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Since the first
hour in which goodness came into conflict with evil, it has never
ceased to be true in spiritual experience, that Satan hinders us.
From all points of the compass, all along the line of battle, in
the vanguard and in the rear, at the dawn of day and in the
midnight hour, Satan hinders us.
If we toil in the field, he seeks to break the ploughshare; if we
build the wall, he labors to cast down the stones; if we would
serve God in suffering or in conflict-everywhere Satan hinders us.
He hinders us when we are first coming to Jesus Christ. Fierce
conflicts we had with Satan when we first looked to the cross and
lived. Now that we are saved, he endeavors to hinder the
completeness of our personal character.
You may be congratulating yourself, "I have hitherto walked
consistently; no man can challenge my integrity." Beware of
boasting, for your virtue will yet be tried; Satan will direct his
engines against that very virtue for which you are the most
famous. If you have been hitherto a firm believer, your faith will
ere long be attacked; if you have been meek as Moses, expect to be
tempted to speak unadvisedly with your lips.
The birds will peck at your ripest fruit, and the wild boar will
dash his tusks at your choicest vines. Satan is sure to hinder us
when we are earnest in prayer. He checks our importunity, and
weakens our faith in order that, if possible, we may miss the
blessing.
Nor is Satan less vigilant in obstructing Christian effort. There
was never a revival of religion without a revival of his
opposition. As soon as Ezra and Nehemiah begin to labor, Sanballat
and Tobiah are stirred up to hinder them.
What then? We are not alarmed because Satan is hindering us, for
it is a proof that we are on the Lord's side, and are doing the
Lord's work, and in his strength we shall win the victory, and
triumph over our adversary.
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