“The angel of the Lord camps around the Lord’s loyal followers and delivers them.” – Psalm 34:7
God is our protector.
“He will shelter you with his wings; you will find safety under his wings. His faithfulness is like a shield or a protective wall.” – Psalm 91:4
“As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, now and forevermore.” – Psalm 125:2
Satan only has access to us within the limits God has set.
Satan is not an equal who rivals God. He is but a rebellious creature whom God is using to fulfill His eternal purposes.
“Simon, Simon, pay attention! Satan has demanded to have you all, to sift you like wheat,” Jesus told Simon Peter that Satan had been granted permission to test him with temptation.
God allowed Satan to afflict Paul. In 2 Corinthians 12:7 Paul writes, “even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble me—so that I would not become arrogant.”
Sometimes God permits Satan access through His hedge of protection to test our faithfulness.
“So the Lord said to Satan, ‘All right then, everything he has is in your power. Only do not extend your hand against the man himself!’ So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.” – Job 1:12
Read Job 1:6-12 to the group so they understand the context.
We can also permit Satan access through God’s hedge of protection by our willful disobedience.
“While this one was still speaking another messenger arrived and said, ‘Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house’” – 1 John 5:18
“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on the cause of your anger. Do not give the devil an opportunity.” – Ephesians 4:26-27
Any unresolved sin gives Satan an
opening to attack us. And by condoning the sin, over time he is even able to
establish a beachhead within us. From there he can then launch more attacks to
gain even more access to our life. When we tolerate sin in our life we are
providing Satan with a key for access through the hedge of protection God has
placed around us. We provide Satan the very bullets he can use to injure us.
It is very dangerous to treat sin lightly. It is the poison our enemy uses for
our destruction. But God will protect those who remain faithful. (Psalms 37:28;
Proverbs 2:8)