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10. Ministering to the Demonically Oppressed

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How should we minister to those being demonically oppressed or even to ourselves, when strongly assaulted and afflicted by the enemy? To answer this, we must consider how the demonically oppressed were ministered to in Scripture. There are various ways.

1. When ministering to the demonically oppressed, believers should rebuke the demonic spirit in the name of Jesus—recognizing their authority in Christ.

This is the primary method we see used in Scripture. In Matthew 16:23, Christ rebuked Satan when he was influencing Peter. He said, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, because you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s.” In Acts 16:18, Paul rebuked a woman who had a demonic spirit of prophecy by saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!”

Some might argue that Christ had authority over demons, which he specifically gave to his apostles (Matt 8:19), but other believers do not have that authority. However, in Scripture, others, outside of Jesus and the apostles, cast out demons. The seventy who followed Christ also cast out demons. In Luke 10:17, it says, “Then the seventy-two returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name!” In Luke 10:19, Christ said to them: “Look, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions and on the full force of the enemy, and nothing will hurt you.” Also, Philip, one of the early deacons, cast out demons. Acts 8:6-8 says,

The crowds were paying attention with one mind to what Philip said, as they heard and saw the miraculous signs he was performing. For unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, were coming out of many who were possessed, and many paralyzed and lame people were healed. So there was great joy in that city.

Some deny that regular believers have this ability based on Jude 1:8-9. In it, Jude warns of false teachers who reject authority and boldly insult demons, even though Michael, the archangel, would not even speak a harsh word against Satan. It says,

Yet these men, as a result of their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and insult the glorious ones. But even when Michael the archangel was arguing with the devil and debating with him concerning Moses’ body, he did not dare to bring a slanderous judgment, but said, “May the Lord rebuke you!”

Does this passage directly or indirectly say that believers should never attempt to cast out demons through Christ’s authority? This passage does tell us that Michael did not have authority to rebuke the devil, which probably represents how Satan was originally equal to Michael or in authority over him in the original creation. Therefore, Michael had to appeal to God to rebuke Satan. It also shows us the pride of the false teachers who reject authority and in their pride insult demons. Neither situation directly corresponds to the believers’ authority to cast out demons, which is demonstrated throughout the New Testament (the apostles, the seventy, and Philip). Believers have a special authority because of their relationship to Christ, which angels don’t have. According to Paul in Ephesians 1:20-22 and 2:6, believers were resurrected with Christ and seated in the heavenlies above angels and demons, which represents Christ’s authority and the believers’ authority in him over the angelic and demonic realm. Ephesians 1:20-22 and 2:6 says:

This power he exercised in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms far above every rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And God put all things under Christ’s feet, and he gave him to the church as head over all things… and he raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus

To further support the believers’ authority in Christ even over the angelic realm, in 1 Corinthians 6:3, Paul said that one day believers will judge angels (1 Cor 6:3).

When Jude warns of the false teachers’ presumed authority in Jude 1:8, it better corresponds with the Jewish exorcists in Acts 19:13 who presumptuously tried to rebuke a demon “by Jesus whom Paul preached” but then were beat up by the demonized man. They failed when rebuking the demon because they were not true believers and could not exercise Christ’s authority. The same was true of the prideful false teachers Jude warned about.

Unlike false teachers, believers have authority based on their relationship to Christ (cf. Eph 1:20-22, 2:6, Matt 20:18-20). For this reason, Scripture calls believers to “resist the devil and he will flee” (Jam 4:7) and describes how we gain victory against the devil through the power of God and his armor (Eph 6:10-18). Revelation 12:11 describes how believers gain victory over the devil in the end times: “But they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.” The ability to cast out demons was not reserved for Christ and the apostles; it is an authority all believers have because of their relationship to Christ. Certainly, some may be more gifted at it than others, but we are all told to resist the devil and that he will flee (Jam 4:7).

Some might ask, “Why should believers rebuke the devil, instead of simply praying to God to get rid of them?” Wayne Grudem gives an apt answer to this:

We may ask, however, why does God want Christians to speak directly to the demon who is troubling someone rather than just praying and asking God to drive away the demon for them? In a way, this is similar to asking why Christians should share the gospel with another person rather than simply praying and asking God to reveal the gospel to that person directly. Or why should we speak words of encouragement to a Christian who is discouraged rather than just praying and asking God himself to encourage that person directly? Why should we speak a word of rebuke or gentle admonition to a Christian whom we see involved in some kind of sin, rather than just praying and asking God to take care of the sin in that person’s life? The answer to all these questions is that in the world that God has created, he has given us a very active role in carrying out his plans, especially his plans for the advancement of the kingdom and the building up of the church. In all of these cases, our direct involvement and activity is important in addition to our prayers. And so it seems to be in our dealing with demonic forces as well. Like a wise father who does not settle all of his children’s disputes for them, but sometimes sends them back out to the playground to settle a dispute themselves, so our heavenly Father encourages us to enter directly into conflict with demonic forces in the name of Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Thereby he enables us to gain the joy of participating in eternally significant ministry and the joy of triumphing over the destructive power of Satan and his demons in people’s lives. It is not that God could not deal with demonic attacks every time we prayed and asked him to do so, for he certainly could and he no doubt sometimes does. But the New Testament pattern seems to be that God ordinarily expects Christians themselves to speak directly to the unclean spirits.1

Speaking directly to those potentially being oppressed by a demon, which is causing anxiety, depression, sickness, or a strong inclination to sin, might practically look like this, “If any demons are causing this depression, sickness, or addiction, I command them to go away in the name of Jesus.” There is no reason to yell or be loud. Demons aren’t deaf. We should speak gently and firmly—trusting that if the affliction is demonic, God hears our prayers. Sometimes, we may need to speak this to ourselves when we are discerning that some intense negative emotion or strong inclination to sin might be influenced by the devil. Wayne Grudem’s comments on how to practically rebuke the devil are helpful both in praying for ourselves and others:

In our own personal lives, if we find sinful emotions that are unusually strong welling up in our minds or hearts (whether they be emotions of irrational fear, anger, hatred, bitterness, lust, greed, etc.), in addition to praying and asking Jesus for help in overcoming them, it would also be appropriate for us to say something like, “Spirit of fear, in Jesus’ name, I command you, go away from here and don’t return!” Even though we may be unsure whether there is a demonic factor in that particular situation, and even though a demon’s presence may be only one factor contributing to the situation, nonetheless, such words of rebuke will sometimes be very effective. Though we do not have in the New Testament a complete record of the personal prayer life of the apostle Paul, he talks openly about wrestling “not … against flesh and blood, but … against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12) and about “not carrying on a worldly war” (2 Cor. 10:3). It is reasonable to think that his own extensive prayer life included this kind of verbal rebuke of demonic forces as one aspect of his spiritual warfare.

Moreover, such wrestling against “the spiritual hosts of wickedness” may mean that in our private times of intercessory prayer for others we will include an element of verbal rebuke to demonic forces that may be a component in situations for which we are praying. (This kind of spiritual warfare would not be in the presence of the person for whom we are concerned, who in many cases would be confused or frightened unnecessarily.) For example, parents may appropriately include a brief word of rebuke to a spirit of rebelliousness in one child, of laziness in another, or of anger in yet another, in addition to praying that the Lord would give victory in those areas, and in addition to teaching and disciplining their children.2

Other than rebuking demons in Jesus’ name, what are some additional ways we should minister to people being oppressed or tormented by demons?

2. When ministering to the demonically oppressed, we should use God’s Word.

When Satan continually tempted Christ in the wilderness, Christ always rebuked the devil with God’s Word (Matt 4:1-11). In Ephesians 6:17, Paul calls God’s Word the sword of the Spirit, which is our offensive weapon in spiritual warfare. We should use Scriptures relevant to that person’s struggle (or our struggle). We may need to explain these Scripture to help replace the lies a person has accepted, which is keeping him handicapped and oppressed by sin and Satan. We may also need to rebuke the demon using Scripture, even as Jesus did with Satan in the wilderness. If he is struggling with lust, while praying for him, we should quote Scriptures speaking on sexual purity. If he is struggling with rage, we should quote Scriptures dealing with self-control. If he is struggling with anxiety or depression, we should quote Scriptures dealing with God’s peace or joy in the Spirit.

When a person is under strong demonic oppression, such as when the demon has rendered the person helpless and taken over his voice-box, we should quote Scriptures that represent Satan’s defeat, as we command the demon to leave, and pray over the person. Consider the following:

So he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Look, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions and on the full force of the enemy, and nothing will hurt you.

Luke 10:18-19

Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he likewise shared in their humanity, so that through death he could destroy the one who holds the power of death (that is, the devil)

Hebrews 2:14

He has destroyed what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness expressed in decrees opposed to us. He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. Disarming the rulers and authorities, he has made a public disgrace of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Colossians 2:14-15

But they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.

Revelation 12:11

Then I saw an angel descending from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the abyss and a huge chain. He seized the dragon—the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan—and tied him up for a thousand years. The angel then threw him into the abyss and locked and sealed it so that he could not deceive the nations until the one thousand years were finished. (After these things he must be released for a brief period of time.) … And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are too, and they will be tormented there day and night forever and ever.

Revelation 20:1-3, 10

When ministering to the demonically oppressed, we should use Scripture, both when rebuking the devil and when counseling the person on how to get free from the oppression and stay free.

3. When ministering to the demonically oppressed, we must be prayerful.

When the disciples could not cast a demon out of a young boy, Christ told them that this kind only comes out by prayer (Mk 9:29). Also, when Paul taught about the armor of God needed to stand against the evil one and his demons, he ended with the believers’ need for Spirit-led prayer. In Ephesians 6:18, he said, “With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints.” Spirit-led prayer is directed by God’s Spirit and God’s Word. It is powerful in setting people free from the enemy’s strongholds. It is noteworthy that “praying” is plural in the verse, which may indicate our need for corporate prayer as we tackle strongholds in individuals, communities, and nations. God hears the prayers of his saints, especially as they pray in unison. In Matthew 18:19-20 in the context of church discipline, Christ said: “Again, I tell you the truth, if two of you on earth agree about whatever you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three are assembled in my name, I am there among them.” Before ministering to people oppressed, we should spend time in deep prayer and possibly fasting—preparing to enter into warfare. While ministering to them, we should continue in prayer. It is wise to encourage many to pray for someone who is being severely oppressed by the evil one. God hears the prayers of his saints, and corporate prayer is especially effective.

4. When ministering to the demonically oppressed, we should at times use worship in our warfare.

With Saul, David played worship, which made the demon flee (1 Sam 16:23). We should at times do the same. If someone is strongly being oppressed, it might be wise to minister to them as a team. One person might play worship in the background, as others minister to the demonically oppressed person through reading Scripture, praying, and commanding the demon to leave in Jesus’ name. When counseling a person who is struggling with depression or anxiety, which we’re discerning might be at least partially demonic in nature, it may be wise to encourage that person to continually listen to worship music throughout the day, as well as increasing their spiritual disciplines like praying, reading Scripture, and fellowshipping with believers, to help provide relief.

5. When ministering to the demonically oppressed, we must help the person recognize and get rid of any open doors in his or her life.

In Ephesians 4:26-27, Paul says, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on the cause of your anger. Do not give the devil an opportunity.” Since sin gives the devil a foothold in a person’s life, it is wise when counseling a person that we suspect is being demonically oppressed to ask if he has any unconfessed sin which might be opening a door to Satan, including unforgiveness towards someone who hurt him (Matt 18:32-35), sexual immorality, deceit, or dabbling in the occult (i.e. horoscopes, ouija boards, and the like). Sin opens the door to the devil; therefore, to get rid of demons and to keep them gone, the person must repent and close any potential doors.

Helping a demonically oppressed person recognize and close doors is especially important because Christ said that when a person is set free from a demon, the demon tries to return by bringing stronger demons to get back into his home. In Matthew 12:43-45, Christ said:

When an unclean spirit goes out of a person, it passes through waterless places looking for rest but does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the home I left.’ When it returns, it finds the house empty, swept clean, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there, so the last state of that person is worse than the first.

Therefore, getting free is often not the hardest part of ministering to the demonically oppressed; it is staying free. For this reason, we must provide biblical counseling to the demonically oppressed to help them recognize doors the devil may be using and close them.

6. When ministering to the demonically oppressed, we must prepare ourselves spiritually.

As mentioned earlier, one time Jesus cast a demon out of a young boy, and the disciples approached him to ask why they couldn’t cast the demon out. In Matthew 17:20, Christ said it was because of their “little faith.” However, in Mark 9:29, Christ said, “This kind can come out only by prayer.” Essentially, the reason the disciples could not cast out the demon was because they were not spiritually prepared. Their faith and prayer lives were weak. For this reason, in ministering to those oppressed, it may be wise to take time to fast, pray, and saturate oneself in the Word before ministering to a person being oppressed, lest we find ourselves unfit and unprepared like the disciples.

7. When ministering to the demonically oppressed, we must be persistent.

In James 4:7, James said, “resist the devil and he will flee from you.” With Christ in the wilderness, he rebuked the devil three times with Scripture and then told him to leave (Matt 4:1-11). At times, when we minister to someone, we will pray for them, share the Word of God with them, help them worship the Lord in faith, and yet, they won’t experience much victory. We may need to do this multiple times, while enlisting others to fast and pray for their victory as well. Sometimes, deliverance tarries because of our unpreparedness, sometimes because of the oppressed person’s unwillingness to confess and get rid of sin, and other times just because the stronghold is that firmly ingrained in the person’s life. Even then, we should not lose courage. As James said, we must continue to resist the devil and he will flee. And as Paul said, “So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up” (Gal 6:9).

In addition, we must trust that if for whatever reason full deliverance doesn’t come, we must trust that God is using the trial for the good and that God’s grace will be made perfect in the person’s weakness, as he relies on and rejoices in God. In 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, Paul said this about his demonic thorn in the flesh which God refused to remove:

… even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble me—so that I would not become arrogant. I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me. But he said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me.

Conclusion

When ministering to those demonically oppressed, we must rebuke the demon in Jesus’ name. We must use God’s Word, prayer, and worship. We must help the oppressed person recognize and get rid of any doors opened by sin. We must prepare ourselves spiritually and be persistent in ministering to those oppressed, as some battles are not won quickly and some not in this lifetime by God’s sovereign decision (cf. 2 Cor 12:7-9). However, we can take confidence in the fact that Christ has already won the war (Heb 2:14, Col 2:14-15). In Romans 16:20 (ESV), Paul said this: “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”

Reflection

  1. What stood out most in the reading and why?
  2. What are some signs of demonic oppression?
  3. How should we minister to those being demonically oppressed?
  4. What has been your experience ministering to those demonically oppressed?
  5. What other questions or applications did you take from the reading?

Copyright © 2021 Gregory Brown

Unless otherwise noted, the primary Scriptures used are taken from the NET Bible ® copyright © 1996-2016 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.

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1 Grudem, W. A. (2004). Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical doctrine (p. 429). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House.

2 Grudem, W. A. (2004). Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical doctrine (pp. 429–430). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House.

Related Topics: Satanology

11. Conclusion

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As we conclude this study, we must remember that Satan is a real person—a fallen angel who probably was the most glorious being in God’s creation. He ministered in God’s presence and led others in the worship of God. However, at some point, he became prideful, as he wanted to be like God and led one-third of the angels in rebellion against God. Consequently, he was cast out of heaven, along with his demons. He is a real person—not simply a personification of evil. He imitates God and wants to twist and pervert all of God’s creative order, especially humans. He tempts, lies, attacks, and destroys. From the fall, God prophesied that Satan would harm the promised messiah, and that the messiah would ultimately crush the devil (Gen 3:15). This was fulfilled at the cross. Satan killed Jesus, but it ended up only being a flesh wound, as he rose from the dead. And in the cross and resurrection, Satan has ultimately been defeated (Col 2:15). But the full outworking of that defeat awaits Christ’s return and the coming eternal state. Then Satan, his angels, and evildoers will be cast into the lake of fire and tormented eternally (Rev 20:10).

In this period, between the cross and Christ’s return to rule, Satan is a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet 5:8). His time is short. Believers must be vigilant, being empowered by God and standing in his authority against the devil’s attacks. They must, through resources given by God, resist the devil and his works against the church, society, nations, and the world (Jam 4:7). Soon, Christ will crush Satan under our feet (Rom 16:20).

As a matter of warning, God has not told us everything about Satan, demons, and their ways in the world. He has told us all we need to know to conquer them and have victory. With that said, we must be careful of an ungodly curiosity into the things of Satan and darkness, including things like the occult (cf. Rev 2:24, “the ‘deep secrets of Satan’) and his work among the governments of this world (cf. Matt 4:8-9, as he offered Christ the kingdoms of this world). In 1 Corinthians 14:20, Paul said, we should “be infants in evil” but “mature” in our thinking. In Romans 16:19, Paul likewise said that we should be “wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.” Let that be true of us. What God has revealed about Satan and his kingdom in Scripture is enough to properly evaluate the evil in the world around us and to win our battles. Thank you, God, for equipping us for our daily battles and winning the war! Thank you, God, that Jesus is coming soon to finish the job. Lord, come! Lord, come!

Related Topics: Satanology

Appendix 1: Study Group Tips

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Leading a small group using the Bible Teacher’s Guide can be done in various ways. One format for leading a small group is the “study group” model, where each member prepares and shares in the teaching. This appendix will cover tips for facilitating a weekly study group.

  1. Each week the members of the study group will read through a select chapter of the guide, answer the reflection questions (see Appendix 2), and come prepared to share in the group.
  2. Prior to each meeting, a different member can be selected to lead the group and share Question 1 of the reflection questions, which is to give a short summary of the chapter read. This section of the gathering could last from five to fifteen minutes. This way, each member can develop their gift of teaching. It also will make them study harder during the week. Or, each week the same person could share the summary.
  3. After the summary has been given, the leader for that week will facilitate discussions through the rest of the reflection questions and also ask select review questions from the chapter.
  4. After discussion, the group will share prayer requests and pray for one another.

The strength of the study group is the fact that the members will be required to prepare their responses before the meeting, which will allow for easier discussion. In addition, each member will be given the opportunity to teach, which will further equip their ministry skills. The study group model has distinct advantages.

Appendix 2: Reflection Questions

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Writing is one of the best ways to learn. In class, we take notes and write papers, and these methods are used to help us learn and retain the material. The same is true with the Word of God. Obviously, all the authors of Scripture were writers. This helped them better learn the Scriptures and also enabled them to more effectively teach it. As you reflect on God’s Word, using the Bible Teacher’s Guide, take time to write so you can similarly grow both in your learning and teaching.

  1. How would you summarize the main points of the text/chapter? Write a brief summary.
  2. What stood out to you most in the reading? Did any of the contents trigger any memories or experiences? If so, please share them.
  3. What follow–up questions did you have about the reading? What parts did you not fully agree with?
  4. What applications did you take from the reading, and how do you plan to implement them into your life?
  5. Write several commitment statements: As a result of my time studying God’s Word, I will . . .
  6. What are some practical ways to pray as a result of studying the text? Spend some time ministering to the Lord through prayer.

Appendix 3: Walking The Romans Road

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How can a person be saved? From what is he saved? How can someone have eternal life? Scripture teaches that after death each person will spend eternity either in heaven or hell. How can a person go to heaven?

Paul said this to Timothy:

You, however, must continue in the things you have learned and are confident about. You know who taught you and how from infancy you have known the holy writings, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 3:14-15

One of the reasons God gave us Scripture is to make us wise for salvation. This means that without it, nobody can know how to be saved.

Well then, how can a people be saved and what are they being saved from? A common method of sharing the good news of salvation is through the Romans Road. One of the great themes, not only of the Bible, but specifically of the book of Romans is salvation. In Romans, the author, Paul, clearly details the steps we must take in order to be saved.

How can we be saved? What steps must we take?

Step One: We Must Accept That We Are Sinners

Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” What does it mean to sin? The word sin means “to miss the mark.” The mark we missed is reflecting God’s image. When God created mankind in the Genesis narrative, he created man in the “image of God” (1:27). The “image of God” means many things, but probably, most importantly it means we were made to be holy just as he is holy. Man was made moral. We were meant to reflect God’s holiness in every way: the way we think, the way we talk, and the way we act. And any time we miss the mark in these areas, we commit sin.

Furthermore, we do not only sin when we commit a sinful act such as lying, stealing, or cheating. Again, we sin anytime we have a wrong heart motive. The greatest commandments in Scripture are to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt 22:36-40, paraphrase). Whenever we don’t love God supremely and love others as ourselves, we sin and fall short of the glory of God. For this reason, man is always in a state of sinning. Sadly, even if our actions are good, our heart is bad. I have never loved God with my whole heart, mind, and soul, and neither has anybody else. Therefore, we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). We have all missed the mark of God’s holiness and we must accept this.

What’s the next step?

Step Two: We Must Understand We Are Under The Judgment Of God

Why are we under the judgment of God? It is because of our sins. Scripture teaches that God is not only a loving God, but he is also a just God. And his justice requires judgment for each of our sins. Romans 6:23 says, “For the payoff of sin is death.”

A payoff or wage is something we earn. Every time we sin, we earn the wage of death. What is death? Death really means separation. In physical death, the body is separated from the spirit, but in spiritual death, man is separated from God. Man currently lives in a state of spiritual death (cf. Eph 2:1-3). We do not love God, obey him, or know him as we should. Therefore, man is in a state of death.

Moreover, one day at our physical death, if we have not been saved, we will spend eternity separated from God in a very real hell. In hell, we will pay the wage for each of our sins. Therefore, in hell people will experience various degrees of punishment (cf. Lk 12:47-48). This places man in a very dangerous predicament—unholy and therefore under the judgment of God.

How should we respond to this? This leads us to our third step.

Step Three: We Must Recognize God Has Invited All To Accept His Free Gift Of Salvation

Romans 6:23 does not stop at the wages of sin being death. It says, “For the payoff of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Because God loved everybody on the earth, he offered the free gift of eternal life, which anyone can receive through Jesus Christ.

Because it is a gift, it cannot be earned. We cannot work for it. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast.”

Going to church, being baptized, giving to the poor, or doing any other righteous work does not save. Salvation is a gift that must be received from God. It is a gift that has been prepared by his effort alone.

How do we receive this free gift?

Step Four: We Must Believe Jesus Christ Died For Our Sins And Rose From The Dead

If we are going to receive this free gift, we must believe in God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Because God loved us, cared for us, and didn’t want us to be separated from him eternally, he sent his Son to die for our sins. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Similarly, John 3:16 says, “For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” God so loved us that he gave his only Son for our sins.

Jesus Christ was a real, historical person who lived 2,000 years ago. He was born of a virgin. He lived a perfect life. He was put to death by the Romans and the Jews. And after he was buried, he rose again on the third day. In his death, he took our sins and God’s wrath for them and gave us his perfect righteousness so we could be accepted by God. Second Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.” God did all this so we could be saved from his wrath.

Christ’s death satisfied the just anger of God over our sins. When God looked at Jesus on the cross, he saw us and our sins and therefore judged Jesus. And now, when God sees those who are saved, he sees his righteous Son and accepts us. In salvation, we have become the righteousness of God.

If we are going to be saved, if we are going to receive this free gift of salvation, we must believe in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection for our sins (cf. 1 Cor 15:3-5, Rom 10:9-10). Do you believe?

Step Five: We Must Confess Christ As Lord Of Our Lives

Romans 10:9-10 says,

Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation.

Not only must we believe, but we must confess Christ as Lord of our lives. It is one thing to believe in Christ but another to follow Christ. Simple belief does not save. Christ must be our Lord. James said this: “…Even the demons believe that – and tremble with fear” (James 2:19), but the demons are not saved—Christ is not their Lord.

Another aspect of making Christ Lord is repentance. Repentance really means a change of mind that leads to a change of direction. Before we met Christ, we were living our own life and following our own sinful desires. But when we get saved, our mind and direction change. We start to follow Christ as Lord.

How do we make this commitment to the lordship of Christ so we can be saved? Paul said we must confess with our mouth “Jesus is Lord” as we believe in him. Romans 10:13 says, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

If you admit that you are a sinner and understand you are under God’s wrath because of it; if you believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that he died on the cross for your sins, and rose from the dead for your salvation; if you are ready to turn from your sin and cling to Christ as Lord, you can be saved.

If this is your heart, then you can pray this prayer and commit to following Christ as your Lord.

Dear heavenly Father, I confess I am a sinner and have fallen short of your glory, what you made me for. I believe Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins and rose from the dead so I can have eternal life. I am turning away from my sin and accepting you as my Lord and Savior. Come into my life and change me. Thank you for your gift of salvation.

Scripture teaches that if you truly accepted Christ as your Lord, then you are a new creation. Second Corinthians 5:17 says, “So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away – look, what is new has come!” God has forgiven your sins (1 John 1:9), he has given you his Holy Spirit (Rom 8:15), and he is going to disciple you and make you into the image of his Son (cf. Rom 8:29). He will never leave you nor forsake you (Heb 13:5), and he will complete the work he has begun in your life (Phil 1:6). In heaven, angels and saints are rejoicing because of your commitment to Christ (Lk 15:7).

Praise God for his great salvation! May God keep you in his hand, empower you through the Holy Spirit, train you through mature believers, and use you to build his kingdom! “He who calls you is trustworthy, and he will in fact do this” (1 Thess 5:24). God bless you!

Copyright © 2021 Gregory Brown

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Appendix: Tyranny of the Urgent

Included in the Basics for Christian Living with permission. Original by Charles E. Hummel

Have you ever wished for a thirty-hour day? Surely this extra time would relieve the tremendous pressure under which we live. Our lives leave a trail of unfinished tasks. Unanswered letters, unvisited friends, unwritten articles, and unread books haunt quiet moments when we stop to evaluate. We desperately need relief.

But would a thirty-hour day really solve the problem? Wouldn't we soon be just as frustrated as we are now with our twenty-four allotment? A mother's work is never finished, and neither is that of any student, teacher, minister, or anyone else we know. Nor will the passage of time help us catch up. Children grow in number and age to require more of our time. Greater experience in profession and church brings more exacting assignments. So we find ourselves working more and enjoying it less.

Jumbled Priorities...?

When we stop to evaluate, we realize that our dilemma goes deeper than shortage of time; it is basically the problem of priorities. Hard work does not hurt us. We all know what it is to go full speed for long hours, totally involved in an important task. The resulting weariness is matched by a sense of achievement and joy. Not hard work, but doubt and misgiving produce anxiety as we review a month or year and become oppressed by the pile of unfinished tasks. We sense uneasily that we may have failed to do the important. The winds of other people's demands have driven us onto a reef of frustration. We confess, quite apart from our sins, "We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done."

Several years ago an experienced cotton mill manager said to me, "Your greatest danger is letting the urgent things crowd out the important." He didn't realize how hard his maxim hit. It often returns to haunt and rebuke me by raising the critical problem of priorities.

We live in constant tension between the urgent and the important. The problem is that the important task rarely must be done today or even this week. Extra hours of prayer and Bible study, visit with that non-Christian friend, careful study of an important book: these projects can wait. But the urgent tasks call for instant action--endless demands; pressure every hour and day.

A man's home is no longer his castle; it is no longer a place away from urgent tasks because the telephone breaches the walls with imperious demands. The momentary appeal of these tasks seems irresistible and important, and they devour our energy. But in the light of time's perspective their deceptive prominence fades; with a sense of loss we recall the important tasks pushed aside. We realize we've become slaves to the tyranny of the urgent.

Can You Escape...?

Is there any escape from this pattern of living? The answer lies in the life of our Lord. On the night before He died, Jesus made an astonishing claim. In the great prayer of John 17 He said, "I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do" (verse 4).

How could Jesus use the word "finished"? His three year ministry seemed all too short. A prostitute at Simon's banquet had found forgiveness and a new life, but many others still walked the street without forgiveness and a new life. For every ten withered muscles that had flexed into health, a hundred remained impotent. Yet on that last night, with many useful tasks undone and urgent human needs unmet, the Lord had peace; He knew He had finished God's work.

The Gospel records show that Jesus worked hard. After describing a busy day Mark writes, "That evening, at sundown, they brought to Him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered about the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons" (Mark 1:32-34).

On another occasion the demand of the ill and maimed caused Him to miss supper and to work so late that His disciples thought He was beside Himself (Mark 3:21). One day after a strenuous teaching session, Jesus and His disciples went out in a boat. Even a storm didn't awaken Him (Mark 4:37-38). What a picture of exhaustion.

Yet His life was never feverish; He had time for people. He could spend hours talking to one person, such as the Samaritan woman at the well. His life showed a wonderful balance, a sense of timing. When His brothers wanted Him to go to Judea, He replied, "My time has not yet come" (John 7:6). Jesus did not ruin His gifts by haste. In the Discipline and Culture of the Spiritual Life, A. E. Whiteham observes: "Here in this Man is adequate purpose...inward rest, that gives an air of leisure to His crowded life: above all there is in this Man a secret and a power of dealing with the waste-products of life, the waste of pain, disappointment, enmity, death--turning to divine uses the abuses of man, transforming arid places of pain to fruitfulness, triumphing at last in death, and making a short life of thirty years or so, abruptly cut off, to be a 'finished' life. We cannot admire the poise and beauty of this human life, and then ignore the things that made it."

Wait For Instructions...

What was the secret of Jesus' work? We find a clue following Mark's account of Jesus' busy day. Mark observes that "...in the morning, a great while before day, He rose and went out to a lonely place, and there He prayed" (Mark 1:35). Here is the secret of Jesus' life and work for God: He prayerfully waited for His Father's instructions and for the strength to follow them. Jesus had no divinely-drawn blueprint; He discerned the Father's will day by day in a life of prayer. By this means He warded off the urgent and accomplished the important.

Lazarus' death illustrates this principle. What could have been more important than the urgent message from Mary and Martha, "Lord, he whom You love is ill" (John 11:3)? John records the Lord's response in these paradoxical words: "Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when He heard that he was ill, He stayed two days longer in the place where He was" (John 11:5,6). What was the urgent need? Obviously to prevent the death of his beloved brother. But the important thing from God's point of view was to raise Lazarus from the dead. So Lazarus was allowed to die. Later Jesus revived him as a sign of His magnificent claim, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live" (John 11:25).

We may wonder why our Lord's ministry was so short, why it could not have lasted another five or ten years, why so many wretched sufferers were left in their misery. Scripture gives no answer to these questions, and we leave them in the mystery of God's purposes, but we do know that Jesus' prayerful waiting for God's instructions freed Him from the tyranny of the urgent. It gave Him a sense of direction, set a steady pace, and enabled Him to do every task God assigned. And on the last night He could say, "I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do."

Dependence Makes You Free...

Freedom from the tyranny of the urgent is found in the example and promise of our Lord. At the end of a vigorous debate with the Pharisees in Jerusalem, Jesus said to those who believed in Him: "If you continue in My Word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free... Truly, truly, I say to you, every one who commits sin is a slave to sin...So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:31-36).

Many of us have experienced Christ's deliverance from the penalty of sin. Are we letting Him free us from the tyranny of the urgent? He points the way: "If you continue in my Word." This is the way to freedom. Through prayerful meditation on God's Word we gain His perspective.

P. T. Forsyth once said, "The worst sin is prayerlessness." We usually think of murder, adultery, or theft as among the worst. But the root of all sin is self-sufficiency--independence from God. When we fail to wait prayerfully for God's guidance and strength we are saying, with our actions if not our lips, that we do not need Him. How much of our service is characterized by "going it alone"?

The opposite of such independence is prayer in which we acknowledge our need of God's instruction and supply. Concerning a dependent relationship with God, Donald Baillie says: "Jesus lived His life in complete dependence upon God, as we all ought to live our lives. But such dependence does not destroy human personality. Man is never so truly and fully personal as when he is living in complete dependence upon God. This is how personality comes into its own. This is humanity at its most personal."

Prayerful waiting on God is indispensable to effective service. Like the time-out in a football game, it enables us to catch our breath and fix new strategy. As we wait for directions the Lord frees us from the tyranny of the urgent. He shows us the truth about Himself, ourselves, and our tasks. He impresses on our minds the assignments He wants us to undertake. The need itself is not the call; the call must come from the God who knows our limitations. "As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust" (Psalm 103:13-14). It is not God who loads us until we bend or crack with an ulcer, nervous breakdown, heart attack, or stroke. These come from our inner compulsions coupled with the pressure of circumstances.

Evaluate...

The modern businessman recognizes this principle of taking time out for evaluation. When Greenwalt was president of DuPont, he said, "One minute spent in planning saves three or four minutes in execution." Many salesmen have revolutionized their business and multiplied their profits by setting aside Friday afternoon to plan carefully the major activities for the coming week. If an executive is too busy to stop and plan, he may find himself replaced by another man who takes time to plan. If the Christian is too busy to stop, take spiritual inventory, and receive his assignments from God, he becomes a slave to the tyranny of the urgent. He may work day and night to achieve much that seems significant to himself and others, but he will not finish the work God has for him to do.

A quiet time of meditation and prayer at the start of the day refocuses our relationship with God. Recommit yourself to His will as you think of the hours that follow. In these unhurried moments list in order of priority the tasks to be done, taking into account commitments already made. A competent general always draws up his battle plan before he engages the enemy; he does not postpone basic decisions until the firing starts. But he is also prepared to change his plans if an emergency demands it. So try to implement the plans you have made before the day's battle against the clock begins. But be open to any emergency interruption or unexpected person who may call.

You may also find it necessary to resist the temptation to accept an engagement when the invitation first comes over the telephone. No matter how clear the calendar may look at the moment, ask for a day or two to pray for guidance before committing yourself. Surprisingly the engagement often appears less imperative after the pleading voice has become silent. If you can withstand the urgency of the initial moment, you will be in a better position to weigh the cost and discern whether the task is God's will for you.

In addition to your daily quiet time, set aside one hour a week for spiritual inventory. Write an evaluation of the past, record anything God may be teaching you and plan objectives for the future. Also try to reserve most of one day each month for a similar inventory of longer range. Often you will fail. Ironically, the busier you get the more you need this time of inventory, but the less you seem to be able to take it. You become like the fanatic, who, when unsure of his direction, doubles his speed. And frenetic service for God can become an escape from God. But when you prayerfully take inventory and plan your days, it provides fresh perspective on your work.

Continue The Effort...

Over the years the greatest continuing struggle in the Christian life is the effort to make adequate time for daily waiting on God, weekly inventory, and monthly planning. Since this time for receiving marching orders is so important, Satan will do everything he can to squeeze it out. Yet we know from experience that only by this means can we escape the tyranny of the urgent. This is how Jesus succeeded. He did not finish all the urgent tasks in Palestine or all the things He would have liked to do, but He did finish the work which God gave Him to do. The only alternative to frustration is to be sure that we are doing what God wants.

Nothing substitutes for knowing that this day, this hour, in this place we are doing the will of the Father. Then and only then can we think of all the other unfinished tasks with equanimity and leave them with God.

Sometime ago Simba bullets killed a young man, Dr. Paul Carlson. In the providence of God his life's work was finished. Most of us will live longer and die more quietly, but when the end comes, what could give us greater joy than being sure that we have finished the work God gave us to do? The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ makes this fulfillment possible. He has promised deliverance from sin and the power to serve God in the tasks of His choice. The way is clear. If we continue in the Word of our Lord, we are truly His disciples. And He will free us from the tyranny of the urgent, free us to do the important, which is the will of God.

Related Topics: Discipleship

El Diario del Pastor en la Red, Ed. Esp., Edición 2, Invierno 2012

Un ministerio de…

Author: Dr. Roger Pascoe, President,
Email: [email protected]

Esta es la segunda edición del NET Pastor Journal. Esperamos que los artículos variados sobre el ministerio pastoral sean de ayuda para su ministerio y también le sean un aliento.

Nuestra misión aqui en El Instituto para Predicación Bíblica (The Institute for Biblical Preaching) es “fortalecer a la iglesia en la predicación y liderazgo Bíblicos” y esperamos que esta publicación electrónica haga justo eso ya que buscamos enseñar, ayudar, y animar a las personas en el ministerio por todo el mundo.

I. Predicar: ¿Por qué lo hacemos?

En la edición anterior (NPJ 1, otoño 2011) de este Diario del Pastor en la Red, discutimos lo que es predicar. Concluimos que predicar es la proclamación de la palabra de Dios en el poder del Espíritu Santo, cuyo objetivo es generar una respuesta espiritual que cambie la vida de los oyentes al:

1. Interpretar su significado con exactitud.

2. Explicar la verdad con claridad.

3. Declarar con autoridad su mensaje.

4. Aplicar de manera práctica su relevancia en la vida contemporánea.

Los elementos principales de la preparación de un sermón son, por lo tanto:

1. El sermón tiene su fuente solo en las Escrituras. Esto quiere decir, por supuesto, que la predicación bíblica requiere el compromiso incondicional por parte del predicador de que la Biblia es la Palabra de Dios y, como tal, es la única fuente y autoridad para la predicación.

2. El pasaje de las Escrituras es entendido por medio de una exégesis cuidadosa y es interpretado a través de principios de interpretación bíblica bien establecidos, teniendo en cuenta:

a) El contexto del pasaje.

b) La estructura gramatical del pasaje.

c) El significado histórico de las palabras.

d) El entorno cultural del pasaje.

e) Las implicaciones teológicas del pasaje.

f) El significado pretendido por el autor como si hubiera sido entendido por la audiencia original.

3. El sermón es estructurado al identificar los principios eternos enseñados en el pasaje.

4. El sermón está compuesto por una explicación clara de lo que dice y significa el pasaje y una aplicación relevante del pasaje a las vidas de su audiencia.

A medida que publiquemos ediciones posteriores de este Diario del Pastor en la Red, estaré tratando con todos estos diferentes aspectos de la predicación bíblica.

Por lo tanto, el propósito general de la predicación bíblica es comunicar un mensaje de Dios tomado de la Palabra de Dios, las Escrituras. El propósito específico de la predicación bíblica es comunicar un mensaje específico tomado de un texto (o textos) específico(s) de las Escrituras, cuyo mensaje está dirigido a una audiencia en especial y demanda una respuesta específica a ese mensaje.

J.I. Packer escribe: “El propósito de la predicación es informar, persuadir, y provocar una respuesta apropiada al Dios cuyo mensaje e instrucciones están siendo entregados… No estamos hablando sobre comunicar una lección de un libro, sino que estamos hablando por Dios y llamando a las personas a volverse a Dios” (The Preacher and Preaching: Reviving the Art in the Twentieth Century, “Why Preach?”, 9). Es por eso que predicamos - para hablar por Dios y llamar a las personas a que se vuelvan a Dios. Puede ser un mensaje evangelístico en el que el evangelio se presenta o puede ser un mensaje edificante para el cuerpo de Cristo. Pero el propósito en general es entregarle un mensaje de la Palabra de Dios a su audiencia, mensaje que los lleve a un cara a cara con Dios.

Así, la confianza en que las Escrituras son la Palabra de Dios es la espina dorsal necesaria de la predicación bíblica. Es la Palabra de Dios la que debemos interpretar con exactitud, explicar con claridad, aplicar con practicidad, y (ya que es la Palabra de Dios) declarar con autoridad con la seguridad de su poder y presencia permanente.

La Palabra de Dios es de suprema importancia. Es lo que las personas necesitan escuchar. por lo tanto, la predicación bíblica es lo que se necesita en este mundo y en la iglesia. Consideres los siguientes textos que hablan de la suprema importancia y función de la Palabra de Dios:

Deut. 32:46-47, La palabra de Dios es “vuestra vida.”

Salmos 119:11, La palabra de Dios nos protege del pecado.

Efe. 6:17, La palabra de Dios es “la espada del Espíritu.”

Rom. 6:17 y Deut. 27:10, La palabra de Dios demanda fidelidad y obediencia (cf. 2 Tes. 1:8; 1 Ped. 3:1; 4:17).

Deut. 30:15-16, La palabra de Dios determina la vida y la santidad.

Deut. 8:3, La palabra de Dios nos nutre y alimenta (cf. Mat. 4:4).

Rom. 10:17, La palabra de Dios es el conducto para la fe.

Heb. 4:12, La palabra de Dios expone nuestro ser interior.

2 Tim. 3:16, La palabra de Dios equipa completamente a los siervos de Dios para todos los aspectos ministeriales.

Mi reto para ti en esta edición de El Diario del Pastor en la Red es:

1. Cuando predicas, ¿qué predicas? Hay tantas voces y palabras en el mundo actual. Las personas no necesitan más palabras vacías. Lo que necesitan es la palabra de autoridad final de Dios. La Palabra de Dios hace la diferencia.

2. ¿Qué tan importante es la Palabra de Dios para ti?

3. ¿Qué diferencia hace en tu vida?

Responder a esas preguntas le ayudará a ver el por qué la predicación bíblica es tan importante.

II. Liderazgo: Ser un Modelo A Seguir Devoto
“Ser de Ejemplo Personal en Pensamiento, Palabra, y Hechos,” Parte 2

En la última edición del Diario Del Pastor en La Red, comenzamos esta serie de liderazgo cristiano sobre ser un modelo a seguir piadoso. Si eres un líder cristiano, entonces eres un modelo a seguir sea que lo sepas o no. Las personas a tu alrededor están oyendo tu manera de hablar, viendo cómo actúas, cómo reaccionas, cómo piensas, cómo te relacionas con los demás, cuáles son tus prioridades, y cómo gastas tu tiempo y tu dinero. Si eres un pastor, toda tu congregación te está mirando, especialmente los jóvenes.

El apóstol Pablo en repetidas ocasiones incitó a otros a imitar su ejemplo (p.ej. 1 Cor.11:1) y, a su vez, a ser ejemplo para para que te imiten. Ser un modelo a seguir devoto significa que ejemplificamos a Cristo en nuestras vidas de tal manera que cuando otros nos escuchan, escuchan a Cristo, cuando nos ven, ven a Cristo. Ser un modelo a seguir devoto significa que lo que otros ven y oyen en nuestra devota manera de vivir es tan atractivo para ellos y tan auténtico que ellos quieren imitarnos. Ese es el poder y la realidad de ser un modelo de conducta piadoso. Solo por la manera en que te comportas puedes tener un poderoso impacto en la vida de alguien más – sea positivo o negativo. Un modelo de conducta piadoso tiene un impacto positivo profundo en aquellos que le rodean.

El primer aspecto de ser un modelo de conducta piadoso que vimos en nuestra última Entrega fue ser un ejemplo de compromiso. Ahora, miremos dos aspectos adicionales de ser un modelo de conducta piadoso:

1. Un ejemplo en Consistencia. Escribiéndole a la Iglesia de Tesalónica, el apóstol Pablo los anima a imitar la conducta consistente de los apóstoles.: “7Porque vosotros mismos sabéis de qué manera debéis imitarnos; pues nosotros no anduvimos desordenadamente entre vosotros,8ni comimos de balde el pan de nadie, sino que trabajamos con afán y fatiga día y noche, para no ser gravosos a ninguno de vosotros;9 no porque no tuviésemos derecho, sino por daros nosotros mismos un ejemplo para que nos imitaseis.” (2 Tes. 3:7-9).

Para Pablo, una conducta cristiana consistente implica nuestra ética de trabajo, así como nuestra auto disciplina. Ser un cristiano consistente significa que (1) eres auto disciplinado, no desordenado o desordenado en tu estilo de vida, (2) eres un trabajador duro, no perezoso ni ocioso, y (3) te ganas tu sustento, sin aprovecharse de la generosidad de otros.

Una vez más, Pablo escribe, “Vosotros sois testigos, y Dios también, de cuán santa, justa e irreprensiblemente nos comportamos con vosotros los creyentes” (1 Tes. 2:10). Un líder cristiano consistente es uno que es conocido por su vida devocional (santidad), uno que es justo e irreprensible en su trato con otros, una persona contra la cual otros no puede señalar con un dedo acusador.

Es más, un líder cristiano consistente es uno cuya palabra es confiable, clara, directa y explícita. “Mas, como Dios es fiel, nuestra palabra a vosotros no es Sí y No.” (2 Cor. 1:18), escribe Pablo. Líderes piadosos consistentes dicen lo que quieren decir y quieren decir lo que dicen. Eso es consistencia de palabra. No dices una cosa hoy y te contradices a ti mismo mañana. No hablas en forma tal que eres intencionalmente ambiguo.

Aquí está mi ABC de la consistencia cristiana:

Nuestras Acciones tienen que ser consistentes con lo que Sabemos

Nuestro Comportamiento tiene que ser consistente con los que Creemos.

Nuestra Conducta tiene que ser consistente con nuestra Confesión.

Nuestras Obras tienen que ser consistente con nuestra Doctrina.

Alguien dijo que la “Consistencia es el acto de vivir siendo fieles a lo que creemos” (David Jeremiah, Living with Confidence in a Chaotic World, p. 163).

Un cristiano consistente es uno que “permanece en Cristo” – estás establecido, seguro, confiado en quien eres en Cristo, y, por lo tanto, consistente en tu comportamiento (cf. Jn 15:1-7, 1 Jn. 2:28). “Permanecer” significa ser consistente, tener una actitud inquebrantable respecto a las relaciones, discurso, pensamiento, y conducta. Significa que no estas esforzándote o luchando, no estás contendiendo con ser alguien más o algo más, sino simplemente confiando en Cristo, permaneciendo en él, buscando comportarte de la misma manera en que Cristo mismo se comportó. (1 Jn.2:6)

Un cristiano consistente es alguien que es conocido por ser fiable, confiable, constante. No alguien que es fácilmente influenciado (cf. Efe.4:14), no alguien cuyo estado de ánimo o disposición cambia sin avisar o sin razón, sino alguien cuyo enfoque de la vida y su apariencia es previsible, alguien que es un corredor espiritual de larga distancia, no un velocista, alguien en que se puede confiar sin importar las circunstancias, alguien disciplinado cuya vida es suficientemente estructurada y auto disciplinada de manera que otros saben qué harás lo que siempre haces y te ocuparás de las necesidades de otros como siempre lo haces. esto es consistencia y es un atributo maravilloso de los líderes cristianos devotos. J.C. Ryle escribió esto: “Nada influencia más a otros que la consistencia” (“Day by Day with J. C. Ryle,” ed. Eric Russell).

¿Puedes pensar en personas que conozcas cuya característica sobresaliente sea la consistencia – personas que algunas veces llamamos “fieles”? Siempre estarán allí. Siempre podrás contar con ellas. Jesús dijo, “Dijo entonces Jesús a los judíos que habían creído en él: Si vosotros permaneciereis en mi palabra, seréis verdaderamente mis discípulos; (Juan 8:31). La continua perseverancia en la palabra de Jesús es la clave para la consistencia en su servicio.

Los líderes cristianos devotos deberían ser un ejemplo en consistencia a semejanza de Cristo. “El que dice que permanece en él (Cristo), debe andar como él (Jesús) anduvo.” (1 Jn. 2:6). Este tipo de consistencia está marcada por un enfoque constante en Jesús – en su Muerte, resurrección, y su pronto regreso.

Los líderes cristianos devotos deberían ser un ejemplo en la consistencia en el cuidado de otros. “El que ama a su hermano, permanece en la luz, y en él no hay tropiezo.” (1 Jn. 2:10; cf. también 1 Jn. 3:23; 4:7-8).

Los líderes cristianos devotos deberían ser un ejemplo en la consistencia en la obediencia. La obediencia se refiere al “…pero el que hace la voluntad de Dios permanece para siempre.” (1 Jn. 2:17), el que es obediente a la voluntad de Dios como es revelada en la palabra de Dios (Rom. 6:17). El secreto de permanecer en Cristo es dejar que la palabra permanezca en ti. “Lo que habéis oído desde el principio, permanezca en vosotros. Si lo que habéis oído desde el principio permanece en vosotros, también vosotros permaneceréis en el Hijo y en el Padre.” (1 Jn. 2:24). Ésta es la clave para la obediencia consistente.

Vivamos cada día a la luz del regreso de Cristo, luchando por ser consistentes en nuestro caminar cristiano.

2. Un ejemplo de Confianza. No me refiero a tu confianza en sí (p.ej. tus propios recursos y habilidades), sino a la confianza en quién eres como cristiano, confianza en tu posición ante Dios, tus dones dados por Dios y tu llamado por Dios. Un cristiano confiado es alguien cuyo corazón no los condena (1 Jn. 3:21), porque viven con transparencia ante Dios, confesando y juzgando cualquier pecado en sus vidas.

Un líder cristiano devoto necesita ser un ejemplo de consistencia en lo que cree. ¿Tienes convicciones firmes sobre la Biblia y sus enseñanzas? ¿Tienes la seguridad de que la Biblia es la palabra de Dios, inspirada, escrita sin error, y totalmente confiable? ¿Sabes en qué crees y por qué crees en ello? ¿La palabra de Dios moldea tu forma de pensar, forma tus valores, y determina tu punto de vista del mundo? ¿Estás confiando en la palabra de Dios?

Cuando “…la palabra de Dios permanece en vosotros,” (1 Jn. 2:14) tienes fuerza interior, confianza. Necesitamos tener confianza en lo que como líderes cristianos creemos. Hay una “…hambre a la tierra,” (Amós 8:11) en más de una manera. Con certeza hay un hambre que tiene que ver con las cosas espirituales. Las personas se están alejando de Dios y su palabra. Hay una confusión sobre qué creer porque hay muchas voces tratando de jalarnos a diferentes direcciones. Hay declaraciones falsas de mesianismo. Hay presión de hacer la Biblia consistente con la evolución y otras teorías ateas de origen y existencia humana.

Para ser un ejemplo efectivo para otros, los líderes cristianos necesitan tener confianza absoluta en lo que creen y en por qué lo creen. Esto significa estudiar la palabra de Dios con diligencia, entenderla con claridad, y obedecerla con alegría.

A ese respecto, los líderes cristianos devotos necesitan ser un ejemplo en la confianza en su relación con Dios. ¿Estás confiando sobre quién eres ante Dios- que eres su hijo, a quien él amo tanto que entregó a su único Hijo para morir por ti? ¿Estás confiando de quién eres como persona- de cómo Dios te hizo único y te dotó con talentos para su servicio? ¿Estás confiando de quién eres como cristiano- eternamente seguro en Cristo, aceptado por Dios en Cristo? ¿Tienes confianza en el cuidado y control soberano de Dios de tu vida? ¿Tienes confianza en tu futuro- a donde irás cuando mueras? ¿Tienes confianza sobre tu llamado ministerial? Un cristiano confiado es como “un árbol plantado junto a las aguas” (Sal. 1) – se para firma en Cristo porque tiene raíces espirituales profundas. Los cristianos confiados se paran firme en medio del caos y el ataque, no son como “… niños fluctuantes,” (Ef. 4:14).

Por supuesto, necesitamos ser ejemplo de confianza en el regreso de Cristo. Tan confiados que vigilamos y esperamos por él activamente por él “aguardando la esperanza bienaventurada y la manifestación gloriosa de nuestro gran Dios y Salvador Jesucristo,” (Tito 2:13). Tan completamente confiados de que vamos a ser aceptados por él “Y ahora, hijitos, permaneced en él, para que cuando se manifieste, tengamos confianza, para que en su venida no nos alejemos de él avergonzados.” (1 Jn. 2:28; cf. 1 Ped. 1:8-9). El retorno de Cristo es la motivación para ambas, la consistencia y la confianza.

¿Estarías “avergonzado” – con miedo de lo que Él encontrará cuando regrese? O ¿estás seguro – confiado de cara a la oposición y tentación porque “mayor es el que esté en nosotros que el que está en el mundo” (1 Jn. 4:4)? La seguridad viene de “permanecer en Cristo” a través de la oración y de su palabra. Aquellos que se avergonzarán serán aquellos cuyo trabajo será quemado. “No avergonzarse” significa mantener las cuentas claras con Dios a través de la oración, la confesión, la obediencia, vigilar y esperar mientras trabajamos para él.

III. Pensamientos Devocionales
“Maná en las Mañanas” (Por: Stephen F. Olford)

Si tú y yo discutiéramos el asunto de manera personal, probablemente dirías que tener un encuentro diario con Dios a través de la palabra de Dios, la Biblia, y la oración es una práctica de lo más loable para todos los cristianos. Y tendrías razón, por supuesto. Excepto que esta comunión diaria, este “tiempo a solas” con Dios, es más que una práctica loable, es absolutamente vital para una vida de espiritualidad sostenida, efectividad, y amor. Es un barómetro de la vida cristiana. Permítanme sustentar esa posición. Jesús dijo, “Él respondió y dijo: Escrito está: No sólo de pan vivirá el hombre, sino de toda palabra que sale de la boca de Dios.” (Mat. 4:4). Lee eso sin la comparación negativa y verás de lo que vive el hombre. “El hombre debe vivir de cada palabra que sale de la boca de Dios.” Literalmente esto es: “el hombre debe vivir de cada palabra hablada que venga de Dios.”

No es la Biblia memorizada, tampoco la Biblia en tu estante o en tu oficina. Es la palabra que le habla Dios a tu alma en el lugar silencioso de meditación en la Biblia. Así es como vive el hombre. Puedes tener la doctrina correcta, y, aun así, estar espiritualmente muerto.

Lo que mantiene la vida es la palabra viva de Dios que es hablada a tu alma diariamente. El tiempo a solas es vital para la salud espiritual, sea que te acabes de convertir o que seas un cristiano maduro (ver, 1 Ped. 2:2 y Heb. 5:14).

El tiempo a solas es vital para tu limpieza espiritual. Inicialmente eres limpio del pecado por la preciosa sangre, eso es verdad, y una y otra vez tienes que ir a la cruz para restauración. pero la limpieza del día a día de los malos pensamientos y acciones viene de la palabra de Dios. (ver Sal. 119:9, Rom. 12:2, Fil. 4:8).

El tiempo a solas también es vital para el consejo espiritual. Uno nunca sabrá los verdaderos principios que determinan una vida de santidad y rectitud si no deja que la palabra de Dios “habite abundantemente en ustedes” (ver 2 Tim. 3:16 y Sal. 73:24)

También, el tiempo a solas con Dios es vital para equiparte para el conflicto espiritual. El ejemplo supremo es nuestro Señor Jesús Cristo cuando se enfrentó a satanás en el desierto. Tengo la seguridad que por cuarenta días y noches Él había alimentado su alma en el libro de Deuteronomio y por lo tanto pudo dar Sus espadazos desde una experiencia personal de la Palabra escrita. pablo, más tarde exhortó a los creyentes en Éfeso a “… tomad …, y la espada del Espíritu, que es la palabra de Dios; (Efe. 6:17).

Aunque siendo lo anterior tan importante como lo es, el mayor incentivo para que tengas un tiempo a solas con Dios cada día no es tu propia necesidad, por grande que sea, sino el hecho de que Dios quiere encontrarse contigo. Por lo tanto, no es tan solo un deber, es un privilegio y un honor. Dios en Cristo, tu Señor, tiene un lugar de confianza contigo. Su corazón se entristece cuando faltas a la cita. Él espera, como lo hizo con la mujer de Samaria, beber de la frescura de tu amor, devoción, y adoración (ver Jn. 4:23, 24). Te advierto que establecer tu tiempo a solas con Dios nunca es fácil. Como ministro, confieso francamente que en estos momentos es más difícil para mí tener mi tiempo a solas con Dios de lo que era cuando recién me convertí. La razón de esto es que lo importa tiene un costo. Te darás cuenta que los ataques más despiadados del adversario se dirigirán directamente a robarte tu tiempo diario a solas con tu Señor. Y tendrás que defenderlo vigorosamente si lo quieres conservar. Cualquiera que sea tu esfera de servicio -pastor, profesor de la escuela dominical, misionero, o cristiano en la casa o en la oficina- te doy pocas esperanzas de vivir victorioso a menes que tu mantengas con éxito tu tiempo a solas con Dios.

IV. Bocetos de Sermones

El propósito de proveerles bocetos de sermones en El Diario del Pastor en la Red, es ayudarles con la preparación y entrega de sus sermones. A menudo, una de las partes más difíciles en la preparación de un sermón es descubrir la estructura del pasaje de la Escritura que se va a predicar. Estos bocetos de sermones tienen como propósito mostrarle el resultado de mi propio estudio en la preparación de los pasajes a ser predicados. Espero que puedan ver como ellos se relacionan directamente con, y vienen directamente desde, las mismas Escrituras.

El punto principal de estos bocetos de sermones son declaraciones de los principios que se van a ver en el pasaje, todos los cuales se refieren al único tema del pasaje. Estos principios están expresados de tal manera que los conectan con los oyentes del sermón. Al usar esta forma de enunciar los puntos principales, el sermón no es una disertación sobre un pedazo de historia antigua, sino un mensaje de Dios para los oyentes de hoy en día. A medida que escuchan cómo los principios del pasaje se relacionan con sus vidas – sus problemas, su comportamiento, sus decisiones, sus actitudes, su espiritualidad, sus familias, sus relaciones interpersonales, etc.

Estas primeras series de bocetos de sermón son del Evangelio según San Juan. Estos bocetos no estarán en secuencia de capítulo y versículo, sino que estarán agrupados en:

1. Siete Obras Sobrenaturales de Jesús (sus milagros).

2. Siete Conversaciones Significativas de Jesús. (sus conversaciones con las personas)

3. Siete Autodeclaraciones de Jesús (sus afirmaciones tipo: “Yo soy”).

Por favor, siéntase libre de usar estos bocetos de sermones. Puede usarlos exactamente como están publicados o puede modificarlos si quiere. Use o no estos bocetos, mi deseo es (y el propósito de publicarlos es) que usted vea de donde provienen los principios en los pasajes de las Escrituras y cómo adaptar la palabra para su audiencia contemporánea.

En la última edición del Diario del Pastor en la Red, publiqué mis primeros tres bocetos de sermones en la serie “Obras Sobrenaturales de Jesús” en el evangelio según San Juan, así:

Boceto de sermón #1: Juan 2:1-11, Jesús transforma el agua en vino

Boceto de sermón #2: Juan 4:46-54, Jesús sana al hijo de un noble

Boceto de sermón #3: Juan 5:1-47, Jesús sana al hombre cojo en Betsaida, Pt. 1

Ahora, aquí están los dos siguientes bocetos de sermones in la misma serie, “Obras Sobrenaturales de Jesús”.

Boceto del Sermón #4, Juan 6:1-14, Jesús Alimenta a los Cinco Mil

Asunto: ¿Cuán grande es tu Dios?

Punto #1: Una simple pregunta revela una profunda ignorancia (5-9)

1. Jesús hace una simple pregunta (5-6)

2. Los discípulos le dan dos respuestas reveladoras (7-9)

(a) La primera respuesta es el producto de la razón (7)

(b) La segunda respuesta es el producto del realismo (8-9)

Punto #2: Una simple orden revela una realidad profunda (10-13)

1. Dios puede transformar una canasta en un banquete abundante (10-11)

2. Dios puede transformar un pequeño almuerzo en abundantes sobras (12-13)

Boceto de Sermón # 5, Juan 6:16-21, Jesús Camina Sobre El Agua

Asunto: Descubrir quién es Jesús

Punto #1: Surgen problemas en el momento menos esperado (17)

1. Surgen problemas cuando obedecemos a Dios (17a)

2. Surgen problemas cuando menos podemos manejarlos (17b)

Punto #2: Surgen problemas para los descubrimientos menos inesperados (19-21)

1. Descubrimos que Jesús es nuestro Dios eterno (20a)

2. Descubrimos que Jesús es nuestro Consolador (20b-21a)

3. Descubrimos que Jesús es nuestro poderoso Libertador (21b)

Preface

And entrust what you heard me say in the presence of many others as witnesses to faithful people who will be competent to teach others as well.

2 Timothy 2:2 (NET)

Paul’s words to Timothy still apply to us today. The church needs teachers who clearly and fearlessly teach the Word of God. With this in mind, The Bible Teacher’s Guide (BTG) series was created. This series includes both expositional and topical studies, with resources to help teachers lead small groups, pastors prepare sermons, and individuals increase their knowledge of God’s Word.

Satanology can be used for personal study or as a six to ten-session small group curriculum, depending on how the leader divides up the topics. For small groups, the members will read a chapter (or chapters) within their gathering and discuss the reflection questions and anything else that stood out in the reading. Or, the chapter can be read before the gathering, with the meeting focusing only on discussion.

Introduction

Related Media

Who is Satan and what is he? There are various views on this. Some believe Satan is the personification of evil but not an actual person or being.1 Harold Wilmington describes how many cultures throughout history have believed in an invisible evil power:

There is scarcely a culture, tribe, or society to be found in this world that does not have some concept or fear of an invisible evil power. This has been attested by Christian missionaries and secular anthropologists alike. Witch doctors, shrunken heads, voodoo dolls, and totem poles all give dramatic evidence of this universal fear. Only eternity will reveal how many millions of human beings have been cruelly slaughtered upon thousands of grisly, blood-soaked altars worldwide to appease some invisible evil power. One may well ask where this fear came from and of whom are they afraid.2

However, Scripture teaches Satan is not just an invisible evil power, nor a personification of it. He is an actual being (cf. Job 1:6-12, Matt 4:1-11, Rev 20:1-3, 7-10). In fact, outside of God, Satan apparently is the most powerful being in the world (cf. Jude 1:9). His name means opposer, enemy, or adversary. He is the chief of the fallen angels and constantly works to oppose God and his will (cf. Rev 12:7-12). In the Old Testament, Satan is mentioned in 8 books, and in the New Testament, he is mentioned in 19 books.3 Because he opposes God, he opposes God’s people and seeks to keep unbelievers from coming to God. Since he is our enemy, we must understand him and his tactics if we are to defeat him. In 1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV), Peter says, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith…” If we are unaware of our enemy, not knowledgeable of him, or simply unconcerned, the consequences may be devastating.

In this study, we will consider our enemy, Satan and his demons, so that we may stand strong in the faith when attacked, defeat him, and rescue others from his grasps. James 4:7 says, “So submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you.” May this be true of us in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Copyright © 2021 Gregory Brown

Unless otherwise noted, the primary Scriptures used are taken from the NET Bible ® copyright © 1996-2016 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.

All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added.

BTG Publishing all rights reserved.


1 Ryrie, C. C. (1999). Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth (pp. 156–157). Chicago, IL: Moody Press.

2 Wilmington, Harold. Wilmington’s Guide to the Bible (Olive Tree Bible Software), 2011 Updated Edition.

3 MacArthur, J., & Mayhue, R. (Eds.). (2017). Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth (p. 676). Wheaton, IL: Crossway.

Related Topics: Satanology

The Bible Teacher’s Guide Satanology: Understanding Satan And Demons

Related Media

Who is Satan and what is he? There are various views on this. Some believe Satan is the personification of evil but not an actual person or being. However, Scripture teaches Satan is not just an invisible evil power, nor a personification of it. He is an actual being (cf. Job 1:6-12, Matt 4:1-11, Rev 20:1-3, 7-10). In fact, outside of God, Satan apparently is the most powerful being in the world (cf. Jude 1:9). His name means opposer, enemy, or adversary. He is the chief of the fallen angels and constantly works to oppose God and his will (cf. Rev 12:7-12). Because he opposes God, he opposes God’s people and seeks to keep unbelievers from coming to God. Since he is our enemy, we must understand him and his tactics if we are to defeat him. In 1 Peter 5:8-9, Peter says, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith...” If we are unaware of our enemy, not knowledgeable of him, or simply unconcerned, the consequences may be devastating.

In Satanology, we will consider our enemy, Satan and his demons, so that we may stand strong in the faith when attacked, defeat him, and rescue others from his grasps. James 4:7 says, “So submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you.” Let’s learn about Satan together with the Bible Teacher’s Guide.

“The Bible Teacher’s Guide … will help any teacher study and get a better background for his/her Bible lessons. In addition, it will give direction and scope to teaching of the Word of God. Praise God for this contemporary introduction to the Word of God.”

—Dr. Elmer Towns, Co-founder of Liberty University

This book is also available for purchase here on Amazon.

Related Topics: Satanology

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