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Temperance
the fiercest temptations that Satan could invent, he, too, may be
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entirely successful in his warfare with evil, and at last may wear
the victor’s crown in the kingdom of God.—
Counsels on Diet and
Foods, 167
.
Victory Through Obedience and Continued Effort
—Those
who overcome as Christ overcame will need to constantly guard
themselves against the temptations of Satan. The appetite and pas-
sions should be restricted and under the control of enlightened con-
science, that the intellect may be unimpaired, the perceptive powers
clear, so that the workings of Satan and his snares may not be inter-
preted to be the providence of God. Many desire the final reward and
victory which are to be given to overcomers, but are not willing to
endure toil, privation, and denial of self, as did their Redeemer. It is
only through obedience and continual effort that we shall overcome
as Christ overcame.
The controlling power of appetite will prove the ruin of thou-
sands, when, if they had conquered on this point, they would have
had moral power to gain the victory over every other temptation of
Satan. But those who are slaves to appetite will fail in perfecting
Christian character. The continual transgression of man for six thou-
sand years has brought sickness, pain, and death as its fruits. And as
we near the close of time, Satan’s temptation to indulge appetite will
be more powerful and more difficult to overcome.—
Testimonies for
the Church 3:491, 492
.
Claim Christ’s Overcoming Power
—Christ has power from
His Father to give His divine grace and strength to man—making it
possible for him through His name, to overcome. There are but few
professed followers of Christ who choose to engage with Him in the
work of resisting Satan’s temptation as He resisted, and overcome....
All are personally exposed to the temptations that Christ over-
came, but strength is provided for them in the all-powerful name
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of the great Conqueror. And all must, for themselves, individually
overcome.—
The Signs of the Times, October 24, 1874, par. 7
.
What Will We Do?
—Shall we not draw near to the Lord, that
He may save us from all intemperance in eating and drinking, from
all unholy, lustful passion, all wickedness? Shall we not humble
ourselves before God, putting away everything that corrupts the