all the more eager with great desire to see your face. For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, more than once—and yet Satan hindered (stopped) us. 1 Thessalonians 2:17-18

 

Paul was run out of town just three weeks into ministry at Thessolonica. The Jewish leadership had their sights on making sure his tenure was brief. But God blessed Paul’s efforts and a thriving church was born in those few short weeks.

My question is …. can Satan completely stop someone from doing God’s will? According to Paul he can. In fact Satan did it more than once and possibly on numerous occasions!  In this case Satan kept people, mainly Jews, so riled up… they physically beat believers and prevented Paul from moving certain directions.

So has Satan ever prevented you from doing something, you knew God wanted you to do?  If so… what did you do about it? How did you respond? 

I have to admit… I haven’t always detected Satan’s aggressions in my life. As I look back, there have been many times when the first signs of opposition came my way, I just folded.

The word “hindered” means Satan broke up the road and put obstacles in the path. This is Satan’s modus operandi.

Have you ever wondered why when you are about to go out the door to church or to fellowship with other believers a crisis suddenly arises? At the times when important and needful fellowship is about to take place something inevitably comes and blocks the way.

But wait there is more… have obstacles ever been placed in your path to prevent you from spending quality time with God? How about when you needed talk with someone else about the Lord?  I believe Satan knows when breakthrough is near for each of us. This is when he attempts to break up the road and place obstacles in your path.

The point is … although Paul couldn’t physically return to Thessolonica, he chose another path… he starting writing letters. What Satan meant for evil, God used for good. It was far better for us that Satan stopped Paul. The letters meant for this church and others became a large part of the New Testament.

Listen, if your path is blocked and difficulties arise… don’t stop! It could be God has a better…. more perfect path for you. Difficulties for the believer are merely miracles yet to be birthed.

 

Blessings – From God’s Incubator,

Pastor