Who’s the Real Source of Opposition?

[Who’s the Real Source of Opposition?](6mHHcGYtN:m:1:2618166767:260E9BF2920A8BC359DD29A9BEB65FEF:r) Current Teaching Series [Living in the Goodness of God](6mHHcGYtN:m:1:2618166767:260E9BF2920A8BC359DD29A9BEB65FEF:r) [Listen to Today's Broadcast](6mHHcGYtN:m:1:2618166767:260E9BF2920A8BC359DD29A9BEB65FEF:r) [Who’s the Real Source of Opposition?](6mHHcGYtN:m:1:2618166767:260E9BF2920A8BC359DD29A9BEB65FEF:r) By Rick Warren — February 8, 2019 [Facebook](6mHHcGYtN:m:1:2618166767:260E9BF2920A8BC359DD29A9BEB65FEF:r) [Twitter](6mHHcGYtN:m:1:2618166767:260E9BF2920A8BC359DD29A9BEB65FEF:r) [Pinterest](6mHHcGYtN:m:1:2618166767:260E9BF2920A8BC359DD29A9BEB65FEF:r) [Email](6mHHcGYtN:m:1:2618166767:260E9BF2920A8BC359DD29A9BEB65FEF:r) [Devotional image from Rick Warren](6mHHcGYtN:m:1:2618166767:260E9BF2920A8BC359DD29A9BEB65FEF:r) “Be humble when you correct people who oppose you . . . They have been trapped by the devil, and he makes them obey him, but God may help them escape” (2 Timothy 2:25-26 CEV). When you face opposition because of your faith, you need to recognize its source. It’s not other people. It’s not your coworkers. It’s not a political party. It’s not some other nation or religion. It’s not a competitor. The pressure you feel to cave in or be quiet or sit down when you should stand up—that pressure is not coming from other people. It’s really coming from Satan. In Revelation 12:10 Satan is called the accuser of the Christians. His number one job is to put you down. There is an unseen spiritual battle going on all around you. This pressure to keep you from doing the right thing is not really coming from other people. They’re just weapons. Most of the time they don’t even know they’re being used. The real issue is spiritual warfare. Ephesians 6:12 says, “We are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world” (GNT). Satan knows it’s ineffective to attack Jesus Christ directly, so instead he attacks Jesus’ followers. He uses the media and music and popular culture and anything he can to ridicule those who belong to Jesus. He’s behind the voices saying, “Those Christians are out of date. They’re on the wrong side of history. They don’t know what they’re talking about. They’re bigots.” Here’s what the Bible says you should do: “Stay away from stupid and senseless arguments. These only lead to trouble, and God’s servants must not be troublemakers. They must be kind to everyone, and they must be good teachers and very patient. Be humble when you correct people who oppose you . . . They have been trapped by the devil, and he makes them obey him, but God may help them escape” (2 Timothy 2:23-26 CEV). If you don’t have the Holy Spirit in your life, then you have no defense against Satan. He can master your moods. He can lead you into depression. He can make you angry. You may think you’re strong, but you’re not strong enough to fight Satan’s attacks on your own. What you need to do is recognize the source—the Devil, not the person—and treat the opposition the way Jesus did. How did Jesus treat those who opposed him? Even on the cross he said, “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing.” The people who attack you don’t know what they’re doing. The people who put down Jesus and church and Christianity? They don’t know what they’re doing. Just like Jesus, you need to pray, too, “Father, forgive them” so that you can show love even under attack and so you’ll have more energy to fight the real enemy.[PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>](6mHHcGYtN:m:1:2618166767:260E9BF2920A8BC359DD29A9BEB65FEF:r) Talk About It - If Satan is behind people’s wrong actions, why are they still held accountable by God for what they do? - What is the effect on you physically, emotionally, and spiritually when you are able to forgive your enemies? - What are your areas of weakness that Satan attacks more easily? Ask God to grow your faith in those areas and give you strength to stand firm. [Facebook](6mHHcGYtN:m:1:2618166767:260E9BF2920A8BC359DD29A9BEB65FEF:r) [Twitter](6mHHcGYtN:m:1:2618166767:260E9BF2920A8BC359DD29A9BEB65FEF:r) [Pinterest](6mHHcGYtN:m:1:2618166767:260E9BF2920A8BC359DD29A9BEB65FEF:r) [Email](6mHHcGYtN:m:1:2618166767:260E9BF2920A8BC359DD29A9BEB65FEF:r) 6mHHcGYtN:m:1:2618166767:260E9BF2920A8BC359DD29A9BEB65FEF:r [Our Gift: Living in the Goodness of God Guided Experience](6mHHcGYtN:m:1:2618166767:260E9BF2920A8BC359DD29A9BEB65FEF:r) Is God really good all the time? Absolutely, but too often we don’t live like we believe it. This in-depth guided experience is much more than a Bible study. It’s a spiritual growth tool that will show you how to trust God, apply his Word, and live in his goodness every day of your life. This book has a soft leather like cover and has 285 full color interior pages packed with Pastor Rick’s teaching, Bible verses, graphic artwork, photos and exercises all designed to help you learn how to truly live in God’s goodness. God wants to give you the confidence of his goodness, even on your darkest days. [LEARN MORE](6mHHcGYtN:m:1:2618166767:260E9BF2920A8BC359DD29A9BEB65FEF:r) 6mHHcGYtN:m:1:2618166767:260E9BF2920A8BC359DD29A9BEB65FEF:r [Complete Audio Series (Purchase)](6mHHcGYtN:m:1:2618166767:260E9BF2920A8BC359DD29A9BEB65FEF:r) Includes 12 full-length teaching CDs from Pastor Rick's series Living in the Goodness of God. [LEARN MORE](6mHHcGYtN:m:1:2618166767:260E9BF2920A8BC359DD29A9BEB65FEF:r) 6mHHcGYtN:m:1:2618166767:260E9BF2920A8BC359DD29A9BEB65FEF:r [Series Summary](6mHHcGYtN:m:1:2618166767:260E9BF2920A8BC359DD29A9BEB65FEF:r) Message 1: Is God Really Good All the Time? Message 2: Letting God Meet My Needs Message 3: Relaxing in God’s Goodness Message 4: How God’s Goodness Can Restore You Message 5: How to Be Led by God’s Spirit Message 6: The God of My Valleys Message 7: How Jesus Treats His Sheep Message 8: How God Lifts Me Up When I’m Worn Down Message 9: Living an Anointed Life Message 10: From Overwhelmed to Overflowing Message 11: Why You Don’t Need to Fear Your Future Message 12: Heaven: God’s Eternal Goodness to You [PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST](6mHHcGYtN:m:1:2618166767:260E9BF2920A8BC359DD29A9BEB65FEF:r) Pastor Rick Warren [Facebook](6mHHcGYtN:m:1:2618166767:260E9BF2920A8BC359DD29A9BEB65FEF:r)[Twitter](6mHHcGYtN:m:1:2618166767:260E9BF2920A8BC359DD29A9BEB65FEF:r) [Instagram](6mHHcGYtN:m:1:2618166767:260E9BF2920A8BC359DD29A9BEB65FEF:r) [Linkedin](6mHHcGYtN:m:1:2618166767:260E9BF2920A8BC359DD29A9BEB65FEF:r) Enjoy today's Devotional? 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