prophets and kings-第30章
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Those who； while spending their life energies in self…sacrificing labor； are tempted to give way to despondency and distrust； may gather courage from the experience of Elijah。 God's watchful care； His love； His power； are especially manifest in behalf of His servants whose zeal is misunderstood or unappreciated； whose counsels and reproofs are slighted； and whose efforts toward reform are repaid with hatred and opposition。
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It is at the time of greatest weakness that Satan assails the soul with the fiercest temptations。 It was thus that he hoped to prevail over the Son of God； for by this policy he had gained many victories over man。 When the will power weakened and faith failed； then those who had stood long and valiantly for the right yielded to temptation。 Moses； wearied with forty years of wandering and unbelief； lost for a moment his hold on Infinite Power。 He failed just on the borders of the Promised Land。 So with Elijah。 He who had maintained his trust in Jehovah during the years of drought and famine； he who had stood undaunted before Ahab； he who throughout that trying day on Carmel had stood before the whole nation of Israel the sole witness to the true God； in a moment of weariness allowed the fear of death to overcome his faith in God。
And so it is today。 When we are encompassed with doubt； perplexed by circumstances； or afflicted by poverty or distress； Satan seeks to shake our confidence in Jehovah。 It is then that he arrays before us our mistakes and tempts us to distrust God； to question His love。 He hopes to discourage the soul and break our hold on God。
Those who； standing in the forefront of the conflict； are impelled by the Holy Spirit to do a special work； will frequently feel a reaction when the pressure is removed。 Despondency may shake the most heroic faith and weaken the most steadfast will。 But God understands； and He still pities and loves。 He reads the motives and the purposes of the heart。 To wait patiently； to trust when everything looks dark； is the lesson that the leaders in God's work need to learn。 Heaven will not fail them in their day of adversity。
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Nothing is apparently more helpless； yet really more invincible； than the soul that feels its nothingness and relies wholly on God。
Not alone for men in positions of large responsibility is the lesson of Elijah's experience in learning anew how to trust God in the hour of trial。 He who was Elijah's strength is strong to uphold every struggling child of His； no matter how weak。 Of everyone He expects loyalty； and to everyone He grants power according to the need。 In his own strength man is strengthless； but in the might of God he may be strong to overcome evil and to help others to overcome。 Satan can never gain advantage of him who makes God his defense。 〃Surely； shall one say； in the Lord have I righteousness and strength。〃 Isaiah 45：24。
Fellow Christian； Satan knows your weakness； therefore cling to Jesus。 Abiding in God's love； you may stand every test。 The righteousness of Christ alone can give you power to stem the tide of evil that is sweeping over the world。 Bring faith into your experience。 Faith lightens every burden； relieves every weariness。 Providences that are now mysterious you may solve by continued trust in God。 Walk by faith in the path He marks out。 Trials will come； but go forward。 This will strengthen your faith and fit you for service。 The records of sacred history are written； not merely that we may read and wonder； but that the same faith which wrought in God's servants of old may work in us。 In no less marked manner will the Lord work now； wherever there are hearts of faith to be channels of His power。
To us； as to Peter； the word is spoken； 〃Satan hath desired
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to have you； that he may sift you as wheat： but I have prayed for thee； that thy faith fail not。〃 Luke 22：31； 32。 Christ will never abandon those for whom He has died。 We may leave Him and be overwhelmed with temptation； but Christ can never turn from one for whom He has paid the ransom of His own life。 Could our spiritual vision be quickened； we should see souls bowed under oppression and burdened with grief； pressed as a cart beneath sheaves； and ready to die in discouragement。 We should see angels flying quickly to the aid of these tempted ones； forcing back the hosts of evil that encompass them； and placing their feet on the sure foundation。 The battles waging between the two armies are as real as those fought by the armies of this world； and on the issue of the spiritual conflict eternal destinies depend。
In the vision of the prophet Ezekiel there was the appearance of a hand beneath the wings of the cherubim。 This is to teach God's servants that it is divine power that gives success。 Those whom God employs as His messengers are not to feel that His work is dependent on them。 Finite beings are not left to carry this burden of responsibility。 He who slumbers not； who is continually at work for the accomplishment of His designs； will carry forward His work。 He will thwart the purposes of wicked men and will bring to confusion the counsels of those who plot mischief against His people。 He who is the King； the Lord of hosts； sitteth between the cherubim； and amidst the strife and tumult of nations。 He guards His children still。 When the strongholds of kings shall be overthrown； when the arrows of wrath shall strike through the hearts of His enemies； His people will be safe in His hands。
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Chapter 14
〃In the Spirit and Power of Elias〃
Through the long centuries that have passed since Elijah's time； the record of his lifework has brought inspiration and courage to those who have been called to stand for the right in the midst of apostasy。 And for us； 〃upon whom the ends of the world are come〃 （1 Corinthians 10：11）； it has special significance。 History is being repeated。 The world today has its Ahabs and its Jezebels。 The present age is one of idolatry； as verily as was that in which Elijah lived。 No outward shrine may be visible； there may be no image for the eye to rest upon； yet thousands are following after the gods of this worldafter riches； fame； pleasure； and the pleasing fables that permit man to follow the inclinations of the unregenerate heart。 Multitude have a wrong conception of God and His attributes； and are as truly serving a false god as were the worshipers of Baal。 Many even of those who claim to be Christians have allied themselves with influences that are unalterably opposed to God and
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His truth。 Thus they are led to turn away from the divine and to exalt the human。
The prevailing spirit of our time is one of infidelity and apostasya spirit of avowed illumination because of a knowledge of truth； but in reality of the blindest presumption。 Human theories are exalted and placed where God and His law should be。 Satan tempts men and women to disobey； with the promise that in disobedience they will find liberty and freedom that will make them as gods。 There is seen a spirit of opposition to the plain word of God； of idolatrous exaltation of human wisdom above divine revelation。 Men have allowed their minds to become so darkened and confused by conformity to worldly customs and influences that they seem to have lost all power to discriminate between light and darkness； truth and error。 So far have they departed from the right way that they hold the opinions of a few philosophers； so…called； to be more trustworthy than the truths of the Bible。 The entreaties and promises of God's word； its threatenings against disobedience and idolatrythese seem powerless to melt their hearts。 A faith such as actuated Paul； Peter； and John they regard as old…fashioned； mystical； and unworthy of the intelligence of modern thinkers。
In the beginning； God gave His law to mankind as a means of attaining happiness and eternal life。 Satan's only hope of thwarting the purpose of God is to lead men and women to disobey this law； and his constant effort has been to misrepresent its teachings and belittle
