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How Balaam Led Israel into Sin
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indulged, where one is led to forget God and eternal interests, Satan
is there, binding his chains around that person.
How to Overcome Temptation
The heart must be renewed by divine grace. Whoever tries
to build up an honorable character without the grace of Christ is
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building a house on shifting sand. In the fierce storms of temptation
it will certainly come crashing down. David’s prayer should be the
cry of every person: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew
a steadfast spirit within me” (
Psalm 51:10
).
Yet we have a work to do to resist temptation. Those who would
not be overcome by Satan’s schemes must carefully guard the ways
into their soul—they must avoid reading, seeing, or hearing anything
that will suggest impure thoughts. This will require earnest prayer
and always being carefully alert. We must be helped by the abiding
influence of the Holy Spirit, which will attract the mind higher to
think on pure and holy things. “How can a young man cleanse his
way? By taking heed according to Your word.” “Your word,” says
the psalmist, “I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against
You” (
Psalm 119:9, 11
).
Israel’s sin at Beth Peor brought the judgments of God on the
nation. The same sins may not be punished as quickly now, but
nature has set terrible penalties, penalties that will come to every
transgressor sooner or later. These sins more than any other have
caused the fearful physical and moral decline of the human race and
the weight of disease and misery with which the world is cursed.
People may succeed in hiding their sin from others, but they will reap
the result in suffering, disease, or death. And beyond this life stands
the judgment. “Those who practice such things will not inherit the
kingdom of God,” but will have their part with Satan and the evil
angels in that “lake of fire” which “is the second death” (
Galatians
5:21
;
Revelation 20:14
).
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