Daily devotion – Facing the world’s opposition
Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
We live in a world where mankind and Satan think that they are in charge and running things. The trap that many a modern believer is beginning to fall into, is to look to governments of our world to be the panacea, the cure for our world’s wrongs and the Churches difficulties in the time we now live.
God’s people in every age must expect the world’s opposition, but the Church can always defeat the enemy by being faithful to Jesus Christ.
Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Christians in any age or situation can rejoice in victory, no matter how difficult their experiences may be. Our warfare is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of the wicked one, and these have been defeated (past tense) by our Saviour.
In the tribulation period, Satan deceives the nations into thinking that the people of God are dangerous. We see hints of that today as we are accused of being intolerant of the perverted lifestyles now popular today yet condemned by the Word of God. During the tribulation, Satan’s deception of the world’s leaders (governments), the nations will band together against Christ and His people.
This is why Psalm 2 is such a joyous reading for me and every believer as we read of God’s reaction to humanities governments puffing their chests in defiance of Christ, His people and the Word of God.
1 Why are the nations so angry?
Why do they waste their time with futile plans?
2 The kings of the earth prepare for battle;
the rulers plot together
against the LORD
and against his anointed one.
3 “Let us break their chains,” they cry,
“and free ourselves from slavery to God.”
4 But the one who rules in heaven laughs.
The Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then in anger he rebukes them,
terrifying them with his fierce fury.
6 For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne
in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.”
7 The king proclaims the LORD’s decree:
“The LORD said to me, ‘You are my son.
Today I have become your Father.
8 Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance,
the whole earth as your possession.
9 You will break them with an iron rod
and smash them like clay pots.’”
Enough said!