2/1/14

Spiritual Warfare over a Meeting

We had a great meeting with the social worker.  She was very nice and friendly. We showed her around the house and then went through the large packet of paperwork.  We still have a lot to do, but we have gotten a good start.  She needs to make three more visits.  The next visit will be on February 11. 

We know the Lord is in this.  While talking with some friends just yesterday, they made the comment that Satan was really going to attack me.  Because we are doing such a good thing, we can expect Satan to attack.  They said the kids will be bad and it will be a hard morning.

Russell Moore pointed out in his book the exact same thing.  Satan, over the course of history, has always been against children.  Moore does a great job pointing out that adoption brings out intense spiritual warfare.

Think back to certain times in history:
How did Pharaoh want to destroy God's chosen people?
By killing babies.
How did Satan blind the hearts of the Israelites with false gods?
By creating the false god Molech - a god who desired child sacrifice.
How did Herod, a pawn of Satan for sure, want to kill the King and Messiah?
By killing children in Bethlehem.

Satan is against children.

Look at the world around us today:
Abortion
Child Trafficking
All aimed at destroying children. Satan has always (and will always) be against children.

The good news? God is always for children!

Psalm 10:14
But You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief, To repay it by Your hand. The helpless commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.
Psalm 68:5
A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation.
Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.
John 14:18
I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
James 1:27
Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
 
He speaks over and over and over again in the Old Testament about being a God for the fatherless. Jesus Himself did not keep the children away.  He welcomed and blessed them.
 
We saw a tiny glimpse today of the spiritual warfare against this adoption.  It was probably the first of many attacks to come. We received some very bad news just 2 hours before our meeting.  This news could devastate this adoption process.  At the most, we would have to give up completely.  At the very least, it could distract us and make us question and rethink whether we should adopt or not.  I was very tempted (and still am tempted) to worry and stress over this adoption.  We know this is a direct attack because this news could have come at any time.  It was going to happen.  I do not believe it was just coincidence that it happened only 2 hours from our first meeting.

I am praying for peace.  After the meeting, we feel a peace and know that this is what God has for us.  I have never felt so sure about something like this in my life.  The spiritual attack has strengthened my resolve.  It has caused me to be on guard and realize that the attacks are going to come.
 
Honestly, at this point, I do not see how it is all going to work out - but we know that God is for this.  His Word has reassured us that He will fight for the fatherless and orphans.  His peace has made it sure in our hearts.

No comments:

Post a Comment