Chapter 249—Angel Reinforcements
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and
over all the power of the enemy.
Luke 10:19
.
Fallen man is Satan’s lawful captive. The mission of Christ was to rescue
him from the power of his great adversary. Man is naturally inclined to
follow Satan’s suggestions, and he cannot successfully resist so terrible a
foe unless Christ, the mighty Conqueror, dwells in him, guiding his desires,
and giving him strength. God alone can limit the power of Satan.... Satan
knows better than God’s people the power that they can have over him when
their strength is in Christ. When they humbly entreat the mighty Conqueror
for help, the weakest believer in the truth, relying firmly upon Christ, can
successfully repulse Satan and all his host....
Satan will call to his aid legions of his angels to oppose the advance of
even one soul, and, if possible, wrest it from the hand of Christ.... But if
the one in danger perseveres, and in his helplessness casts himself upon the
merits of the blood of Christ, our Saviour listens to the earnest prayer of faith,
and sends a reinforcement of those angels that excel in strength to deliver
him. Satan cannot endure to have his powerful rival appealed to, for he fears
and trembles before His strength and majesty. At the sound of fervent prayer,
Satan’s whole host trembles.
Nothing but Christ’s loving compassion, His divine grace, His almighty
power, can enable us to baffle the relentless foe, and subdue the opposition
of our own hearts. What is our strength? The joy of the Lord. Let the love of
Christ fill our hearts, and then we shall be prepared to receive the power that
He has for us....
Beholding Christ for the purpose of becoming like Him, the seeker after
truth sees the perfection of the principles of God’s law, and he becomes
dissatisfied with everything but perfection.... A battle must be fought with
the attributes that Satan has been strengthening for his own use.... But he
knows that with the Redeemer there is saving power that will gain for him
the victory in the conflict. The Saviour will strengthen and help him as he
comes pleading for grace and efficiency.
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