Philippians 1:28-29 Finding blessing in the fire

Scripture

Philippians 1:28-29 In no way be alarmed by your opponents - which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too from God. For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.

Observation

What do you do when you see the enemy mounting up against you? Attacking you from every angle? Do you cry out in prayer "Why God, why me?" Do you pick up your weapons and go out and fight the enemy on your own?  Or do you hide and separate yourself from others?  Here in Philippians 1:29 Paul eludes that it is a gift when our opponents attack. Moreover, these attacks are allowed by God.  This seems contrary to the goodness of God.  We think" surely a God of love wouldn't allow for the enemy to attack us".  The truth is God's love is exactly why He allows the enemy to attack us. 

Here are some reasons that attacks from the enemy are a good thing:

1. Attacks from the enemy tests our faith.  Read Hebrews 11:33-40.  These people experience incredible affliction and yet God say's that they are "men of whom the world was not worthy" and they gained approval by God through their faith (Hebrews 11:38-39).  Faith is tested in fire to be proved genuine (1 Peter 1:7). If you want stronger faith, you are going to have to work that faith muscle of yours.

2. Attacks from the enemy tests our knowledge and belief of God's word. Contrast when Adam & Eve was tempted in the garden of Eden to when Jesus was tempted in the desert. Satan manipulated the word of God in the garden of Eden and in the desert. 

Here we have Adam & Eve living in a scrumptious garden filled with God's goodness.  There is only one tree that they can't eat from, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16-17).  Yet Satan comes and manipulates these simple instructions;  Eve contemplates Satan's words, then compromises the word of God, and then they both commit the first sin (Genesis 3:1-7).

Jesus, however, is in a desert and He has had nothing to eat for 40 days.  Satan tempts Him three times, but Jesus responded immediately with " IT IS WRITTEN", quoting scripture back at the enemy (Matthew 4:3-7).  See the enemy doesn't have a full comprehension of the word of God, because he doesn't have the Holy Spirit within him.  Jesus is the word of God made flesh (John 1:1); Jesus is the truth. The enemy will distort the truth of God and tempt us to compromise; he is very cunning.  The only way for us to sidestep these temptations is to have a the full counsel of God ourselves and be drawing into God daily.  Thanks to Jesus we have the truth and thus are able to walk in freedom.

3. Attacks from the enemy molds us into the image of Christ.  As Christians we are called to walk as Jesus walked.  Paul explains some of this walk in Philippians 1:9-11 and 1:27.  When we choose to follow Christ, we are also choosing to walk as He walked.  Yet Christ suffered. To truly be like Christ we must suffer also. Every time we submit to God in the midst of affliction and attack, we reflect more and more of Christ in our lives. 
4. Attacks from the enemy draws us closer to God.  When we are under the weight of affliction and attack we come to the end of ourselves and the beginning of God.  Attacks and affliction force us to understand our desperate need for God.  When we draw closer to God, God gets the glory for our salvation and not we ourselves.

Application

In Ephesians 6:10-17 we learn about the armor of God.  In one hand we hold the shield of faith and in the other the sword of the Spirit.  The shield protects us from the enemy's attack, the sword cuts through his lies. When you are wielding both you have no reason to fear the enemy.   Applying this word is simple, yet it can be difficult if you haven't learned to make a habit of getting into God's word. I want to encourage you though, try to use the S.O.A.P. (scripture, observation, application, and prayer) method.  Take one small scripture and ask God to reveal to you what He has to say. Talk to others about it. Sometimes there will be a few scriptures that I chew on in a day and then there are others times where I might chew on a short scripture for a week or even a month. It is important that you take the time to learn about the counsel of God yourself.  There are false prophets in the world and our enemy is trying to shove a meal of lies down us daily. You will either eat his lies or God's truth.   My friends God's word is precious and life changing, and investing in your relationship with Him through His word will reap eternal rewards.

Prayer

LORD, God, help us to draw deeper into You. Help us to know You better.  I pray that Your people would make time each day to know Your full counsel and understand Your precepts. Keep lies far from our ears (Proverbs 30:7). Incline our ears instead to hear what You have to say and apply our minds to Your knowledge, so that Your words may be ever ready on our lips (Proverbs 22:17-18).  Father, I pray that You would take me deeper.  Reveal Yourself to me more and more.  I am humbled that You, the God and Creator of this universe, would choose to share Your thoughts with me.  How blessed I am among women just to be called Your daughter. Help Your people to pick up their sword and their shield.  We need You.