Is it possible for Satan to defeat and capture a child of God who had previously escaped his grasp? Consider this:
Satan is exposed in the Bible for the deceiver that he is. Jesus described him as having “no truth in him” and as being a “liar and the father of it” (John 8:44). “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
As a deceiver, Satan’s goal is to cut off the word of God from your heart and then drive you by your emotions...in essence, tempt you to dwell on something other than God's word - YOUR HURT! It becomes a struggle. The struggle is described in this way: “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Rom 8:12-13). Over the years many brethren have died because of this; the vast majority being overcome with bitterness and anger.
There is a place for anger! When Jesus asked a straightforward question and received no reply, He looked into their hearts and responded in this way: “And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts…” (Mark 3:5). The Lord was angry, but never sinned.
There is a place for anger when it is under control and directed by the principles of God’s word. “Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.” (Eph. 4:26-27). Our anger needs to be a mourning over sin (Matt. 5:4); not an emotion run amok. But always remember this warning “do not let the sun go down on your wrath,” because a failure to do so will give the devil a place in your heart. And be assured, Satan will take advantage of it, through temptations. Why do so many people not take uncontrolled anger seriously? Too many laugh about their own temper and others laugh with them saying “that’s just the way he is.” What does the Bible say? “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him” (1 John 3:15).
Consider the works of the flesh: “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21).
Did you notice the “anger family” in this passage? While we hear many good sermons on immorality and false doctrine, do we hear that same emphasis on uncontrolled anger? Remember, “...those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
The Bible plainly tells us of the difficulty of controlling our anger. “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city” (Prov. 16:32). Moses was commended by God above all others for his ability to control his spirit (meekness – Num. 12:2 ASV), but in a moment of anger he spoke rashly and thus sinned. “They angered Him also at the waters of strife, So that it went ill with Moses on account of them; Because they rebelled against His Spirit, So that he spoke rashly with his lips” (Psa. 106:32-33). Moses was not able to enter the Promised Land because of this one moment of anger.
When we begin to dwell on our hurts and nourish our anger, we are placing ourselves firmly in the hands of Satan. Have you ever tried to reason with an angry person? When you give in to a life of anger you also give up your ability to reason. “A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, and contentions are like the bars of a castle” (Prov. 18:19). The corrupt politician and the false teacher specialize in slander designed to shut down the thinking process. There are many Christians who, because of their anger towards someone, have quit serving God. It is like getting mad at the dog and kicking the cat! In short your anger will make you behave as crazy person, unwilling to listen or reason, and ready to fight anyone or anything that gets in the way of your desire for revenge.
Local churches can been devastated by just one man who plants seeds of bitterness. We are warned in the scriptures to be “Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled” (Heb. 12:15). Bitter people are the dangerous 'leaven' that can spread and destroy others. Sadly, those closest to them are hurt in this process. It is in the lives of their friends, and especially in their children, that the harshest fruits of planted bitterness will be seen. It is rare that the effects of bitter seeds are reversed.
Can we overcome our hurts? If so, HOW? The apostle Paul answered it as follows:“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph. 4:31-32). You will never regret releasing the desire for vengeance upon those who have hurt you. God has pleaded with us in this regard: “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord” (Rom. 12:19).
Are you willing to follow in the footsteps of Jesus? Look carefully at the specific footsteps our God has placed before us: The apostle Peter also wrote, reminding us of the reason for ridding ourselves of the bitterness from being hurt: “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 'Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously'.” (1 Peter 2:21-23).
When a child of God dwells on his hurt, rather than God's word, in time, he will be driven by his emotions rather than God's word. He will then become a "forgetful hearer". When he ceases to look into the "perfect law of liberty", it will only be a matter of time before he ceases to be obedient (James 1:25). Herein is the danger of dwelling on his hurt.
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