Steadfast in God’s Word

The key to understanding how Satan operates against the church of Jesus Christ is found in the word rebellion. Simply put, rebellion means going against the rule and authority of God’s word. When Lucifer declared war on God, he was rebelling against the word of the Almighty.

God’s word is his power. Through it, he spoke the world into existence, and through it, the sun, moon, and stars are kept in place. His word brought all things into being and continues to produce life. By his word, God pulls down kings and raises up nations. Through it, he blesses and saves, judges, and destroys (see Psalm 29:3-9).

Satan’s aim is always to tempt God’s people to rebel against his word. He planted thoughts of rebellion in Adam and Eve, causing them to reason, “I know what God said but I’m going to act according to my own will.” Those thoughts caused humanity’s fall.

Satan also succeeded in planting seeds of rebellion in God’s chosen nation, Israel. The psalmist says Israel was “a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not set its heart aright, and whose spirit was not faithful to God” (Psalm 78:8, NKJV). Scripture also says of Israel, “Nevertheless you would not go up, but rebelled against the command of the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 1:26).

Please note that God revealed his word very clearly to all of these people. Yet they all rebelled against it. Why? They were seduced by the wicked one. 

Satan will also try to tempt you to rebel against God’s word. He knows he cannot get to you through blatant temptations, so he’ll inject subtle seductions into your mind by flooding your life with pain, trials, and struggles. He’ll try to block God’s blessings in your life, just as he hindered Paul in his ministry. 

Many have fallen prey to Satan’s subtle seductions. The psalmist says, “Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, bound in affliction and irons because they rebelled against the words of God, and despised the counsel of the Most High” (Psalm 107:10-11).

So when trials press in and confusion clouds your mind, guard your heart against the quiet whisper of rebellion. Let this be your resolve: no matter the circumstance, I will trust and obey the word of the Lord.