It is a fiercely contested conflict.  Satan is a trained strategist, and an obstinate fighter.  He refuses to acknowledge defeat until he must.  It is the fight of his life.  Strange as it must seem, and perhaps absurd, he apparently hopes to succeed.  If we knew all, it might seem less strange and absurd, because of the factors on his side.  There is surely much down in the world of the sort which we can fully appreciate to give colour to his expectations.  Prayer is insisting upon Jesus’ victory, and the retreat of the enemy on each particular spot, and heart and problem concerned.

The enemy yields only what he must.  He yields only what is taken.  Therefore the ground must be taken step by step.  Prayer must be definite.  He yields only when he must.  Therefore the prayer must be persistent.  He continually renews his attacks, therefore the ground taken must be held against him in the Victor’s name.  This helps to understand why prayer must be persisted in after we have full assurance of the result, and even after some immediate results have come, or, after the general results have commenced coming.

Giving God a Fresh Footing.

The Victor’s best ally in this conflict is the man, who while he remains down on the battle-field, puts his life in full touch with his Saviour-Victor, and then incessantly, insistently, believingly claims victory in Jesus’ name.  He is the one foe among men whom Satan cannot withstand.  He is projecting an irresistible spirit force into the spirit realm.  Satan is obliged to yield.  We are so accustomed through history’s long record to seeing victories won through force, physical force, alone, that it is difficult for us to realize that moral force defeats as the other never can.  Witness the demons in the gospels, and in modern days in China,[2] clearly against their own set purpose, notwithstanding intensest struggle on their part obliged to admit defeat, and even to ask favours of their Conqueror.  The records of personal Christian service give fascinating instances of fierce opposition utterly subdued and individuals transformed through such influence.

Had we eyes to see spirit beings and spirit conflicts we would constantly see the enemy’s defeat in numberless instances through the persistent praying of some one allied to Jesus in the spirit of his life.  Every time such a man prays it is a waving of the red-dyed flag of Jesus Christ above Satan’s head in the spirit world.  Every such man who freely gives himself over to God, and gives himself up to prayer is giving God a new spot in the contested territory on which to erect His banner of victory.

The Japanese struggled for weeks to get a footing on the Port Arthur peninsula, even after the naval victories had practically rendered Russia helpless on the seas.  It was an unusual spectacle to witness such difficulty in getting a landing after such victories.  But with the bulldog tenacity that has marked her fighting Japan fought for a footing.  Nothing could be done till a footing was gotten.