The devil is a murderer from the beginning. God has put enmity between believers and the devil, who goes about among them as a roaring lion, using every imaginable device and act of violence to harm them—and if it were possible, to kill them. This we now wish to discuss.
Satan Assaults Believers
It can be confirmed irrefutably from God’s Word that the devil assaults believers.
(1) This is to be observed in God’s declaration: “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed” (Gen 3:15).
(2) This is also evident from the names which are given him in light of this, such as, the enemy Matt 13:39, the tempter Matt 4:3, the wicked one Matt 13:19, and the adversary (1 Pet 5:8).
(3) It is conveyed by the description of his work among believers: “Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet 5:8). His works are called “the wiles of the devil” Eph 6:16, buffeting 2 Cor 12:7, shooting of fiery darts Eph 6:16, and beguiling (2 Cor 11:3).
(4) Then there are the exhortations to arm ourselves against him and to resist him. “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Eph 6:11); “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about” (1 Pet 5:8); “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
You should know, and be prepared for the fact, that the moment you are inclined to repent and begin to turn to Jesus, even if it is but from afar, the devil will exert himself with a vengeance to use all his wiles and wickedness to prevent this. If he cannot prevent this, he will endeavor to torment and trouble you, and thus keep you from living a holy and joyful life. Therefore, from your side you are also to exert yourself fully. Gird yourself with strength and resist him courageously.
It is needful for you to be acquainted with his devices and operations, so that you will be the less offended and be engaged in battle with all the more valor. We shall therefore present several of his common methods to you. He generally presents himself in a threefold manner: as an angel of light, as a devil, or by concealing himself—thus creating the illusion that we ourselves are involved. It is his latter guise which is most injurious.
Satan as an Angel of Light
That he occasionally approaches us as an angel of light is taught by the apostle: “Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light” (2 Cor 11:14). This is not truly the case, but it appears to be so in respect to his operations, for he often approaches the godly under the lovely pretense of godliness.
(1) Sometimes he brings to your attention matters which are good in and of themselves, such as a sweet passage of Scripture, or some sweet experiences and motions of the past; and he will endeavor to cause you to reflect upon them. He does so with evil intentions, however, and at an inappropriate time. He does this, for instance, when we are engaged in a specific matter, or if he knows that whatever will be preached will be most beneficial to us. He does this to short-circuit the earnestness with which we are engaged at that moment and to cause us to desist, as the preached Word will then pass us by unnoticed. Having thus been diverted, we shall miss certain things and will come away empty.
(2) He can make use of the fact that someone, whom he cannot mislead in any other way, is very intent on being virtuous. Yes, he may even stir someone up to this (even though a love for holiness proceeds from the heart of the godly person himself). His objective, however, is to render this person unwilling to be subject to God’s dispensation, and cause him to strive continually for greater and loftier things, thereby making him sorrowful, discouraged, and unbelieving, or inducing him to pride.
(3) He may even encourage someone to be virtuous—yes, to the most careful observation of his thoughts, words, and deeds. However, he does so in order to draw him away, so that he might be involved in things which are external to his calling or station in life. Under a sweet pretense, he will even allure him to things which are contrary to the commandment of God (which is nothing but fanaticism), the person thinking that all that comes to mind is from God. There are then no limits to what he can entice a man. He may also cause one’s conscience to be very sensitive, so that a person perceives himself as offending in everything he does, causing him to go his way in much spiritual anxiety. Or he may cause him to see how far he falls short and thus cause him to disown his spiritual state, holding before him that such a life cannot coexist with grace.
(4) He may also stir someone up to be virtuous for the purpose of making him satisfied with the activity itself, keeping him from Christ and the seeking and exercise of justifying faith. Thus, he will subtly rob him of his comfort and that genuine sanctification which flows out of justification—and if someone is not born again, will keep him out of heaven. These matters everyone must keep in mind in order not to be deceived by Satan.