Satan's baits on God's Servants: Is He Winning? by Bola Olu-Jordan
KEY TEXT: Mathew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-3
We want to take a quick look at the effects of fame, wealth, crowd, power and so on on God's servants.
These elements mentioned above are weapons that Satan uses mostly to fight servants of God. When we know the effects of these things in the life of God’s servants, vis-à-vis its influence, control and pressure on their lives and on the assignment of God in their hands, it will answer the question posed at the end of the topic, i.e. is Satan winning?
To begin to understand this topic, there is need to know the conceptual meaning of these words (i.e. fame, wealth, crowd, power and so on)
An attempt to give a subjective definition might lead us to other things entirely, but I will like to summarize them within the concept of this topic; idea for idea.
CONCEPTUAL DEFINITIONS
· Who is a Servant?
In a general term a servant is someone who is hired to perform specific services. Such services are expected to be performed to details as the boss or master dictates.
In the New Testament the term servant is used to describe an act of waiting on someone to carry out his bidding. (Luke 22: 24-27, Ex.33:11). It is also used to refer to an official of the Church, someone who ministers to the Lord. It is very interesting to know that the Apostles and other prominent Christians are seen to function in this capacity. (Pil.1:1; 1Tim.3:8; Col.1:23; Eph.3:7; 2Cor.3:6)
Characteristics of a servant.
- Absolute obedience to his master/authority
- Faithfulness
- Loyalty
- Absolute allegiance to his master/authority
- Honesty
- Accountable for responsibilities committed into his hands
- Sacrifice, where there is a need for such
Our Lord Jesus Christ gave a clear instruction that anyone who wants to be great must first be a servant. (Mt.20:26) This means that the way to the top is down.
It is expected of every believer to have the heart, attitude, and characteristics of a servant in his/her faith walk so as to please the master.
Having known what the term servant means in its broad form, let us now consider, who is a Servant of God?
· Who is a Servant of God?
A servant of God can simply be defined as a person that runs God’s errand or carry out God’s bidding.
Worthy of note is the fact that this servant runs God’s errands, not man’s errand, for many today, who claim to be God’s servants are actually men’s servants. They run errands for men; doing their bidding; trying to meet their needs, give them healing, give them hope, solve their problems, take their message to God, etc. Such people must not be equated or elevated to the status of God’s servants; they are men’s servants, they serve the people, not God’s.
While such men are good and contribute immensely to the development of the church and general well being of the people and also satisfy many people’s religious needs,
To lay a very solid and good foundation for this study we must have a clear understanding of what the service of God is.
The service of God is very simple; it is what He wants His servant to do for Him.
It is not a bunch of good ideas as thought by the servant.
His service is not what we feel is good for Him, not what we prepare through sweat in our effort to please Him.
It is basically what He wants at a time, in a place, for a specified period to His glory alone.
Our understanding of this will position our minds to be able analyse if Fame, Wealth, Crowd, and Power are Satan’s bait or not.
What is Fame?
Fame means to be well known by the majority of a population. We can also use the word ‘popular’ instead.
What is Wealth?
Wealth can be defined as a sum of money, or the total value of the stock of ones possession. It also means prosperity, well being, and valuable possessions of any kind. It is riches in abundance.
What is Crowd?
Crowd means the gathering of a large population of people in a place.
What is Power?
Power simply means a delegated authority for a specific assignment.
I will bring to our notice here that all these things were present in the ministry our Lord Jesus Christ but for the Father’s glory.
He did not work for it; it came as He was busy obeying God’s purpose and calling.
He was a famous man. (“His fame went throughout all Syria”. Mt.4: 24)
“..the fame hereof went abroad into all that land”. Mt.9:26
“At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus”. Mt. 14:1
(Mk. 1:28; Lk.4:14, 37; Lk.5:15)
Wealth: There was enough in the purse of the ministry enough at a time to feed five thousand men, excluding women and children who are always more in such gathering.
Mark 6:36-37. Verse 37 read thus: “But He answered and said to them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to Him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?”
In verse 34 of Mark 6 we can see ‘Crowd’ present in His ministry.
Power: Throughout the Lord’s ministry, He was constantly walking and working in power.
Satan’s bait for God’s Servant.
How are these things Satan’s bait at this end time.
Everything original under the sun had been perverted by Satan. Satan can not create anything, he is a created being, and he fakes what had been created to suite his own purpose.
Satan has made these things his bait through the power of obsession.
The love to be completely loyal and honest to God had been hijacked by the love for all these things.
They become Satan’s bait when we are engulfed by an uncontrollable and ferocious desire to get then at all cost.
Today, servants of God see these things as the hallmark of their success in ministry. Their focus is not meeting God’s needs, but meeting the needs of the people; solving their problems through night vigils, anointing oil, miracle night vigils, etc.
Danger of Fame, Wealth, Crowd and Power.
Although, these things follow Jesus, but at this end time, servants of God follow these things.
Psalmist says, goodness and mercy shall follow me, we must not follow them. When we begin to follow them, we have lost focus. The pursuit of all these things draws one away from God, consumes quality time to be spent for Him for the people. At the end, we are the ones healing them, not God.
The Lord gives power to make wealth {Deut 8:18}
The understanding we must have here is that they are “all these things” which by simple obedience to follow the right order shall be added to us {Mathew 6:33}. You are not to pursue them but they are to pursue you; that is the order. Jesus never pursue all these things, He was busy doing the will of God.
IS HE WINNING? {Conclusion}.
Going back to the definition of the servant of God, i.e. someone that runs God’s errand, not man’s errand, servants of God cannot fall to Satan’s antics, they may be entangled in it, but they will come out.
Although the devil is afflicting the original servants of God with poverty, etc and ‘blessing’ those who seek for the glory of this world, but the Lord knows how to deliver the righteous from evil.
The original message of the true servants of God is still Jesus and him crucified. While others preach miracles, healing, etc, they will stick by leading people to Jesus and allowing Jesus to heal them.
The devil may win over the servants of God that seeks for fame, wealth and power but he cannot win over the servants of God who runs God’s will.
Fame, wealth, etc are Satan’s bait, not only for God’s servants but for all Christians. If we have ambition for fame and wealth, the devil will b ring it just for a bow.
Yet we can call an assembly for a genuine repentance just like what we are doing now. The scriptures says at this time “the first shall be the last and the last shall be the first”
These prophesy is being fulfilled in our very eyes.
“Then He said to the disciples ,it is impossible that no offences should come but woe to him through whom they do come” Luke17:1.
Brethren, will you allow the offences against the establishment of God’s kingdom be found in you?
Will you trade your inestimable salvation for the cares of this world?
Will you play cheaply into the hands of Satan to undermine the true gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ?
Think about all these and go settle yourself at the feet of the cross.
God Bless You.