Satan The Hinderer

Q

How can Satan hinder a person from being saved; could you name few ways?

A

One way is to try and prevent people from hearing the gospel in the first place. His effort to hinder the spread of the gospel is not a new thing but has been increasing dramatically of late, even within the church.

But even when the gospel is preached Satan has ways to try and subvert it. Here are some examples mentioned in the Bible.

1. Confusion

Matthew 13:19 says, “When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.”

2. Spiritual blindness

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 says, “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

3. False Teaching

2 Corinthians 11:13-15, adds, “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.”

4. Human philosophy

Colossians 2:8 warns us. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

There are lots of variations on each of these themes, but our God is greater than all of them.

When necessary He appears to people in visions and dreams, and in Revelation 14:6 we’re told that as the anti-Christ comes to power God will send an angel flying through the air proclaiming the gospel to every nation, tribe, language, and people. No one will be able to say they sought Him but could not find Him.