Error
is never harmless. It never sanctifies, but always brings confusion and
dissension. It is always dangerous. The enemy has great power over
minds that are not thoroughly fortified by prayer and established in
Bible truth...
Satan
is constantly at work, but few have any idea of his activity and
subtlety. The people of God must be prepared to withstand the wily foe.
It is this resistance that Satan dreads. He knows better than we do the
limit of his power and how easily he can be overcome if we resist and
face him. Through divine strength the weakest saint is more than a match
for him and all his angels, and if brought to the test he would be able
to prove his superior power. Therefore Satan's step is noiseless, his
movements stealthy, and his batteries masked. He does not venture to
show himself openly, lest he arouse the Christian's dormant energies and
send him to God in prayer.
The
enemy is preparing for his last campaign against the church. He has so
concealed himself from view that many can hardly believe that he exists,
much less can they be convinced of his amazing activity and power. They
have to a great extent forgotten his past record; and when he makes
another advance move, they will not recognize him as their enemy, that
old serpent, but they will consider him a friend, one who is doing a
good work. Boasting of their independence they will, under his specious,
bewitching influence, obey the worst impulses of the human heart and
yet believe that God is leading them. Could their eyes be opened to
distinguish their captain, they would see that they are not serving God,
but the enemy of all righteousness. They would see that their boasted
independence is one of the heaviest fetters Satan can rivet on
unbalanced minds.
Man
is Satan's captive and is naturally inclined to follow his suggestions
and do his bidding. He has in himself no power to oppose effectual
resistance to evil. It is only as Christ abides in him by living faith,
influencing his desires and strengthening him with strength from above,
that man may venture to face so terrible a foe. Every other means of
defense is utterly vain. It is only through Christ that Satan's power is
limited. This is a momentous truth that all should understand. Satan is
busy every moment, going to and fro, walking up and down in the earth,
seeking whom he may devour. But the earnest prayer of faith will baffle
his strongest efforts. Then take “the shield of faith,” brethren,
“wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the
wicked.”
The
worst enemies we have are those who are trying to destroy the influence
of the watchmen upon the walls of Zion. Satan works through agents. He
is making an earnest effort here. He works according to a definite plan,
and his agents act in concert. A line of unbelief stretches across the
continent and is in communication with the church of God. Its influence
has been exerted to undermine confidence in the work of the Spirit of
God. This element is here and is silently working. Be careful lest you
be found aiding the enemy of God and man by spreading false reports and
by criticisms and decided opposition.
Through
deceptive means and unseen channels, Satan is working to strengthen his
authority and to place obstacles in the way of God's people, that souls
may not be freed from his power and gathered under the banner of
Christ. By his deceptions he is seeking to allure souls from Christ, and
those who are not established upon the truth will surely be taken in
his snare. And those whom he cannot lead into sin he will persecute, as
the Jews did Christ...
Satan
hopes to involve the remnant people of God in the general ruin that is
coming upon the earth. As the coming of Christ draws nigh, he will be
more determined and decisive in his efforts to overthrow them. Men and
women will arise professing to have some new light or some new
revelation whose tendency is to unsettle faith in the old landmarks.
Their doctrines will not bear the test of God's word, yet souls will be
deceived. False reports will be circulated, and some will be taken in
this snare. They will believe these rumors and in their turn will repeat
them, and thus a link will be formed connecting them with the
archdeceiver. This spirit will not always be manifested in an open
defiance of the messages that God sends, but a settled unbelief is
expressed in many ways. Every false statement that is made feeds and
strengthens this unbelief, and through this means many souls will be
balanced in the wrong direction...
I
greatly fear for the church. As Paul expressed it: “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.” Paul then
explains that it is by means of corrupt teachers that the enemy will
assail the faith of the church. “For such are false apostles,” he says,
“deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as
the ministers of righteousness.”
The more we learn in reference to the early days of the Christian church, and see with what subtlety Satan worked to weaken and destroy, the better we shall be prepared to resist his devices and meet coming perils. We are in the time when tribulations such as the world has never yet seen will prevail. “Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” But God has set bounds that Satan cannot pass. Our most holy faith is this barrier; and if we build ourselves up in the faith, we shall be safe in the keeping of the Mighty One. “Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” 5T pp. 293-297
