Under Satan’s Power

But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Matthew 16:23.
Satan is ever intruding himself between the soul of man and God…. This lesson in regard to Peter needs to be studied carefully.
Peter did not desire to see the cross in the work of Christ. The impression which his words would make was directly opposed to that which Christ desired to make on the minds of His followers, and the Saviour was moved to utter one of the sternest rebukes that ever fell from His lips….
Satan was trying to discourage Jesus, and turn Him from His mission; and Peter, in his blind love, was giving voice to the temptation. The prince of evil was the author of the thought. His instigation was behind that impulsive appeal…. He was seeking to fix Peter’s gaze upon the earthly glory, that he might not behold the cross to which Jesus desired to turn his eyes. And through Peter, Satan was again pressing the temptation upon Jesus. But the Saviour heeded it not; His thought was for His disciple. Satan had interposed between Peter and his Master, that the heart of the disciple might not be touched at the vision of Christ’s humiliation for him. The words of Christ were spoken, not to Peter, but to the one who was trying to separate him from his Redeemer. “Get thee behind Me, Satan.” No longer interpose between Me and My erring servant. Let Me come face to face with Peter, that I may reveal to him the mystery of My love.
It was to Peter a bitter lesson, and one which he learned but slowly, that the path of Christ on earth lay through agony and humiliation. The disciple shrank from fellowship with his Lord in suffering. But in the heat of the furnace fire he was to learn its blessing. Long afterward, when his active form was bowed with the burden of years and labors, he wrote, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy”
Conflict and Courage p. 312
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Prayer Requests
—–The devil is trying our patience and causing all kinds of distress this morning. Please pray for us. L
—–Update on Lonnie Melashenko: He was cautiously released from the hospital on blood thinners. Please continue to pray for him. Joyce
—–I would like to give another update on my grandson Solomon. The Doctors are trying to save his arm. They had surgery yesterday and they will be performing another surgery tomorrow again. He has sepsis, MRSA, and one other infection also. Thank you for your prayers for him. And please continue praying for my youngest son who is in jail. Connie
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Dear Friends,
The other day we were reminiscing about a time many years ago when I had the opportunity to spend the weekend at Camp Mivoden for a Vacation Bible School workshop. A friend had been asked to teach the music to the delegates who had come from the various churches to learn how to better conduct Vacation Bible Schools. She asked me to play the piano for her. I was thrilled at the prospect of spending the weekend at such a beautiful place.
Finally, the looked-forward-to day was here. Ron and the children drove me to Idaho, where Camp Mivoden is located. After we arrived, we spent some time walking around the grounds and enjoying the beauty of the place. When it was time for them to leave me there, Esther Marie, who was about seven at the time, clung to me, sobbing. She had known that she would have to leave me there for the weekend, but when the moment came, she could not bear it. I felt so sorry for her as I felt her little arms and legs wrapped tightly around my body.
We tried to console her by telling her that I would be back on Sunday night, but still the tears flowed freely. Suddenly, I wished that I had not told my friend that I would help her, but there was nothing I could do about it then. I was committed to fulfill my obligation. Finally, we were able to pry Esther Marie off from me, and the last thing I saw as they were driving away was her outstretched arms and tearful face.
Just as Esther Marie was grieved because we would be separated for a weekend, so our Loving Father in Heaven grieves when we separate ourselves from Him. How He longs to hold us back with His Nail-scarred Hands from the fleeting pleasures of this world. With tears, He cries, “How can I give you up?” How often His Great Heart of Love yearns over us, longing for us to come back to His Welcoming Arms. As He said to Israel of old, so He says to us today, “For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, In returning and rest shall ye be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.” Isa 30:15 “And ye would not:” what sorrowful words. How lonely our Great Creator is for our companionship and love. He pleads with us, “As I live, saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways, for why will ye die?” Eze 33:11 “Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.” Mal 3:7 “I will heal [your] backsliding, I will love [you] freely.” Hosea 14:4 “And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.” Joel 2:25,26
Think of it! Our Great Creator longs to have closer fellowship with us than a loving mother has with her well-beloved child. “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands, thy walls are continually before me.” Isa 49:15,16
Our Dear Saviour pleads, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Rev 3:20 “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy, I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” Isa 57:15-17 What a wonderful God!
Moreover, our Great Redeemer promises to guide us every moment of our day if we will let Him. He assures us, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Ps 32:8″ And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” Isa 30:21 Think of it! The Great King of the Universe, the Creator of all things, longs to dwell with us from the day of our birth till our aged eyes are closed in death. “Hearken unto me, [ye], which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: And even to your old age I am he, and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear, even I will carry, and will deliver you.” Isa 46:3,4 Blessed assurance. He will be there for us in our youth when life is perplexing. He will be with us when we are surrounded with overwhelming responsibilities. He will be with us in sickness and in the weakness of old age. He assures us, “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.” Isa 43:1-3
May we daily open our heart’s door and invite the Dear Saviour in, that He may take complete control of our life. May we cling to our Loving Saviour just as tightly as Esther Marie clung to me, when we were going to be separated for a few days. May we, throughout our life, walk in the assurance of His matchless love and grace.
Rose