Satanic Temptations # 2

Satanic Temptations # 2

How calculated is such language as the following to stir up a deep and watchful solicitude against satan, "Simon, satan has desired to sift you as wheat," (Luke 22:31). "We are not ignorant of satan's devices," (2 Cor. 2:11). "I fear lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. satan is transformed into an angel of light," (2 Cor. 11:, 14). "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour. Whom resist steadfast in the faith," (1 Peter 5:8, 9). What a description! Your adversary; one who for power is a "lion", for cruelty and rage, a "roaring lion," for activity, "walking about," for diligence, "seeking" out his prey; for destruction and consuming purposes, "seeking whom he may devour."

But still more impressive and appalling is the language of Paul, in another place, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood - but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Above all taking the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one." (Ephes. 6:10 - 12, 16). This gives us a view of the subject of satanic opposition, which is almost dreadful.

You cannot fall to observe that in this passage, as well as in others, the temptations of satan are characterized by peculiar trickery and cunning. The apostle speaks of "wiles," in another place of "devices," and in another of "subtlety." We are led therefore to suppose that he possesses most accurate knowledge of our constitution; situation' besetting sins; weaknesses; occupations; companions; conduct; unwatchfulness - and then adapts most skillfully his temptations to the case, taking advantage of whatever can by possibility give power to his seductions.

It is not, perhaps, presumptuous to inquire, to what kinds of sins his temptations are more usually applied. Probably he has some concern in all solicitations to sin - but especially in those which render our character more like his own; to the vices which he himself is guilty of. To falsehood and error, for instance. He is called "a liar from the beginning, and the father of lies," (John 8:44); a "deceiver," (Rev. 12:9; 13:14); from this he takes his name "devil," or slanderer, and false accuser. It was in the case of a lie that he filled the heart of Ananias. The whole system of error; idolatry, in all its forms; Mohammedanism; infidelity; and heresy in its numerous grades from the highest to the lowest, must be traced up to his subtle allurements.

Pride is especially his sin - hence the direction given by the apostle to Timothy concerning the appointment of elders, "Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride, he will fall into the condemnation of the devil," that is, the sin for which the devil was condemned.

Ambition,  with its attendant, jealousy, cruel as the grave, is his vice and his temptation.

All the irascible passions are especially diabolical sins, envy, malice, wrath, revenge. These form his very character, and to these he is ever exciting the susceptible children of men. Hence the expression of the apostle, "Be angry, and sin not; let not the sun go down upon your wrath. Neither give place to the devil," that is, do not yield yourself up to him, and allow him to gain the ascendancy over you, by indulging in immoderate anger.

Discontent, murmuring, and resistance of God's will, in his dispensations towards us, form a state of mind to which satan is anxious to reduce us; hence the language of the apostle, in his epistle to the Ephesians, "Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that works in the children of disobedience." (Eph. 2:2).

There is one passage, already quoted, which deserves special attention, I mean the expression, "Whereby you shall be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one." It is supposed the allusion here is to the poisoned arrows which were then, and still are, used among barbaric tribes, the wound of which causes a sense of burning in the flesh; and that the apostle intends by this figure, to describe those horrid suggestions which sometimes arise in the minds of even godly people, and which, as they proceed from no external apparent cause, are to be traced to the malignant operation of our great adversary. Such suggestions certainly do occasionally arise, to the sore distress of the subject of them - strange, unaccountable, horrid thoughts, savoring almost of blasphemy, or at any rate of infidelity and atheism in reference to God and His Word; of gloomy despair and misery as regards our own state; and of mischief and injury towards our fellow-creatures.

~John Angell James~

(continued with # 3)