Satanic Hindrances is the title of a little book written by Charles Haddon Spurgeon. In fact he wrote a surprising amount of material covering Spiritual Warfare. His book Prayer & Spiritual Warfare is actually six books in one volume.
It shouldn’t be surprising he wrote so much on this subject. Spurgeon was so effective; he was bound to draw attention from the powers and principalities mentioned in Ephesians 6:11-12. And he did. Spurgeon was constantly under attack in some form or other. No wonder he coveted prayer so much.
Not long ago, I wandered into the church bookstore just before the service. I saw a copy of Spurgeon’s “Satanic Hindrances” and thought about getting it. Then I suspected it might be contained in that six-in-one volume I own (it is).
A few minutes later I forgot all about “Satanic Hindrances.”
Soon I was singing hymns (or trying) along with the congregation. I say trying – one of many faults I own is my fickle attention span. I have been resolving to focus on each verse and word. After all, if singing hymns ought to be part of our Doxology, what does it say about my inconsistent attention?
Yet this time, as I was trying to sing along with the others, my mind became besieged by practically every personal concern and worry I’ve had over the last few years. One by one they flooded in – and absolutely overwhelmed me. I had to stop singing and whisper a quick ejaculatory prayer. That sudden feeling of panic then stopped.
What had just happened? Well you’ve probably worked it out already. But it’s a testament to how sharp I am that the penny didn’t drop till much later – satanic hindrances.
I’ve written about Spiritual Warfare before.
This is an important topic which I feel isn’t soberly addressed as frequently as it ought to be. Unfortunately, too often, ministries who do so can be sensationalistic and theologically problematic. There’s a chasm of difference between finding demons in closets and under beds, to acknowledging the reality that Christians reside in enemy territory and that Spiritual Warfare happens on a daily basis.
One person who recognizes this and doesn’t sensationalize is Chip Ingram. See my review of his book HERE. Ingram seems to have experienced at least two types of hindrances to his ministry – those which affected equipment, and those which attacked him personally.
Regarding the latter, he recounts the time when he started his “perfect day.” Everything was fine until about an hour before he was scheduled to teach. Suddenly he was overwhelmed by sinister thoughts: He didn’t want to live anymore; he didn’t want to teach his curriculum; he was “a terrible person” and he didn’t want to be the president of Walk Thru the Bible.
What was going on?
It turns out the subject matter he was scheduled to teach on that day was Spiritual Warfare. So he was encroaching on the enemy’s territory. Prayer delivered him from the attack. This is an important thing to note. In his book, Ingram identifies five particular occasions when Christians may come under satanic attack:
1) During spiritual growth
2) When invading enemy territory
3) When exposing the enemy
4) When one is breaking away from the world
5) When God is preparing an individual or corporation for a great work
From my personal experience, it has sometimes occurred when trying to pray, worship, and read the Bible or devotionals. These attacks have involved irrational thoughts, and concerns I hadn’t contemplated in years.
Even so, Spurgeon cautions that not all trials originate from the devil. Sometimes God sends them for our correction and spiritual growth. For example he notes that God may providentially hinder someone from growing rich, for their own benefit.
How can we tell whether a hindrance is from God or Satan? In “Satanic Hindrances” Spurgeon directs us to look at its purpose:
Satan’s object in hindering us is to prevent our glorifying God. If anything has happened to you that has prevented your growing holy, useful, humble, and sanctified, then you may trace that to Satan. If the distinct object of the interference to the general current of your life has been that you may turn from righteousness to sin, then from the objective you may guess the author. It is not God who does this, but Satan. (Emphasis mine)
It follows that if you’re in prayer and harmful thoughts intrude into your mind, then it is Satan. Likewise if someone sets out do the “Master’s will but a cowardly thought assails” them, then the devil is its author. Yet Spurgeon offers words of encouragement: When Satan hinders, this opposition should cheer us. We are doing something right.
There isn’t enough space to dive into all of Spurgeon’s remedies for Satanic Hindrances. Suffice to say that I recommend the six-in-one volume. As the title Prayer & Spiritual Warfare implies; prayer should be one’s first resort.
Christians are ambassadors and soldiers in a strange land. The god of this world has us in his sights. Yet Spurgeon also reminds us of James 4:7, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” We are to daily put on the Armor of God and stand. See Ephesians 6:10-20.
You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4 (See also 1 John 5:4-5; Romans 8:38-39)
Maranatha!
Further reading: Nine Ways to Pray like Charles Spurgeon
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