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Chapter 12
24-32 (
Matthew 9:34
;
Mark 3:22
;
Luke 11:15
). Eyes Closed
to Evidence
—They [the Pharisees] attributed to satanic agencies
the holy power of God, manifested in the works of Christ. Thus
the Pharisees sinned against the Holy Ghost. Stubborn, sullen,
ironhearted, they determined to close their eyes to all evidence, and
thus they committed the unpardonable sin (
The Review and Herald,
January 18, 1898
).
29, 30 (
Luke 11:21-23
). Stronger Than the Strong Man
—
“He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not
with me scattereth.” He who is with Christ, maintaining His unity,
enthroning Him in the heart, and obeying His orders, is safe from
the snares of the wicked one. He who unites himself with Christ
will gather to himself the graces of Christ, and will give strength
and efficiency and power to the Lord by winning souls to Christ.
When Christ takes possession of the citadel of the soul, the human
agent becomes one with Him. By cooperation with the Saviour, he
becomes the instrument through which God works. Then when Satan
comes and strives to take possession of the soul, he finds that Christ
has made him stronger than the strong man armed (
Manuscript 78,
1899
).
30
. See
EGW comment on Matthew 16:24
.
31, 32 (
Mark 3:28, 29
;
Luke 12:10
; see
EGW comment on
Exodus 4:21
). Firm, Determined Resistance of Truth
—Christ
was not warring against finite men, but against principalities and
powers, against spiritual wickedness in high places. He tells His
hearers that all manner of sin and blasphemy may be forgiven if
done in ignorance. In their great blindness they might speak words
of insult and derision against the Son of man, and yet be within the
boundary of mercy. But when the power and Spirit of God rested
upon His messengers, they were on holy ground. To ignore the Spirit
of God, to charge it with being the spirit of the devil, placed them in
41