--- On Wed, 12/22/10, Lynn
MacDonald <lynn2852@telus.net
> wrote:
From: Lynn MacDonald <lynn2852@telus.net>
Subject: [AdventistHotIssues] great words of
encouragement for temptations.................
To: AdventistHotIssues@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, December 22, 2010, 5:39 PM
Forum Family,
The Desire of Ages chapter
"The Temptation" is packed full of wise counsel that uplifts us at
our lowest points!:
Page 120
"It was in the time of
greatest weakness that Christ was assailed by the fiercest temptations. Thus
Satan thought to prevail. By this policy he had gained the victory over men.
When strength failed, and the will power weakened, and faith ceased to repose
in God, then those who had stood long and valiantly for the right were
overcome. Moses was wearied with the forty years' wandering of Israel, when
for the moment his faith let go its hold upon infinite power. He failed just
upon the borders of the Promised Land. So with Elijah, who had stood
undaunted before King Ahab, who had faced the whole nation of Israel, with
the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal at their head. After that
terrible day upon Carmel, when the false prophets had been slain, and the
people had declared their allegiance to God, Elijah fled for his life before
the threats of the idolatrous Jezebel. Thus Satan has taken advantage of
the weakness of humanity. And he will still work in the same way. Whenever one is encompassed with clouds, perplexed by
circumstances, or afflicted by poverty or distress, Satan is at hand to tempt
and annoy. He attacks our weak points of character. He seeks to shake our confidence in God, who suffers such a condition of
things to exist. We are tempted to distrust God, to question His
love. Often the tempter comes to us as he came to Christ, arraying before us
our weakness and infirmities. He hopes to discourage the soul, and to break our
hold on God. Then he is sure of his prey. If we would meet him as Jesus did, we
should escape many a defeat. By parleying with the enemy, we give him an
advantage."
Page 121-22
" 'Man shall not live by bread
alone, but by every word of God.' " Often the follower of Christ is
brought where he cannot serve God and carry forward his worldly enterprises.
Perhaps it appears that obedience to some plain requirement of God will cut
off his means of support. Satan would make him believe that he must sacrifice
his conscientious convictions. But the only thing in our world upon which we
can rely is the word of God. 'Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His
righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.' Matt.6:33. Even in this life it is not for our good to
depart from the will of our Father in heaven. When we learn the power of His
word, we shall not follow the suggestions of Satan in order to obtain food or
to save our lives. Our only questions will be, What is God's command? and
what His promise? Knowing these, we shall obey the one, and trust the other.
In the last great conflict of the controversy with
Satan those who are loyal to God will see every earthly support cut off.
Because they refuse to break His law in obedience to earthly powers, they
will be forbidden to buy or sell. It will finally be decreed that they shall
be put to death. See Rev. 13:11-17. But to the obedient is given the promise, 'He shall dwell on high: his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be
given him; his waters shall be sure.' Isa.33:16. By
this promise the children of God will live. When the earth
shall be wasted with famine, they shall be fed. 'They shall not be ashamed in
the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.' Psalms
37:19. To that time of distress the prophet Habakkuk looked forward, and his
words express the faith of the church: 'Although the fig tree shall not
blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall
fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the
fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in the
Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.' Hab. 3:17,18.
Of all the
lessons to be learned from our Lord's first great temptation none is more
important than that bearing upon the control of the appetites and passions. In all
ages, temptations appealing to the physical nature have been most effectual
in corrupting and degrading mankind. Through intemperance, Satan works to
destroy the mental and moral powers that God gave to man as a priceless
endowment. Thus it
becomes impossible for men to appreciate things of eternal worth. Through
sensual indulgence, Satan seeks to blot from the soul every trace of likeness
to God. The uncontrolled indulgence and consequent disease and degradation
that existed at Christ's first advent will again exist, with intensity of evil, before
His second coming."
Blessings to all,
Lynn
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