While meditating on Christ during communion with my family this morning I had the following thought when we reflected on "the night Jesus was betrayed"...
I realised that every time we read that, we have the benefit of hindsight. We miss the full impact. We already know the outcome.... But the disciples did not. They were in that moment only.
They were with Christ. Christ had done many miracles, and taught so much, and things were looking victorious. But then suddenly all changed. One of their own left and betrayed Jesus, and turn Him over! The thought would have been unbelievable, but then only hours later the following morning - He was executed. All so sudden!
I'm sure had the internet existed back then - we'd see a thread with the title "Jesus lost to Satan today".
And let's consider it:
Was Satan working through Judas? - Yes.
Was Jesus' freedom taken away and Him dragged off away from His disciples? - Yes.
Did His disciples scatter, and even one of His closest deny Him? - Yes.
Was Jesus handed over to the enemy and then killed? - Yes.
Did the disciples lose access to their master, their Lord and leader? - Yes
In all this - looking from their perspective - we could be forgiven in believing that Jesus had lost to Satan. That Satan finally had the upper foot.
But we have the benefit of seeing things from the other side of time. We see that through all this God was in full control. Through all this, even though the appearance was Satan winning - there was nothing that he did that was not turned around to glorify Christ! Satan through all appearance was victorious but in truth was completely impotent.
The only one who lost to Satan was Judas, and that wasn't because of what other's had done - but because of his own actions....
So while considering this - I was reminded of the title of a thread "MacArthur lost to Satan Today"...
Now I know that thread I mention is of a completely different topic, (it's about whether or not people should oppose the government, and this thread is completely unrelated to that) - but it was the title that came to my mind in a different context.
But to use that title as an example, and to parallel towards MacArthur - I was reminded... nothing can be done to him that would cause him to lose to Satan. The church could be silenced, shut down by courts, lose battles even in the supreme court with MacArthur ministry collapsed and him in prison - yet he still would not have lost to Satan. Provided he stands right with God and stays focused on Christ he would have had victory through Jesus regardless of outwards appearance.
The only way that MacArthur loses to Satan is by going down the same path as Judas - if MacArthur's actions change and become ungodly. If he gives into Satan. Not the actions of the government, but his own actions. If he turns, or reacts in a wicked, evil way. Apart from that - nothing can be done to MacArthur, his ministry or his church that will make Satan victorious regardless of outwards appearance or even if the ministry is shut down - because ultimately God is in control just like the night that Jesus was betrayed.
Oh - how often do I turn to look with my natural eyes again instead of my spiritual eyes. How long will Jesus contend with this unfaithful one? Thank God for His mercy and patience with me when I fall!
Yes - God turns things around for his good - just like the night that Jesus was betrayed!
All things work for the good of those who love Him according to His will and purpose.... just like the night that Jesus was betrayed.
So I reflected on that point - and was reminded moments ago that the same applies to me.
With the US election coming up, and other battles among kingdoms/parties/mindsets - many will think that we're going to be in a win against, or lose to Satan scenario with the elections.
While I have my own thoughts and pray for a certain outcome as well, and this in no way means we should be complacent, or should (or shouldn't) vote, or anything else - today's reflection on Christ and His betrayal reminded me that in many ways it doesn't matter the outcome - its only our response that does because He already has the victory!
I hope this is encouraging to some others. For someone who's been a bit melancholy of late with what's happening in our own state as we head each day towards a totalitarian government structure, this revelation was encouraging for me.
So I ask the question - does whether we win or lose to Satan have anything to do with anything that happens around or even to us - or is it rather whether or not we do through those scenario's that is a true indication on whether we have won or lost to Satan?
(The reason I didn't respond to the other thread is because while the topic has a very similar nature and was even in my mind when thinking this - the actual content thereof is of an entirely different matter and I didn't want to take that other thread off the topic of the debate of the legalities and 'what to do's in those scenario's)
I realised that every time we read that, we have the benefit of hindsight. We miss the full impact. We already know the outcome.... But the disciples did not. They were in that moment only.
They were with Christ. Christ had done many miracles, and taught so much, and things were looking victorious. But then suddenly all changed. One of their own left and betrayed Jesus, and turn Him over! The thought would have been unbelievable, but then only hours later the following morning - He was executed. All so sudden!
I'm sure had the internet existed back then - we'd see a thread with the title "Jesus lost to Satan today".
And let's consider it:
Was Satan working through Judas? - Yes.
Was Jesus' freedom taken away and Him dragged off away from His disciples? - Yes.
Did His disciples scatter, and even one of His closest deny Him? - Yes.
Was Jesus handed over to the enemy and then killed? - Yes.
Did the disciples lose access to their master, their Lord and leader? - Yes
In all this - looking from their perspective - we could be forgiven in believing that Jesus had lost to Satan. That Satan finally had the upper foot.
But we have the benefit of seeing things from the other side of time. We see that through all this God was in full control. Through all this, even though the appearance was Satan winning - there was nothing that he did that was not turned around to glorify Christ! Satan through all appearance was victorious but in truth was completely impotent.
The only one who lost to Satan was Judas, and that wasn't because of what other's had done - but because of his own actions....
So while considering this - I was reminded of the title of a thread "MacArthur lost to Satan Today"...
Now I know that thread I mention is of a completely different topic, (it's about whether or not people should oppose the government, and this thread is completely unrelated to that) - but it was the title that came to my mind in a different context.
But to use that title as an example, and to parallel towards MacArthur - I was reminded... nothing can be done to him that would cause him to lose to Satan. The church could be silenced, shut down by courts, lose battles even in the supreme court with MacArthur ministry collapsed and him in prison - yet he still would not have lost to Satan. Provided he stands right with God and stays focused on Christ he would have had victory through Jesus regardless of outwards appearance.
The only way that MacArthur loses to Satan is by going down the same path as Judas - if MacArthur's actions change and become ungodly. If he gives into Satan. Not the actions of the government, but his own actions. If he turns, or reacts in a wicked, evil way. Apart from that - nothing can be done to MacArthur, his ministry or his church that will make Satan victorious regardless of outwards appearance or even if the ministry is shut down - because ultimately God is in control just like the night that Jesus was betrayed.
Oh - how often do I turn to look with my natural eyes again instead of my spiritual eyes. How long will Jesus contend with this unfaithful one? Thank God for His mercy and patience with me when I fall!
Yes - God turns things around for his good - just like the night that Jesus was betrayed!
All things work for the good of those who love Him according to His will and purpose.... just like the night that Jesus was betrayed.
So I reflected on that point - and was reminded moments ago that the same applies to me.
With the US election coming up, and other battles among kingdoms/parties/mindsets - many will think that we're going to be in a win against, or lose to Satan scenario with the elections.
While I have my own thoughts and pray for a certain outcome as well, and this in no way means we should be complacent, or should (or shouldn't) vote, or anything else - today's reflection on Christ and His betrayal reminded me that in many ways it doesn't matter the outcome - its only our response that does because He already has the victory!
I hope this is encouraging to some others. For someone who's been a bit melancholy of late with what's happening in our own state as we head each day towards a totalitarian government structure, this revelation was encouraging for me.
So I ask the question - does whether we win or lose to Satan have anything to do with anything that happens around or even to us - or is it rather whether or not we do through those scenario's that is a true indication on whether we have won or lost to Satan?
(The reason I didn't respond to the other thread is because while the topic has a very similar nature and was even in my mind when thinking this - the actual content thereof is of an entirely different matter and I didn't want to take that other thread off the topic of the debate of the legalities and 'what to do's in those scenario's)
