Study Material: Isaiah 46:9-10
9 …..I am God, and there is none like me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.
Today’s Teaching:
There is a very common thought that whenever something goes contrary to our expectations in life, there is a person who manipulated situations against us. In the African context (especially West Africa), there is a common thought that our enemies are against us and do not want us to prosper. In that sense, our enemies are people who are easily used by Satan to carry out his plans against us and our families. They can be known and unknown. The Bible teaches that these so-called enemies are not our problem for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Eph 6:12).
They are influenced by Satan and ultimately, he is our real enemy. But even at that, should we really be carried away with fighting Satan and his cohorts? The question is asked because ultimately, there is no situation in life that unfolds without the full knowledge of God our Father. He knows all things and sees all things. He is the one who knows the end of everything and has known it from the beginning of time (v10). So why do we spend so much time focusing on the enemy? When life deals you hard blows at the hands of the enemy, focus on asking God for mercy and deliverance. Praise! In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you (I Thess 5:18).
My father says that people are wrong when they say that we cannot question God regarding our various situations in life. He says that we can question God, but we should be ready for what God will tell us. He says that God will say, ‘Go and ask my son Job’. That saying highlights the fact that many things that we go through in life are nothing compared to what Job went through. But throughout Job’s suffering, he never cursed God. He relied on God. He did not focus on his enemies. His enemies went to visit and mocked him, but he focused on God.
Take Home Lesson: Do not focus on those who wish you ill or even mock you when things go bad. Be grateful for every situation and look to God, the author and finisher of your faith.
9 …..I am God, and there is none like me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.
Today’s Teaching:
There is a very common thought that whenever something goes contrary to our expectations in life, there is a person who manipulated situations against us. In the African context (especially West Africa), there is a common thought that our enemies are against us and do not want us to prosper. In that sense, our enemies are people who are easily used by Satan to carry out his plans against us and our families. They can be known and unknown. The Bible teaches that these so-called enemies are not our problem for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Eph 6:12).
They are influenced by Satan and ultimately, he is our real enemy. But even at that, should we really be carried away with fighting Satan and his cohorts? The question is asked because ultimately, there is no situation in life that unfolds without the full knowledge of God our Father. He knows all things and sees all things. He is the one who knows the end of everything and has known it from the beginning of time (v10). So why do we spend so much time focusing on the enemy? When life deals you hard blows at the hands of the enemy, focus on asking God for mercy and deliverance. Praise! In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you (I Thess 5:18).
My father says that people are wrong when they say that we cannot question God regarding our various situations in life. He says that we can question God, but we should be ready for what God will tell us. He says that God will say, ‘Go and ask my son Job’. That saying highlights the fact that many things that we go through in life are nothing compared to what Job went through. But throughout Job’s suffering, he never cursed God. He relied on God. He did not focus on his enemies. His enemies went to visit and mocked him, but he focused on God.
Take Home Lesson: Do not focus on those who wish you ill or even mock you when things go bad. Be grateful for every situation and look to God, the author and finisher of your faith.