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THE VIGILANCE PRINCIPLE:
We keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower us. [Matt 26:41] The wrong desires that come into our lives aren't anything new and different. Many others have faced exactly the same problems before us. And no temptation is irresistible. We can trust God to keep the temptation from becoming so strong that we can't stand up against it, for He has promised this and will do what He says. [1 Cor. 10:13]

12. THE VIGILANCE PRINCIPLE

We keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower us. [Matt 26:41] The wrong desires that come into our lives aren't anything new and different. Many others have faced exactly the same problems before us. And no temptation is irresistible. We can trust God to keep the temptation from becoming so strong that we can't stand up against it, for He has promised this and will do what He says. [1 Cor. 10:13]

The Accuser and Adversary of the Saints

We must continually be vigilant for the attacks of the enemy of our souls. In Revelation 12 we have a scene described for us which evidently occurs in Heaven during the Tribulation. In verses 7-9 we are introduced to the Old Serpent -- that is he goes back to the Garden of Eden -- or the Great Dragon by two significant names. One is "Devil" which means "defamer " or "slanderer". He is also known as "Satan", which means "adversary". Rev. 12:10 goes on to say, "Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, 'Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down'."

• FAILURES - The primary way in which Diabolos, the Accuser, accuses us is to go before God and to point our sins. His basic message is that we are children of the devil, rather than children of God, because of the sins that we have committed.

Satan wants us to feel guilty. Guilt immobilizes us in our service for the Lord.

What are some of the failings that people dealing with the issues of your group might feel, which Satan can utilize to block their service and worship?

The Victory

We find that the Tribulation saints experienced victory. The same way in which they experienced victory, we can as well.

REV 12:11 "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

• THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB - Satan often is right, when he talks about our sinful failures. We do not deserve to be called God's children. Though he may have the right perspective on us as sinners, he fails to take into account what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for us by dying on the cross. Our slate has been wiped clean

• THE WORD OF TESTIMONY - The mutual ministry that they shared with one another as to how the Lord worked in their lives kept them encouraged. As the body we do not stand alone and if we are to stand at all, we must stand t

• PREPARED TO DIE - To love God even more than life puts a perspective on everything. This attitude puts one in a victory place.

Remember:

The Accuser of the Brethren gives false messages.