36. Satan Among The Saints.

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. - Job 1:6.

IT is idle to enquire what day this was — Perhaps it was a special Sabbath kept both in earth and heaven, a day of solemn convocation. In the earliest ages the godly gathered together for worship, with the Lord as their center. Both in heaven and earth they so gather: the communion of saints is one. Alas, how soon the evil entered among the righteous! There is no need that the devil should have been in heaven as a place; but looking down from his throne the Lord saw Satan mingling with those who worshipped him; and he had a word for him. In a rightly-ordered congregation even the wicked have their portion.

From Satan's presence among the sons of God we learn:

I. THAT THE MERE ASSEMBLING OF OURSELVES WITH GOD'S PEOPLE IS OF NO VALUE.

l. Very clearly, it is not acceptable worship to God: for nothing that Satan does can be accepted. His presence among the sons of God is presumption, and not reverence. >2. It is not beneficial to the person's own self; for the fallen spirit remained a devil, and acted like one, even in the presence of God. We must come to the Lord by faith, or our worship is dead and unprofitable.

3. It may be the occasion of more sin; for in the assembly Satan belied Job, and plotted his destruction.

From this we learn:

II. THAT THE BEST ASSEMBLIES ARE NOT FREE FROM EVIL ONES.

1. This should make us continue to meet with the saints even though we know of some in the assembly who are false to their profession. Should the sons of God cease to meet because Satan may come among them?

2. This should cause great heart-searching and the prompt inquiry, "Lord, is it I?" Out of twelve apostles one was a devil, and he was with the Lord at his farewell passover.

3. This should make us watchful even while we are praying.

4. This should make ministers faithful, so that the devil may not be at home in the congregation, but may be annoyed by the truth which he hates.

5. This should make us long for the perfect assembly above where there will be no mixture, but a sinless congregation.

III. THAT SATAN MAY ASSEMBLE WITH THE SONS OF GOD.

1. To do mischief to saints:

· By accusing them before the Lord, even in their holy things.

· By calling off their thoughts from heavenly concerns, and making them heavy of heart and distracted with care.

· By setting them to criticize instead of hearing to profit.

· By sowing dissensions even in their holy service.

· By exciting pride in preachers, in singers, in those who publicly pray, and in those who give. This is shown in different persons in their style, their tone, their dress, etc.

· By cooling down their ardor, abating their love, chilling their praise, freezing their prayer, and, in general, killing their seal and joy.

2. To do mischief to unconverted hearers:

· By distracting attention from saving truth.

· By raising doubts; by suggesting skeptical ideas, raising dark questions, and putting the man before the Master.

· By suggesting delay to those who may be impressed.

· By quenching prayer, hindering enjoyment, preventing profit, deadening feeling, and robbing God of glory.

· By taking away the word which had been sown; as birds peck up the seed scattered on the highway.

IV. THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO BE ALL THE MORE SATANIC FOR ASSEMBLING WITH THE SONS OF GOD.

Satan showed the cloven foot in that sacred gathering more than ever.

1. He was brazenly impudent with his Maker.

2. He railed at God's people, even at one of the best of them, whom the Lord himself called "perfect?"

3. He resolved to tempt him, to torture him, and to lead him into rebellion against God, if he could.

o The devil is here at this moment.

o Let us not yield to his suggestions.

o Let us cry to the Lord at once, and trust in the Lord Jesus, who can preserve us from the evil one, even when he is present.