It is also believed that when people get sick or suffer horrible tragedies, it is the will of God because He "allowed/ordained" it.
God is the Holy and transcendent one. He is sovereign, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent and omnibenevolent. He knows all things past, present, and every possible future no matter what could or will happen, what choice is made or could be made, which doesn't mean or even insinuate that every event is ordained/allowed by Him in the life of a Born-Again Christian.
The Bible says that “evil spirits” (Heb: 'ruach') are permitted by God to trouble those who persist in sin and rebellion (1 Kings 22:21-24; 2 Chronicles 18:20-23). God does not protect a person living in rebellious sin from them. God gave Saul over to an evil spirit (Heb: ruach) as punishment for his sins and self-will (1 Samuel 16:14-16, 18:10).
The Hebrew word "rah," translated as "evil," doesn't necessarily mean something morally evil. It can mean 'troubling.' The verses say that the Lord sent a troubling spirit to cause unrest between or with people as punishment for something they did. That kind of 'punishment' is not seen anywhere under the New Testament covenant. God allows evil activity in the sense that He gave the devil and his minion's free will, just as He gave human beings free will.
Throughout the Bible, Jesus is seen fighting evil spirits during His earthly ministry, suggesting that evil spirits aren't always under His sovereign control. Nowhere in the Bible is it said or suggested that evil spirits carry out the will of God.
The Hebrew word ‘ruach’ is used in many ways. It is vitally important in Bible study to understand the context in which a word is used because it can only mean what the original scribe intended it to mean.
‘Ruach’ is used when speaking of God, the Holy "Spirit," the third person of the Trinity (Genesis 1:2; Isaiah 63:10-11; Psalm 51:12). The word "spirit" used in some Old Testament passages does not refer to a spirit being but is an ancient way of personifying human attitudes.
‘Ruach’ is often used of a person’s mind-set, inner disposition/emotion, or temper (Judges 9:23 - also Ezekiel 13:3; Psalm 32:2, 51:12; Proverbs 29:11; Joshua 2:11, 5:1; Job 15:13; Ecclesiastes 10:4)
‘Ruach’ is used for the non-material beings (angels) in heaven and on earth (1 Kings 22:21; 1 Samuel 16:14).
‘Ruach’ can mean "breath," air for breathing (Jeremiah 14:6; Judges 15:19). It can also represent speaking, or the breath of one's mouth (Psalm 33:6; Exodus 15:8; Job 4:9, 19:17).
‘Ruach’ is also used with emphasis on the invisible, intangible, fleeting quality of "air" (Job 7:7). It can suggest purposelessness, uselessness, or even emptiness (see Jeremiah 5:13).
‘Ruach’ can mean "wind" as a gentle refreshing breeze as well as a strong violent wind including a gale or tornado (Genesis 3:8; Exodus 10:13,19; Hosea 8:7) "Windy words" are "empty words" (Job 16:3), "windy knowledge" is "empty knowledge" (Job 15:2). “Striving after the wind” means meaningless striving (Ecclesiastes 1:14). To “inherit the wind” means to inherent ‘nothing’ (Proverbs 11:29; Ecclesiastes 5:15-16).
‘Ruach’ can represent the fundamental element of life in a person, their natural "spirit" (Genesis 7:21-22; Psalm 104:29).
‘Ruach’ also appears to mean the "soul" (Proverbs 16:2; Isaiah 26:9; Ecclesiastes 12:7).
‘Ruach’ is used to refer to what enables a person to do a particular job or that which represents the essence of a person (Deuteronomy 34:9; 2 Kings 2:9).
Does God “Allow/Ordain” Evil Spirits to Harm the Born-Again Christian?
The English word "allow" is defined as 'to permit with full approval, consent to, forbear or neglect to restrain or prevent.' There is NO instance in the Old or New Testament that the words' allow,’ 'approve,’ 'permit,' or 'consent to' (Heb: 'Nathan;' Gk: Aphiemi; Eao; Suneudokeo) are used about evil directed by God at a covenant child, let alone a Born-Again Christian. It is most often used quite to the contrary as "not allow," "not permit," "not approve," or "not consent." God desires only the best for His people, whom He calls His Bride because He is head over heels in love with her (Revelation 21:9). He desires to pour out (not restrain!) blessing upon blessing to those who trust Him with their entire being.
“Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every GOOD gift and every PERFECT gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:16-17 ESV – emphasis mine)
It is the kind and merciful goodness of God that leads a person to repentance.
“Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?“ (Romans 2:4 NKJV)
If a person allows/permits someone drunk to drive their car, and they kill someone, they are legally responsible, just as the person who got drunk. God does not condone, permit, allow, give, punish or approve of suffering, sickness or any evil thing. To say or infer anything contrary is to impugn the character and nature of God who is love.
Jesus is God and is patient and kind; not envious or boastful; not arrogant or rude. He does not insist on its own way; He is not irritable or resentful; He does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Jesus bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things and His love will never end. There is nothing in the universe greater than His love (see 1 Corinthians 13:4-8,13).
He gives each Born-Again Christian good and perfect gifts (Revelation 18:23, 19:7, 21:2,9, 22:17; James 1:17). Pain, suffering, sickness, and tragedy are absolutely opposed to good and perfect.
The Enemy of God
The Bible says every Born-Again Christian does not "struggle" daily "against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12 NIV).
Humanity has an enemy who is determined to terrorize and destroy them. The Bible calls him 'satan' (Gk: 'satanas [sat-an-as]), which means "adversary, to lie in wait." He is also known as the "devil" (Gk: diabolos), which means "an accuser, a slanderer," the "tempter" (Matthew 4:3), the "evil one" (1 John 2:13), the great "deceiver" (Revelation 12:9), the father of lies, and a murderer (John 8:44). Jesus called him the "prince of this world" and never brought into doubt the authority he continues to hold today (See John 12:31).
The arch enemy of God is a real, personal being who is a created cherub that God gave great wisdom and beauty, which led to his pride and is at the root of his downfall. He sinned against God and subsequently fell from Heaven. He afflicts human beings with physical suffering (Acts 10:38). He is the absolute opposite of the Triune God, who is love and whose character and nature are diametrically opposed to him.
The devil is the ruler of the dark world full of evil spiritual forces and is at the heart of all evil. Contrary to popular belief, he is alive and well today. He is the great 'tempter' and enticed the first humans to sin and do evil by deception (1 John 3:8; Ephesians 2:2,4:27). He is the "accuser of the Brethren" who seeks divine permission to tempt every Born-Again Christian (Genesis 3; Job 1:6-11; 2:1-5; Revelation 12:9-10). The devil had the power of death brought about by sin, but Jesus triumphed over him through His death and will ultimately bring him to his end in the "Lake of Fire" (Jude 9; Hebrews 2:14; Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10).
There is only one "devil," but there are many demons. The devil was "the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty." He was with Adam and Eve "in Eden, the garden of God." He was adorned with "ruby, topaz and emerald, chrysolite, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl [set in] mountings made of gold." He was anointed by God and walked "blameless" in his "ways from the day" he was created until wickedness was found in him. His heart "became proud on account of" his "beauty," and his wisdom was "corrupted" because of his "splendor." God "drove" him away "from the mount of God" and threw him "to the earth" (Ezekiel 28:12-19 NIV).
The devil is still "the ruler of this world, the "prince of the power of the air," and "the god of this world" until He is cast into the "lake of fire" (John 12:31,14:30,16:11; Ephesians 2:2; 1 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:14 ESV). He is a "spirit" that actively "works" daily in the children of disobedience (the lost). The Greek meaning of the word "works" is energy. The devil energizes the lost to do his will. The whole world and every person who is not Born-Again is under his control (1 John 5:19).
The Bible says that all people who are NOT Born-Again are considered spiritual "children of the devil" and habitually walk in the "ways of the world" and are directed by him (John 8:44; Ephesians 2:2). The Bible tells us, "…it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother" (1 John 3:10 ESV).
Jesus told His opponents that if God had been their Father, they would have loved Him because He came from God. Like begets like. When we love and forgive, we prove we belong to God. Jesus said to those who hated Him.
"If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:42-44 ESV).
The devil lies in wait to find our weaknesses and attack us. His primary purpose is to blind "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" (2 Corinthians 4:4 NIV).
One day Jesus was asked what caused a person to be born blind (John 9). Many people of that time believed that a person could be cursed by their sin or even from their parent's sin, resulting in sickness, disease, or physical deformity. Jesus gave an amazing answer by declaring that the works of God were to be manifested in the person regardless of the cause. He said, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him" (John 9:3 ESV).
The Merciful Kindness and Goodness of God
Given God's character and nature, saying He allows/ordains terrible things, such as sickness, is the same as saying He is responsible for it - which He is not. Saying it is His will is blaming Him indirectly for it. There is simply no Scriptural support for that supposition. The Holy God abhors evil and is separate from it (Proverbs 6:16-19; Jeremiah 7:31; Isaiah 6:3; Exodus 15:11). He does not tempt humans to sin (James 1:13). God is a good God and the redeemer of sinful choices who only wants the best for His Bride. Sickness is not one of them. It is one of a legion of things brought about by the Fall of Adam and Eve and sin affecting the DNA of everything. The disease of dying and death is one of those things that will never be healed in this life.
Ultimately, it doesn't matter who is to blame for sickness or disease. Most importantly, God is looking for those who will trust Him no matter what. The Bible tells us how to live a long and healthy life, but it does not promise a sickness or disease-free life because we will all die from them one day. Blame it on Adam and not God.
God will never neglect His Bride or prevent her from experiencing deep intimacy when she cries out in desperate longing for more of Him. He has blessed her with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3).
Suffering is as much a part of this life as air and water because we live in a sinful world. The Creator does not cause suffering. Only satan can be accused of tormenting Christians (Matthew 12:22; Acts 10:38; John 10:10; 1 John 3:8). God is not the author of pain and suffering. Jesus is the great healer. He does not make people sick and miserable in suffering so He can heal them to prove He is good.
The devil, Jesus said, has been a "murderer from the beginning" (John 8:44). Who else would do such terrible things but the liar, deceiver, and accuser himself? The devil is the author of suffering who comes ONLY "to steal, kill, and destroy" (John 10:10 NIV - emphasis mine).
We should give the blame to satan where blame is due. God is not a tormentor! God does not put or allow sickness and disease or great suffering on a Born-Again Christian to teach them something or because they sinned! He does not kill loved ones or sabotage their business.
Jesus came that people "may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10b NIV). The Bible tells us that Jesus physically healed all those who were under the power of the enemy (Acts 10:38). The enemy has NO authority over a Born-Again Christian. In Greek, the word oppressed means to 'exercise dominion (rule and authority) against.'
Sickness is part of the devil's kingdom. Through the shed blood of Jesus, every Born-Again Christian has already been 'rescued'… 'from the dominion of darkness and brought" "into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:13-14 NIV).
Jesus gave His Disciples power over the devil and all sicknesses (Luke 9:1-2). Every Born-Again Christian has authority over the devil's power because 'greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world!" (1 John 4:4 NIV). They have already overcome the enemy (1 John 2:13-14). Jesus destroyed the works of the enemy and now lives within them (1 John 3:8). The physical body, which includes the mind and spirit, is God's dwelling place (1 Corinthians 6:19).
The heavenly Father does not 'put' or 'allow' suffering into a person's life to punish them, teach a lesson, or test their faith, nor does He guarantee deliverance from the suffering of this world. Suffering in any form is inevitable while living on this planet.
A great deal of suffering people experience is brought by what they do, think and say. The devil and his minions cannot indwell the spirit, mind, and body of a Born-Again Christian because it is now God's dwelling place, His Temple (Greek: naos), the Holy of Holies, but the enemy can motivate them by whispering in their ears. No one can say, "The devil made me do it," but they can say, "I allowed the devil to persuade me to do it."
The mind is the devil's playground. It is there that he can talk a person into doing something they should not do, and it is there that he can talk them into not forgiving themselves as well as others. Poor choices and sin cause more suffering in this world than anything else. No one wants to take responsibility for their actions, so they find someone or something else to blame. The result is that people tend to look to either God or satan to blame when, in fact, it is most often the wrong actions taken on their part and by their own free choice that cause the problems.
How do We Conquer the Forces of Darkness?
Pride is what gives the enemy permission to attack because "God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6 NIV). The ability to resist the enemy is contingent on walking in humility. We need to be "sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8 ESV). The devil is constantly testing us. He stalks us like a lion making a lot of noise and putting fear into the hearts of God's people. However, the devil is not a lion; he just makes noises like one. Jesus is the "Lion of the tribe of Judah" and has already triumphed over the works of satan (Revelation 5:5). The Cross defeated him, and the war's outcome has already been determined. However, daily battles still need to be fought.
"…put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." (Ephesians 6:13-18 NIV)
We are commanded to resist the devil so that he will flee from us. However, that means more than just saying "no." A condition must first be met for the devil to flee. When we intentionally sin, such as not forgiving someone, God resists us like a soldier in full battle armor. We must first "submit" ourselves to God through repentance. Then we will be able to "resist the devil" so that "he will flee from [us]." (James 4:7 NIV)
Submitting to God means laying aside our personal agendas and aspirations so that we will do His will. By submitting, we are, in essence surrendering all to Him. We say, "You know what is best for me," and, "Not my will, but Yours be done."
It doesn't matter what someone does or why something awful happened to us. What matters is how we respond to it. Even in those times of suffering, we "should commit" ourselves to our "faithful Creator and continue to do good" (1 Peter 4:17-19 NIV).
We will never be able to "resist the devil" and have complete victory unless we surrender ourselves totally and completely to the Lordship of Jesus. He came for two purposes. The first was to reconcile human beings to God. Every Born-Again Christian has been given the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18). When we are involved in that ministry, we are doing what pleases the Father and displeases satan. The devil finds much pleasure when we don't forgive and when there is no reconciliation with those who have hurt us or whom we have hurt.
The second reason was to destroy the "devil's work" (1 John 3:8). The good news is that we have a Savior, the Creator of the universe, living inside us, and His power has already won the war against satan!
Sadly, too many Born-Again Christians think "spiritual warfare" simply means saying "I rebuke you in the name of Jesus" like a magical mantra. As I previously said, if we want to resist the devil so that he will flee from us, we must first humbly submit ourselves to God. Then, as we "draw near to God," He will "draw near to [us]" (James 4:8 NKJ).
Only after a person submits to God will they be able to resist the devil so that he will flee. If a Born-Again Christian is not walking habitually in humility, submitted and obedient to the Lordship of Jesus in their life, and attempts to resist the devil, the only response they will get is the sound of his laughter echoing through the halls of hell.
