Commentary on "The Fruit of the Spirit is Joy"

MARTIN L. CAREY

 

Day 5: Wednesday, January 13, 2010

 

Overview

Today’s lesson accepts that every Christian must have trouble, and trials do not indicate a lack of faith or the result of sin in the life. Three texts are given that address the presence of trials and how we are to have joy while we are enduring them. We are asked what hope and promises we can take from these texts.

The lesson suggests that many believers lack joy because they focus on their own troubles, making them feel worse. Knowing our security is in Jesus, the author states, we can help others and have our self-pity turned to joy “by a single act of will.” The example is given of Job, who’s fortunes were restored after he prayed for his friends.

 

Observations

Surely, trials do not come to us because of God’s punishment for sins, or lack of faith. In fact, trials are given for our good. The heirs of Christ will suffer with Him so that they may be glorified with Him (Rom. 8:17). In all the worst sufferings, they are more than conquerors (vs. 37). That sounds wonderful, but how does that work? If Satan is the author of evil and suffering, how can we be so confident that hard times and pain will result in conquest and glory? How does God’s power over rule Satan’s work?

Let’s take a closer look at the role and power of Satan in trials and temptation. Two examples from scripture come to mind. On the night of Jesus’ betrayal, the disciples had been arguing about who was greatest. Jesus tells Peter,

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31

Satan was demanding permission from God to sift all of them, not just Peter (the “you” in Greek is plural). He wanted to shake all of them out like chaff, away from Jesus, due to their weakness. And they were weak. He was not permitted to do anything to them without God’s permission, to truly harm their faith. Jesus was already prepared for Satan, and had prayed for them, knowing that His prayer would be effectual. They would fail, then repent, and strengthen each other. Their faith became much stronger, as He promised.

Another example is from Paul, who told the Corinthians that, “there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself!” He prayed three times that God would take it from him, and the answer he got both humbled and comforted him; “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” We see that Satan had gotten permission to torment Paul in a very specific way, hoping to harm his faith. But the outcome was already in place, that God’s grace was enough for Paul’s faith to endure. His power would be perfected in Paul’s weakness, just as it was in the other eleven disciples. The “messenger of Satan” was from Satan, but was designed by God to do its work of grace, exactly in the way Paul needed.

Finally, there was Job, who was also the object of Satan’s torment. Satan was given specific permissions from God, first to take his family and wealth, and when Satan demanded, approval to torment his body. Satan did to Job exactly what he was told by God. Job becomes angry with God for his troubles, and demands a trial in God’s presence. God answers the angry prayer of Job, and comes to humble and comfort him. In all this, Job never mentions Satan’s role or power, and neither does God. Job actually credits God for bringing these things upon him, and God commends him for speaking what is right about Him. Afterward, all his friends and family came to him and “consoled him and comforted him for all the adversities that the LORD had brought on him.” Job 42:11

Who brings all the adversities upon us, Satan or God? We can see from these three examples that Satan approaches God as the accuser and asks permission to attack. God has placed a hedge around his people, and protects them. When the troubles come, the damage is precise and under divine control. God’s grace is already working ahead of Satan, even though we are weak and will often fail. His power is perfected in weakness. Satan can do nothing but work for the good of those who love God, and nothing more. After we have repented and turned, as with the disciples, Paul, and Job, we will be comforted, and our faith strengthened. 

So whenever Satan has been given permission to sift you like wheat, hold on tight to Jesus’ prayers for you, that your faith won't fail, and no one can snatch you out of His hand. His grace will always be enough to turn the pain into conquest.

 

Summary

1. Christ’s followers will suffer with Him so that they may be glorified with Him, and in suffering, they conquer.
2.  Jesus’ disciples, Paul, and Job found that even though Satan brought pain, God used Satan’s attacks as surgical strikes to make their faith stronger.
3.  All Satan’s power directed against us, no matter how vicious, is controlled by God to humble us, for our good.
4.  Whenever Satan does get permission to sift you, hold on to Jesus’ prayers and promises, His grace is sufficient to hold on to you!

 

GO TO DAY 6

 

Copyright 2010 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised January 12, 2010. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.

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