A number of years ago, after an onslaught of spiritual attack that almost talked me out of ministry, God revealed the stages of what He called, “Satan’s setup.” This became the premise for my first book, Silence Satan. In essence, the devil has orchestrated a plot to silence God’s people so that their stories of healing, deliverance and perseverance can’t be heard by those who need hope.
Here’s a snapshot of how he does it:
- Bombard people with nearly unavoidable junk.
- Entice them to fall to the same issues over and over.
- Accused them that their struggles mean they’re too dirty or too messed up.
And that’s it. Through guilt and shame, the enemy attempts to muzzle our mouths by making us believe we’re too disqualified to be used by God.
Your Greatest Authority
Thankfully, the devil is so near-sighted; he often misses the forest for the trees. And he forgets that Jesus was known for turning tables! In fact, it’s often the struggles, weaknesses and brokenness of the past that God powerfully uses to help others who deal with the same.
A friend of mine made a powerful statement about this. He remarked, “Where the serpent has bitten you is where you have the greatest authority.” As I reflected upon what he said, I marveled at its truth in my life and in the lives of so many others. The greatest way I’ve helped people in ministry hasn’t been in trying to prop myself up as a perfect preacher. Or trying to tackle issues that I haven’t faced myself. No, the greatest anointing when I minister happens when I’m vulnerable to share about what I’ve been through and how I’ve made it through or am making it through.
I believe the reason for this is simple. Just as the Bible records that Jesus’ healings were often preceded by compassion (see Matt. 14:14), I realized I have the most compassion for people walking paths I once traveled or stumbling over similar snares. In other words, because I’ve been there, I can share from the experience of God’s power that helped me. And in the same way, those currently in similar situations are more likely to listen to someone with whom they can relate.
Refuse to Be Silenced
So here’s my question to you: Where has the serpent bitten you? What’s that one area of your life the enemy has used to try to evoke guilt or shame? That’s likely the area that God wants to powerfully use to help people in similar situations. It’s certainly not a reason for disqualification! So refuse to be silenced. What the enemy meant for your defeat is what God will use to defeat the enemy for many others. And to begin, you just have to open your mouth. {eoa}
Kyle Winkler equips people to live in victory. His mobile app, Shut Up, Devil!, is the #1 spiritual warfare app; and his book, Activating the Power of God’s Word, uncovers 16 strategic declarations to transform your life. Kyle holds a Master of Divinity in biblical studies from Regent University. Get daily encouragement from Kyle on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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