How to Enter into God’s presence when Satan shuts you out of the Throne Room
Have you ever felt like you’re shut out of God’s Throne room and you’re not sure how to get in? I recently asked God about this and received a life changing answer.
Strangely enough, it was something good that got me wondering about why I sometimes felt like I’m shut out of God’s Throne room. It all started with a powerful “God moment.”
I can say with all honesty that a lot of times a “God moment” happens out of the clear blue and has no planning involved. Sometimes the right words come just at the right time. This is the fulfillment of the Scripture that says:
“Whenever they bring you before synagogues and rulers and authorities, don’t worry
about how you should defend yourselves or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will
teach you at that very hour what must be said.” (Luke 12:10-12 HCBS)
I had one such moment last night when talking with a family member. The words came out of my mouth from an idea that formed in my mind on the spot. I know of no other way to explain what happened other than the Holy Spirit developed everything right then and there. What follows is taking the idea further and deeper to provide better understanding of the idea that there is an enemy working hard to keep you from the presence of God.
Satan’s ultimate goal
Here is what the Holy Spirit poured into my heart and mind in a few moments: What is Satan’s ultimate goal? To keep you out of the room. What room? The Throne Room of God. Why? If he can keep you out, then you won’t go before your Father in heaven with your requests, petitions, and worship. You will feel less than what you are: a child of the Most High God.
There is something we need to establish first: There is an enemy who is out to make sure that your life doesn’t work out the way God has planned. If you are a cold or lukewarm Christian, the enemy will not do much to harass your life. Why would he? You pose no threat to his efforts to derail the Kingdom of Heaven here on the earth.
If you are committed to following close to Christ, remember what the Scripture says about our enemy:
“A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy.” (John 10:10a HCSB)
“Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion,
looking for anyone he can devour.” (1 Peter 5:8 HCSB)
The tactics of the enemy
The enemy, Satan, is a thief and a liar. When you start to follow Jesus closer each day, the enemy will come in to steal your joy, kill your desire to follow Christ, and destroy anything that you attempt to do for the kingdom of God. He will try and deceive you. He is a trickster. He will work to destroy you. He is referenced as an “angel of light”, but Satan is also the voice you may listen to that does not give you words of life:
“For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:14b HCSB)
“But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. However,
he kept back part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge and brought a portion of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. Then Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds from the field? Wasn’t it yours while you possessed it? And after it was sold, wasn’t it at your disposal? Why is it that you planned this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God!” (Acts 5:3-4 HCSB, emphasis mine) In short, Satan doesn’t want you to be the child of God you can be
Fighting back against the lies of the enemy
I am hammered by the enemy with these negative accusations all the time.
The enemy comes at me with these words on a consistent and daily basis. “They’ll just reject you if you try.” “You’re not good enough.” “You don’t have enough experience.” “You should give up.” “Stop trying; You’re washed up anyway.” “Who in their right mind would want to be around a failure like you?”
Does any of this sound familiar?
Insert your own situation here. “Not good enough.” “Give up.” “Washed up.” “A failure.”
I don’t know about you, but the enemy shouts these words. Taunts me. Never stops.
He is a thief. More still, he is a liar.
Let’s talk about how God sees you.
“When the time came to completion, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under
the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying,
‘Abba, Father!’ So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir
through God.” (Galatians 4:4-7 HCSB)
“I have spoken these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be
complete. This is My command: Love one another as I have loved you. No one has
greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends. You are My
friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you slaves anymore, because a lave
doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made
known to you everything I have heard from My Father. You did not choose Me, but I
chose you.” (John 15:15-16 HCSB)
“Now this is what the Lord says — the One who created you, Jacob, and the One who
formed you, Israel — ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your
name; you are Mine.” (Isaiah 43:1 HCSB)
For those who have called on the name of Jesus, we are the sons and daughters of God. We have a place in the kingdom of God. We are not alone, and we are invited into the Throne Room of God. It is an invitation we should never refuse.
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens — Jesus the Son of God — let us hold fast to the confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.” (Hebrews 4:14-16 HCSB, emphasis mine)
Remember Satan’s ultimate goal? Talking you out of entering into the presence of God, “the Father of all mercies and the God of all comfort.”
The enemy calls you a failure.
God calls you His child.
The enemy tells you to give up.
God tells you to press forward.
The enemy tells you you’re alone.
God keeps his promise to never leave or forsake you.
The enemy tells you to give up and lay down.
God tells you to stand and watch Him fight for you.
So, who do you want to listen to?
The one who beats you up verbally, or the One who wants to hold you close and tell you that you are loved?
Craig Groeschel, pastor of LifeChurch, has a sermon illustration that I believe fits in here. He said that the enemy, Satan, wants to stand at a distance and shout accusations at you. He shouts and hurls insults. At this point, Craig invited his wife, Amy, up on the stage and walked over to her. He then stood very close and behind Amy, then leaned into her ear to whisper to her. Craig said that God wants to get really close and talk to you in a whisper, because a whisper is one of the most intimate ways of communicating.
God wants to be near.
“Therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. (James 4:7-8a HCSB)
Never forget that those who have called on the name of Jesus are the children of God. And we are given this promise:
“Look at how great a love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children. And we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know Him. Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him because we will see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself just as He is pure.”
(1 John 3:1-3 HCSB)
Has the enemy been keeping you out of the Throne Room? Has he talked you out of walking in to have a conversation with the Father? If you answer “yes”, you’re not alone. I’m right there with you. I’m also here to remind you that now is the time to get up and walk back in. Have the conversation with God that should have happened before now. It’s not too late. God will always have time to listen.
You are not created to beg for crumbs outside of the throne room. You are invited in because there is a seat reserved for you before the throne at the great banquet table of the King.
You’re his child. He’s a good and loving Father.
Prayer to enter God’s presence when Satan shuts you out of the Throne Room
Father, I come to you now as your child. I accept your personal invitation to run into your presence unhindered and be loved by You. No one else loves me like you do, and no one ever will. I have believed the enemy far too long that I am not welcome here, but I know that this is a lie. I claim your life in me, I claim your calling to me, and I claim your promises that are always true over my life. I accept that you are my Father and I am your child. I confess that I have not always believed this, but I embrace it now. I believe you are Good. I believe You are Love, and I believe that You are Life. I accept all that you have for me. Help me to hear your voice in that quiet intimate whisper, especially when you remind me that You love me. I claim this in the name of Jesus, and in His name I pray. Amen.
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Copyright David Shelton 2020. All rights reserved.
