Every Temptation Resisted is a Precious Victory

Christ Triumphant - A Devotional by E.G. White

Every Temptation Resisted is a Precious Victory

Today's Text: Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Psalm 128:1, 2

The Message:      You are to show to the world your purpose to be a citizen of Paradise. Let no careless, irreverent expression come from your lips. What you say in the world will be marked with special consequence if it corresponds with what you say in the church. Your attitude, your words, your spirit, are constantly making an impression upon those with whom you associate....      Satan is offering to every soul the kingdoms of this world in return for the carrying out of his will. This was the great inducement he presented to Christ in the wilderness of temptation. And so he says to Christ's followers, If you will follow my business methods, I will reward you with wealth. Every Christian is at some time brought to the test that will reveal any weak points of character. If the temptation is resisted, one has gained precious victories.... In Satan's last bold attempt to overcome Christ, the Saviour met him with the words "Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." Hitherto the Saviour's response to his temptations had been in the affirmative; now He commands the tempter to depart, and Satan leaves Him-defeated where he had hoped for victory....      Those who purchase success at the fearful price of submission to the will of Satan will find that they have made a hard bargain. Everything in Satan's trade is secured at a high price. The advantages he presents are a fearful, deceptive mirage. The promised high hopes he holds out are secured at the loss of things that are good and holy and pure. Let Satan always be confounded with the words "It is written."...      I speak these words to all who love and fear God. People who stand prepared to do the works of righteousness will not be deceived by the allurements of the enemy. The angels of God are by their side restraining them if they will be restrained. Their actions will be guided by an exalted sense of right. They will be enabled to distinguish between right and wrong, between truth-exalted truth-and error. Those who enter the kingdom of heaven will be those who have reached the highest standard of moral obligation, those who have not sought to hide the truth or to deceive, those by whom God has been exalted and His Word defended, those by whom principle has not been misapplied to vindicate the wiles of Satan.-Letter 188, 1905.

Commentary: My friend, there are two gospels that are being pushed in the Seventh-day Adventist church today.  One, which is the official position of the church is that we can have victory over sin by the indwelling of Jesus within our hearts; the other is that victory over sin was gained by Jesus at the cross and though we are to strive to be good, it is not necessary, for our salvation has already been purchased at the cross.  The latter is a deception of Satan and though it is not the official position, it is being taught by many prominent preaches and teachers within the church.  It is working its way through the church and is being taught by many prominent preachers, teachers, and theologians.  It is working its way into the hearts and minds of the people, and it is only a matter of time before it pervades the whole church. The doctrine of the sanctuary as taught by our pioneers has for many years been under attack by professors and theologians who are trying to tear down the belief that there is a sanctuary in heaven.  At many of our seminaries, the sanctuary message is no longer being taught.  Surprisingly there is little opposition to this change in theology for many have already accepted the belief that the atonement for our sins ended at the cross, and that there is no further need of a sanctuary.  This belief comes from evangelicalism and is a result of the ecumenical movement. For decades we have been sympathizing with the fallen churches of Babylon and associating with them that we may be accepted by them.  In doing so our leaders and pastors have been drinking from the wine of the serpent; the result of which is its corrupting influence upon the church. The belief that the atonement was completed at the cross is a deception of Satan, and leads the believer to no longer strive to gain the victory over sin.  It leads the church to have a form of godliness but to deny the power of Christ to give us the victory over sin.  This belief, along with the belief in the trinity separates us from the power of God.  While the one comforts us in our sins, the other separates us from the only power that can give us victory over sin. My friend, it is not enough to be a forgiven sinner; we must be perfect in the eyes of the LORD.  This is only possible if our sins are blotted out by the atoning work that our High Priest is doing in the heavenly sanctuary above and within our hearts.  The record of sin must be blotted out in heaven and within the tables of our hearts.  This is only possible if Christ is living within our hearts. May you study the word of God today that you may not be found wanting in the judgment.  "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." (Jude 3, 4) God bless,

Video of the Week The Jealous God - Allen Stump This presentation reveals that God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is a jealous God. "The close and sacred relation of God to His people is represented under the figure of marriage. Idolatry being spiritual adultery, the displeasure of God against it is fitly called jealousy" (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 306). In this study we see how the Bible reveals that God will not accept false worship.