In Isaiah 36, enemies of God’s people send them a series of messages designed to discourage them. Read over this list and see if you have ever heard Satan whispering these things in your ear.
Lie #1: You are weak and helpless (Isaiah 36:4-6). That is good one. If Satan can make us believe this, if he can take away our hope, then we will quit before we even start. Why try if nothing will get better, right?
Lie #2: God will not or cannot help you (verse 7). The two pronged approach here is to question God’s ability (“Sure he did all that stuff in the Bible, but this is ‘real life’”) and his disposition (“God is not going to help you after what you have done”). If Satan can make us think that God is either ineffective or that he is mad at us, we lose the very strength that we need.
Lie #3: It is good to compromise (Verses 8-10). This works well for Satan because if we modify our beliefs enough, it is as good as giving them up completely. We feel faithful and yet we are ineffective.
Lie #4: It is better that no one knows what is happening (Verses 11-12). Sin lives in silence. That is why the Bible talks so much about “confessing our sins”. We can deal with things when they are “on the table”. Silence just makes things worse.
Lie #5: You need to be scared (Verses 13-20). Fear prevents us from dealing with things positively. It makes us withdraw and become inactive (“Better to leave well enough alone, right?”). Interestingly, the command that Christ gave more than any was “Do not be afraid!”
Fortunately, God’s people did not listen to these lies. Instead, they continued to trust and pray and God saved them (See Isaiah 37 for the rest of the story) and he will do the same for us. Do not believe the lies. God is powerful. He is active. He is working in your life and he is just waiting for you to seek and acknowledge him.
Everything hinges on which information we choose to believe.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).
Lie #1: You are weak and helpless (Isaiah 36:4-6). That is good one. If Satan can make us believe this, if he can take away our hope, then we will quit before we even start. Why try if nothing will get better, right?
Lie #2: God will not or cannot help you (verse 7). The two pronged approach here is to question God’s ability (“Sure he did all that stuff in the Bible, but this is ‘real life’”) and his disposition (“God is not going to help you after what you have done”). If Satan can make us think that God is either ineffective or that he is mad at us, we lose the very strength that we need.
Lie #3: It is good to compromise (Verses 8-10). This works well for Satan because if we modify our beliefs enough, it is as good as giving them up completely. We feel faithful and yet we are ineffective.
Lie #4: It is better that no one knows what is happening (Verses 11-12). Sin lives in silence. That is why the Bible talks so much about “confessing our sins”. We can deal with things when they are “on the table”. Silence just makes things worse.
Lie #5: You need to be scared (Verses 13-20). Fear prevents us from dealing with things positively. It makes us withdraw and become inactive (“Better to leave well enough alone, right?”). Interestingly, the command that Christ gave more than any was “Do not be afraid!”
Fortunately, God’s people did not listen to these lies. Instead, they continued to trust and pray and God saved them (See Isaiah 37 for the rest of the story) and he will do the same for us. Do not believe the lies. God is powerful. He is active. He is working in your life and he is just waiting for you to seek and acknowledge him.
Everything hinges on which information we choose to believe.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).
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