From the January-April 2011 Issue
A defeated and chained enemy
Evangelos and Georgia Sikoutris
Evangelos distributing tracts“Now is the judgment of this world. Now the ruler (‘prince’ in the Greek) of this world will be cast out. And if I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all peoples to myself… Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years” (John 12:31, 32, Revelation 20:1,2).
Speaking about difficulties, frustrations and opposition from our adversary, Satan, we often forget a vital and very encouraging fact. Namely, that our adversary in our daily life and especially in the gospel work, is defeated and bound already. Regardless of what interpretation you may give to the above passages, the fact is that although “Satan our adversary walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8), he is nevertheless under divine control and on a chain, even if a long one. The greatest proof of this is that the Church of Christ is built up by His grace and power and the gates of hell have not prevailed against her. The following examples in our gospel work and the establishing of our church here, and I am sure in your work too, prove this great truth. Praise God!
In an elevator
In our gospel work here we mainly do door-to-door visitation, in most cases in big blocks of flats with five or six floors, so we have to use the elevator. I remember on at least three occasions the elevator stopped between two floors and I had to wait inside this little cell for nearly half an hour, for the firemen to come and rescue me. Thank God the enemy was on a chain. Apart from some delay, I was able to continue communicating the gospel, at least to those who heard me ringing the emergency bell.
At court
On another occasion years ago, I received a notice from the local court, to appear in two weeks’ time before the local magistrate. One of our neighbours beside our meeting place, a very fanatically religious one, was trying to hinder or stop our meetings by using false accusations through her lawyer. I had no other choice than to appeal to the highest court at the Throne of Grace. The day came, I appeared in the court and the magistrate looked around, then at me and said. “You will have to come again in three months’ time, because today the lawyers are on strike.” I thanked God again, because the enemy was under His control and on a chain. So we continued our meetings and had plenty of time to find another better place to move to, which meant there was no reason for me to appear again in the court.
In an earthquake
On yet another occasion, I was on the fifth floor of a big block of flats, knocking people’s doors. All of a sudden the whole building started shaking terribly because of a strong earthquake. Closed doors opened and people appeared at their doors screaming loudly in panic, as terrible noises and cracks appeared on the walls. Praise God in His mercy, a few minutes later, apart from the people’s terror, no very serious damage or injuries had occurred. So I had a very good opportunity to continue sharing the gospel and give a copy of the New Testament to a lady who asked for it. The enemy was chained.
A fierce dog
Last but not least, one day recently, I tried to visit one of the subscribers to our paper Times of Refreshing. He was a young man who lived in a small caravan on a plot of land without any fence, on the outskirts of our city. As I approached the place I noticed under a tree and on a chain a big dog. So I walked in the other direction calling the man’s name. All of a sudden, I heard a voice shouting: “Mind the dog”. At the same time I looked in the other direction and saw another big animal, a wolf-hound, running towards me. I turned and ran back towards the exit. The ground was slippery and after a few steps I fell, expecting to feel the teeth of the animal in my flesh. But thank God nothing happened, although the animal was very near me. Later the young man told me that I was saved from the animal’s teeth just by a few centimetres, because it was on a chain, a long chain (about ten metres), but nevertheless on a chain. So I did my duty and left the place, thanking God and with only a small injury to my right arm.
St. Augustine said, “The devil is like a mad dog that is chained up. He is powerless to harm us when we are outside his reach, but once we enter his circle we expose ourselves again to injury or harm”. Let us then in the Lord’s strength joyfully and more prayerfully go out with the good tidings, “while it is day, for the night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4). The enemy is defeated and under control and the Lord’s glorious purposes will be fulfilled. Praise His name!