Daily Bible Study

Tweet

Day 3 – Adversity Ezra 4 How often do you find your way hindered from doing what you know you must? Try as you might to get something accomplished something always stands in your way, whether it be people, finances, or things that crop up consistently to take your attention away from your goal. Cyrus had given permission for the Jews to go home to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple of the Lord. However, when the people who lived in the land in their absence wanted to join in the operation but were told they could not, they opposed the work and wrote letters to the present king, Artaxerxes to show how rebellious the Jews had been in times past, and Artaxerxes sent a letter back to have the work stopped, and it ceased. Often we find our hands tied and no matter how much we want to continue with our project, we can’t. In frustration everything we set out to do comes to a grinding halt. As Christians, our adversary is Satan who does everything he can to stop us from fulfilling God’s call on our lives. We find opposition in our families, our work place, even our friends. We find opposition in things breaking down, and our finances drying up. No matter what we do, we cannot get ahead, but fall further and further behind. 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. We are to stand against Satan, but we do not stand alone or without purpose. 1 Peter 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 2 Peter 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (KJV) Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (KJV) It isn’t our power but God’s which enables us to stand against Satan and are victorious through perseverance. James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (KJV) You and God make a majority and Satan cannot stand against God. The Jews might have stopped building of the temple because they didn’t have a choice in the matter, but their faith in God had grown while they were in captivity. They knew God, and were willing to do whatever it took to follow His instructions for their lives from the moment they stepped back into their homeland. They were ready to resist, and they sought a way to accomplish building the temple of God until the second year of King Darius of Persia. It’s time to resist Satan not submit to him. Let’s pray: Father, help me submit to Your will over my life, resisting Satan and the trouble he brings my way. Help me to stand in Your armor, knowing You fight with me and will bring to fruition all You called me to do. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 20 January 2016 by Valerie Jean Routhieaux All scripture is King James Version, edited by me into common English. Image courtesy of Pixabay