The Bible, the Word of God, teaches us that all Christians have a common enemy, and even though many names are ascribed to him, the ones we see predominantly shared in the scriptures are Satan or the Devil (Revelation 12:9).
When we read and study the Bible, it gives us enough insights for us to understand Satan’s origin, and it also gives us a clear portrait of who he is and how he can affect our lives. The Bible also identifies Satan as an angelic being who fell from his position in heaven due to the sin of rebellion (Isaiah 14:12-15; Luke 10:18) and is now completely opposed to God. As not just our enemy but an enemy of God, he always seeks to thwart or abort the purposes of God. St John 10:10 identifies Satan’s three-fold mission, which is to steal, kill, and destroy. First, Peter 5:8 says he goes around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.
As our enemy, one of his destructive missions is to block us and hinder us from reading the Bible because he knows the importance of God’s Word to the Christians’ lives.
The first reason Satan doesn’t want you to read your bible is:
It increases our faith in God, empowering us with confidence and security.
Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”
When we don’t spend time reading and meditating on the Word of God, we will lack faith in God, and we will lack faith in his ability to care for us in every way. That’s what Satan wants. He wants us to lack faith in God so that we will live in doubt and defeat.
1st John 5:4 NIV states that “everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”
How do we overcome trials and testing of all sorts? By Faith
How do we walk in the victory that God has given us? By Faith.
READING GOD’S WORD BUILDS OUR FAITH!
Galatians 3:11 says The just or righteous shall live by Faith.
Let’s look at Ephesians 6:10 -17 with emphasis on the verse 16
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. 14 Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth (the truth is knowing & believing the word of God wholeheartedly.)and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Ephesians 6:16 from the Amplified Version says, Above All, Lift Up The Protective Shield Of Faith. If we are not reading our Bibles daily to build our faith, we leave ourselves open to severe attacks from the enemy, which the Scripture calls “fiery darts” in Ephesians 6:16. These ‘fiery darts’ are the spiritual attacks, temptations, and doubts that Satan throws at us to weaken our faith and trust in God.
In Matthew 4, we see that Satan is no respecter of persons. He went to the Son of God, Jesus incarnate, who was and is the very Word of God(St. John 1), and challenged him. Jesus knew he had the power to overthrow Satan, but that would have aborted the purpose of God for which Jesus came. Instead, Jesus left us a perfect example of how we should operate when the devil comes to challenge us.
Jesus responded to all of Satan’s challenges with the phrase, “It is written!” When the enemy comes with his lies, threats, and promises of good things, we should not bow to him, but we must counteract them with the Word of God. We must follow Jesus’ example in Matthew 4 by responding to Satan with the words, “It is written!”
Jesus also said in Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”
In Genesis 3, when Satan that liar talked with Eve in the Garden, he caused her to doubt God’s word. When Satan comes with his lies, because he’s the father of lies, according to St John 8:44, you must be so full of God’s word that you too can say, Devil, “it is written!”
The Second reason why Satan doesn’t want you to read your Bible is:
He doesn’t want you to know the truth. Truth is a part of our spiritual armor. Remember Eph 6:14, the Belt of Truth? In St. John 8:32, we are told by Jesus that “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Satan doesn’t want us to know the truth about God, about his love for humanity, or his character.
Satan doesn’t want you to know the truth about the Kingdom of which we are a part.
He doesn’t want us to know the truth about our identity—whose we are and who we are. This knowledge of our true identity in Christ is a source of affirmation and confidence that the enemy seeks to undermine.
He doesn’t want us to know the truth about our inheritance or even the truth about him, the Devil himself.
Satan doesn’t want us to see the truth, period.
Listen, a Christian void of truth about this Kingdom that we are a part of will undoubtedly live a frustrated and, even more, a defeated life. We must know the truth, and we will know it by reading the Bible—the Word of God!
Before Jesus departed from this earth, he promised to send us the Holy Spirit as our Helper. St John 14:17, Jesus calls the Holy Spirit the Spirit of truth, and He will lead us into all truth. The Holy Spirit will help us understand and know God’s Word. He will provide guidance and support, but we must habitually read the Word of God for him to do so. The more we read the Bible, the more the Holy Spirit can work in us, leading us to a deeper understanding and application of God’s truth in our lives.
The Holy Spirit will teach us God’s word according to St John 14:26.
The late Dr. Myles Munroe said it’s our responsibility to get the Word on the inside, but it’s the Holy Spirit’s job to bring it back to us when we need it!
The third reason Satan doesn’t want you to read your Bible is because it will convict us of our sins.
Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Listen, when you know and believe the truth of God’s Word, the Holy Spirit (if you allow him to) will convict you of your sins, and from that conviction, you will repent. As soon as the Psalmist David was confronted and convicted of his sin with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband Uriah, he went to God in repentance. We find that beautiful prayer in Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Hebrews 4:12 NIV says: for the word of God is alive and active Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow: it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Believers, if we don’t read the Bible and hide it in our hearts, we won’t be able to judge our thoughts and attitudes through the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. But. When we make reading our Bibles a habit, and we hide the Word of God in our hearts as soon as we do, say, or behave ungodly, the Holy Spirit will bring back the Word of God to us and convict us. He will tell you what you said or did was wrong and even ask you to apologize if necessary.
The late Billy Graham said: The Word of God hidden in the heart is a stubborn voice to suppress.
Let me point out that the Holy Spirit will convict you but will not force you to obey him. However, if you are not playing church and you love God, you will abide by his commandments. St John 14:15 says, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” When we love God, and we are not playing church and allow the Holy Spirit to have his way in our lives, we will obey! We can’t go wrong when we follow the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit does not condemn us when we mess up; that’s Satan’s doing because he is the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10). If we struggle to read our Bibles, start by reading at least one Chapter daily and build yourself up! Listen, as we see the day of the Lord fast approaching, we must be strategic and intentional about everything that will fortify our faith in the Lord and help us to walk in total Victory! Amen
Believers, I just want to say we have no excuse when it comes to engaging God’s word. If we can’t read it, listen to it. Technology has made it so easy for us to get the Word in our hearts through the many audio versions of the Bible readily available to us, which is excellent because the Word says, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). However, we should ensure that we are intentional to carve time out of our busy schedule to read the Word. When we sit down to read and reflect on the word of God, we may get revelation or illumination from it that we might not get when we just listen to it, and we are also able to make notes as the Holy Spirit illuminates the Word to us. So, just as we set aside time for everything else, we must set aside time for reading the Bible.
Let’s Pray: Father, I thank you for the opportunity to share a word of encouragement today. I pray and ask you in the name of Jesus Christ to help us to not just be hearers of your Word but doers of your Word because you require obedience. You said in your words that obedience brings blessings, but disobedience brings a curse. Lord, we often struggle with so many things in this Christian race that we are in, for the flesh and the spirit are constantly at war. But you said in your Word that we must walk in the spirit so that we do not fulfill the desires of the flesh. Father, we need your help to do so. Father, I ask you in the name of Jesus Christ to help us to put our flesh under subjection and help us to habitually read your word daily and hide it in our hearts so that we do not sin against you. Help us be strategic in crucifying the flesh so that the soul might live. Please help us in these last days to be intentional about engaging your Word through reading, listening, studying & memorizing it so that we can live a victorious life in Jesus’ Name, I pray! Amen