1 Thessalonians 2:18
Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
Paul said that he would have come earlier to visit this church, but Satan hindered him from coming. Notice that Satan hindered him, but he could not stop him. In other words, the only one who could stop Paul was Paul. If God wanted him to go, God certainly would not stop him, but Satan certainly would do everything he could to hinder him in hopes that Paul would stop.
We must always remember that Satan does not have any power to stop us from doing God’s work, but he does have the power to hinder us. We are the only ones who can stop ourselves from doing God’s work. Satan can try to obstruct what you are doing for God, but you are the only one who will allow the obstruction to stop you. Satan may slow you down, but you are the only one who can choose to stop. Satan may hamper your ability to continue going as fast as you want to go, but you are the only one who chooses to stop when he hampers your ability to continue going. Satan has no power to stop you; he can hinder you, but you are the only one who allows Satan’s obstructions to stop you. There are several thoughts that I would like to share with you about Satan hindering you from doing God’s work.
First, you have already won the battle. The battle was won at the tomb when Jesus rose again. Jesus won the final battle against Satan; therefore, you are on the winning side. It matters not what Satan throws at you to hinder you from going forward; you must have the mindset that you have already won this battle; you just have to fight it.
Second, you are the only one who can turn victory into defeat. Only you can cause defeat if you choose to quit. Nobody said it would be easy serving the LORD, but just because it is difficult does not mean that you should quit. Read Hebrews 11 and look at the difficulties many of these people faced, yet they did not quit. Read about Job and Satan’s hindrance against his life, but he did not quit. Look at Joseph whose dream God gave him was hampered for over a decade, but he continued fighting and never gave up on the dream. God promises in 1 John 4:4, greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Third, every hindrance that Satan throws at us becomes an opportunity if we choose to let the Holy Spirit use our obstacle as a source for His power to be seen. You may recall that Paul asked God three times to remove an infirmity that hindered him. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, God responds to Paul by saying; My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Paul then said, Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Paul was saying that he would let the hindrance become an opportunity for God to show His power through his life. What Satan wants to be a hindrance in your life can become God’s opportunity to show His power through your life if you don't quit.
My friend, Satan will try to hinder you if you do anything for God. You choose whether to let the hindrance stop you or to become a tool to show God’s power through your life. Satan’s only power in your life are the obstacles he throws at you to slow you down and discourage you to the point of quitting. You must show him that you will turn whatever hindrance he throws at you into an opportunity for God to do more through your life.
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