Shalom, child of God! Welcome. Let’s dive into Scripture today and, by God’s grace, learn how to save souls.
Jesus said, “I did not come to destroy people’s lives but to save them” (Luke 9:56, NIV).
He said this after His disciples asked Him to call down fire to consume some Samaritans who refused to receive Him. But why did Jesus say He came to save, not destroy? Because He had the power to destroy, but chose not to. Instead, He sought a way to bring salvation, not death.
Sometimes, we might have weapons whether in our hands or on our tongues that God has legitimately given us to confront those opposing us. But without the wisdom Jesus had, we risk destroying souls instead of saving them.
Think about Moses. When the Israelites sinned against God in the wilderness, God told Moses to separate himself from the people so He could destroy them and He promised to make Moses into a great nation, giving him offspring to inherit the land. If we were Moses, we might have thanked God for defending us against those who opposed us. But Moses pleaded for his people, asking God for forgiveness on their behalf, seeking reconciliation. God listened and relented.
Imagine if Moses had obeyed and separated himself. Would that have been wrong? No. God truly would have destroyed them and fulfilled His promise to Moses. But Moses showed wisdom. Had he not interceded, he wouldn’t have been the leader God exalted.
Here’s the passage from Exodus 32:9–14 (NIV):
9 “I have seen these people,” the LORD said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people. 10 Now leave me alone so my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.” 11 But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God. “LORD,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. 13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’” 14 Then the LORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.
This teaches us that not every opportunity or authority God gives us should be used impulsively. God didn’t create us as robots who just obey without thinking. That would be slavery. We are His children, meant to speak with Him, to consult with Him. God wants us to talk to Him, reason with Him, and exchange counsel.
Isaiah 1:18 says it beautifully:
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” (ESV)
That’s why Moses reasoned with God and his people’s sins, as scarlet as they were, became as white as snow. Hallelujah!
God can put someone in your hands who hates you or has wronged you deeply. It might seem that God gave you the power to finish them off. Think of how David had Saul in his hands but refused to harm him. That moment wasn’t for destruction, but for mercy and salvation.
Likewise, when you’re given such an opportunity, don’t use it to destroy but to save. Turn that moment over to Christ. Pray for forgiveness and mercy. When you do, God’s anger turns to love, and He will exalt you more than ever.
You might say, “That’s Old Testament stuff. What about the New Testament?” The same principles apply.
Take Paul and Silas in prison (Acts 16). After casting out a spirit, they were beaten and jailed. But God sent an earthquake that opened the prison doors and loosened their chains. The angel’s purpose was clear: they were free to leave.
Yet Paul and Silas stayed, thinking carefully. If they left, the jailer, who would have been executed for their escape, would die. Instead, they stayed and shared the gospel with him and his household — all were saved and baptized.
Here’s the account from Acts 16:22-36 (NIV):
22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” 29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his home and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household. 35 When it was daylight, the magistrates sent the police with the order to let Paul and Silas go. 36 The jailer told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.”
If Paul and Silas had left immediately, they would have lost the jailer and his family, which was the whole purpose of their mission. They chose to save rather than just escape.
So, brothers and sisters, not every chance to strike your enemy is God’s will. Not every door God opens should be used without wisdom. The person who insulted, humiliated, hurt, or stole from you—if God puts them in your hands, that’s not the time to destroy. Use that opportunity to save a soul, not to destroy. That’s what God wants to see in us.
There’s a story of a preacher who was also a prophet. Once, while preaching, an angel told him to look at the back of the church. He saw a man and a woman committing a sinful act in the middle of the service. Angry, the preacher was about to confront them, but the angel said, “Say a word and I will execute it immediately.” Meaning he could have called for their instant judgment.
But something changed in his heart—compassion rose up and he said, “I forgive you.” After the service, he heard an inner voice say, “That’s what I wanted to hear from you.” Because of that forgiveness, those people later repented and turned to God sincerely.
See? Avoid preaching a gospel of vengeance and destruction. If you refuse to forgive, one day you might offend God, and He won’t forgive you.
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UNDERSTANDING THE 10 MAJOR WORKS OF SATAN IN THE WORLD
Psalm 119:105 (ESV): “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Truly, if we understand God’s Word as someone once said, even if we were locked in a dark room with only a Bible and a candle, we would grasp everything Satan is doing in the world—without anyone having to explain it to us. We don’t need testimony from hell to understand Satan’s activities; the Bible reveals everything clearly. Today, we will explore ten major works Satan is engaged in, with help from Scripture.
Revelation 12:10-11 (ESV): “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down… day and night he accuses them before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…”
Satan’s role as the accuser means he constantly brings charges against believers before God, trying to condemn them. However, through Jesus’ sacrifice and intercession, believers are defended. This reminds us to live uprightly, so there is no legitimate accusation to stand on.
Theological insight: Satan’s accusation is a judicial role, but Christ’s atonement and ongoing intercession (Romans 8:34) ensure believers’ justification before God.
1 Thessalonians 2:18 (ESV): “Because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us.”
Satan actively opposes the spread of the Gospel, attempting to block God’s mission. Paul’s experience teaches us that opposition is normal in ministry.
Theological insight: This shows spiritual warfare in action, where Satan tries to prevent the advancement of the Kingdom (Ephesians 6:12).
Hebrews 11:36 (ESV): “Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.”
Satan uses trials and temptations to discourage believers and cause them to abandon faith. Yet God gives strength to overcome (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Theological insight: Temptation tests faith but is never from God (James 1:13), and perseverance through trials leads to maturity (James 1:2-4).
Luke 13:16 (ESV): “And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?”
Satan is behind much sickness and suffering, as illustrated by this woman’s condition. Jesus’ healing ministry shows God’s power to break these chains.
Theological insight: While God is sovereign over sickness, Satan’s influence in the fallen world can cause affliction (Job 2:7), but healing is a sign of God’s kingdom breaking in (Luke 10:9).
John 8:44 (ESV): “He was a murderer from the beginning…”
Satan is the ultimate murderer, seeking to destroy both body and soul. God’s mercy restrains him, but apart from Christ, people face eternal death.
Theological insight: Satan’s death-dealing nature underscores the need for salvation in Christ, the giver of eternal life (John 10:10).
John 8:44 (ESV): “When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
Deception is Satan’s primary tool, leading people away from truth and into false worship.
Theological insight: Truth is found in Jesus (John 14:6); discerning deception requires commitment to God’s Word.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (ESV): “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case, the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers…”
Satan blinds those who reject the Gospel, preventing them from seeing the truth.
Theological insight: Spiritual blindness is a consequence of rejecting God, but God’s grace opens eyes to salvation (Acts 26:18).
Matthew 13:19 (ESV): “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart.”
Satan works to remove God’s Word from hearts, preventing spiritual growth.
Theological insight: Spiritual growth requires receptive hearts and guarding against distractions (Luke 8:11-15).
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (ESV): “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”
Satan and his servants often appear good and righteous, deceiving many.
Theological insight: Discernment is essential to recognize false teachers (1 John 4:1).
Revelation 13:13-14 (ESV): “It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people… And it deceives those who dwell on earth…”
Satan can counterfeit miracles to deceive.
Theological insight: True miracles glorify God and align with Scripture; false signs lead away from truth (Deuteronomy 13:1-3).
Conclusion: Satan’s activities are real and dangerous, but believers are secured in Christ. Through faith, the armor of God (Ephesians 6), and obedience to God’s Word, Christians can overcome. If you are outside Christ, the greatest risk is eternal separation from God. Salvation is available today—repent and believe in Jesus for eternal life!
May God bless you.
A person who is quick to be offended, quick to cry, or quick to get angry often tends to also be quick to forget offenses, quick to rejoice, or quick to laugh. But a person who is slow to be offended—someone who harbors anger, sadness, or bitterness for a long time—will also take a long time to calm down once truly upset.
Consider, for example, a small child. If you watch one for a day, you might see them cry five or six times over small, seemingly insignificant things. But that same child soon forgets and resumes playing, as if nothing ever happened. Now think about an adult. They may not shed tears easily, but when they do, it is usually over something very serious—perhaps a great loss or deep hurt—and it may take months or even years for that pain to fully heal.
Similarly, the Bible reveals much about our Heavenly God whom we worship daily. He is patient, full of mercy, humble, gracious, and slow to anger. He does not lose His temper quickly. We see this clearly when we observe the world around us: people walking around shamelessly, openly blaspheming God, committing brutal acts of violence, harming the innocent, and yet God remains silent. We wonder: does God not see? Why doesn’t He intervene? If you or I were God, surely no one would be spared; we would have destroyed all wrongdoers long ago. But God is not like us.
Scripture tells us:
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some understand slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” —2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)
This verse highlights God’s divine patience, which stems from His desire for repentance and salvation rather than immediate judgment. His “slowness” is an expression of mercy, allowing people time to turn from sin.
Also,
“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” —Psalm 103:8 (ESV)
The Hebrew word for “slow to anger” (אַ֥רְכַּ֗ת אַפַּ֥יִם, ’arek appayim) conveys God’s long-suffering nature—He endures human failings without hastily executing wrath.
David testifies similarly:
“The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” —Psalm 145:8 (ESV)
This attribute is fundamental to God’s character: His grace (unmerited favor) and steadfast love (hesed, covenant faithfulness) are extended toward sinners, giving them opportunity to repent.
Even the prophet Jonah and the leader Nehemiah acknowledged this nature of God’s patience.
While God is patient, His mercy has limits. The Bible clearly teaches that judgment will come upon those who persist in sin and reject repentance.
The day when God’s wrath will be fully unleashed is called “The Day of the Lord.” This is a future time when God will execute righteous judgment on the wicked and purge the earth of sin.
Jesus Christ himself referred to the days of Noah and Lot as examples of what the end times will be like, characterized by unexpected destruction due to persistent wickedness.
The prophet Joel warned:
“For the day of the Lord is coming; it is near, a day of clouds, a great day! The sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars will withdraw their shining.” —Joel 2:1-2 (ESV)
This cosmic imagery symbolizes God’s powerful intervention in history—darkening of the heavens represents divine judgment and upheaval.
Isaiah vividly describes this day:
“Wail, for the day of the Lord is near; as destruction from the Almighty it will come! Therefore all hands will be feeble, and every human heart will melt. … The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will withdraw their shining.” —Isaiah 13:6-10 (ESV)
The Book of Revelation details the final outpouring of God’s wrath through seven bowls (or vials) of judgment poured out on the earth.
Revelation 16 describes these plagues, which include:
“Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, ‘It is done!’” —Revelation 16:17 (ESV)
This marks the completion of God’s judgment and the final defeat of evil.
The Bible urges repentance today because God’s patience will not last forever:
“Therefore, let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” —Hebrews 12:28-29 (ESV)
Salvation is found only through Jesus Christ:
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” —John 14:6 (ESV)
Those who reject Christ will face the “second death” described in Revelation—the eternal lake of fire reserved for the devil, the beast, the false prophet, and all who refuse God’s offer of salvation.
God’s mercy is immense, but His holiness demands judgment on sin. The Day of the Lord’s wrath is coming—will you be ready?
“Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you will be hidden on the day of the anger of the Lord.” —Zephaniah 2:3 (ESV)
Repent today, be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). Salvation is the only refuge from the coming judgment.