“When a man is revengeful, it is amazing how cunning he is to find opportunities to strike out.  When enmity thoroughly possesses his soul and pours its venom into his very blood, he will become exceedingly crafty in the means he uses to provoke and injure his adversary” [Charles Spurgeon (19th century British preacher), Spiritual Warfare in a Believer’s Life].

Ahhh, vengeance.  How true are Spurgeon’s words, that we are never more cunning and crafty as when we wish to inflict pain on someone.  We can come up with the most biting lines and the sneakiest ways to damage someone’s reputation.  We can damage them with ice-cold snubs and stares or red-hot words of anger and violence. 

Is it any wonder, in light of this, that Satan is first introduced in the Bible in this way:  “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?’” (Genesis 3:1).  Or that Paul, when pleading for a church he had founded to stay connected to Jesus, said “I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:2-3).  We are never more cunning and crafty as when we wish to inflict pain on someone, and no one wishes to inflict pain on you like that ancient enemy of God, Satan. 

What do I mean by cunning and crafty?  I mean that he is an expert at finding your weakness and exploiting it.  Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 11:14 that “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light,” and Peter warns us in 1 Peter 5:8 to “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”  As a fallen angel, Satan has mental abilities far beyond those of any human, and although He can not harm God, you can be sure he will do everything in his power to destroy those whom God loves.

Are you prone to depression and bouts of melancholy?  You can be sure that the enemy will choose those times to attack you with doubts of God’s goodness or power in your life.  You will find yourself tempted to give up on God, give up on church, under the impression that life would be better if you never gave God another thought.  Are you someone who enjoys life and doesn’t let the struggles get you down?  You can be sure that Satan will try to puff you up with pride and self-reliance, convincing you that you’ll be fine without spending time in God’s presence.  You will find yourself tempted to look down on those who always seem to be struggling with the trials of life. 

Are you not sure that you are a valuable person?  Satan will use someone, if possible even a church leader, to convince you that you are worthless.  Do you fear conflict?  Satan will cripple your effectiveness by bringing you into an argument that must be painfully worked through in order to bring peace.  Do you struggle with the same sins, over and over?  Rest assured that Satan will find a way to tempt you – in the car or in a crowd, at your job or in your bed.  He is crafty and cunning and is full of hatred for the people of God.

But – and this is a big one – he is a liar ["When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44)].  And – this is an even bigger one – he is powerless to stand against Jesus and His blood which was shed on the cross for you ["For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony" (Revelation 12:10-11)].  So take heart, little one – “God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

If you love God, you will be attacked.  If a church wants to be God’s people, they will be subject to all kinds of cunning and crafty attacks that threaten to divide and destroy them.  But listen again to the words of Charles Spurgeon:

“The sheep are never so safe from the wolf as when they are near the shepherd.  We shall never be so secure from the arrows of Satan as when we have our head lying on the Savior’s bosom.  Believer, walk according to His example, live daily in His fellowship, trust always in His blood, and in this way you shall be more than a conqueror over the subtlety and craft of Satan himself.”

One reason we may not stay close to the shepherd in prayer and Bible study and obedience is that we forget there is a wolf out there who is after us.  But if we recognize what is threatening us, then we would cling to Jesus and rely on his power and his truth to protect us.  As Jesus answered the enemy with “It is written,” we would be wise to do the same:

To the one who is depressed and melancholy, I say:  “It is written, ‘He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint’”  (Isaiah 40:29-31).

To the one who is enjoying life to the point of self-reliance, I say: “It is written, ‘So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!’ (1 Corinthians 10:12)

To the one who is not sure of her value, I say:  “It is written, ‘But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us’” (Romans 5:8).

To the one who fears conflict, I say:  “It is written, ‘in God I trust; I will not be afraid.  What can man do to me?’” (Psalm 56:11).

And to the one struggling with the same sins over and over, I say:  “It is written, ‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin’” (John 8:11).

There is a wolf out there, but there is a shepherd who is more powerful.  Recognize your enemy for who he is and stay near your Savior, Jesus Christ.

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