekiel 28:13-17 (NIV) - 'You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: carnelian, chrysolite and emerald, topaz, onyx and jasper, lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings. ‘
His personal name, “Satan,” means “adversary.” This name indicates Satan’s basic nature: he is the enemy of God, of all God does, and of all God loves. 2 Thessalonians 2:4 (NIV) 'He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. ‘
He wants us to worship him as he is a imitator of God, As every thing in the world / heaven bows to God, Satan wants us to worship him. As a prince of the world, he wants us to be worldly and worship all the world desires.
Names of Satan - Call him - Satan / Devil / Slanderer / Beelzebul / Prince of world / Prince of Kingdom of air / God of this age / Lucifer/deceiver, all qualifies Satan, all the name is the same.
Satan’s Characters
He is filled with Wisdom & Beauty - Ezekiel 28:12 (NIV) - '“Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “ ‘You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. ‘
Seal of Perfection - He is perfect in what he does. He uses this character to trick us in “Spirit of Falsehood”.
Full of Wisdom - Because of his wisdom, he is most cunning, he is a master in craftiness which our human mind cannot understand. Ezekiel 28:2 (NIV) '“Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “ ‘In the pride of your heart you say, “I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas.” But you are a mere mortal and not a god, though you think you are as wise as a god. '
Craftiness - He is so clever that you cannot easily identify him. he imitates God’s characters to make us believe he is God with God’s qualities (Light / righteousness) 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 (NIV) - 'And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve. ‘
Stronger - Mark gives an account of how strong a person becomes when he is bound by impure spirits - Mark 5:2-4 (NIV) 'When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. ‘
Perform Miracles by Sorcery & Magical Powers - An account of his miracle power and how God counters with Moses / Aaron and Pharaoh is recorded in Exodus 7 and 8 - Exodus 7:8-13 (NIV) - 'The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Perform a miracle,’ then say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh,’ and it will become a snake.” So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. Yet Pharaoh’s heart became hard and he would not listen to them, just as the Lord had said. ‘
World and his kingdom is undivided - Satan has an army / rulers as well - Ephesians 6:12 (NIV) - 'For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities…”
His Experience - Never underestimate Satan over his experience of deceiving and tricking people he has been doing this business for more than 6000 Years beginning with our first parents (Adam / Eve). So we are no match to his experience.
His Hyper-activeness - Satan is hyper active, he goes across the places and he can be only in one place Job 2:2 (NIV) - 'And the Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord , “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.” ‘
When we read these characters of satan we may feel we are fighting a enemy very strong and powerful, like I said earlier the intent is not to praise him, but to know him. Take courage. Our God is stronger and mightier than satan. Our Lord Jesus Christ is our Creator of everything (Humans / world / all things of the world including Satan). Satan is fighting a battle against the Creator. Because Satan is a “created” being, He is inferior to the “Creator” God!. Unlike God, he has limitation.
1 John 4:4 (NIV) - 'You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. ‘
2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (NIV) 'For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. '
Methods of Struggles
Deception - He deceives people, thats his first and foremost tool. As he did from early days of Adam / Eve - Genesis 3:1 - 'Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” '
Fear - He induces fear to make us afraid of the Situation and do things which is against God’s will. Luke 12:4 (NIV) ' “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. '
Division - He is does not want anyone to be united in Christ or any family united, he uses means to divide and separate. he did the same in 1 Chronicles 21:1 'Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. '
Father of Lies - He lies and deceives us with lies which is against the truth John 8:44 (NIV) 'You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. '
He blinds our eyes - When we say he makes our eyes blind, more from a spiritual realms, we may see someone in sin, but they may not recognise the sin they are into. 2 Corinthians 4:4 (NIV): 'The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
He is a imitator of God - He imitates God with False prophets 2 Corinthians 11:13-14 (NIV) - 'For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
Lust and Pride - He is full of beauty. so he will create the lustful thoughts and desires to woo us to the worldly pleasures to commit sin, since he is filled with Pride he brings proud in us to make us fall from Grace of God. 1 John 2:16 NIV For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.
Temptations - Temptations are always from Satan James 1:13 (NIV) 'When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; '
Struggles and Spiritual Maturity
God holds the keys for Satan to touch us, without his permission he cannot touch us. We read this in Job when God gave him the permission Job 1:8,12 'Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord . ' If God is allowing these struggles to come to us, its for a reason.
Strengthen Faith - We cannot escape suffering, we learn to endure it not with our own strength but with the “Faith” in Christ, it helps us thru this struggles of life. Paul says it very aptly in 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 'We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ' our faith helps us endures and makes us closer to God - 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV) 'For we live by faith, not by sight. '
Strengthen Endurance in Christ - Satan is finding every means to troubles all believers who have faith in Christ, The word says “family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings”, the struggles are only for a little while, some of us suffer for longer period, some for short period but God determines how much we can withstand based on our strength. 1 Peter 5:9-10 (NIV) 'Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. '
Strengthen us to make us pure and righteous - Some of the struggles are meant to break our bad habits which may not be in accordance to God’s desires, for some with lot of Anger, for some it may be lust with worldly pleasures, for some it may be lot of idols of life (Money / work / Body love / Desires etc.). God wants us to break from these to make us pure. 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 (NIV) 'For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit. '
Be a witness to others - Some of the struggles of life are not only for your own needs, its to show other people who are lacking faith to trust and come to Lord, he will use our testimony to turn other non-believers to him. 1 Thessalonians 5:9,11 (NIV) 'For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. '
Grow up - God does not want us to be a babes in Christ, he want us to mature in Christ, these struggles are meant to strengthen us to grow from Babes to more mature person in Christ. 1 Peter 2:2 NIV Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
Struggles are meant to Bend our knees / wear the helmet of Salvation - When we go thru struggles, we kneel before our Father for help. Our self dependence is gone and we depend on God’s strength to help overcome
Paul says this way Ephesians 3:14 NIV For this reason I kneel before the Father.
David says Psalm 95:6 (NIV) Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker
Pau gives us the advice to wear the armour of God - Ephesians 6:10-11,13-17 (NIV) 'Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full amor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. '
Do not Give up to Mature Spiritually
Do not worry on your struggles, Trust in God and seek God’s help to wade of your struggle. Remember you are God’s children you are given all the power of God to crush the enemy Luke 10:19-21 NIV I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
Do not give up your faith in Christ Ephesians 6:16 “take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one”
Continue to Pray in the struggles for God’s help - Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) 'And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. '
Read the word (Bible) For the Word only will help us free from the lies of Satan. Word of God is light and this light will set us free from all sins Ephesians 6:14 (NIV) - 'Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ‘
Remember the God we worship is more powerful than the satan, he will not forsake you in any situation - Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV) 'Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” '