1 Corinthians 5
Paul talks about handing over a believer who “has his father’s wife” so that his spirit would be saved. This is loaded, and I think he does something similar somewhere else.
The first point lies in authority. I believe that there is a place that we can reach where even the devil can be used for our bidding.
Secondly, if Paul used the devil as an instrument of salvation, how much more so does God? People often say, “God wouldnt do that?”, meaning let the devil attack, when I actually think that the opposite is true. He uses the devil to mold and shape us.
When Peter was boasting in how he would never deny Jesus, Jesus tells him that satan has asked to sift him as wheat. Jesus never stopped the attack. he said that He prayed that Peter’s faith remained and that he would strengthen his brothers after it was all over.
I experienced a similar thing with Xcentric, Laura leaving and moving in with my folks. The LORD later told me that He had set me up to remove pride out of me.
Jesus could have stopped the devil from attacking. But, instead, He used the devil to remove pride out of Peter. Jesus knew that His prayer for remaining faith would be answered. That tells me that an experience with the devil can rob us even of our faith. And, He knew the mission coming out of that experience would be to then strengthen others. I believe that God will use the devil to mold us into a refined pot to be used for the work. Those who have a call on their lives, watch this closely.
This experience humbled Peter. You can tell by the intensity of his weeping when the revelation came at Jesus’ trial.
But, I also think that Peter used the experience of being “sifted” to help grow the early church in a big way. We see Peter walking it out in Acts in a mighty way.
Yes, the devil is used by God. Yes, He would do that. To deny it is to miss God’s sovereignty.
He prunes us to bear more fruit.
And, sometimes the buzzsaw has very sharp teeth.
Bless the LORD