They take passages out of context to suit the erroneous interpretations of their cult.) Christ, however, took Sa tan right back to the Word. Do you see the pattern? God’s answer to temptation is the strength from the Bible, not from yourself. You will fail if you try to resist the devil in your power. Do as Christ did and simply stand by the Word of God. No man can ever face temptation alone. What good is it to fight ac cording to your mental vigor and strength? You will go down in the end. You are no match for the devil. It' is true that the devil is a defeated foe, but the One who conquered him is not you or any other man, but only the Lord Jesus. God’s answer to my temptation isn’t my being clev er and quoting Scripture; it is my being clever and claiming promises. You do not have to give way to temptation. All the promises of God are true in Christ. He dwells with in your heart. One further thought from Mat thew 4 shows us something very subtle which Satan said. See verse nine, “All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and wor ship me.” The devil offered the Sav iour “things” on one condition. All he required was worship. It really wasn’t much as far as we are con cerned. Notice Christ’s attitude con cerning things. He declared, “A man’s life consisteth not in the abun dance of the things which he pos- sesseth.” See how Satan is repulsed in verse 10. Notice carefully that what you worship you also serve. As you worship the Lord Jesus Christ in your heart, so will you serve Him. This is done by an act of the will. What the devil doesn’t tell you when the temptation comes is that if you go ahead and worship him, you will also serve him, you will be in bondage to him; you may begin playing with sin but you will wind up in bondage to sin. God’s an swer for my temptation is the Lord Himself. Choose to yield your life
to Christ, along with each situation with which you are confronted. Know His peace and His power in your life. You don’t have to give in to temptation. Stand strong in the pow er of the LordJesusChrist. * A man who has only an argument is no match for a Christian who has an experi ence. * * * WE SEE JESUS I don't look back; God knows the fruitless efforts, The wasted hours, the sinning, the regrets; I leave them all with Him who blots the record, And mercifully forgives and then forgets. I don't look forward; God sees all the future, The road that, short or long, will lead me home, And He will face with me its every trial And bear for me the burdens that may come. I don't look round me; then would fears assail me. So wild the tumult of earth's rest less seas; So dark the world, so full of woe and evil, So vain the hope of comfort or of ease. I don't look in, for then am I most wretched; My self has naught on which to stay my trust; Nothing I see save failures and short comings, And weak endeavors crumbling into dust. But I look up — into the face of Jesus, For there my heart can rest, my fears are stilled; And there is joy, and love, and light for darkness, And perfect peace, and every hope fulfilled. — Annie Johnson Flint * *
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