How Satan Gets Permission To Torment You

I just want you to have it settled in your mind that the Bible does indeed describe a few of the details of how Satan gets permission to torment you.

The main event in this story involves a very Godly man by the name of “Job”.

God is in control; the devil has to seek permission.

Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat” (Luke 22:31)

It would seem that, somehow, Satan has access to God in heaven. You can see a glimpse of their interaction in the following excerpt from Chapter 1 of the book of Job:

Job 1:6-22
Satan Allowed to Test Job

6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 8 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” 9 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” 11 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

Satan Takes Jobs Property and Children

13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brothers house, 14 and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brothers house, 19 and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mothers womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.

The Testing Of Jobs Faith Continues In Chapter 2:
Job 2:1-10
Satan Attacks Jobs Health

1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 3 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.” 4 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. 5 But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.” 6 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.”

7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. 8 And he took a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself while he sat in the ashes.

9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.” 10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.


Thus the enemy tempts us, entices us, lures us, waiting and watching for us to go for the bait. When we do, just like a sleazy lawyer, he goes before God and accuses us in an attempt to gain permission to inflict misery upon us.

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “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, who accuses them day and night before our God.(Revelation 12:10)

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. (Zechariah 3:1)

Scriptures That Caution Us About What We Say

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. (James 1:26)

but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. (James 3:8)

For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;” (1 Peter 3:10 – quoting from Psalm 34:12~14)

The devil knows those Scriptures. He knows how difficult it is for us to control what we say, and like the bully that he is, he seeks to exploit our weakness.

But we have the ultimate weapon: the power of the Word of God.

May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all patience and longsuffering with joy. (Colossians 1:11)

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9~10)

Scriptures To Help With Conflict:

These verses, of course, are Words that the devil DOES NOT want you to speak. He wants you to scream and rant so that your face turns red and your blood pressure rises.

So here’s your chance to “stick it to the devil”. Learn these verses. Memorize them. But most of all: USE THEM! You will find them invaluable. And you’ll drive the devil crazy!

3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! 4 Do not let my heart incline to any evil, (Psalm 141:3~4a)

26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger. 27 And give no opportunity to the devil. (Ephesians 4:26~27)

4 Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent (Psalm 4:4)

11 Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. (Proverbs 19:11)

22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22)

29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. (Ephesians 4:29)

31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31~32)

24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians  5:24)

1 He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing. (Proverbs 29:1)

11 A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back. (Proverbs 29:11)

6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. (Colossians 4:6)

20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But when you do what is right and suffer for it, if you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. (1 Peter 2:20)

When you saturate your mind with the Word of God, the devil cannot get his thoughts into your mind. God’s Word is demon repellent. Truth cannot coexist with lies. Simple as that. Try it!

- Jan

 
 

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