Mark 4:15-17 (NKJV) And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.
Many of us are not mindful of the work of the devil because it is seldom taught in churches. A lot is taught about the sovereignty of God which is good but if we are not careful then we will slip into everything is “fated” because God is sovereign. God would also want us to ward off the wiles and fiery darts of the evil one while God is sovereign. There is room to put on the full armor of God and take on the offensive to deal with the deception and every wicked work of the devil. If we do not think about the topic of suffering holistically with the inclusion of the work of the devil, then it leaves us to think God is the orchestrator of all the happenings around the world. This is far from the truth. Please remember that we live in a fallen and degraded world. The bible reveals to us that Satan is the god of this age. He has the leasehold of the earth because of the fall of Adam and Eve. This leasehold will not be taken back until Jesus’ return and when the new heaven and earth is established. We have read about how Satan offered Jesus the world on the mountain when he was tempted by Satan to bow down to worship him. Jesus rebutted Satan that one shall worship God alone. Jesus didn’t deny that Satan has control over this world. In fact, the Bible tells us that there is a hierarchy in the demonic realm that influences the world.
Remember, Jesus taught us in the parable of the Sower that the devil will come immediately to steal the word through tribulation or hardship.
The devil knows that the word of God will produce faith in your heart once you have listened to it. He wants us to stumble. He wants us to doubt the reliability of the word of God. He doesn’t want our faith in God to grow. Therefore, he will attempt to steal it from you while it is still in seed form before faith and conviction arises in your heart. The way to steal it from us will be through tribulation and persecution. The enemy will go to great lengths to break us, and to destroy our faith in God. You will know that he has succeeded if you feel disappointed, disillusioned, and to some being bitter with God.
Sermon Series: Teacher, Do You Not Care that We Are Perishing?
魔鬼会透过患难把神的话偷走
马可福音 4:15-17那撒在路旁的，就是人听了道，撒但立刻来，把撒在他心里的道夺了去。那撒在石头地上的，就是人听了道，立刻欢喜领受，但他心里没有根，不过是暂时的，及至为道遭了患难，或是受了逼迫，立刻就跌倒了。
很多人并没有意识到魔鬼的作为，因为教会很少教导这一点。许多的教导是关于神的主权，这很好；但要小心，不要陷入因为神在掌权，所以一切都是“命中注定”的误区。在祂的掌权下，神要我们穿上衪的全副军装以灭尽恶者一切的诡计和火箭。如果不从整体上思考苦难这一议题，并与魔鬼的作为进行联系，我们会认为神是世界上所有事件的策划者，但这远非事实。记住我们生活在一个堕落败坏的世界，圣经揭示了撒旦是这个时代的神；因着亚当和夏娃的堕落，牠得了地球的暂有权—直到耶稣再来和当新天新地被建立时才会被收回。我们读过魔鬼如何在山上试探耶稣将世上的万国都赐给耶稣，只要耶稣俯伏拜牠。耶稣斥责撒旦说，人当单单敬拜主。耶稣并没有否认撒旦掌控着这个世界。其实，《圣经》告诉我们，恶魔世界中存在着影响世界等级制度。
记住，耶稣在撒种的比喻中教导我们，魔鬼会通过患难或困难立刻把神的话偷走。
魔鬼知道，听了神的话语，你的内心就会生出信心。牠想要我们跌倒、要我们怀疑神的话语、不想让我们对神的信心增长。因此，在你的信心和确信生成之前，你信心还处于种子状态的时候，牠会试图从你那里偷走它，透过患难和逼迫来偷走。 仇敌会不遗余力地击垮我们、摧毁我们对神的信心；如果你感到失望、灰心，并对神心怀怨恨，你就知道牠得逞了。
讲章系列：夫子，我们丧命你不顾吗？