Against Those Who Deny the Snares of Demons
February 20
(From a discourse of the Lemonarion about the warfare of demons with monks.)
By Archpriest Victor Guryev
February 20
(From a discourse of the Lemonarion about the warfare of demons with monks.)
By Archpriest Victor Guryev
People of this age often deny the existence of temptations from the devil. They are convinced that the devil has not the slightest influence over them, that he never troubles them, and that one should not believe in the devil’s snares. Are such people right or not? In my opinion, in one sense they are right, but in another — completely wrong. That the devil does not plot against them may indeed be so; but that he no longer wars against anyone is untrue; for there is a particular reason why he does not wage war precisely against them.
Abba Markellos once told the brethren the following. One night, when he rose for prayer, he suddenly heard the sound of a trumpet and a noise as though from military combat. The elder was troubled and perplexed: from where comes this trumpet blast and what battle can there be in the desert? While he was thinking about this, suddenly a demon appeared before him and cried out: “Why are you wondering? Truly there is battle here; but if you do not wish us to fight with you, then go and sleep, and we will not attack. We do not fight with the lazy; we deal only with those who fast and keep vigil in prayer. Only with them do we have war.”
You now see yourselves, brethren, why the devil does not trouble sinners. Why indeed should the devil wage war against those who are already in his power, and why should he care to maintain that power when they themselves do not even think of escaping it? No, brethren, such people are not his concern. He needs Jobs, long-suffering Johns, Anthonys, Marys of Egypt, Johns of Novgorod, Piméns, Makarioses, and those like them — not those who of themselves wish to be his most obedient servants.
It is the unshakable testimony of the Word of God that "the devil, like a roaring lion, walks about seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8); that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12). Let us remember this and, like soldiers, continually "put on the whole armor of God" (Ephesians 6:11) in case of the devil’s attack. Amen.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
