When the corruptions of the flesh, like an armed host, invade
the soul, they aim first at the capital city, which is Faith.
Success there would ensure possession of the whole land.
It is ever Satan's aim to debase the heart and conscience of
the children of God. Their heart should be filled with Christ;
their conscience ruled by His word and ways. Satan would entice
away the heart from Christ, and set up in the conscience a standard
inferior to that of Christ's example. Oh that the saints were
not ignorant of Satan's devices, but willing to pluck out the
right eye, to cut off hand or foot, rather than give place at
all to the adversary.
Let our affections be resting in Christ, and engrossed with Him;
then will all saints be dear to us in Him, because they are one
with Him, and we shall please Him concerning them. To prevent
our attaining to this grace, or to spoil us of it, is the aim
of the powers of darkness that war against us.
It is only as we have rest in Christ, only as we have peace through
faith in His atoning blood, only as we have the purged conscience,
with the heart's affections set upon Christ, that we have any
strength to war against our spiritual enemies: it is whilst we
are fighting against them, that strength is given equal to the
need, and we experience the precious sympathy of the Captain
of our salvation. "Put on the whole armour of God." (Eph. 6:10-19.)
David put away the armour of Saul, and went against Goliath with
nothing save the weapons of weakness.