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Humble Hero
The rabbis had warned against receiving the doctrines that this
new Teacher taught. Instead of trying to understand the Word of God
for themselves, the people honored the priests and rulers, rejected
the truth, and kept their traditions. Many had been almost persuaded,
but they did not act on their convictions. In this way many rejected
the truth that would have been their salvation.
The True Witness says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.”
Revelation 3:20
. Every appeal in the Word or through God’s mes-
sengers is a knock at the door of the heart. It is the voice of Jesus
asking entrance. With every knock unheeded, the willingness to
open becomes weaker. If we disregard the impressions of the Holy
Spirit today, they will not be as strong tomorrow. The heart becomes
less impressible, and it lapses into a dangerous lack of awareness
of how short life is and of eternity beyond. Condemnation in the
judgment will not result from the fact that we have been in error, but
from the fact that we have neglected heaven-sent opportunities for
learning what is truth.
When their work was completed, the Seventy returned with joy,
saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”
Jesus answered, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” Be-
yond the cross of Calvary, with its agony and shame, Jesus looked
forward to the great final day when Satan will meet his destruction
in the earth that has been marred so long by his rebellion.
From that time onward, Christ’s followers were to look on Satan
as a conquered foe. On the cross, Jesus would gain the victory for
them. He wanted them to accept that victory as their own. “Behold,”
He said, “I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpi-
ons, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any
means hurt you.”
The omnipotent power of the Holy Spirit is the defense of every
repentant sinner. Christ will not permit one who in penitence and
faith has claimed His protection to fall under the enemy’s power.
When temptations and trials come, look to Jesus, your Helper. Thank
God, we have a mighty Savior, who threw out the evil one from
heaven. Why not talk of Him? God will never forsake His people in
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their struggle with evil.