Spiritual Warfare

Why You Struggle in Prayer – Oswald Chambers

If we are struggling in prayer it is because the wiles of the enemy are getting the upper hand, and we must look for the cause in our lack of discipline. There are some things we have not been strenuously practicing. We used to pray in the morning, do we now? We used to commune with God over the Bible, do we now? We used to be in contact with God wherever we went, are we now? Put on the whole armor of God and continuously practice, then the wiles of the devil cannot get you unaware.

– Oswald Chambers –
from If You Will Ask, 30

No Combat, No Victory – Richard Sibbes

There can be no victory where there is no combat. The victory lieth not upon us but upon Christ, who hath taken upon him, as to conquer for us, so to conquer in us. Let us not look so much who are our enemies, as who is our Judge and Captain; not what they threaten, but what He promiseth.

– Richard Sibbes –

Pray Often – John Bunyan

Pray often, for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan.

– John Bunyan –

What Makes The Devil Tremble – Samuel Chadwick

The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray

– Samuel Chadwick – 

If Armed – William Gurnall

As [there is] no standing without armor, so [there is] no fear of falling into the fiend’s hands if armed.

– William Gurnall –

Guard Against Flattery – JC Ryle

It becomes all professing Christians to be much on their guard against flattery. We mistake greatly if we suppose that persecution and hard usage are the only weapons in Satan’s armory. That crafty foe has other engines for doing us mischief, which he knows well who to work. He knows how to poison souls by the world’s seductive kindness, when he cannot frighten them by the fiery dart and the sword. Let us not be ignorant of his devices. By peace he destroys many.

– JC Ryle –
from Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, 1856

Give Me 100 Preachers – John Wesley

Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven on Earth.

– John Wesley –