Then Satan Comes

Don’t fall asleep on your spiritual watch. Then it is that Satan comes.

January’s Awakening, Day 26

When the saint ceases to seek after holiness, purity, righteousness, truth; when he ceases to pray, stops reading the Word and gives way to carnal appetites, then it is that Satan comes.

 —Smith Wigglesworth

The foundation of true holiness and true Christian worship is the doctrine of the gospel, what we are to believe. So when Christian doctrine is neglected, forsaken, or corrupted, true holiness and worship will also be neglected, forsaken, and corrupted.

 —John Owen 

I am convinced that the first step toward attaining a higher standard of holiness is to realize more fully the amazing sinfulness of sin.

 —J. C. Ryle 

Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. Mark 1:23–26 NIV  

            Satan, the thief, and all the fallen angels (also called demons, evil spirits, or impure spirits) have only one goal in mind. It is to thwart God’s plans in any conceivable way, to keep as many people out of the kingdom of heaven as possible, and at every opportunity to steal, kill, and destroy. As created beings, the fallen angels certainly know God and most assuredly know Jesus as well, “the Holy One of God,” who has all power and authority over them.

            Believers have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within them so it is impossible for a true believer to be “possessed” or indwelt by an evil spirit, but nonbelievers can certainly be possessed. While believers cannot be possessed, they most assuredly can be oppressed externally by demonic spiritual forces. Oppression will come when you least expect it or when you are least prepared to combat it. If you leave the doors wide open, the thief will certainly come. And as we’ve said before, the more you do for God’s kingdom, the greater the oppression that will also come. The bottom line is this—be prepared in season and out of season in all spiritual regards—by reading the Word, praying and meditating, heeding the still small voice of the Holy Spirit, and being constantly in His presence in worship and holiness. Remember, “Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4 KJV).