A second reality that Paul understood well in his ministry and relationship with the Thessalonians was that he faced satanic opposition. He had the spiritual discernment and understanding to realize that God has allowed Satan to oppose the kingdom of God in a variety of ways. Scripture mentions many of them: the devil tempted Christ (Matt. 4:3–10); he opposes the gospel (Matt. 13:19; 2 Cor. 4:4); he performs counterfeit miracles (Ex. 7:11; Acts 8:9–24; 13:8; cf. 2 Thess. 2:9; Rev. 16:14); he seeks