Section 3: Third Device

Satan’s Devices to Keep Souls from Holy Duties,

To Hinder Souls in Holy Services,

& to Keep Them Off from Religious Performances

Third Device – Satan will present to the soul the difficulty of performing these duties.  He will tell you that it is hard to pray as you should, and to wait on God as you should and to walk with God as you should, and to be lively, warm and active in the communion of the saints as you should.  Doubtless, this device has kept thousands from waiting on God and from giving him the service that is due his name.  

First Remedy - To dwell more on the necessity of the service and duty than on its difficulties.  Instead of listening to Satan, preach to yourself!  Remind yourself that though these services are difficult they are necessary for the honor of God and the magnification of his name in the world.  They are useful in overcoming sin, strengthening weak graces, keeping clear the evidences of regeneration, scattering your fears and raising your hopes.  By such services we gladden the hearts of the righteous and silence the tongues of the unrighteous who look for every opportunity to blaspheme the name of God and besmirch His people.  Never think about the difficulties without thinking about the necessities and your soul will be lifted up above every trouble that attends religious duties.  

Second Remedy – Remember that the Lord Jesus will make such difficulties easy as he draws you to himself while you are in his service.  If meeting with God who is goodness itself, beauty itself, strength itself,  and glory itself will not sweeten your service to him, nothing in heaven and earth will.  When Jacob met with Rachel, it made his service to Laban seem easy in comparison (Genesis 29:20).  We can be sure that the Lord will assist us by His grace to make service joyous rather than grievous.  This is what gave Nehemiah confidence and raised his spirit above all the difficulties that accompanied his service to the Lord (Nehemiah 2:19-20).  While you are serving the Lord, you will find that the God of Heaven will prosper you, support you, encourage and strengthen you and carry you through the most difficult service with joy and gladness.  Remember that God will give you strength suitable to the task and when the service is most difficult you will receive the greatest assistance.  

Third Remedy - To dwell upon the difficulties that the Lord Jesus passed through for your temporal, spiritual and eternal good.  Christ did not complain that the cross was too heavy to bear; the wrath too great to endure; the cup  too bitter to drink.  Not once did Christ complain about the difficulty of the service!  Rather than plead the difficulty he sweetly and triumphantly passed through it all.  If this consideration does not move you past your discouragements then nothing will.  A soul not stirred by this, not raised up by this to be resolute in its service is a soul given up by God to much blindness and hardness.  

Fourth Remedy – Consider that religious duties and heavenly exercises are only difficult to the base and carnal part of a saint.  Here is the battle between the flesh and the Spirit! Paul describes this conflict in Romans 7:22, “For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.” To the higher part of man, Christ’s yoke is easy and his burden is light (Mt. 11:30).  We are always at our best when we see the most of God, when we taste the most of God and when we find our greatest delight in serving Him.  Our prayer is that it would always be that way! Oh that our strength would not fail and our flesh would not falter and that we would work in tireless power toward that service to God that will give us the greatest pleasure. 

Fifth Remedy – consider that a great and glorious reward is given to those that cling to the service of the Lord in the face of all difficulties and discouragements.  One hour in heaven will abundantly repay you for clinging to the Lord in the face of all difficulties (Heb. 12:2).  If we would persevere we must look more to the crown than the cross, more to future glory than present misery, more upon holy encouragements than discouragements. In the same way that heat accompanies fire, there is always some degree of comfort that follows every good action (Psalm 19:11).