Required reading
A treatise on Satan's temptations by Richard Gilpin (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 9 of Part 2.
My summary
This week Gilpin continues to explore the various ways by which Satan undermines the people of God.
Today Gilpin teaches us about the fourth way that Satan molests the people of God: spiritual distress.
At the beginning of the reading, Gilpin himself gives a good chapter summary:
'The last sort of troubles by which Satan overthrows the peace of the soul, are spiritual distresses. These are more grievous agonies of soul, under deepest apprehensions of divine wrath, and dreadful fears of everlasting damnation, differing in nature and degree from the former sorts of troubles ; though in these Satan observes much-what the same general method which he used in spiritual troubles last mentioned. For which cause, and also that these are not so common as the other, I shall speak of them with greater brevity. Herein I shall shew— 1. Their nature ; 2. Satan's method in working them : 3. Their weight and burden. '
What grabbed me
I appreciated Gilpin's encouragement at the end of the section: 'Let none he afraid of this Goliath, let no man's heart faint because of him. A fear of caution and diligence to avoid his snares is a necessary duty — ' Be sober, be vigilant ; because your adversary the devil,' &c., [1 Pet. v. 8] — but a discouraging, distrustful fear is a dishonourable reflection upon God's power and promises to help us, and upon the captain of our salvation, who goeth out before us. Let us hold on in the practice of holiness, and not be afraid. ' The God of peace shall tread down Satan under our feet shortly,' [Rom. xvi. 20.] Amen.'
Satan is indeed powerful. So be alert.
But God is far more powerful. So be not afraid.
Next week's reading
Read Chapters 1, 2 and 3 of Part 3.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
No comments:
Post a Comment