Get Behind Me Satan

Scripture:  Matthew 16:21-28 - From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You! 23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men. 24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. 28 “Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

Are you aware that demons are always seeking opportunities to infiltrate or feed us negative thoughts so that we will eventually speak for them?  Once seeded, unchallenged thoughts take root in us. They often yield negative results in our lives and relationships with others.  We cannot always avoid having these negative attempts to infiltrate us, but we can control to what degree, if any, they rule our actions and speech.  Infiltration mentally is most often passed on verbally.

In our devotional text we see how easy it is for us, when we are unguarded, to be shifted from places of great understanding from God, to being controlled by impulsive thinking that can yield to wrong words planted by Satan’s demons.  Though they cannot possess the true believer, they can incite us, tempt us, and try to intimidate us emotionally for their use. Jesus had to remind  Peter that his mind was open for Satan’s infiltration, because his mind was open more to the things of men than the things that are important to God (v.23).

When we use the example of Peter, in light of our Lord Jesus’ rebuke at him, we see that demons want to discourage the commitment of others in doing what they know and believe is God’s will for them.  We often depend upon others to encourage us to do God’s will, but sometimes in unguarded moments those are the ones that may be demonically infiltrated to discourage our obedience.  I am sure Peter did not mean to intentionally try to block the Lord from obeying, but in his emotions and own self-interest, he was used to say things that were unknowingly to protect Jesus from the discomfort of God’s will.

Not only is it vital that we avoid being used by Satan and demons to discourage others obedience to God, but like Jesus, we must be discerning and wise to see Satan’s potential avenues of discouragement through those that are closest to us.    One of the greatest ways for Satan to change our minds is to use those closest to us, whom we have emotional ties, that may want to protect us from any discomfort or pain in our obedience.  It is at this time of testing that many of us turn away from God’s leading to please those who unknowingly are seeking to block the fulfillment of God’s will in our lives.  We can only prevail when our self-denial is rooted in a commitment and conviction to obey God above and beyond any advice, logic or emotional appeals that seek to block God’s known will for us (vs. 23-26).

In Satan’s strategy to speak to us so that he can speak through us, we must know two things.  First, Satan’s words, no matter how sweet they are, will always be at their core offensive in nature and substance to Jesus our Lord.  Second, Satan’s words will always try to refute, rebuke, or conflict with what God has already said to us.

Prayer:  Father, I know I can never go back and undo the times that I listened to others that persuaded me in directions that took me away from Your priorities; but today, and for now on, please help me to keep Your will for me my first pursuit in this life you have granted me to live for your glory.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.  

(by Pastor Wayne Cockrell)