Continuing the series on divine providence, our attention is drawn to:

“Providence over Satan’s Hand in Persecution
The apostle Peter describes the suffering of Christians this way: “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world” (1 Pet. 5:8–9). So, the sufferings of persecution are like the jaws of a satanic lion trying to consume and destroy the faith of believers in Christ.

But do these Christians suffer in Satan’s jaws of persecution apart from God’s governing providence? When Satan crushes Christians in the jaws of their own private Calvary, does God not govern those jaws for the good of his precious child?

Listen to Peter’s answer in 1 Peter 3:17: “It is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.” Or again: “Let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good” (1 Pet. 4:19). In other words, if God wills that we suffer for doing good, we will suffer. And if he does not will that we suffer for doing good, we will not. The lion does not have the last say. Providence does.

The night Jesus was arrested, satanic power was in full force for persecution (Luke 22:3; 22:31). Until the God-appointed hour came, “no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come” (John 7:30; cf. John 8:20). God’s providence governs Satan’s hand in persecution.

Providence over Satan’s Life-Taking Power
The Bible does not take lightly or minimize the power of Satan to kill people, including Christians. Jesus said in John 8:44, “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning.” Jesus tells us, in fact, that Satan does indeed take the lives of faithful Christians. “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev. 2:10).

Is God not the Lord of life and death? He is. No one lives and no one dies but by God’s sovereign decree. “See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand” (Deut. 32:39). There is no god, no demon, no Satan that can snatch to death any person that God has decided will live (1 Sam. 2:6).

If the Lord wills, we will live. And if he doesn’t, we will die. God, not Satan, makes the final call. When Job lost his ten children, he said, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). Our lives are in God’s hands ultimately, not Satan’s. God’s providence rules over Satan’s life-taking power” —John Piper

Oh glory hallelujah because Hebrews 2:14,15 (TPT) says, Since all his “children” have flesh and blood, so Jesus became human to fully identify with us. He did this, so that he could experience death and annihilate the effects of the intimidating accuser who holds against us the power of death. By embracing death Jesus sets free those who live their entire lives in bondage to the tormenting dread of death.
Selah


Pastor Afolabi Oladele