Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1921-02-17

LUKE
Christ was tempted because Christ
was man with mans natural appe-
titles, desires, emotions, needs and as
pirations. Having been tempted and
having gained the victory. he can both
sympathize with us and give us the
victory.
First of all Satan came to Christ in
an hour of phi. steal weakness, when,
he hungered Satan knew that then
was an opportune time. Satan has
had long experience. If possible. keep
strong physically. Keep fit. We should
know the word of God, but we should
also be physically fit But the devil
can be defeated by us even when we
are weak, IL only we are mighty in the
Scripture and trust Christ to fight
for us
Nor did Satan stop with one at
tempt. We must keep guard all the
time. IL one kind of appeal TO US does
not succeed. he is quick to try an
other. He made three successive at
tackS on Jesus. He openly and pi-
ously appealed to Scripture, to proph-
ecy, and to the promises of God Tie
appealed to the power Of Jesus, to his
deepest and most holy ambitions But
Jesus came off victor. Satan is strong,
but our Christ is stronger.
The Test of Adversely.
A second great test Of character is
adversely The next picture of Christ
given by Luke in this chapter is in the
village Of Nazareth. Nazareth was his
home town. There he preached to his
fellow townsmen. They wondered at
his words of grace. They knew of
The great reputation he had made while
away from Nazareth. They were Gu
rious and interested in what Christ had
to say, but when he was through they
rose up in their wrath and sought To
kill him. They did not like TO submit
10 his claims.
The mission Of Jesus to Nazareth
proved a failure, His fellow-townsmen
rejected him as their Messiah. Often
N life's experiences victory over temp.
.ation has been followed by the subtle
testing Of failure. Our times Of great
est testing may follow our greatest
Victories. Such victories may leave
as over confident and self-reliant. BY
flank movement the enemy in the
aour of failure may cause us to doubt,
become Respondent, and surrender
When things seem to go wrong then
look out, or rather look up. Christ
stood the test of adversely and will
help US.
The Test of Achievement.
No keener test comes to us than that
IF having accomplished something
which causes others to praise us and
exalt US. "Woe unto you when all
men shall speak well of you" Every
Unusual personal gift of power may
itself be our undoing, especially If
coupled with the praise of men. When
you achieve something be on your
guard. The hour of triumph may be
the hour Of soul-defeat.
The Secret of Victory.
Jesus knew no easy road to victory,
but he conquered. He stood every test.
By adopting his methods we too may
endure and triumph through him.
The first requisite for victory Is to
be filed and led by the Holy Spirit
ivy. /. 14). This is the secret of Sc
crets.
II we would be victors we must know
the word of God and know how to use
It in the hour Of need. The Christian
must know the word In its true setting
and meaning else he will not be able
to Withstand the devil. In these days
many are pretending to know the Bible
but are really wrestling 1t to their own
and others destruction. Study the
word.
The third way to victory is through
prayer, just plain old-fashioned pray
er. Jesus prayed. He knew its val
ne. Jesus prayed in the morning and
so was armored for the day ". 42).
Finally, IL we would stand up under
the various temptations and tests OF
life, we must obey God. Obedience to
God links us up to God and to his pow
er. In the spiritual struggles Of life
we should ever remember to have no
confidence in the fcsh If we trust
our own strcnrth or resources 70 con-
uuer, we hfel f. q ~ fidence
and strenah This is
the vict0rv l'p world,
even oar f# hat over
comefh fFl ~ believeth
that Tess fAA?"