Why does God allow Satan to unleash evil on Christians?

As children of God, we are disciplined. The trials and hardships are blessings. Endurance is what helps make us complete and worthy in the eyes of the Lord.

When we read the book of Job it is interesting how before Satan could unleash evil on Job he had to get permission from God. The significance here is that Satan is answerable to God; he needs permission from the Lord in order to unleash evil on the Lord’s servants. So then we ask why would God allow Satan to attack His children? The reason for this is because God wishes to honor our free will; not just the free will itself, but the consequences which come with it.

The word shows us two reasons.

One is for discipline
and One is for trials

“True faith is not getting from God what we want in life, true faith is accepting what God has planned for our lives.” Accepting what God has planned for our lives may mean enduring pain and hardship. We do this through patience that is a “Fruit of the Spirit”. We cannot do it in our own strength. We must rely upon the Holy Spirit of God. Job’s question is still valid today “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” God’s will for our life may involve both good and trouble and we should be willing to accept this through patient endurance as God may be using us as an example to reach others with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The book of Job goes into great detail as to the emotions that Job experienced over a considerable period of time.  As the knowledge of the loss of his children sunk in, the physical affliction of his body continued, and the accusation of his friends mounted, you could say Job was down in the dumps. Job’s friends believed that Job had sinned and that God was punishing him for un-confessed sin. Job’s friends questioned Job’s integrity. But we know that was not the case.  Job 1:8 The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.”

We see Job was a righteous man.

By the end of the book, we see that even though Job didn’t fully comprehend what was going on in his life he realized God did and that was what really mattered. This awareness that God is in control allows us to patiently endure life’s trials even though we may not fully understand the why.

Discipline
Hebrews 12

5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,
“MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD,
NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM;
6 FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES,
AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.”
7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?

10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.

11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

12 Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble,

13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.

14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.

Trials

James 1
2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,

3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

 12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

2 Corinthians 13

11 Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

God Bless Each and Everyone of you!

Lord Jesus Saves †

Christians Suffering As Christ

 Christians Suffering as Christ

As Christians it is a blessing when we suffer, it is a time to rejoice. When we suffer for righteousness and yet we endure, we are doing the will of God. When we speak not giving insult for insult or evil for evil and we control our tongue, we are doing the will of God.

No one can harm you if you prove you are zealous for good.

1 Peter 2:19

For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.

20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.
21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,
22 WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH;
23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;
24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

1 Peter 3:14

But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED,

15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.
17 For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.
18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.

1 Peter 4:12

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;

13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.
14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler;
16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.

James 1:2

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,

3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Love all of You!

Lord Jesus Saves †