According to 1 Thessalonians 2:18, there will be times in your life when Satan will create havoc to derail you from doing what God is calling you to do. Maybe you will be caught off guard, distracted by someone or something and pressured by an unseen force to not do or say what is on your heart. As Paul was on his way to visit the Thessalonian church, Satan intervened, preventing Paul from fulfilling his assignment.
However, there are other times when a hindrance will come from the Lord. After splitting from Barnabas in Acts 15:36-40, Paul joins forces with Silas and Timothy to form a new ministry team. Paul felt led by God enter the province of Asia, yet the Holy Spirit kept them from this region. Sometimes in life as in the case of David, the Lord is not ready for us or a region isn’t prepared spiritually to hear the gospel. When David felt compelled to build the temple, God had other plans, waiting for his son Solomon, who was a man of peace, not of war like David to complete the temple.
Finally, the third and most common hindrance is described in Hebrews 12:1. Sin is the most powerful force in preventing God’s people from completing their assignment. Sin often keeps you longer than you first think, takes you where you never expected to go and can drag you down into the pit of hell if you are not careful. James uses a fishing analogy in chapter 1:13-15. Satan uses sin to lure us out of the safety of our heavenly Father. If we like what is on Satan’s hook, we can be easily tempted, enticed and swallow the hook, unable to spit out this specific sin.
Therefore, remember the message of Romans 8, there is life through the Holy Spirit. Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, Hebrews 12:2. Set your mind on things above, putting to death any part of you that belongs to your earthly nature, Colossians 3:1-11. As you strive to follow the assignment God has for you today, cling to prayer, Ephesians 6:18, to guide you along the way.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 