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Chapter 32—How to Defeat Satan
The great controversy between Christ and Satan is soon to close,
and the wicked one redoubles his efforts to defeat the work of Christ
in man’s behalf. To hold people in darkness and impenitence till the
Saviour’s mediation is ended is the object he seeks to accomplish.
When indifference prevails in the church, Satan is not concerned.
But when souls inquire, “What must I do to be saved?” he is on
the ground to match his power against Christ and to counteract the
influence of the Holy Spirit.
On one occasion, when the angels came to present themselves
before the Lord, Satan came also among them, not to bow before
the Eternal King, but to further his malicious designs against the
righteous. See
Job 1:6
. He is in attendance when men assemble for
worship, working with diligence to control the minds of the wor-
shipers. As he sees the messenger of God searching the Scriptures,
he takes note of the subject to be presented. Then he employs his
cunning and shrewdness so that the message may not reach those
whom he is deceiving on that very point. The one who most needs
the warning will be urged into some business transaction or will by
some other means be prevented from hearing the word.
Satan sees the Lord’s servants burdened because of the darkness
that enshrouds the people. He hears their prayers for divine grace
and power to break the spell of indifference and indolence. Then
with renewed zeal he tempts men to the indulgence of appetite or
self-gratification, and thus benumbs their sensibilities so that they
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fail to hear the very things they most need to learn.
Satan knows that all who neglect prayer and the Scriptures will
be overcome by his attacks. Therefore he invents every possible
device to engross the mind. His right-hand helpers are always
active when God is at work. They will present the most earnest,
self-denying servants of Christ as deceived or deceivers. It is their
work to misrepresent the motives of every noble deed, to circulate
insinuations, and arouse suspicion in the minds of the inexperienced.
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