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Reading Time: 7 minutes

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chron 7:14)

Most people who receive this weekly, I am sure, are very painfully aware of the frenetic pace our life has taken on in recent months. There are many issues happening in society, the world in general, and for me, I sometimes feel like I can’t even keep up to it all anymore. I found myself this week wondering:

“What could be a possible solution to all this?”

I did a little praying, some Bible study, I asked a few friends what they thought; and I looked a bit online. As I look at all the things coming upon the world now, I have wondered if there was some trick, well, not really a trick, but I couldn’t help but think: “God doesn’t seem as close to me this week. What am I doing wrong?”

And right in the middle of my searching, I think I have stumbled upon the perfect solution. God’s solution. I started to recall some of the Old and New Testament stories I have been reading these last few weeks, and I realized that no matter where I looked in the Bible, the very first response of all the prophets, in all the ages covered by the Bible was ALWAYS prayer. Whenever something bad was coming down the tubes, the first response of all the Bible Greats was to pray. I think this is why the opening text for this week’s email has resonated so well with me. And once I looked into this text, it did start to appear as the needed solution for our in common difficulties of today:

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chron 7:14

The promise here says that if God’s people would do three things, God would respond in three ways. The Lord’s people needed to become humble, that is,to confess; they needed to pray, or repent; and they needed to turn from their obviously wrong ways, and to come back to Him. If they did, God would hear, forgive, and heal them, and their land. Does our land need healing? Are we seeking God’s will in todays pressures and trials?

I find it very interesting that this text is not addressed to society at large. It seems mostly directed to “God’s people,” as He does say in this text:

“If MY PEOPLE…”

Rev 18:4, part of the great prophecies of the last days in the book of Revelation also shows God using this phrase, “My People.” In that verse, God says to Babylon, to His people in Babylon, “Come out of her My people.” During a time of national crises, God will speak directly to His people; God’s stated ideal for His people when there is trouble at the door is prayer and repentance.

True repentance is more than just talk. Repentance is ALWAYS a situation of “changed behavior.” (2 Cor 5:17) The Bible often calls this change “”turned from” as does our opening text for today. Whether we sin individually, as a group,or as a nation, following these steps will lead to forgiveness. God will ALWAYS hear the sincere, honest prayer of anyone who comes to Him, “just as they are.” (see John 6:37)

Scripture tells us that is is one thing to “just pray,” because His MO for prayer here is apparently, also being humble. What does this being “humble” look like in work clothes? It is very interesting that this kind of humility is something God is only asking of “His people.” The text says “if MY PEOPLE.” This clarion call to prayer is very similar to Rev 18:4 where God says “Come out of her MY PEOPLE.”

Jesus is always calling His people to a better way of life. To THE life. In fact Scripture says that “In Jesus was life, and THE life was/is the Light of everyone in the world. (see John 1:4). If we were to go to to the shores of an ocean, we would recognize how the incoming tide lifts all boats. What might be the effects of an incoming tide of prayer for “His people?” The incoming “tide” would lift all people. Jesus has promised:

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” (James 4:10).

Jesus is telling His Church to

1) pray,

2) humble themselves, and

3) turn away from their lifestyle of sin.

In our human realms, we still like to think that we know the right steps to take; but as for me, I am starting to wonder if thats even half-true. God does say:

“There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” (Prov 16:25)

I found a really good example of the Prov 16:25 principle. A story I read about the first President of the USA, from 1789 to 1797), George Washington, who thought he knew what was best for him and his situation. Washington actually asked for “blood-letting” to be performed on himself for a health-condition he was recovering from, (throat infection). They ended up taking around 4 litres of blood (nearly 40% of his blood) from him, and sadly, Washington died from complications shortly after.

The Bible is correct when it states that there is a way that seems right to a person, but it’s way is the way of death. In accordance with 2 Chron 7:14, Scripture assures us of that very point in The New Testament:

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” (1 John 5:14).

“According To His Will,” appears to be the key ingredient that if practiced by we, God’s people, would be the incoming tide that would lift “all boats.” Not just a few of them. But are we, as a people doing this? Do we really want to “be humble” when we pray,or are we just satisfied with rotely saying the prayers, something like an incantation? In our text for today, we are asked by God to not just pray, but to “humble ourselves when we pray, with the intention of obeying (turning from sin) whatever it pleases our Lord
to reveal to us. As Jesus stated in John 7:17

“If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know whether the teaching is of God or whether I speak on My own accord and by My own authority.” (John 7:17)

IF one is willing to do whatever God reveals to them, they will know what is truth and what way Jesus would have them proceed, even during the stormy times we live in now. I think that Jesus want us to live with power. The power of His Word.  I was studying some things out of the 23rd Psalms earlier this week and learned something very intriguing about how to live
with power. I had always known that phrase “He restoreth my soul,” (Psalms 23:3), but what I didn’t know until this week was that one of the key elements to recovering our physical health, which many people of course want to do these days, is that of our spiritual health. The tidal wave of power that will lift all the “boats” (people) is 2 Chron 7:14.

Everywhere, in many ways, the Bible says that in restoring our soul, the physical body will be positively affected. 2 Chron 7:14 says when we do this “the land will be healed.” The Psalmist once mourned: “all day I am wearied with my groaning…” (Psalms 6:6). But Jesus informs us today that we are only forgiven, when we are ready to be HUMBLE and forgive all hurt and resentments that we hold against other people. The Lord’s prayer tells believers today that we are forgiven “as we forgive others.”

God’s people are being asked to pray and humble themselves. As my prayer partner said when I was writing this:

“When we let go and let God take care of everything, we stop trying to do it on our own. We surrender to Jesus. Because on our own we can do nothing. And the measure we use in judging others will simply condemn us, by our very own standards. We need to stop being so foolish . “Love one another, and forgive as we have been forgiven by Jesus.

Be kind and help, and respect each other, without expecting anything in return. God will reward us according to our own standards. His standards are often not our’s, because it is love that Jesus wants us all to give to each other; and to stop competing with everyone else. We all, ultimately have the same goal. Lets “lift all the boats” and sent the tidal wave of prayer, of being humble, and of turning from everything we know is wrong.

For stricken Israel there was but one remedy–a turning away from the sins that had brought upon them the chastening hand of the Almighty, and a turning to the Lord with full purpose of heart. To them had been given the assurance, “If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people; if My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:13,14. It was to bring to pass this blessed result that God continued to withhold from them the dew and the rain until a decided reformation should take place. {PK 128.1)

If God’s people will do three things, God will always respond in three ways. The Lord’s people need to become humble, that is, confess they have sinned; they need to pray, or repent; and they needed to turn, or come back to Him. If they do this even today, God would hear, forgive, and heal us in miraculous ways.

“IF My People pray”

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Your love is faithful, LORD, and even the clouds in the sky can depend on you. Your decisions are always fair. They are firm like mountains, deep like the sea, and all people and animals are under your care. Psalms 36:5,6

In contrast to evil people and their wicked plots that end in failure, God will triumph. He is faithful, righteous, and just. His love is as vast as the heavens; his faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds; his righteousness is as solid as mighty mountains; his judgments are as full of wisdom as the oceans are with water. We need not fear evil people because we know God loves us, judges evil, and will care for us throughout eternity.

From their foundations, by undermining them, Jesus puts forth his hand to cleave even the hardest rock. He cuts out channels among the rocks; and his eye sees  every precious thing. (Job 28:9-10)

He cuts channels to drain off the waters, which hinder his mining; and when the waters are gone, he is able to see the precious things in the earth. God’s promises to you in the midst of your trials are sure. One thing we can count on is that God says:

“And I will give them a heart to know Me…” (Jer 24:7)

So too, when Jesus is mining the heart of stone, He always finds something precious. The fact that we are called upon to endure trial proves that the Lord Jesus sees in us something very precious, which He desires to develop. And so He begins the mining process, which can be rough and painful at times.

If He saw in us nothing whereby He might glorify His name He would not spend time in refining us whenever he finds something precious during this mining process. We do not take special pains in pruning thorny shrubs. Christ does not cast worthless stones into His furnace. It is valuable ore that He tests.

The fact that we are called upon to endure trial shows that the Lord Jesus sees in us something precious which He desires to develop. If He saw in us nothing whereby He might glorify His name, He would not spend time mining the heart of stone; or in refining us. He does not cast worthless stones into His furnace. It is valuable ore that He refines.

And so everyone of our trials are opportunities. The very first opportunity being a call to prayer. The following poem will describe prayer for you very well from the personal experience of Jesus Himself:

In The Garden, Alone With Jesus

We live in a world of constant turmoil and trials. But it has been my lived experience that God will give us the strength we need; and He will look after all those things that we are unable to do ourselves:

The Garden Alone
Based on Luke 22:39-46

“And there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening Him.”

God was with Him in the Garden, dark,alone
Jesus conquered sin by strength of divine
But the separation went deeper than bone
As the battle began our Christ drew the line.

The Father didn’t want to remove bitter cup
The disciples slept in great sorrow and fear
While Gabriel came in light,lifted Jesus up
Christ’s sweat poured out, in blood and tear.

As crises supreme did his heart and soul break
Jesus came alone, to fight by petition in there
The angel assured Him He could make no mistake
For He might answer with love the sinners prayer.

We each have to go to our Garden, stark, alone
We have to bring to Jesus our worries and care
And when we go, we shall see the great throne
For in the Garden; our Lord Jesus He is there.

Jesus conquered by strength surely not his own
We can have this very kind of encounter today
As we go by faith to our special garden alone
Walk securely with Him the blood-stained way.

Christ conquered in divine strength, and so must every tempted soul overcome. God was with Christ in the Garden of Gesthemane and by this experience of Christ, we are to learn to trust our heavenly Father; at all times, and in all places,we are to believe that he is tender, true, and faithful – able to keep that which is committed to His care. In the agonizing struggle of Christ, our Substitute and Surety; the Father was beside His Son, and He is beside every soul that struggles with discouragement and difficulty.

– David Battler, (all rights reserved, world wide)

Just as the revelation of depravity in  Psalms 36:1,2,3,4 is awful, the revelation of the Lord’s love, in our opening text, Psalms 36:5,6) is even more wonderful. great mountains … great deep: The contrasts continue with David ranging from the highest mountains to the depths of the sea to describe the perfect character of God.

The height of the great mountains can be compared to how great God’s righteousness is; the depth of the seas can be compared with how mysterious and inaccessible God’s true judgments are. May we know, and love, and uprightly serve the Lord; then no proud enemy, on earth or from hell, shall separate us from his love. Faith calls  things that are not, as though they were. It carries us forward to the end of time; it shows us the Lord, on his throne of judgment; the empire of sin fallen to rise no more.

How great is God’s love for all who worship him? Greater than the distance between heaven and earth! (Psalms 103:11) How great is God’s love for all who worship him? Greater than the distance between heaven and earth! How far has the LORD taken our sins from us? Farther than the distance from east to west! (Psalms 103:11-12)

They are gone. There is a chasm between us and our sins, which will never be bridged. To an infinite distance has the great Scapegoat carried away all the sins of his people; they shall never return to us.

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“God is able to do far more than we could ever ask for or imagine. He does everything by his power that is working in us.” (Eph 3:20, NIrV)

The Lord is waiting to manifest through His people, His amazing grace and power. But He desires that people who engage in His service will keep their minds directed to His glory. If we have time to worry every day then every day we should have time for reading the Word of God and for prayer. . . .

Individually we are to walk and talk with God; as did the prophets of old, and then the sacred influence of the gospel of Christ in all its preciousness will appear in our lives.

There is an eloquence far more powerful than the eloquence of words in the quiet, consistent life of a pure, true Christian. What a person is has far more influence than what they say. Some of us Christians so love to polish up our little doctrines, pet beliefs, and mantras whereby we judge others by, but they all fall flat, if we cannot practice what we preach. If we cannot, or will not, live the same way we tell others.

The officers who were sent to Jesus came back with the report that never man spoke as He spoke. (John 7:46) But the reason for this was that there never was any person ever who lived as Jesus lived. Had His life been other than it was, He could not have spoken as He did.

His words bore with them a convincing power, because they came from a heart pure and holy, full of love and sympathy, benevolence and truth. The soldiers could have stated that they failed to arrest Christ because of the danger of the crowd but they did not. Instead, they reported that Jesus was not like anyone they had ever heard speak. Because NO ONE had ever lived like Him.

It is our own character and experience that determine our influence upon others. I see this all the time in the little town where I live. In order to convince others of the power of Christ’s grace, we must know its power in our own hearts and lives. The gospel we present for the saving of souls must be the exact same gospel by which our own souls are saved. Only through a living faith in Christ as a personal Savior AND Lord is it possible to make our influence felt in a skeptical world such as we live in today. If we would draw others out of the swift-running current, our own feet must be firmly set upon the Rock, Christ Jesus.

The Badge of Christianity is not an outward sign, not the wearing of a cross or a crown, but it is that which reveals the union of a person with God. By the power of His grace manifested in the transformation of character, the world is to be convinced that God has sent His Son as its Redeemer. No other influence that can surround the human soul has such power as the influence of an unselfish life. No one can be improved, saved, or helped, merely by intellect or argument alone. The strongest argument in favor of the gospel is a loving and lovable Christian.

Reading Time: 4 minutes

True, lasting peace, means so much more than some kind of flat-lining policy that is tooted from the steeples by the church rooster. “Harmony” so called is not peace. The peace that the world cannot give, under any circumstance, is something that needs strength and confidence.

“The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.” (Psalms 29:11)

Most people desire both strength and confidence. Throughout history, God has revealed his power through many and various miracles, which I believe the Bible may have alluded to when it said: “Jesus presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.”

Jesus promises to continue to reveal his power. True peace is true power. Power is what power does. Paul urged us to understand how great God’s power is (Eph 1:18-23). It takes a special kind of power to have true peace. To have the peace only Jesus can give. (John 14:27) The same power that raised Christ from the dead is available to help us with our daily problems. When we feel weak and limited, there is no need to despair. Scripture tells us that God can give you strength. The same power that controls creation and raises the dead is available to you as we can also see in The Apostle’s prayer:

“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” (Phil 3:10)

Jesus promised just before He ascended to Heaven, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

We have to concede, this kind of peace would need real power.

Jesus’ words show that the way to eternal life, though unseen in most of our dire circumstances, is totally secure. As secure as your trust in Jesus. Jesus has already prepared the way to eternal life. The only issue that may still be unsettled is your willingness to believe all that He has promised in all of His Word. The end result of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives is deep and lasting peace. Unlike worldly peace, which is usually defined as the absence of conflict, this peace is a confident assurance in any circumstance; with Christ’s peace, we have no need to fear the present or the future.

Sin, fear, uncertainty, doubt, and numerous other forces are at war within us. The peace of God moves into our hearts and lives to restrain these hostile forces and offer comfort in place of conflict. Jesus says he will give us that peace if we are willing to accept it from him. If your life is full of stress, allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with Christ’s peace.

Don’t worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks for what you have. And because you belong to Christ Jesus, God’s peace will stand guard over all your thoughts and feelings. His peace can do this far better than our human minds. (Phil 4:6-7, ERV)

The consciousness of right-doing is the best medicine for diseased bodies and minds. All who are at peace with God have secured the most important requisite to health. The blessing of the Lord is life to the receiver.(S.T., 1882, No. 23).

“The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it.” (Prov 10:22)

Imagine never worrying about anything! It seems like an impossibility; we all have worries on the job, in our homes, at school, even at Church and other places that are supposed to be “safe.” But Paul’s advice is to turn our worries into prayers. Do you want to worry less? Then pray more! Whenever you start to worry, stop and pray. If you have time to worry, you have time to pray.

“In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.” (Prov 14:26)

“For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” But you would not,” (Isa 30:15)

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” (1 John 5:14)

The emphasis, in both peace and prayer here is on God’s will, not our will.

When we communicate with God, we don’t demand what we want; rather we discuss with him what he wants for us. If we align our prayers to his will, he will listen; and we can be certain that because Jesus listens, he will give us a definite answer. Answers to our prayers may include things such as “yes,” “no,” “maybe,” or “if.” But we all can start praying today with confidence!

Christ has said, “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” (Mark 11:24). “Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:13).

And the beloved John, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, speaks with great plainness and assurance:

“If we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.” (1 John 5:14, 15).

Then press your petition to the Father in the name of Jesus. God will always honor that name.

There is great peace that comes from doing what we know is right.

But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. (Col 3:14-15)

Reading Time: 7 minutes

Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. (Mat 8:25,26)

Before anyone may enter upon His service, Jesus places before them the inevitable trials which they must meet, among which loneliness and homelessness loom in threatening and fear. See that in your heart Christ has a home. Where, however, there is lethargy, the Savior stirs the soul to follow Him. Do not mourn about the grave of the past; leave it and enter the life of resurrection and ascension.

Storms must sweep over all our lives. The Master’s sleep indicates the peace and security of His nature. What a contrast between our impatience and His infinite serenity! Our Lord was sure that the Father was with Him, John 8:29. Near though the enemy may be, the Father is nearer. The everlasting arms are beneath you. You are beset behind and before, but no boat can sink when Christ is on board.

Similarly, when they got out of this boat where Jesus was sleeping during the storm, they encountered another type of storm where two demoniacs were in a great tumult of thoughts and feelings. When Jesus cast out the devils in these men, they were thrown into the herd of swine nearby.

Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea. (Mark 5:11,13

From the cliff the keepers of the swine had seen all that had occurred, and they hurried away to publish the news to their employers and to all the people. In fear and amazement the whole population flocked to meet Jesus. The two demoniacs had been the terror of the country. No one had been safe to pass the place where they were; for they would rush upon every traveler with the fury of demons. Now these men were clothed and in their right mind, sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening to His words, and glorifying the name of Him who had made them whole. But the people who beheld this wonderful scene did not rejoice. The loss of the swine seemed to them of greater moment than the deliverance of these captives of Satan. {DA 338.3}

It was in mercy to the owners of the swine that this loss had been permitted to come upon them. They were absorbed in earthly things, and cared not for the great interests of spiritual life. Jesus desired to break the spell of selfish indifference, that they might accept His grace. But regret and indignation for their temporal loss blinded their eyes to the Savior’s mercy. {DA 338.4}

The manifestation of supernatural power aroused the superstitions of the people, and excited their fears. Further calamities might follow from having this Stranger among them. They apprehended financial ruin, and determined to be freed from His presence. Those who had crossed the lake with Jesus told of all that had happened on the preceding night, of their peril in the tempest, and how the wind and the sea had been stilled. But their words were without effect. In terror the people thronged about Jesus, beseeching Him to depart from them, and He complied, taking ship at once for the opposite shore. {DA 339.1}

The people of Gergesa had before them the living evidence of Christ’s power and mercy. They saw the men who had been restored to reason; but they were so fearful of endangering their earthly interests that He who had vanquished the prince of darkness before their eyes was treated as an intruder, and the Gift of heaven was turned from their doors. We have not the opportunity of turning from the person of Christ as had the Gergesenes; but still there are many who refuse to obey His word, because obedience would involve the sacrifice of some worldly interest. Lest His presence shall cause them pecuniary loss, many reject His grace, and drive His Spirit from them. {DA 339.2}

But far different was the feeling of the restored demoniacs. They desired the company of their deliverer. In His presence they felt secure from the demons that had tormented their lives and wasted their manhood. As Jesus was about to enter the boat, they kept close to His side, knelt at His feet, and begged Him to keep them near Him, where they might ever listen to His words. But Jesus bade them go home and tell what great things the Lord had done for them. {DA 339.3}

Here was a work for them to do,–to go to a heathen home, and tell of the blessing they had received from Jesus. It was hard for them to be separated from the Savior. Great difficulties were sure to beset them in association with their heathen countrymen. And their long isolation from society seemed to have disqualified them for the work He had indicated. But as soon as Jesus pointed out their duty they were ready to obey. Not only did they tell their own households and neighbors about Jesus, but they went throughout Decapolis, everywhere declaring His power to save, and describing how He had freed them from the demons. In doing this work they could receive a greater blessing than if, merely for benefit to themselves, they had remained in His presence. It is in working to spread the good news of salvation that we are brought near to the Savior. {DA 339.4}

The two restored demoniacs were the first missionaries whom Christ sent to preach the gospel in the region of Decapolis. For a few moments only these men had been privileged to hear the teachings of Christ. Not one sermon from His lips had ever fallen upon their ears. They could not instruct the people as the disciples who had been daily with Christ were able to do. But they bore in their own persons the evidence that Jesus was the Messiah. They could tell what they knew; what they themselves had seen, and heard, and felt of the power of Christ.

This is what everyone can do whose heart has been touched by the grace of God. John, the beloved disciple, wrote: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; . . . that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you.” 1 John 1:1,2,3.

As witnesses for Christ, we are to tell what we know, what we ourselves have seen and heard and felt. If we have been following Jesus step by step, we shall have something right to the point to tell concerning the way in which He has led us. We can tell how we have tested His promise, and found the promise true. We can bear witness to what we have known of the grace of Christ. This is the witness for which our Lord calls, and for want of which the world is perishing. {DA 340.1}

Though the people of Gergesa had not received Jesus, He did not leave them to the darkness they had chosen. When they bade Him depart from them, they had not heard His words. They were ignorant of that which they were rejecting. Therefore He again sent the light to them, and by those to whom they would not refuse to listen. {DA 340.2}

In causing the destruction of the swine, it was Satan’s purpose to turn the people away from the Savior, and prevent the preaching of the gospel in that region. But this very occurrence roused the whole country as nothing else could have done, and directed attention to Christ. Though the Savior Himself departed, the men whom He had healed remained as witnesses to His power. Those who had been mediums of the prince of darkness became channels of light, messengers of the Son of God. Men marveled as they listened to the wondrous news. A door was opened to the gospel throughout that region. When Jesus returned to Decapolis, the people flocked about Him, and for three days, not merely the inhabitants of one town, but thousands from all the surrounding region, heard the message of salvation. Even the power of demons is under the control of our Savior, and the working of evil is overruled for good. {DA 340.3}

The encounter with the demoniacs of Gergesa had a lesson for the disciples. It showed the depths of degradation to which Satan is seeking to drag the whole human race, and the mission of Christ to set men free from his power. Those wretched beings, dwelling in the place of graves, possessed by demons, in bondage to uncontrolled passions and loathsome lusts, represent what humanity would become if given up to satanic jurisdiction. Satan’s influence is constantly exerted upon men to distract the senses, control the mind for evil, and incite to violence and crime. He weakens the body, darkens the intellect, and debases the soul.

Whenever men reject the Savior’s invitation, they are yielding themselves to Satan. Multitudes in every department in life, in the home, in business, and even in the church, are doing this today. It is because of this that violence and crime have overspread the earth, and moral darkness, like the pall of death, enshrouds the habitations of men. Through his specious temptations Satan leads men to worse and worse evils, till utter depravity and ruin are the result. The only safeguard against his power is found in the presence of Jesus.

Before men and angels Satan has been revealed as man’s enemy and destroyer; Christ, as man’s friend and deliverer. His Spirit will develop in man all that will ennoble the character and dignify the nature. It will build man up for the glory of God in body and soul and spirit. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7. He has called us “to the obtaining of the glory”–character–“of our Lord Jesus Christ;” has called us to be “conformed to the image of His Son.” 2 Thessalonians 2:14; Romans 8:29. {DA 341.1}

And souls that have been degraded into instruments of Satan are still through the power of Christ transformed into messengers of righteousness, and sent forth by the Son of God to tell what “great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.” {DA 341.2}