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Dr. Arnold Murray, DRE Newsletter #235 - May 1998

(Q 1998 SCN

Satan enjoys hindering the good news of the

gospel. He also likes to hinder those that help
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are our glory and joy.

to spread the good news. That is you that sow ~.;;;;;;_ _ _ _ _ _;;;;;;"J The fruit that your seed planting brings

the seeds of God's Word. If you allow Satan to hinder forth is your crown. Satan will do anything in
your family, he will gladly do that as well. his power to hinder that fruit from being produced. Use
the power Christ gave you over all your enemies, and
The Greek word from which our word "hindered" order Satan out of your life. Don't be hindered. We are
is translated is "egkopto" (eng-kop'-to). It means to detain going to take a look at how Satan hindered Paul.
or impede. It has also been translated into English as "to
be tedious unto". I like to call this nit-picking. There are ACTS 24:1 And after five days Ananias the high priest
descended with the elders, and with a certain orator
those that are so tedious in their "holy walk" that they named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.
actually hinder work being accomplished. Be careful. Satan
works in may ways, and usually, the nit-picker is well Tertullus was a lawyer. He was being utilized by Satan
intentioned and has no idea Satan is utilizing him to hinder to hinder Paul. Ananias was a high priest appointed by
God's work. Let's begin our study with Paul teaching us a Roman governor, not by God.
how to recognize those that would hinder the gospel.
ACTS 24:2-3 And when he was called forth, Tertullus
I THESSALONIANS 2:12 That ye would walk worthy of began to accuse him, saying, "Seeing that by thee we
God, Who hath called you unto His kingdom and glory. enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are
done unto this nation by thy providence: ~ We accept it
God does the calling. This is important for you to always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all
remember as you plant seeds. thankfulness.

I THESSALONIANS 2:13-14 For this cause also thank Tertullus is "buttering up" the governor. You can be
we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the certain the governor thought Tertullus was a very good
word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not judge of character.
as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of
God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. ACTS 24:4-5 Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious
He For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy
of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also clemency a few words. Q For we have found this man
have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the
as they have of the Jews; Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect
of the Nazarenes:
Thc Kenites have slipped in with our brother Judah
and claim to be of Judah. Paul will warn us that the Paul is accused of bcing a cult leader. Many consider
Kenites are good at hindering God's work being accom­ those that teach the truth of God's Word a cult today.
plished.
ACTS 24:6-7 Who also hath gone about to profane the
I THESSALONIANS 2:15-16 Who both killed the Lord temple: whom we took,and would have-judged according
Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; to our law. z But the chief captain Lysias came upon us,
and they please not God, and are contrary to all men; and with great violence took him away out of our hands,
16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might
be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come The accusations were outright lies. God always pro­
upon them to the uttermost. vides for those that serve Him. Lysias took Paul from
them, before they could harm him.
The subject of both I and II Thessalonians is the return
of Christ. The cup of God's wrath will be poured out when ACTS 24:8-9 Commanding his accusers to come unto
Christ returns. thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knOWl­
edge of all these things, whereof we accuse him." ft And
I THESSALONIANS 2:17-18 But we, brethren, being taken the Jews also assented, saying that these things were
from you for a short time in presence, not in heart. so.
endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with
great desire. 111 Wherefore we would have come unto you. It is looking bad for Paul.
even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
ACTS 24-10 Then Paul, after that the governor had
Satan detained or impeded Paul. beckoned unto him to speak, answered, "Forasmuch as
I know that thou hast been. of many years a judge unto
I THESSALONIANS 2:19-2Q For what is our hope. or this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:
joy. or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the pres­
ence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? ZJ2 For ye Paul was a pretty good lawyer. He was confident in
his ability to defend himself.
ACTS 24: 11-12 Because that thou mayest understand,
that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to
Jerusalem for to worship. 12 And they neither found me
in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up
the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:
Paul had only been there twelve days and was under
the vows of a Nazerite. He couldn't have done the things
he was accused of without breaking his vows.
ACTS 24: 13-14 Neither can they prove the things whereof
they now accuse me. .1A But this I confess unto thee,
that after the way which they call heresy, so worship
I the God of my fathers, believing a/l things which are
written in the law and in the prophets:
The way they called heresy was the way of Jesus
Christ. Paul believed and worshipped in the way.
ACTS 24:15 And have hope toward God, which they
themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection
of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
Paul would often utilize the resurrection issue to divide
the Pharisees and Sadducees. You see, the Pharisees believed
in life after the flesh and the Sadducees didn't. They
started fighting among themselves while the Romans whisked
Paul away. He is about to do it again.
ACTS 24:16-18 And herein do I exercise myself, to have
always a conscience void of offence toward God, and
toward men. II Now after many years I came to bring
alms to my nation, and offerings. 18 Whereupon certain
Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither
with multitude, nor with tumult.
The Kenites found Paul in the temple under the vows
of a Nazarite causing no problems.
ACTS 24:19 Who ought to have been here before thee,
and object, if they had ought against me.
Where are their witnesses? Where is their proof?
ACTS 24:20-21 Or else let these same here say, if they
have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before
the council, Z1 Except it be for this one voice, that I
cried standing among them, 'Touching the resurrection of
the dead I am called in question by you this day.' "
There was only one reason Paul was standing there
at this point. He was teaching the way of Jesus Christ.
There is life after death of the tlesh.
ACTS 24:22 And when Felix heard these things, having
more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them,
and said, "When Lysias the chief captain shall come
down, I will know the uttermost of your matter."
Felix was knowledgeable about Christianity, and he
knew Paul could not have done as accused under the vow
of a Nazerite. The governor then put the accusers off,
until he could hear what Lysias had to say.
ACTS 24:23 And he commanded a centurion to keep
Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should
forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto
him.
Paul was to be protected by his rights as a Roman
citizen. Undoubtedly, Paul was also being protected by
the hand of God.
ACTS 24:24 And after certain days, when Felix came
with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for
Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.
Felix wanted to know more about these teachings.
ACTS 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness,
temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and
answered, "Go thy way for this time; when I have a
convenient season, I will call for thee."
Felix was almost converted.
ACTS 24:26 He hoped also that money should have
been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore
he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.
The governor wanted a bribe to set Paul free. Satan
utilized those practicing false religion to hinder Paul. We
also saw the protecting hand of God over one that loved
and served Him. Let's turn to II Corinthians as we
continue our study. We are going to take a closer look
at the parameters within which Satan must operate.
/I CORINTHIANS 4:1-2 Therefore seeing we have this
ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; g But
have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not
walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God
deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending
ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
If you ever want to get on God's bad side, handle
His Word deceitfully.
/I CORINTHIANS 4:3-4 But if our gospel be hid, it is
hid to them that are lost: 9. In whom the god of this
world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not,
lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, Who is
the image of God, should shine unto them.
The god, note the small "g", of this wo:-ld is Satan.
He has the power to influence the minds of people. When
you are planting a seed in an unbeliever and you see
the scales of Satan blinding them, take names and kick
dragon. One of the most hurtful ways Satan hinders is
through family. Let's turn to I Peter.
I PETER 3:7 Likewise ye husbands, dwell with them
according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as
unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of
the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
Man and wife are one flesh. In the knowledge of
God, they share equally in the inheritance of unmerited
favor from God. But. if you allow Satan into your home.
your prayers may be hindered. God will let Satan have
his way with you and your family, just as He let Satan
have his way with Job. Jesus Christ gave you authority
over all of your enemies, including Satan. Exercise that
authority! Don't allow Satan to hinder your relationship
with God or your family. Don't allow him to hinder your
efforts to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In His Service.