Adversaries Are Real

On this eve of the final day of the week, let us be refreshed with some of what we have been looking at, with even more careful eye, concerning adversaries. Whether with Jesus, David, you, me or other children of God, these are facts which by faith we must live out.

Adversaries’ Will

The will of the adversary is always to harm. Having been given proof of this truth with both David and Jesus, we listen to Joseph, as he speaks words of wisdom about the will of his adversaries. You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50: 20. We know that the premeditated will of Joseph’s adversaries was definitely to harm him. 

O for faith to believe that the will of my adversaries, whoever they are and however they come, can never, ever prevail over the Supreme Will of our Supreme God. What then have we to fear?

Adversaries’ Witness

The witness of the adversary is always trumped up and false. Again, having noted this evil, being openly demonstrated with both David and Jesus, our attention is turned to Jason, a simple Thessalonian believer, who has opened his house to Evangelist Paul and his team. Paul is preaching Christ to the people, Jews and Gentiles alike. However, there were Jews who became envious of Paul. These wicked Jews, adversaries of Jesus, Paul, Jason and all involved in the Gospel mission, went and took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and did a lot of damage, getting them to agree to what was false and deviously wicked. They dragged Jason and some friends from Jason’s house and took them to the authorities, telling lies on Paul and his fellow workers and on Jason. This is what they said. Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decree of Caesar, saying there is another king – Jesus. Acts 17: 7. After bearing outright falsity against Jason and the other brethren, they made them all place a bond, then allowed them to go free.

O for the confidence to withstand all false testimonies against you, with the calm assurance that even though you may be required to give securities, God will vindicate you. What then have we to be stressed and bothered about people telling lies on us?   

Adversaries’ Wickedness

The wickedness of the adversary is highly demonic. Once again, having been given examples of such wickedness done to David and to Jesus, we note the same experience of evil, hurled at a woman of questionable character. Jesus is the guest of a Pharisee named Simon. An uninvited woman enters and lavishly offers a love gift to Jesus. Simon knows the woman in the community as, one who lives a sinful life. In his mind he does not just scorn her and hold her as one far from the Kingdom of God, a person to be shunned and stoned even, if it could be done, but he begins to think wicked thoughts of Jesus also. Here is wickedness par excellence. This religious leader is looking at a God-forgiven sinner and still seeing her as one who is lost. If that isn’t wicked I don’t know what is. Not only that. Here she is, giving more honour, love and respect to Jesus than he has shown, yet he is condemning her genuine love as evil and sinful. We know that she is a forgiven child of God, for Jesus says it to Simon. I tell you, then, the great love she has shown proves that her many sins have been forgiven. But whoever has been forgiven little shows only a little love. Luke 7: 47.  Never be fooled! For any believer to keep seeing you and treating you as the old you, and not in the new, changed, God-forgiven you, is nothing but wickedly demonic.

O for faith to believe that the wickedness of many an adversary takes place in the mind. Be comforted! Jesus will still speak for you and confirm you. Which voices then can sully the work of salvation done in you?

Adversaries are real!