Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

Chapter 66—The Power of SatanFallen man is Satan’s lawful captive. The mission of Christ wasto rescue him from the power of his great adversary. Man is naturallyinclined to follow Satan’s suggestions, and he cannot successfullyresist so terrible a foe unless Christ, the mighty Conqueror, dwellsin him, guiding his desires, and giving him strength. God alone canlimit the power of Satan. He is going to and fro in the earth, andwalking up and down in it. He is not off his watch for a single moment,through fear of losing an opportunity to destroy souls. It is importantthat God’s people understand this, that they may escape his snares.Satan is preparing his deceptions, that in his last campaign against thepeople of God they may not understand that it is he. 2 Corinthians11:14: “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angelof light.” While some deceived souls are advocating that he does notexist, he is taking them captive, and is working through them to agreat extent. Satan knows better than God’s people the power thatthey can have over him when their strength is in Christ. When theyhumbly entreat the mighty Conqueror for help, the weakest believer inthe truth, relying firmly upon Christ, can successfully repulse Satanand all his host. He is too cunning to come openly, boldly, withhis temptations; for then the drowsy energies of the Christian wouldarouse, and he would rely upon the strong and mighty Deliverer. Buthe comes in unperceived, and works in disguise through the childrenof disobedience who profess godliness.Satan will go to the extent of his power to harass, tempt, andmislead God’s people. He who dared to face, and tempt, and taunt ourLord, and who had power to take Him in his arms and carry Him to apinnacle of the temple, and up into an exceedingly high mountain, willexercise his power to a wonderful degree upon the present generation, [342]who are far inferior in wisdom to their Lord, and who are almostwholly ignorant of Satan’s subtlety and strength. In a marvelousmanner will he affect the bodies of those who are naturally inclined todo his bidding. Satan exults that he is regarded as a fiction. When he323