Giving your life to Jesus is the most joyful experience a person can have. However, Satan relentlessly targets the regenerated people of God, seeking to disrupt their lives and faith. In this article I will explore gospel joy and zeal, followed by the ways Satan works against them. In my second article, I will discuss what to do when Satan attacks.
Joy and Zeal at Conversion
Upon accepting the gift of salvation, our eyes are opened, our names are written in the book of eternal life, and our hearts are filled with joy and zeal for the gospel that saves. This stage is often called “the honeymoon phase,” while the Bible describes it as “the love you had at first” (Revelation 2:4).
Joy is a mark of true repentance and regeneration.
This joy reflects the experience of many believers in the book of Acts. Consider the Philippian jailer. “Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God” (Acts 16:34). Every believer who claims to be regenerated should experience this joy. If pressed, I would argue that this joy is one of the marks of true repentance and regeneration.
This is the stage or phase every Christian wishes would last forever. But for some reason it often doesn’t. I’m not suggesting that Christians lose their joy and zeal over time, although that can happen. Instead, I am suggesting that our joy and zeal begin to look different as we mature in Christ.
Joy and Zeal Over Time
This happens as our joy and zeal become calmer, and enabling us to stand firm and endure life’s tests. We begin to experience a deeper, steadier joy that equips us to face hardships. The Bible is clear on this. Writing to believers in Philippi and Rome, Paul instructs them “rejoice always and not be anxious about anything” (Philippians 4:4-7); “All things work together for good” (Romans 8:28). There is a joy “post-honeymoon.”
Our zeal for the gospel also matures into a more patient and prayerful passion.
As we grow, our zeal for the gospel also matures into a more patient and prayerful passion. Instead of trying to convert everyone we encounter, we learn to pray diligently and trust God to open eyes, softening the hearts of the lost. Early zeal is often dependent on our efforts and the responses of those we were evangelising to. However, with maturity, we come to understand that it is God who gives sight to the blind. Every believer should experience this initial zeal, whether in sharing the gospel or serving in the church.
Now, since the initial joy and zeal don’t last, when they shrink, the enemy usually comes to attack. Below are a few of Satan’s tactics to watch out for—in the following article we’ll look at what to do when Satan attacks.
Beware Satan’s Tactics
As a believer, it’s essential to be aware of Satan’s tactics. He hates seeing people getting saved in Christ. The parable of the sower tells us that the devil steals the word from the hearts of hearers so that they may not believe (Luke 8:12).
Satan hates seeing people getting saved in Christ.
In my journey as a Christian and a pastor, I have noticed that even though the enemy doesn’t manage to steal the word from a believer’s heart at salvation, he continues to pursue them. Many believers, including myself, have faced this challenge. I write this to prepare you so that you won’t be caught off guard when the transition from joy to spiritual warfare happens.
Four Truths Satan Wants You to Doubt
Satan uses many tactics during this transition, but if I were to sum it up in one word, it would be doubt, using it to weaken believers. Based on personal experience, here are four key areas where the seed of doubt commonly arises or is sown by the devil.
1. The Existence of God
After I gave my life to Christ, I struggled with doubts about God’s existence. As an African, this had never been a point of discussion. In fact, the philosophical question I asked myself growing up was, “If God did not exist, how would nothingness be like?” My worldview suggests that he does exist. But it became an issue after my conversion. The enemy may start there with you, too.
2. The One True God
Once I accepted God’s existence, doubts shifted to whether I was believing in the true God. The enemy planted questions about other faiths. As Christians, we know that Jesus makes the difference when discussing the topic of the one true God.
3. The Trustworthiness of Christ
After establishing my faith in Christ, doubts arose about his trustworthiness. I questioned how the sacrifice of someone who lived 2 000 years ago could impact my life today; and how one man’s sacrifice could save the multitude, forgetting that Jesus Christ is the second Adam (Romans 5:12-19).
4. The Assurance of Salvation
Finally, the enemy targeted my assurance of salvation. I questioned whether my faith was genuine or if I was truly saved. How do you know that your faith is the faith that the Bible is talking about? Maybe there is more. How do you know that your faith is the same as that of the person who is discipling you?
He Prowls Like a Roaring Lion
The enemy is cunning and will exploit your vulnerabilities to shake your faith. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10). While this article aims to strengthen your understanding, be vigilant; he may distort my aims and God’s truths to plant doubt. When such attacks arise, take heart; these struggles are a normal part of the spiritual journey. This spiritual warfare can be both long and filled with agony.
Be vigilant. Take heart.
In the next article, I will provide practical guidance on how we can respond effectively when Satan attacks, helping us to overcome him.
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