Temptation THE REAL ISSUE IN TEMPTATION
The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. Prov. 18:10.
"Those who realize their weakness trust in a power higher than self. And while they look to God, Satan has no power over them. But those who trust in self are easily defeated."--Ellen G. White, in Review and Herald, Dec. 16, 1902.
If Satan has no power over us, we will not find the promptings of sin appealing. We are not saying that the sinful nature will be eradicated. But so long as we are in possession of the Holy Spirit, we will not respond to the promptings of sin, even though we are tempted.
Temptation when you are not finding the suggestion of sinful things appealing, is the temptation to pull away from the control and possession of the heavenly agencies, and depend upon your own strength. This was Jesus' great temptation.
At those times when we are in the stance of total dependence upon God, we have the victory over all sins. But the growing Christian is easily distracted from that stance.
Joshua was one of the most godly men who ever lived. He was one of the two, out of the vast multitude, who had enough faith in God to be able to make the trip all the way from Egypt to the Promised Land. He experienced the power of God to such an extent that he could direct his army so that the enemy found them impregnable. By faith they crossed over the Jordon into the Promised Land. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down. But we see Joshua depending upon his own strength to handle the little village of Ai, and his forces were defeated overnight.
So the growing Christian is easily distracted. "Satan is well aware that the weakest soul who abides in Christ is more than a match for the hosts of darkness....Therefore he seeks to draw away the soldiers of the cross from their strong fortifications."--The Great Controversy, p. 530. James talks about it in James 1:14: Each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lusts. And when lust has conceived it brings forth sin, and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. There is a drawing away in temptation that results in temptations for all sorts of other things. But as long as we are in dependence upon God's power we cannot be overcome.
The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. Prov. 18:10.
"Those who realize their weakness trust in a power higher than self. And while they look to God, Satan has no power over them. But those who trust in self are easily defeated."--Ellen G. White, in Review and Herald, Dec. 16, 1902.
If Satan has no power over us, we will not find the promptings of sin appealing. We are not saying that the sinful nature will be eradicated. But so long as we are in possession of the Holy Spirit, we will not respond to the promptings of sin, even though we are tempted.
Temptation when you are not finding the suggestion of sinful things appealing, is the temptation to pull away from the control and possession of the heavenly agencies, and depend upon your own strength. This was Jesus' great temptation.
At those times when we are in the stance of total dependence upon God, we have the victory over all sins. But the growing Christian is easily distracted from that stance.
Joshua was one of the most godly men who ever lived. He was one of the two, out of the vast multitude, who had enough faith in God to be able to make the trip all the way from Egypt to the Promised Land. He experienced the power of God to such an extent that he could direct his army so that the enemy found them impregnable. By faith they crossed over the Jordon into the Promised Land. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down. But we see Joshua depending upon his own strength to handle the little village of Ai, and his forces were defeated overnight.
So the growing Christian is easily distracted. "Satan is well aware that the weakest soul who abides in Christ is more than a match for the hosts of darkness....Therefore he seeks to draw away the soldiers of the cross from their strong fortifications."--The Great Controversy, p. 530. James talks about it in James 1:14: Each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lusts. And when lust has conceived it brings forth sin, and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. There is a drawing away in temptation that results in temptations for all sorts of other things. But as long as we are in dependence upon God's power we cannot be overcome.
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