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The Great Controversy
powers bestowed on this wisest of kings only rendered him a more
effective agent of the adversary of souls.
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While Satan is constantly seeking to blind their minds to the fact,
let Christians never forget that they “wrestle not against flesh and
blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers
of the darkness of this world, against wicked spirits in high places.”
Ephesians 6:12
, margin. The inspired warning is sounding down the
centuries to our time: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary
the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may
devour.”
1 Peter 5:8
. “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be
able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
Ephesians 6:11
.
From the days of Adam to our own time, our great enemy has been
exercising his power to oppress and destroy. He is now preparing for
his last campaign against the church. All who seek to follow Jesus
will be brought into conflict with this relentless foe. The more nearly
the Christian imitates the divine Pattern, the more surely will he make
himself a mark for the attacks of Satan. All who are actively engaged
in the cause of God, seeking to unveil the deceptions of the evil one
and to present Christ before the people, will be able to join in the
testimony of Paul, in which he speaks of serving the Lord with all
humility of mind, with many tears and temptations.
Satan assailed Christ with his fiercest and most subtle temptations,
but he was repulsed in every conflict. Those battles were fought in our
behalf; those victories make it possible for us to conquer. Christ will
give strength to all who seek it. No man without his own consent can
be overcome by Satan. The tempter has no power to control the will or
to force the soul to sin. He may distress, but he cannot contaminate. He
can cause agony, but not defilement. The fact that Christ has conquered
should inspire His followers with courage to fight manfully the battle
against sin and Satan.
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