Satanic Hindrances
DELIVERED ON SUNDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 29, 1865,
BY C. H. SPURGEON, AT THE METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE, NEWINGTON.
"Satan hindered us." 1 Thessalonians 2:18.
PAUL, Silas and Timothy were very desirous to visit the Church at
Thessalonica, but they were unable to do so for the singular reason
announced in the text, namely, "Satan hindered us." It was not from
want of will, for they had a very great attachment to the Thessalonian
Brethren and they longed to look them in the face again. They said of
the Thessalonians, "We give thanks to God always for you all, making
mention of you in our prayers: remembering without ceasing your work of
faith, and labor of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ
in the sight of God and our Father."
Their will was overruled as to visiting the Church together, but being
anxious for its welfare, they sent Timothy alone to minister for a time
in its midst. It was not want of will which hindered them, but want of
power. They were not prevented by God's special Providence. We find on
certain occasions that Paul was not allowed to go precisely where his
heart would have led him. "They assayed to go into Bithynia: but the
Spirit suffered them not."
"They were forbidden of the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia,"
but their course was directed towards Troas that they might preach in
Europe the unsearchable riches of Christ. They could not, however,
trace their absence from Thessalonica to any Divine interposition. It
appeared, to them, to proceed from the great adversary–"Satan hindered
them." How Satan did so it would be useless to affirm dogmatically, but
we may form a reasonable conjecture. I find in the margin of my pulpit
Bible by Bagster, this note, which may probably be correct: "Satan
hindered Paul by raising such a storm of persecution against him at
Berea and other places, that it was deemed prudent to delay his visit
till the storm was somewhat allayed."
Yet I can hardly allow this to have been the only hindrance, for Paul
was very courageous, and having a strong desire to visit Thessalonica,
no fear of opposition would have kept him away. He did not shun the
hottest part of the battle, but like a truly valiant champion,
delighted most to be found in the thick of his foes. Possibly the
antagonism of the various philosophers whom he met with at Athens and
the heresies at Corinth, from which it seems that this Epistle was
written, may have called for his presence on the scene of action. He
felt that he could not leave struggling churches to their enemies–he
must contend with the grievous wolves and unmask the evil ones who wore
the garb of angels of light.
Satan had moved the enemies of the Truth of God to industrious
opposition and thus the Apostle and his companions were hindered from
going to Thessalonica. Or it may be that Satan had excited dissensions
and discords in the churches which Paul was visiting and therefore he
was obliged to stop first in one, and then in another, to settle their
differences–to bring to bear the weight of his own spiritual influence
upon the various divided sections of the Church to restore them to
unity.
Well, whether persecution, or philosophic heresy, or the divisions of
the Church were the outward instruments we cannot tell, but Satan was
assuredly the prime mover. You will, perhaps, wonder why the devil
should care so much about Paul and his whereabouts. Why should he take
so much interest in keeping these three men from that particular
Church? This leads us to observe what wonderful importance is attached
to the action of Christian ministers. Here is the master of all evil,
the Prince of the Power of the Air, intently watching the journeying of
three humble men. And apparently far more concerned about their
movements than about the doings of Nero or Tiberius!
These despised heralds of mercy were his most dreaded foes. They
preached that name which makes Hell tremble. They declared that
righteousness against which Satanic hate always vents itself with its
utmost power. With malicious glance the archenemy watched their daily
path and with cunning hand hindered them at all points. It strikes us
that Satan was desirous to keep these Apostolic men from the Church of
Thessalonica because the Church was young and weak and he thought that
if it was not fostered and succored by the preaching and presence of
Paul he might yet slay the young Child.
Moreover, he has of old a fierce hatred of the preaching of the Gospel
and possibly there had been no public declaration of the Truth
throughout Thessalonica since Paul had gone and he was afraid lest the
fire-brands of Gospel Truth should be again flung in among the masses
and a gracious conflagration should take place. Besides, Satan always
hates Christian fellowship–it is his policy to keep Christians apart.
Anything which can divide saints from one another he delights in. He
attaches far more importance to godly communion than we do. Since union
is strength, he does his best to promote separation–and so he would
keep Paul away from these Brethren who might have gladdened his heart
and whose hearts he might have cheered.
He would hinder their fraternal communion that they might miss the
strength which always flows from Christian communion and Christian
sympathy. This is not the only occasion in which Satan has hindered
good men–indeed, this has been his practice in all ages and we have
selected this one particular incident that some who are hindered by
Satan may draw comfort from it and that we may have an opportunity (if
the Spirit of God shall enable us) of saying a good and forceful word
to any who count it strange because this fiery trial has happened to
them.
I. Let us open our discourse by observing that IT HAS BEEN SATAN'S
PRACTICE OF OLD TO HINDER, WHEREVER HE COULD, THE WORK OF GOD. "Satan
hindered us," is the testimony which all the saints in Heaven will bear
against the arch enemy. This is the witness of all who have written a
holy line on the historic page, or carved a consecrated name on the
rock of immortality–"Satan hindered us." In sacred Writ, we find Satan
interfering to hinder the completeness of the personal character of
individual saints. The man of Uz was perfect and upright before God and
to all appearances would persevere in producing a finished picture of
what the Believer in God should be.
Satan could find no fault with his actions and only dared to impute
wrong motives to him. He had considered Job and he could find no
mischief in him–but then he hinted to God, "Have You not made an hedge
about him and about his house and about all that he has on every side?"
Satan sought to turn the life-blessing which Job was given of God into
a curse, and therefore he buffeted him sorely. He stripped him of all
his substance. The evil messengers trod upon one another's heels–and
their tidings of woe only ceased when his goods were all destroyed and
his children had all perished.
The poor afflicted parent was then struck in his bone and in his flesh
till he was made to sit upon a dunghill and scrape himself with a
potsherd. Even then the picture had no blot of sin upon it–the pencil
was held with a steady hand by the patient one. And therefore Satan
made another attempt to hinder his retaining his holy character–he
excited his wife to say, "Why do you hold fast your integrity? Curse
God and die." This was a great and grievous hindrance to the completion
of Job's marvelous career, but, glory be unto God, the man of patience
not only overcame Satan, but he made him a steppingstone to a yet
greater height of illustrious virtue!
You know the patience of Job and you would not have known it if Satan
had not illuminated it with the blaze of flaming afflictions! Had not
the vessel been burnt in the furnace, the bright colors had not been so
fixed and abiding. The trial through which Job passed brought out the
luster of his matchless endurance in submission and resignation to God!
Now, just as the enemy of old waylaid and beset the Patriarch to hinder
his perseverance in the fair path of excellence, so will he do with us.
You may be congratulating yourself this morning, "I have up to now
walked consistently. No man can challenge my integrity."
Beware of boasting! Your virtue will yet be tried! Satan will direct
his engines against that very virtue for which you are the most famous.
If you have been up to now a firm Believer, your faith will, before
long, be attacked. If up till now you have been meek as Moses, expect
to be tempted to speak unadvisedly with your lips. The birds will peck
at your ripest fruit and the wild hoar will dash his tusks at your
choicest vines. O that we had among us more eminence of piety, more
generosity of character, more fidelity of behavior! In all these
respects, I doubt not, many have set out with the highest aims and
intentions, but alas, how often have they had to cry, "Satan hindered
us!"
This is not the enemy's only business–he is very earnest in
endeavoring to hinder the emancipation of the Lord's redeemed ones. You
know the memorable story of Moses–when the children of Israel were in
captivity in Egypt, God's servant stood before their haughty oppressor
with his rod in his hand and in Jehovah's name he declared, "Thus says
the Lord, Let My people go, that they may serve Me." A sign was
required. The rod was cast upon the ground and it became a serpent. At
this point, Satan hindered. Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses. We read
that the magicians did so with their enchantments, whether by devilish
arts or by sleight of hand, we need not now enquire–in either case
they did the devil service and they did it well–for Pharaoh's heart
was hardened when he saw that the magicians worked, in appearance, the
self-same miracles as Moses.
Brethren, take this as a type of Satan's hindrances to the Word of the
Lord. Christ's servants came forth to preach the Gospel. Their ministry
was attended with signs and wonders. "My kingdom is shaken," said the
Prince of Evil, "I must bestir myself." And straightway he sent
magicians to work lying signs and wonders without number. Apocryphal
wonders were and are as plentiful as the frogs of Egypt. Did the
Apostles preach the sacrifice of Christ?–the devil's Apostles preached
the sacrifice of the "mass." Did the saints uplift the Cross?–the
devil's servants upheld the crucifix! Did God's ministers speak of
Jesus as the one infallible Head of the Church?–the devil's servants
proclaimed the false priest of Rome as standing in the same place!
Romanism is a most ingenious imitation of the Gospel–it is the
magicians, "doing so with their enchantments." If you study well the
spirit and genius of the great Antichrist, you will see that its great
power lies in its being an exceedingly clever counterfeit of the Gospel
of the Lord Jesus Christ. As far as tinsel could counterfeit gold, and
paste could simulate the gem and candlelight could rival the sun in its
glory and a drop in the bucket could imitate the sea in its strength,
it has copied God's great masterpiece, the Gospel of our Lord Jesus
Christ. And to this day, as God's servants scatter the pure gold of the
Truth of God, their worst enemies are those who utter base coin on
which they have feloniously stamped the image and superscription of the
King of kings.
You have another case farther on in history–and all Old Testament
history is typical of what is going on around us now. God was about to
give a most wonderful system of instruction to Israel and to the human
race, by way of type and ceremony, in the wilderness. Aaron and his
sons were selected to represent the great High Priest of our salvation,
the Lord Jesus Christ. In every garment which they wore there was a
symbolical significance–every vessel of that sanctuary in which they
ministered taught a lesson–every single act of worship, whether it
were the sprinkling of blood or the burning of incense, was made to
teach precious and important Truths of God to the sons of men. What a
noble roll was that volume of the Book which was unfolded in the
wilderness at the foot of Sinai!
How God declared Himself and the Glory of the coming Messiah in the
persons of Aaron and his sons! What then? With this Satan interfered.
Moses and Aaron could say, "Satan hindered us." Korah, Dathan and
Abiram arrogantly claimed a right to the priesthood. And on a certain
day they stood forth with bronze censers in their hands, thrusting
themselves impertinently into the office which the Lord had assigned to
Aaron and to his sons. The earth opened and swallowed them up
alive–true prophecy of what shall become of those who thrust
themselves into the office of the priesthood where none but Jesus
Christ can stand!
You may see the parallel this day. Christ Jesus is the only Priest who
offers sacrifice of blood and He brings that sacrifice no more–for
having once offered it He has perfected forever those who are set
apart. "This Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever,
sat down on the right hand of God." Paul, with the strongest force of
logic, proves that Christ does not offer a continual sacrifice, but
that, having offered it once and for all, His work is finished and He
sits down at the right hand of the Father.
Now, this doctrine of a finished Atonement and a completed sacrifice
seemed likely to overrun the world–it was such a gracious unfolding of
the Divine mind that Satan could not look upon it without desiring to
hinder it. And, therefore, look on every hand, and you can see Korah,
Dathan and Abiram in those churches which are branches of Antichrist–I
mean the Anglican and the Roman. Men to this very day call themselves,
"priests," and read prayers from a book in which the rubric runs, "Then
shall the priest say"–these arrogate to themselves a priesthood other
than that which is common to all the saints–some of them even claim to
offer a daily "sacrifice," to celebrate an unbloody sacrifice at the
thing which they call an "altar"!
And they claim to have power to forgive sins, saying to sick and dying
persons, "By authority committed unto me I absolve you from all your
sins." This in England! And this throughout Europe! This is the great
hindrance to the propagation of the Gospel–the priestly pretensions of
a set of men who are no priests of God, though they may be priests of
Baal. Thus the ministers of Jesus are made to cry, "Satan hinders us."
Take another instance of Satanic hatred. When Joshua had led the tribes
across the Jordan they were to attack the various cities which God had
given them for a heritage and from Dan to Beersheba the whole land was
to be theirs. After the taking of Jericho, the first contact into which
they came with the heathen Canaanites ended in disastrous defeat to the
servants of God.
"They fled," it is written, "before the men of Ai." Here, again, you
hear the cry, "Satan hindered us." Joshua might have gone from city to
city exterminating the nations, as they justly deserved to be, but
Achan had taken of the accursed thing and hidden it in his tent.
Therefore no victory could be won by Israel till his theft and
sacrilege had been put away. Beloved, this is symbolic of the Christian
Church. We might go from victory to victory–our home mission
operations might be successful and our foreign agencies might be
crowned with triumph–if it were not that we have Achans in the camp at
home!
When churches have no conversions it is more than probable that
hypocrites concealed among them have turned away the Lord's blessing.
You who are inconsistent, who make the profession of religion the means
of getting wealth! You who unite yourselves with God's people, but at
the same time covet the goodly Babylonian garment and the wedge of
gold, you are they who cut the sinews of Zion's strength! You prevent
the Israel of God from going forth to victory! Ah, little do we know,
Beloved, how Satan has hindered us. We, as a Church, have had much
reason to thank God, but how many more might within these walls have
been added to the number of this Church if it had not been for the
coldness of some, the indifference of others, the inconsistency of a
few and the worldliness of many more? Satan hinders us not merely by
direct opposition, but by sending Achans into the midst of our camp!
I will give you one more picture. View the building of Jerusalem after
it had been destroyed by the Babylonians. When Ezra and Nehemiah were
found to build, the devil was sure to stir up Sanballat and Tohiah to
cast down. There was never a revival of religion without a revival of
the old enmity. If ever the Church of God is to be built, it will be in
troublous times. When God's servants are active, Satan is not without
vigilant followers who seek to counteract their efforts. The history of
the Old Testament Church is a history of Satan endeavoring to hinder
the work of the Lord.
I am sure you will admit it has been the same since the days of the
Lord Jesus Christ. When He was on earth Satan hindered Him. He dared to
attack Him to His face! And when that failed, Pharisees, Sadducees,
Herodians and men of all sorts hindered Him. When the Apostles began
their ministry, Herod and the Jews sought to hinder them. And when
persecution availed not, then all sorts of heresies and schisms broke
out in the Christian Church–Satan still hindered them. A very short
time after the taking up of our Lord, the precious sons of Zion,
comparable to fine gold, had become like earthen pitchers, the work of
the hands of the potter. The glory had departed and the luster of Truth
was gone, because by false doctrine, lukewarmness and worldliness,
Satan hindered them.
When the Reformation dawned, if God raised up a Luther, the devil
brought out an Ignatius Loyola to hinder him. Here in England, if God
had his Latimers and his Wickcliffes, the devil had his Gardiners and
Bonners. When in the modem reformation Whitfield and Wesley thundered
like the voice of God, there were ordained reprobates found to hinder
them, to hold them up to opprobrium and shame. Never, since the first
hour struck in which goodness came into conflict with evil, has it
ceased to be true that Satan has hindered us!
From all points of the compass, all along the line of battle–in the
vanguard and in the rear–at the dawn of day and at midnight, Satan has
hindered us. If we toil in the field he seeks to break the plowshare.
If we build the walls he labors to cast down the stones. If we would
serve God in suffering or in conflict–Satan hinders us everywhere.
II. We shall now, in the second place, INDICATE MANY WAYS IN WHICH
SATAN HAS HINDERED US. The
Prince of Evil is very busy in hindering those who are just coming to
Jesus Christ. Here he spends the main part of his skill. Some of us who
know the Savior recollect the fierce conflicts which we had with Satan
when we first looked to the Cross and lived.
Others of you here this morning are just passing through that trying
season–I will address myself to you. Beloved Friends, you long to be
saved, but ever since you have given any attention to these eternal
things you have been the victim of deep distress of mind. Do not marvel
at this! This is usual, so usual as to be almost universal! I should
not wonder if you are perplexed with the doctrine of election. It will
be suggested to you that you are not one of the chosen of God, although
your common sense will teach you that it might just as well be
suggested to you that you are, since you know neither the one nor the
other, nor indeed can know until you have believed in Jesus.
Your present business is with the precept which is revealed, not with
election which is concealed. Your business is with that exhortation,
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved." It is
possible that the great battlefield between predestination and free
will may be the dry and desert place in which your soul is
wandering–now you will never find any comfort there! The wisest of men
have despaired of ever solving the mystery of those two matters and it
is not at all probable that you will find peace in puzzling yourself
about it.
Your business is not with metaphysical difficulty, but with faith in
the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is simple and plain
enough. It is possible that your sins now come to your remembrance and
though once you thought little enough of them, now it is hinted to you
by Satanic malice that they are too great to be pardoned–to which, I
pray you, give the lie, by telling Satan this Truth–"All manner of sin
and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men." It is very likely that the
sin against the Holy Spirit much molests you. You read that whoever
shall speak a word against the Holy Spirit it shall never be forgiven
him.
In this, too, you may be greatly tried. And I wonder not that you are,
for this is a most painfully difficult subject. One fact may cheer
you–if you repent of your sins, you have not committed the
unpardonable offense, since that sin necessitates hardness of heart
forever. And so long as a man has any tenderness of conscience and any
softness of spirit, he has not so renounced the Holy Spirit as to have
lost His Presence. It may be that you are the victim of blasphemous
thoughts. This very morning, since you have been sitting here, torrents
of the filth of Hell have been pouring through your soul.
At this be not astonished, for there are some of us who delight in
holiness and are pure in heart, who nevertheless, have been at times
sorely tried with thoughts which were never born in our hearts, but
which were injected into them– suggestions born in Hell, not in our
spirits–to be hated and to be loathed, but cast into our minds that
they might hinder and trouble us. Now, though Satan may hinder you as
he did the child who was brought to Jesus, of whom we read that as he
was, "coming, the devil threw him down and tore him," yet do you come
notwithstanding! For though seven devils were in him, Jesus would not
cast the coming sinner out. Even though you should feel a conviction
that the unpardonable sin has fallen to your lot, yet dare to trust in
Jesus! And, if you do do that, I warrant you there shall be a joy and a
peace in believing which shall overcome him of whom we read, that he
has "hindered us."
But I must not stop long on any one point where there are so many.
Satan is sure to hinder Christians when they are earnest in prayer.
Have you not frequently found, dear Friends, when you have been most
earnest in supplication, that something or other will start across your
mind to make you cease from the exercise? It appears to me that we
shake the tree and no fruit drops from it. And just when one more shake
would bring down the luscious fruit, the devil touches us on the
shoulder and tells us it is time to be gone! And so we miss the
blessing we might have attained. I mean that just when prayer would be
the most successful we are tempted to abstain from it.
When my spirit has sometimes laid hold upon the Angel, I have been
painfully conscious of a counter influence urging me to cease from such
importunity and let the Lord alone, for His will would be done. Or if
the temptation did not come in that shape yet in some other, to cease
to pray because prayer, after all, could not avail. O Brethren, I know
if you are much in prayer you can sing Cowper's hymn–
"What various hindrances we meet In coming to the Mercy Seat."
The same is true of Christians when under the promptings of the Spirit
of God, or when planning any good work. You have been prompted,
sometimes, to speak to such a one. "Run, speak to that young man," has
been the message in your ear. You have not done it–Satan has hindered
you. You have been told on a certain occasion–you do not know how,
(but believe me, we ought to pay great respect to these inward
whispers), to visit such-and-such a person and help him. You have not
done it–Satan hindered you. You have been sitting down by the fire one
evening reading a missionary report concerning Hindustan, or some
district destitute of the Truth of God and you have thought, "Now I
have a little money which I might give to this object." But then it has
come across you that there is another way of spending it more
profitably on your family–so Satan has hindered you.
Or you yourself thought of doing a little in a certain district by way
of preaching and teaching, or commencing some new Ragged School, or
some other form of Christian effort–but as sure as ever you began to
plan it, something or other arose and Satan hindered you. If he
possibly can, he will come upon God's people in those times when they
are full of thought and ardor and ready for Christian effort that he
may murder their infant plans and cast these suggestions of the Holy
Spirit out of their minds.
How often, too, has Satan hindered us when we have entered into the
work! In fact, Beloved, we never ought to expect a success unless we
hear the devil making a noise. I have taken it as a certain sign that I
am doing little good when the devil is quiet. It is generally a sign
that Christ's kingdom is coming when men begin to lie against you and
slander you and the world is in an uproar, casting out your name as
evil. Oh, those blessed tempests! Do not give me calm weather when the
air is still and heavy and when lethargy is creeping over one's spirit.
Lord, send a hurricane, give us a little stormy weather! When the
lightning flashes and the thunder rolls, then God's servants know that
the Lord is abroad and that His right hand is no longer in His
bosom–that the moral atmosphere will get clear–that God's kingdom
will come and His will be done on earth, even as it is in Heaven!
"Peace, peace, peace!" That is the flap of the dragon's wings! The
stern voice which proclaims perpetual war is the voice of the Captain
of our salvation. You say, how is this? "Think not that I am come to
send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am
come to set a man at variance against his father and the daughter
against her mother and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
And a man's foes shall be they of his own household." Peace, physical,
Christ makes. There is to be no strife with the fist, no blow with the
sword, but moral peace and spiritual peace can never be in this world
where Jesus Christ is, so long as error is there.
But, you know, Beloved, that you cannot do any good thing but what the
devil will be sure to hinder you. What then? Up and at him! Cowardly
looks and faint counsels are not for warriors of the Cross! Expect
fights and you will not be disappointed. Whitfield used to say that
some Divines would go from the first of January to the end of December
with a perfectly whole skin. The devil never thought them worth while
attacking! But, said he, let us begin to preach with all our might, and
soul, and strength the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and men will soon put a
fool's cap on our heads and begin laughing at us and ridiculing us–but
if so, so much the better!
We are not alarmed because Satan hinders us! Nor will he only hinder us
in working–he will hinder us in seeking to unite with one another. We
are about to make an effort, as Christian churches in London, to come
closer together and I am happy to find indications of success. But I
should not wonder but what Satan will hinder us and I would ask your
prayers that Satan may be put to the rout in this matter, and that the
union of our churches may be accomplished. As a Church ourselves, we
have walked together in peace for a long time, but I should not marvel
if Satan should try to thrust in the cloven foot to hinder our walking
in love and peace and unity.
Satan will hinder us in our communion with Jesus Christ. When at His
table we say to ourselves, "I shall have a sweet moment now," but just
then vanity intrudes. Like Abraham, you offer the sacrifice, but the
unclean birds come down upon it and you have need to drive them away.
"Satan hindered us." He is not omnipresent, but by his numerous
servants he works in all kinds of places and manages to distract the
saints when they would serve the Lord.
III. In the third place THERE ARE TWO OR THREE RULES BY WHICH THESE
HINDRANCES MAY BE
DETECTED AS SATANIC. I think I heard somebody saying to himself this
morning, "Yes, I should have risen in the world and have been a man of
money now if it had not been that Satan hindered me." Do not believe
it, dear Friend! I do not believe that Satan generally hinders people
from getting rich. He would just as soon that they should be rich as
poor. He delights to see God's servants set upon the pinnacle of the
temple, for he knows the position to be dangerous.
High places and God's praise do seldom agree. If you have been hindered
in growing rich, I should rather set that down to the good Providence
of God which would not place you where you could not have borne the
temptation. "Yes," said another, "I had intended to have lived in a
certain district and done good and have not been able to go–perhaps
that is the devil." Perhaps it was–perhaps it was not. God's
Providence will know best where to place us. We are not always choosers
of our own locality–and so we are not always to conclude when we are
hindered and disappointed in our own intentions that Satan has done it,
for it may very often be the good Providence of God.
But how may I tell when Satan hinders me? I think you may tell first,
by the object. Satan's object in hindering us is to prevent our
glorifying God. If anything has happened to you which has prevented
your growing holy, useful, humble and sanctified, then you may trace
that to Satan. If the distinct object of the interference to the
general current of your life has been that you may be turned from
righteousness into sin, then from the object you may guess the author.
It is not God who does this, but Satan. Yet know that God does,
sometimes, put apparent hindrances in the way of His own people–even
in reference to their usefulness and growth in Grace–but then His
object is still to be considered–it is to try His saints and so to
strengthen them! While the object of Satan is to turn them out of the
right road and make them take the crooked way.
You may tell the suggestions of Satan, again, by the method in which
they come–God employs good motives, Satan bad ones. If that which has
turned you away from your object has been a bad thought, a bad
doctrine, bad teaching, a bad motive–that never came from God, that
must be from Satan. Again, you may tell them from their nature.
Whenever an impediment to usefulness is pleasing, gratifying to
you–consider that it came from Satan. Satan never brushes the feathers
of his birds the wrong way–he generally deals with us according to our
tastes and likes. He flavors his bait to his fish. He knows exactly how
to deal with each man and to put that motive which will fall in with
the suggestions of poor carnal nature.
Now, if the difficulty in your way is rather contrary to yourself than
for yourself, then it comes from God. But if that which now is a
hindrance brings you gain, or pleasure, or emolument in any way, rest
assured it came from Satan. We can tell the suggestions of Satan, once
more, by their season. Hindrances to prayer, for instance, if they are
Satanic, come out of the natural course and relation of human thoughts.
It is a law of mental science that one thought suggests another and the
next the next and so on–as the links of a chain draw one another.
But Satanic temptations do not come in the regular order of thinking.
They dash upon the mind at odd times. My soul is in prayer–it would be
unnatural that I should then blaspheme–yet then the blasphemy comes.
Therefore it is clearly Satanic and not from my own mind. If I am set
upon doing my Master's will and presently an unfaithful thought assails
me and–being apart from the natural run of my mind and thoughts–it
may be at once ejected as not being mine and may be set down to the
account of the devil, who is the true father of it.
By these means I think we may tell when Satan hinders and when it is
our own heart, or when it is of God. We ought carefully to watch that
we do not put the saddle on the wrong horse. Do not blame the devil
when it is yourself. And on the other hand, when the Lord puts a bar in
your way, do not say, "That is Satan," and so go against the Providence
of God. It may be difficult at times to see the way of duty, but if you
go to the Throne of God in prayer you will soon discover it. "Bring
here the ephod," said David, when he was in difficulty. Say the same!
Go to the great High Priest whose business it is to give forth the
oracle! Lo, upon His breast hangs the Urim and Thummim and you shall,
from Him, find direction in every time of difficulty and dilemma.
IV. Supposing that we have ascertained that hindrances in our way
really come from Satan, WHAT THEN? I have but one piece of advice and
that is–go on–hindrance or no hindrance, in the path of duty as God
the Holy Spirit enables you. If Satan hinders you, I have already
hinted that this opposition should cheer you. "I did not expect," said
a Christian minister, "to be easy in this particular pastorate, or else
I would not have come here. I always count it," he said, "to be my duty
to show the devil that I am his enemy and if I do that, I expect that
he will show me that he is mine."
If you are now opposed and you can trace that opposition distinctly to
Satan, congratulate yourself upon it–do not sit down and fret! Why, it
is a great thing that a poor creature like you can actually vex the
great Prince of Darkness and win his hate! It makes the race of man the
more noble that it comes in conflict with a race of spirits and stands
foot to foot even with the Prince of Darkness himself. It is a dreadful
thing, doubtless, that you should be hindered by such an adversary, but
it is most hopeful–for if he were your friend–you might have cause to
fear, indeed!
Stand out against him because you now have an opportunity of making a
greater gain than you could have had, had he been quiet. You could
never have had a victory over him if you had not engaged in conflict
with him. The poor saint would go on his inglorious way to Heaven if he
were unmolested. But being molested, every step of his pathway becomes
glorious! Our position today is like that described by Bunyan, when
from the top of the palace the song was heard–
"Come in, come in, Eternal glory you shall win."
Now merely to ascend the stairs of the palace, though safe work, would
not have been very ennobling. But when the enemy crowded round the door
and blocked up every stair and the hero came to the man with the
ink-horn, who sat before the door and said, "Write my name down, Sir,"
then, to get from the lowest step to the top where the bright ones were
singing–every inch was glorious! If devils did not oppose my path from
earth to Heaven, I might travel joyously, peacefully, safely–but
certainly without renown! But now, when every step is contested in
winning our pathway to Glory, every single step is covered with
immortal fame! Press on then, Christian! The more opposition, the more
honor!
Be in earnest against these hindrances when you consider, again, what
you lose if you do not resist him and overcome him. To allow Satan to
overcome me would be eternal ruin to my soul. Certainly it would
forever blast all hopes of my usefulness. If I retreat and turn my back
in the day of battle what will the rest of God's servants say? What
shouts of derision will ring over the battlefield? How will the banner
of the Covenant be trailed in the mire! Why, we must not, we dare not,
play the coward–we dare not give way to the insinuation of Satan and
turn from the Master–for the defeat were then too dreadful to be
endured.
Beloved, let me feed your courage with the recollection that your Lord
and Master has overcome. See Him there before you. He of the
thorn-crown has fought the enemy and broken his head–Satan has been
completely worsted by the Captain of your salvation! And that victory
was representative–he fought and won it for you! You have to contend
with a defeated foe and one who knows and feels his disgrace! And
though he may fight with desperation, yet he fights not with true
courage, for he is hopeless of ultimate victory. Strike, then, for
Christ has destroyed him! Down with him, for Jesus has had him under
His foot! You, weakest of all the host, you will be triumphant, for the
Captain has triumphed before you!
Lastly, remember that you have a promise to make you gird up your loins
and play the man this day–"Resist the devil and he shall flee from
you." Christian minister, resign not your situation! Do not think of
sending in your resignation because the Church is divided and because
the enemy is making headway! Resist the devil! Flee not, but make him
flee! Young Christian men–you who have begun to preach in the street,
or distribute tracts, or visit from house to house–though Satan
hinders you very much I pray you, now, redouble your efforts! It is
because Satan is afraid of you that he resists you, because he would
rob you of the great blessing which is now descending on your head.
Resist him and stand fast.
You Christians pleading in prayer–let not go your hold upon the
Covenant Angel–for now that Satan hinders you it is because the
blessing is descending! You who are seeking Christ, close not those
eyes! Turn not away your face from Calvary's streaming tree–now that
Satan hinders you, it is because the night is almost over and the
daystar begins to shine! Brethren, you who are most molested, most
sorrowfully tried, most borne down, yours is the brighter hope– be
courageous now–play the man for God, for Christ, for your own
soul–and the day shall yet come when you, with your Master, shall ride
triumphantly through the streets of the New Jerusalem!
Sin, death and Hell will be captive at your chariot wheels and you,
with your Lord, will be crowned as victor, having overcome through the
blood of the Lamb! May God bless dear Friends now present. I do not
know to whom this sermon may be most suitable, but I believe it is sent
especially to certain tried saints. The Lord enable them to find
comfort in it! Amen.
PORTION OF SCRIPTURE READ BEFORE SERMON–1 Peter 412