Opportune time by Pr. Denis kalungi.

When we are serving and sharing Christ, the Enemy will be carefully planning his next and most effective attack on our lives. He does not sit idly, hoping that we will fall into temptation by chance. He calculates the conditions of the battle. He carefully works out the timing of his ambush. To help us prepare our hearts, the Bible outlines for us five of Satan's opportune times for an attack.

Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time {Luke 4:13} the devil thought that our Lord Jesus will be taken up with the pride of this world and he uses this chance to get him this is the time the devil felt that Jesus was at the top of his mission on other occasions this is the time men of God feel that they have worn it all, there on the top of their success.

 Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify of it that its works are evil. You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.” John 7:6-8 when Satan sees the great impact you’re going to cause spiritually it will always come and check on you.

Then he called for Moses and Aaron at night and said, “Get up, get out from among my people, both you and the Israelites; and go, serve the Lord, as you said. Take both your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and go, and [ask your God to] bless me also.” Exodus 12:31-32

When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his servants had a change of heart toward the people, and they said, “What is this that we have done? We have let Israel go from serving us!” So Pharaoh harnessed horses to his war-chariots [for battle] and took his army with him;

Now an opportune time came on his birthday when Herod gave a banquet for his nobles, military commanders, and the leading men of Galilee {Exodus 14:5-6} Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve [disciples], went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. When they heard this they were delighted and promised to give him money. And he began looking for an opportune time to betray Jesus {Mark 14:10-11}

In the middle of the journey some people may divert from the vision, goals, and objectives due to overwhelming or lack of spiritual eyes. Judas Iscariot lost the spiritual eyes to see what Jesus Christ of Nazareth was up to as ministers of God gain victory, fame they lose focus they think there are on the climax.

Immediately after a great victory pastors encounter an opportune time.  This is a time we feel least dependent on God. When we feel least in need of Him, we risk losing sight of how His blessing gave us the victory. Pastor tend to use their experience to solve issues, there is no experience in God's ministry it’s only the Holy Spirit who guides.

This may surprise you, but Satan will hit you with a surprise attack almost immediately following a great spiritual victory! Do you remember the timing of Satan’s attack against Jesus in the wilderness? Christ’s temptation in the wilderness immediately follows His baptism at the Jordan see herein {Luke 3:21-22, 4:1}. The devil will hit you too when you think you are the strongest!

Satan knows that after a spiritual victory, in those times when we sense God’s presence all around us, those are also the times when we feel confident and may not be conscious of our need to be dependent upon the Lord. It’s when we have overcome and felt strongly that we may least be aware of our need to continue to pray and study God’s Word.

Often following a spiritual victory are the occasions when we let our guard down and unknowingly put our soul at risk. The devil knows we don’t handle success very well.

For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; the effect

Immediately before a great victory.
Right before we experience some of the greatest blessings of our lives, Satan works overtime to ruin our trains of blessing immediately before they get to the station.

For Satan does not sleep see herein {proverbs 4:16}, for they do not sleep unless they have done evil; and their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall.

When we are emotionally, mentally, and physically drained. 
Lack of sleep, long hours at work, and mental stress can make us too tired to stand against temptation.

Jesus was forty days in the wilderness–a barren wasteland that would evaporate the strength of anyone leaving them weak and vulnerable to attack. But Jesus was not just in the wilderness; He also fasted–that is He went without food the entire time also. Satan seized the opportunity to attack.

Lack of food and sleep; sickness; mental stress; hard work–any of these can bring on fatigue. We can find ourselves “sick and tired of being sick and tired.”

Why these times are such an opportunity for the enemy to attack? 

Satan knows that our physical condition often affects our spiritual condition; the two are intimately connected and what affects one can also effect the other. Jesus urged the disciples, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak” {Mark 14:38}. All too often we are just like the disciples; spiritually we want to stand, but physically we are just want to sleep.

Romans 8:13-14 for if you live according to the sinful nature [that is your flesh], you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 

When we are waiting for the Lord.  Waiting is hard for everyone. Waiting on the Lord is mysterious but perfect timing can be the hardest since His ways are higher than ours. Satan knows this and will tempt us to take the shortcut, causing us to lose out on God's answers to our prayers.

Jesus was led into the wilderness where He was alone for forty days, a deadly opportunity for Satan to overtake Him. Alone in the wilderness, Jesus had no watchful eye of the crowd; the disciples were not present to see what choices Jesus would make. Not even Jesus’ enemies the Pharisees were around to criticize every move He would make. Jesus was alone and the devil wanted to make the most of this opportunity.

God knew from the very beginning that it would not be good for man to be alone and that goes for “woman” too –see herein {Genesis 2:18}. Jesus knew that it wasn’t good for the disciples to even go out to do the work of the ministry alone; Jesus sent them out with a partner in ministry–two by two see herein {Mark 6:7; Luke 10:1}.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their work: If one falls, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

We need the accountability of relationships with others to help keep us from sin. Don’t try to “go it alone” and leave yourself vulnerable to the devil’s attack.

When we are in the house of God.  When we are in the house of God, our hearts are open to the Word of God and everyis teaching. But when our hearts are open to God, they are also vulnerable to other influences, even attack.

We must guard our hearts, with vigilance, against temptation during Satan's opportune times. Satan's strategy is not new — from the beginning of time until now, he has tempted man at the same times, in the same ways. However, God has promised that He will provide a way out so we can stand up to temptation see herein {1 Corinthians 10:13}. Be aware of Satan's opportune times and look for the way out.

Satan attacked Jesus in the wilderness. For forty days and nights, the devil hit Jesus with all of hell’s furry, but Jesus would not waver away. Satan’s attack concluded with three more temptations; however, Jesus stood strong. When finally the smoke clears in the Judean wilderness Luke lets us know that the war was not over; it had just started!

What can we do to overcome opportune time?

It’s on record by Apostle Paul see herein {Galatians 5:16} so I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.  Being tired is not an excuse for sin. Sickness or emotional stress is not a license to have a bad day. You are not your own; you belong to Christ see herein {1 Corinthians 6:19-20}. Therefore life according to His Spirit and not your flesh!

Discipline your body and make it your slave! We need to set aside times to fast–to give up food or other pleasures and in turn be committed to seeking God. Jesus said that while He, the Bridegroom, was with His disciples they would not fast, but the time would come when they would fast see herein {Mark 2:19-20}. As Christ’s followers, we need to have special times set aside to be with our Lord.

Let the Lord renew your strength. When you are emotionally tired taking a nap or a vacation is of help. But don’t forget it’s not just about refreshing your body; you need to renew your spirit as well. Isaiah 40:31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. 

When you’re at church

Satan took Jesus to the temple for the third temptation and tempted the Lord. Do you find it surprising that Satan can bring an attack within the security of the church? Don’t be fooled! In any war, both sides want to try to neutralize enemy strongholds. (Isn’t it good to know that the gates of hell cannot stand up against the church of Jesus Christ [see Matthew 16:18] 

Nevertheless, Satan still wants to try to render the church ineffective and destroy you and me within the very walls of the church. Let me just quickly share with you three reasons why being at church can be such a lethal opportunity for Satan to bring an effective attack against you and me.

Our hearts are open.

Our hearts are opened to God’s word; the scripture cut like a knife to expose the motives of their hearts. That’s good; without spiritual “open-heart surgery,” we would all die.

Yet when our hearts are open we are vulnerable to the attack on the enemy. Now understand that when you are seeking God He will not pull a fast one on you and suddenly destroy you with His Word. God is a loving Father who will provide for us–we are His children.

Matthew 7:9-11 "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 

Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing but let us encourage one another-- and all the more as you see the Day approaching. The safest place from the dangers of love is in hell!

God will use someone to bring healing and life even from a wound inflicted within the church. God can heal us from the salt that may be poured into our wounds–but we have come to the hospital for treatment.

We are ready to defend the truth.

Defending the truth of scripture is a good thing. Paul told Timothy to guard carefully what had been entrusted to him {1 Timothy 6:21-22}. Our problem comes when we confuse truth with tradition.

When you begin something new for God

Luke 4:14-15 14Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. 

Satan will always try to sabotage any work for God; the devil will try to stop it before it even gets off the ground. To put it simply, that’s why we must be on guard against the attacks of the enemy. Together we are working together to rebuild and renew our church; God is giving us the vision to become a “thick church” fulfilling His purpose as we reach our community with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Satan would like us to be an ineffective church that resembles a social club or civic organization–anything except the Church of Jesus Christ!

In the wilderness, Satan was defeated time and again by Jesus. With each and every attack Jesus was prepared with a counterattack. Jesus could not be defeated. When we look at the victorious Christ, what can we learn that will enable us to stand?

“Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up” {Galatians 6:9}.

In the waiting room of life, you can choose to trust God instead of panicking. You also need to remember two things: One, God is never in a hurry. And two, God is never late. God’s timing is always perfect. 

What happens in those times where it appears that God is late? God is getting you ready for a miracle! 

There are so many examples of this in Scripture, including the story of Lazarus {John 11:1-25}. Mary and Martha had a brother named Lazarus, who was one of Jesus’ best friends. They lived in Bethany, which was just a few miles from where Jesus was on the day Lazarus got sick. They sent word to Jesus that his friend was gravely ill and asked him to come to them. 

He could have easily been in Bethany in an hour or two. But it took Jesus three days to go about five miles. When he got there, they told him, “You’re too late! We’ve already buried Lazarus.” 

Jesus wasn’t late. Because Jesus already knew what he was going to do? His goal was not to heal Lazarus. His goal was to raise him from the dead. Jesus’ goal was not to just make Lazarus well. His goal was to do a miracle of astronomical proportions. 

Jesus walked up to Lazarus’ tomb, told them to roll the stone away, and said, “Lazarus, come forth.” And Lazarus did! Sometimes God lets a situation get so bad that only a miracle will do. Don’t give up your faith. Hold on. Keep praying and serving and going to a small group. Keep sowing. Keep believing. Because you’re getting ready for a miracle.

God already knows what he’s going to do in your life this month, this year, and in the next decade, and his plan for you is good.

God bless you.