The Personal Devil

Arizona, 1907

"Hindrances of Satan" was the theme of Rev. Harold Govette of the Central Methodist church. His text was, "But Satan hindered us." 1 Thessalonians 2:18.

"There is no doubt about it," said Mr. Govette, "but what there is a personal devil. I believe this just as much as I believe there is a personal God. And I believe there is a personal God just as much as I believe that I myself exist. I believe that Satan is engaged and has been for some time in upsetting the affairs of God and man and in causing trouble generally. Some people say that if anything is of God it is bound to succeed, and Satan will not be able to hinder. But this is not according to God's word. For ever since he stirred up trouble in heaven, he has been trying to blast the designs of God and in every way thwart His plans.

"It was doubtless the purpose of God in the first place that our first parents should live together in a state of perpetual happiness, and that no sin, pain or sorrow should exist at all. But Satan hindered God in the promotion of happiness and caused man to sin and fall. However, God in wisdom and mercy counteracted the fall by the introduction of redemption through His Son Jesus Christ, and thus brought to pass through Christ what could not have been brought to pass if man had not fallen.

"Thus the desire and purpose of the apostle Paul to visit again the church at Thessalonica, to encourage and stimulate the faith of the brethren, were interfered with by Satan. And it was his hindrances which caused the apostle to pen the words of the text, 'Satan hindered us.' While Satan may hinder us in our endeavor to serve God and to our purpose to do good, yet if our faith in God and His promises be firm through the help that comes from God we shall finally succeed, and our faith will be the stronger and our hopes brighter and our spiritual life be much increased because of the hindrances met and overcome.

"Whenever God or man attempts anything worthwhile we may rest assured that Satan is going to throw some obstruction across our pathway. But the thing for the Christian to do when obstacles appear is not to look back but to seek strength from the strong arm of God and prepare to overcome. These hindrances should serve to strengthen us in our spiritual life, as the storm strengthens the fiber of the oak. Satan is strong, but God is stronger, and the cause of His Son will finally triumph, not only in Phoenix, but throughout the world."

The speaker here told of an incident where Mr. Finney, the professor of Oberlin, was once on his way to a certain city to help in a revival meeting, being conveyed by horse and buggy. He asked the driver if the horse was safe. He was assured that it was the old family horse and there was none safer, but Mr. Finney stated that he was much afraid Satan would get into the horse and hinder their progress. The driver laughed at such. However, before going far the horse took fright and it was with much difficulty and danger that they reached their destination. But on reaching the city in question God blessed the labors of Mr. Finney with great success, and almost the whole of its population was turned to Christ.

"My faith in God and my congregation is such that I am confident that such a thing as a landslide will not deter the progress of our meeting," said Mr. Govette in referring to the delay in the arrival of Rev. Dr. Bulgin, caused by a landslide.

At the close of the morning sermon there were two accessions and the pastor announced that the meetings would go ahead until the evangelists put in an appearance.

—The Arizona Republican, Phoenix, March 11, 1907, p. 4.