"On Earth is not his equal".

[Lucifer, by Guillaume Geefs (Cathedral of St. Paul, Liège, Belgium)]

At the end of a church service a few years back, the worship band had us all stand, and sing "A Mighty Fortress is Our God". However, since time was short we sang only the first verse.
So with fervent voices being lifted to the Lord and singing from our hearts, our last words in the service that day were: His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal".
And then we were dismissed.

We all had a laugh about it later. And we realized when the church sings this particular hymn, we must sing each and every verse, which Luther so masterfully put together, for it to have the impact on our souls as it does; and this is a most powerful hymn for the Christians soul.

However, the devil truly doesn't have an equal here on earth, and we always need to remember this. Here are some words from JC Ryle to take to heart:

"Let us take heed that we are not "ignorant of Satan's devices." He is still going to and fro in the earth, seeking whom he may devour. He is about our path, and about our bed, and spies out all our ways. Our only safety lies in resisting him at the first, and not listening to his advances. For this we are all responsible. Strong as he is, he has no power to do us harm, if we cry to the stronger One in heaven, and use the means which He has appointed. It is a standing principle of Christianity, and will ever be found true. "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James iv.7.)

Once let a man begin tampering with the devil, and he never knows how far he may fall. Trifling with the first thoughts of sin,--making light of evil ideas when first offered to our hearts,--allowing Satan to talk to us, and flatter us, and put bad notions in our hearts,--all this may seem a small matter to many. It is precisely at this point that the road to ruin often begins. He that allows Satan to sow wicked thoughts will soon find within his heart a crop of wicked habits. Happy is he who really believes that there is a devil, and believing, watches and prays daily that he may be kept from his temptations."

"Lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power,
And the glory, Forever and ever. Amen"


"A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever." -Martin Luther