Proclaiming Christianity For God

Why does God allow the devil to attack Christians?

 

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)).

 

The Messiah never said He would shield our bodies from attack or death for eternity; however, He does offer our Spirits salvation in Heaven for eternity (John 10:27-30; John 17:11-12; 1 John 5:18; Hebrews 2:14; Matthew 10:28).

 

Saying that God does NOT allow the evil one to attack Christians is the same as saying that God is NOT able to protect Christians from the evil one; and it's the same as saying that God is NOT able to stop the evil one, when it's His will. On the contrary, God is all powerful because He is omnipotent (Job 42:2). Everything is under God's control, including His choice to give us free will.

 

God uses the devil like a tool. God might temporarily shift His hedge of protection on us and allow the devil to attack us (Job 1:6-12 ; 1 Timothy 1:20; 1 Corinthians 5:5). For example, the devil attacked and devoured Judas and Ananias: the devil entered Judas to make him betray The Messiah (John 13:2,27; John 6:70-71; Luke 22:3), and the devil filled the heart of Ananias to make him lie to the Apostles (Acts 5:3).

 

Apostle Paul's life was an excellent example of God shifting his hedge of protection: The Messiah afflicted Paul with blindness but then healed him. Later, Paul was stoned but survived, shipwrecked but survived, bit by a venomous snake but survived, flogged but survived, and only after Paul fulfilled God's plan was he allowed to die and go to Heaven.

 

We have been warned that it's best to stay as close as possible to our Father in Heaven, so He'll continue to provide us with His protection and salvation.

 

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:7-8 (NIV)).

 

“Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live” (Hebrews 12:9 (NIV))!

 

“In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God” (2 Chronicles 33:12-13 (NIV)).

 

“Do not be stiff-necked, as your ancestors were; submit to the Lord. Come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever. Serve the Lord your God, so that his fierce anger will turn away from you” (2 Chronicles 30:8 (NIV)).

 

“You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes” (Daniel 4:25 (NIV)).

 

“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God (Romans 14:11 (NIV)).’”

 

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:1-3 (NIV)).

 

Children are teachable and completely dependent on their parents, especially when the children are confronted with difficulties. God wants His children (Christians) to be teachable and completely dependent on Him, especially when they are confronted with difficulties (1 Peter 2:2; Matthew 19:14; Mark 10:14).

 

If God wants us to spend more time with Him, or for us to talk with Him immediately, we should expect difficulties to arise that will motivate us to respond to God accordingly. God wants us to continually improve and strengthen our relationships (fellowship) with Him.

12:44).

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A difficulty or 'bad' event is not truly a 'bad' event when the end result is for our 'good'. In all things, God works for the good of saved Christians (Romans 8:28). As imperfect human beings, we are incapable of understanding how all things work together for our good. However, God is perfect, and His thoughts and ways are beyond our capability to comprehend them (Isaiah 55:8-9). We are expected to have faith in God. When our faith in God weakens, He will strengthen our relationship with Him by allowing satan to test us with trials and tribulations. During these difficult events, saved Christians draw closer to God through prayer, just as frightened children cry for their parents to pick them up and comfort them. God wants Christians to be continually improving and strengthening their relationships (fellowship) with Him.

 

Jesus/Yeshua, The Christ, said satan is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44).  Since God is The Almighty Creator, our Father uses satan like a tool in His plan for people (1 Timothy 1:20).  Our Father allows satan and his demons to test us (Job 1:8, James 1:1-18, 1 Peter 5:8-11).  Our Father even used satan to test our Brother, Yeshua/Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11).  Through the trials and tribulations, the faithful followers of God's path become tempered, perfected, confident, and established in their faith (1 Peter 5:8-11).  Our Father, YaH, does not want to destroy a tool which He uses to make tempered, born again Christians, who are destined for salvation with God in Heaven.

 

Commentary

 

It is possible to believe in The Messiah without accepting Him as your Savior and Lord of your heart, soul, and mind. It's also possible to believe in The Messiah without receiving The Holy Spirit. The devil is a prime example of one who believes in The Messiah, but hasn't been baptized in The name of The Father, and The Son, and The Holy Spirit (James 2:19). All the devil worshippers, who are 'human beings', also believe in God, but haven't been baptized in The name of The Father, and The Son, and The Holy Spirit. Other believers (in Judaism, the Pharisees, and even many unsaved 'Christians') who have failed to develop personal and loving relationships with The Messiah, haven't been baptized in The Holy Spirit, so The Messiah said He doesn't 'know' those believers. Sadly, there are many Mormon, Catholic, and also many 'Christian' believers, whom think they are 'saved' but are not going to 'find' the 'narrow way' to the 'small gate' of Heaven (Matthew 7:14). Those believers will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 7:21-23). 

 

A 'saved' Christian's body becomes a temple for the Holy Spirit, who is a living gift given to you by God (1 Corinthians 6:19). The Holy Spirit urges Christians to fellowship with other Christians, and urges them to study The Bible, which is the word of God. Equally important, The Holy Spirit urges Christians to maintain a personal, loving relationship with The Father and The Son. A 'saved' Christian should be reminded, and feel urged, to pray at least five times a day: after waking from sleep, before each meal, and before going to sleep (Luke 22:17-21; Colossians 3:17). These things are not burdensome in any way for a Christian who is filled with The Holy Spirit, despite all the socio-economic demands of the world on our daily lives. Are you all talk and no action, which is also referred to as, having faith but no works (James 2:14-26)?

 

The daily prayer is quite short, and yet, it includes forgiving other people for their sins (also known as debts or trespasses), so forgiveness is obviously very important to God. If our Father is to forgive the sins of His children, those Christians must forgive the people who have sinned against them (Colossians 3:13). If believers fail to forgive other people for their sins, especially if the sins are so minor as not to be referenced in The 10 Commandments, the salvation of those believers is questionable. The Messiah shed His blood and sacrificed His life on the cross to forgive our sins. What have you done to forgive?

 

Do you love God with all your heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:36-40)? One way to know for sure is to analyze whether or not you keep His commandments, which are not burdensome (1 John 5:2,3). If you truly love and follow The Messiah, you will keep His commandments without even having to think about keeping them because love fulfills the law (Romans 13:8-10). As you love The Messiah, so you should also love your neighbors as you love yourself. You must love because it's The Messiah's first commandment and because God is love (1 John 4:8). It's easy to love those who love you, but have you learned how to love your enemies yet (Matthew 5:44-47)? Your enemies are waiting to become Christians and your greatest allies.

 

Have you heard of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20)? How are you doing with it? Would you say you are hot, cold, or lukewarm (Revelation 3:15,16). Would you say you're a temple for The Holy Spirit? Do you think The Messiah really knows you? God loves you so much He sent His Son to die for you, and He wants you to be born again and join Him in Heaven for eternity. Getting saved by God's grace is a miracle, so please honor and respect His grace by learning and living His scriptures. If God wanted you to merely sit back and revel in your salvation through God's grace, there would be little need for a majority of the scriptures in The Holy Bible. 

 

I'll join you in prayer for us all.

 

Please read, The Messiah said, "I do not know you".
 

List of the most important questions with answers and information about YaH (God), Yehoshua (Jesus 'The Christ'), The Holy Spirit and The Holy Bible.

The Holy Bible chapter and verse references of the scriptures and gospels are quotes from:
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