Sin of Licentiousness
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of those who claim to be ministers of Christ. Strengthened with all
might, according to His glorious power, we are thus fortified against
the temptations of Satan. Christ and His purity and His matchless
charms should be the soul’s contemplation. There is spiritual power
for all, which they may have if they will, that they may resist tempta-
tion, that duty may be done and the soul hold fast its integrity. Those
who feel their need of being strengthened by might by God’s Spirit in
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the inner man, will not lose their integrity. Earnest prayer and watching
thereunto will carry them through temptations. We must be united to
Christ by living faith.
Like Christ in Character—We are now amid the perils of the last
days. Satan has come down with great power to work his deceptions.
He fastens the mind or imaginations upon impure, unlawful things.
Christians become like Christ in character by dwelling upon the divine
Model. That with which they come in contact has a molding influence
upon life and character.
I have read of a painter who would never look upon an imper-
fect painting for a single moment, lest it should have a deteriorating
influence upon his own eye and conceptions. That which we allow
ourselves to look upon oftenest, and think of most, transfers itself in
a measure to us. The imagination trained to dwell upon God and His
loveliness will not find delight in dwelling upon scenes that are created
by the imagination that is excited by lust....
The Infernal Wisdom of Satan—Satan is at work now as he
worked in Eden, as he has worked through all successive generations.
The archfiend knows well with what material he has to deal. He knows
the weak points in every character; and if these weak points are not
strengthened, he will display his infernal wisdom in his devices to
overthrow the very strongest men, princes in the army of Israel. All
along through successive generations are wrecks of character which
have been destroyed because the soul was not garrisoned. And now
as we near the close of time, Satan will work with masterly activity to
undermine principle, and corrupt moral character.
Sin is committed by many who think their crime is effectually
concealed. But there is One who says, “I know thy works”; “there is
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nothing covered which shall not be revealed; and hid, which shall not
be known.” When the mind is infatuated with the idea of sin, there will