The third realm of his kingship is terrestrial; in this he is given a stronger title than prince or king; “The god of this world.” Besides, he is the “prince of darkness,” and the “prince of this world.” So real are his presence and power manifested here that Paul declares the contest is like a wrestling boute. This figure, examined closely, will open up a great continent of truth concerning our enemy, of whom we must meet in hand to hand conflict. See the wrestlers writhe and strain; agony is depicted on their faces; the muscles contract into hard knots, perspiration bursting from every pore. All the strength of every nerve and muscle, wrought up to their full capacity, is exerted. “We wrestle,” he declares, and not with flesh and blood; but “against principalities and against powers,” “rulers of the darkness of this world.”
The great religious reformers since Paul’s day have left a similar testimony concerning this terrestrial enemy; his personality has never been questioned by men who were positive powers in the realm of spiritual warfare. After Martin Luther had produced a nation-wide reformation, having been delivered from the bondage of a Benedictine monk by a revelation to his own soul that the “just shall live by faith,” he declared: “Satan semper mehi dixit falsum dogma.” Shall we deny the oft told story that Luther threw his inkstand at them (demons) when they actually appeared unto him in person? Is it unreasonable? They were alarmed at his triumphs, and wanted to terrify him. The kingship of Satan in the under world and upper world are Bible statements; his kingship in the world about us is a Bible fact confirmed by human testimony.
XXIV
THE DEVIL’S HANDMAIDEN
“Be not drunk on wine wherein is excess, but be ye filled with the Spirit.”—Ephesians v. 18.
“No drunkard shall inherit the kingdom of God.”—1 Corinthians vi. 10.
The fallen Lucifer knew from the beginning that his work must necessarily be in competition with the Son of God; therefore he has invested his genius to originate a duplicate for all that Christ has done for us. Knowing that the letter killeth, but the spirit maketh alive, he seeks to furnish all the appearances, and as far as possible duplicate experiences: Reformation without repentance; conviction without conversion; conversion without regeneration; membership without adoption; baptism with water without the baptism of the Holy Ghost; physical and emotional pleasure without the “joy of salvation.”
The prophet Isaiah exhorts the people to say: “Praise the Lord,” and, “with joy draw water out of the wells of salvation,” and, “Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion, etc.” The Psalmist, also, gives out a continuous stream of joyous praise. In all ages people have at sundry times and places shouted out the joy of the Lord. This emotional expression is by no means the only test of experimental salvation, as nothing honours God so much as simple, unemotional faith; but there are times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. This contrast of emotional experience we wish to examine.