Satan and the Saints
Satan persecutes believers through various means, often disguising himself in various forms and hiding behind the scenes, causing physical and spiritual suffering.
Watchman Nee emphasizes the subtle and deceptive ways in which Satan persecutes believers, often disguising himself and working through people and circumstances to create suffering and confusion. He highlights that many believers fail to recognize the true source of their struggles, attributing them to natural causes or human actions rather than the manipulations of the devil. Nee warns that Satan's tactics include causing physical ailments, emotional distress, and spiritual confusion, all while remaining hidden behind the scenes. The sermon calls for awareness among believers to discern the spiritual warfare they are engaged in and to understand that their true enemy is not flesh and blood but the devil himself. Ultimately, Nee encourages believers to seek God's strength and protection against these unseen attacks.
Text
As the opponent persecuted the widow, so the devil now persecutes the believers. We do not know how much we have suffered under him. Of course, Satan does not appear personally when he persecutes us; rather, he does all his works through men or things; he will never expose himself. He pushes the world to the foreground, while behind the scenes he is secretly directing everything. As he worked the first time in the form of a serpent, in the same way, in all of his subsequent work he comes in a disguised form.
It is because he hides himself in this way that God's children misjudge the enemy, not realizing that he is their real opponent. He causes the believers to be physically weak or to suffer pain and sickness (Acts 10:38). The believers may think that they have violated some law of hygiene or that they are exhausted, without realizing that it has been the devil's manipulation all the while! Alas, countless numbers of believers have suffered at the hand of the devil in this way.
Sometimes he will persecute the believers through the world (Rev. 2:10), attacking them through their immediate family, relatives, or the society. The believers may think that it is man who is hating the Lord, without realizing that it is the devil who is stirring up everything behind the scenes. Sometimes he works through the environment, causing the believers to encounter dangers. Sometimes he spreads misunderstandings among believers, separating the dearest of friends from one another and bringing them to tears.
Sometimes he cuts off the supply to the believers, bringing upon them all kinds of deprivation, even starvation. Sometimes he will cause the believers to be depressed, restless, and aimless. Sometimes he causes the believers to become lost and indecisive, losing control of themselves. Sometimes he puts an inexplicable fear within the heart of the believers. Sometimes he exhausts the believers through their affairs and work. Sometimes he takes away the believers' sleep, causing them to be tired physically and mentally.
Sometimes he puts unclean thoughts in the believers' minds or injects confused thoughts into their brains, stripping them of any defense. Sometimes he disguises himself in the form of an angel of light, deceiving the believers and leading them into the wrong way. To exhaust his workings is beyond the scope of what we can do here. In conclusion, everything that causes the believers to suffer, whether physically or spiritually, and everything that causes the believers to sin or suffer loss is a wile of the devil.
But although many children of God are taken advantage of by Satan, most do not realize that it is the working of Satan. Sometimes they think that what happens is natural and accidental or that it is something done by man. Little do they know that behind many natural phenomena, there exist many supernatural things. Behind many so-called accidents, there is much scheming. Within many dealings from men, we can see the plots of Satan.
Sermon Outline
- I. Satan's Methods of Persecution
- A. Using men and things to persecute believers
- B. Disguising himself in various forms
- C. Hiding behind the scenes
- II. Physical and Spiritual Suffering
- A. Causing physical weakness and pain
- B. Causing spiritual suffering through depression, fear, and confusion
- III. Satan's Tactics
- A. Persecuting through the world, family, and society
- B. Spreading misunderstandings and separating friends
- C. Cutting off supply and causing deprivation
- IV. Satan's Deception
- A. Disguising himself as an angel of light
- B. Deceiving believers and leading them astray
Key Quotes
“He pushes the world to the foreground, while behind the scenes he is secretly directing everything.” — Watchman Nee
“It is because he hides himself in this way that God's children misjudge the enemy, not realizing that he is their real opponent.” — Watchman Nee
“Sometimes he will persecute the believers through the world (Rev. 2:10), attacking them through their immediate family, relatives, or the society.” — Watchman Nee
Application Points
- Believers should be aware of Satan's tactics and methods of persecution, allowing them to better resist his attacks.
- Satan often disguises himself in various forms, making it difficult for believers to realize he is their real opponent.
- Believers should seek to understand Satan's methods and be vigilant in their resistance to his attacks.