"Who Sent for the Devil?"

“Who Sent for the Devil?” (2 Corinthians 12:7)

Whenever something starts to go wrong in my life or in my circle, I always wonder to myself, “Who sent for the Devil?” Though the word “sent” is not explicitly used in this verse, the idea of Satan or one of his demons being sent is obvious. Paul had an evil entity that was sent to harass him, or to make things as unpleasant as possible, as he did the work of God.

The Devil or one of his emissaries is present as the people of God (e.g., families, church members, coworkers) attempt to live for God. Each time the Devil shows up or presents himself, something that used to work well starts to go awry: marriage relationships sour, children begin to clown, or perhaps financial issues begin to show themselves.

In Paul’s case, it was a physical debility or sickness. The Devil was dispatched to Paul to “buffet” or “beat” him as he attempted to live in a manner that brought glory and honor to God.

It is an almost universal happening that as you progress in the things of God, somebody in your circle, or perhaps maybe by your own actions, will trigger the Devil being sent into your situation. Consider the following three points:

1. The Devil shows up when things get good.

• Paul’s apostolic authority as the Apostle to the Gentiles had already been accepted (Romans 11:12; Galatians 2:7-8).
• Paul had been selected by God as His chosen instrument to take the Gospel to the non-Jewish world (Acts 9:15).
• He had healed the sick (Acts 14:8-10; 19:11-12; 28:8-9).
• He had raised the dead (Acts 20:9-12).
• Paul also had many supernatural visions (Acts 9:3-6; 16:9-10).
• Paul had the rare privilege to see something unique, even among the Apostles. God gave Paul a glimpse of Heaven (2 Corinthians 12:1-4).

1. The Devil is sent to correct something.

• It is easy to get carried away and think of ourselves more highly than we ought to (Romans 12:3).
• God takes issue with what we may become because of His blessings. Therefore, He sends Satan to humble us (Proverbs 16:18; Daniel 4:37; James 4:6).
• Because Paul suffered, he looked weak (1 Corinthians 2:3-4; Galatians 4:13-14).
• Paul shared this testimony of his weakness with the Church at Corinth because they had become prideful (1 Corinthians 4:6-7; 5:1-2; 8:1-2).
• The Church at Corinth had even begun to question his apostolic authority over them (1 Corinthians 9:1-2; 2 Corinthians 10:10; 13:3).

1. The power of God is made known through the Devil’s coming.

• Note that Paul prayed over and over for his hindrance to be removed (2 Corinthians 12:8).
• Christ told Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9 in the NLT: “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”

“Christ First. Christ Only, Christ Always”