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； He testified that it is a less calamity to suffer whatever may befall than to depart in any manner from the will of God。
〃Man shall not live by bread alone； but by every word of God。〃 Often the follower of Christ is brought where he cannot serve God and carry forward his worldly enterprises。 Perhaps it appears that obedience to some plain requirement of God will cut off his means of support。 Satan would make him believe that he must sacrifice his conscientious convictions。 But the only thing in our world upon which we can rely is the word of God。 〃Seek ye first the kingdom of God； and His righteousness； and all these things shall be added unto you。〃 Matt。 6：33。 Even in this life it is not for our good to depart from the will of our Father in heaven。 When we learn the power of His word； we shall not follow the suggestions of Satan in order to obtain food or to save our lives。 Our only questions will be； What is God's command？ and what His promise？ Knowing these； we shall obey the one； and trust the other。
In the last great conflict of the controversy with Satan those who are loyal to God will see every earthly support cut off。 Because they refuse
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to break His law in obedience to earthly powers； they will be forbidden to buy or sell。 It will finally be decreed that they shall be put to death。 See Rev。 13：11…17。 But to the obedient is given the promise； 〃He shall dwell on high： his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks： bread shall be given him； his waters shall be sure。〃 Isa。 33：16。 By this promise the children of God will live。 When the earth shall be wasted with famine； they shall be fed。 〃They shall not be ashamed in the evil time： and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied。〃 Ps。 37：19。 To that time of distress the prophet Habakkuk looked forward； and his words express the faith of the church： 〃Although the fig tree shall not blossom； neither shall fruit be in the vines； the labor of the olive shall fail； and the fields shall yield no meat； the flock shall be cut off from the fold； and there shall be no herd in the stalls： yet I will rejoice in the Lord； I will joy in the God of my salvation。〃 Hab。 3：17；18。
Of all the lessons to be learned from our Lord's first great temptation none is more important than that bearing upon the control of the appetites and passions。 In all ages； temptations appealing to the physical nature have been most effectual in corrupting and degrading mankind。 Through intemperance； Satan works to destroy the mental and moral powers that God gave to man as a priceless endowment。 Thus it becomes impossible for men to appreciate things of eternal worth。 Through sensual indulgence； Satan seeks to blot from the soul every trace of likeness to God。
The uncontrolled indulgence and consequent disease and degradation that existed at Christ's first advent will again exist； with intensity of evil； before His second coming。 Christ declares that the condition of the world will be as in the days before the Flood； and as in Sodom and Gomorrah。 Every imagination of the thoughts of the heart will be evil continually。 Upon the very verge of that fearful time we are now living； and to us should come home the lesson of the Saviour's fast。 Only by the inexpressible anguish which Christ endured can we estimate the evil of unrestrained indulgence。 His example declares that our only hope of eternal life is through bringing the appetites and passions into subjection to the will of God。
In our own strength it is impossible for us to deny the clamors of our fallen nature。 Through this channel Satan will bring temptation upon us。 Christ knew that the enemy would come to every human being； to take advantage of hereditary weakness； and by his false insinuations to ensnare all whose trust is not in God。 And by passing over the ground which
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man must travel； our Lord has prepared the way for us to overcome。 It is not His will that we should be placed at a disadvantage in the conflict with Satan。 He would not have us intimidated and discouraged by the assaults of the serpent。 〃Be of good cheer；〃 He says； 〃I have overcome the world。〃 John 16：33。
Let him who is struggling against the power of appetite look to the Saviour in the wilderness of temptation。 See Him in His agony upon the cross； as He exclaimed； 〃I thirst。〃 He has endured all that it is possible for us to bear。 His victory is ours。
Jesus rested upon the wisdom and strength of His heavenly Father。 He declares； 〃The Lord God will help Me； therefore shall I not be confounded： 。 。 。 and I know that I shall not be ashamed。 。 。 。 Behold； the Lord God will help Me。〃 Pointing to His own example； He says to us； 〃Who is among you that feareth the Lord； 。 。 。 that walketh in darkness； and hath no light？ let him trust in the name of the Lord； and stay upon his God。〃 Isa。 50：7…10。
〃The prince of this world cometh；〃 said Jesus； 〃and hath nothing in Me。〃 John 14：30。 There was in Him nothing that responded to Satan's sophistry。 He did not consent to sin。 Not even by a thought did He yield to temptation。 So it may be with us。 Christ's humanity was united with divinity； He was fitted for the conflict by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit。 And He came to make us partakers of the divine nature。 So long as we are united to Him by faith； sin has no more dominion over us。 God reaches for the hand of faith in us to direct it to lay fast hold upon the divinity of Christ； that we may attain to perfection of character。
And how this is accomplished； Christ has shown us。 By what means did He overcome in the conflict with Satan？ By the word of God。 Only by the word could He resist temptation。 〃It is written；〃 He said。 And unto us are given 〃exceeding great and precious promises： that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature； having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust。〃 2 Peter 1：4。 Every promise in God's word is ours。 〃By every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God〃 are we to live。 When assailed by temptation； look not to circumstances or to the weakness of self； but to the power of the word。 All its strength is yours。 〃Thy word；〃 says the psalmist； 〃have I hid in mine heart； that I might not sin against Thee。〃 〃By the world of Thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer。〃 Ps。 119：11； 17：4。
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Chapter 13
The Victory
Then the devil taketh Him up into the holy city； and setteth Him on a pinnacle of the temple； and saith unto Him； If Thou be the Son of God； cast Thyself down： for it is written；
〃He shall give His angels charge concerning Thee： And in their hands they shall bear Thee up； Lest at any time Thou dash Thy foot against a stone。〃
Satan now supposes that he has met Jesus on His own ground。 The wily foe himself presents words that proceeded from the mouth of God。 He still appears as an angel of light； and he makes it evident that he is acquainted with the Scriptures； and understands the import of what is written。 As Jesus before used the word of God to sustain His faith； the tempter now uses it to countenance his deception。 He claims that he has been only testing the fidelity of Jesus； and he now commends His steadfastness。 As the Saviour has manifested trust in God； Satan urges Him to give still another evidence of His faith。
But again the temptation is prefaced with the insinuation of distrust； 〃If Thou be the Son of God。〃 Christ was tempted to answer the 〃if；〃 but He refrained from the slightest acceptance of the doubt。 He would not imperil His life in order to give evidence to Satan。
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The tempter thought to take advantage of Christ's humanity； and urge Him to presumption。 But while Satan can solicit； he cannot compel to sin。 He said to Jesus； 〃Cast Thyself down；〃 knowing that he could not cast Him down； for God would interpose to deliver Him。 Nor could Satan force Jesus to cast Himself down。 Unless Christ should consent to temptation； He could not be overcome。 Not all the power of earth or hell could force Him in the slightest degree to depart from the will of His Father。
The tempter can never compel us to do evil。 He cannot control minds unless they are yielded to his control。 The will must consent； faith must let go its hold upon Christ； before Satan can exercise his power upon us。 But every sinful desire we cherish affords him a foothold。 Every point in which we fail of meeting the divine standard is an open door by which he can enter to tempt and destroy us。 And every failure or defeat on our part gives occasion for him to reproach Christ。
When Satan quoted the promise； 〃He shall give His angels charge over Thee；〃 he omitted the words； 〃to keep Thee in all Thy ways；〃 that is； in all the ways of God's choosing。 Jesus refused to go outside the path of obedience。 While manifesting perfect trust in His Father； He would not place Himself； unbidden； in a position that would necessitate the interposition of His Father to save Him from death。 He would not force Providence to come to His rescue； and thus fail of giving man an e