2 Corinthians 2:11

SATAN’S DEVICES

‘We are not ignorant of his devices.’

2 Corinthians 2:11

The personality of Satan is a fact too well established in our own experience for any of us to doubt its reality. He is the enemy of our souls and he compasses their destruction. He works upon us in various ways; his ‘devices’ are many. ‘We are not ignorant of them,’ says St. Paul; yet in how many cases do they succeed only too well. Note these leading characteristics of Satan’s devices. They are—

I. Subtle.—The old device, ‘Yea, hath God said?’ succeeded with our first parents and it succeeds to-day. It is when he appears as an angel of light that he is most to be feared.

II. Alluring.—He tempted our Blessed Lord by showing Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them. He comes to us in the same way, showing us short and easy roads to worldly success, but he conceals from us that spiritual death lies that way.

III. Suggestive.—It is his work to suggest sinful thoughts to our minds, and the step from thought to action is so simple. The plea that it does not do to be too strict or too straight has been the ruin of thousands.

IV. But strong as he is, there is One stronger than he, even Christ, Who has conquered and lives to conquer. In Him is our refuge and strength. Upon the soul which abides in Him the devices of Satan can have no real power.

Illustration

‘Frequently evil thoughts are thrust in against our wills, evidently not arising from any connection of ideas in our own minds; and this, to those who are given to low and desponding frames of feeling, is a sore trial, believing as they do that such thoughts arise from themselves, and that they betoken a depraved and criminal intention within them. If Christians would believe and recognise more than they do the agency of the tempter within them, they would derive encouragement under such inward struggles from knowing that it is not themselves, but he against whom they are called on to maintain the good fight, from whom such thoughts arise.’