Matt. 4:1-11.

In order to keep ourselves pure and to live a victorious life, it is important to keep an eye on our bitter enemy. It is like this in a physical war, and it is also like this in a spiritual war. We must be aware that Satan wants to destroy us.

After Jesus had fasted for forty days, He eventually became hungry. “And in those days He ate nothing.” Luke 4:2.

Matthew 4:3. “Now when the tempter came to Him he said, ‘If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.’”

It is also written that we shall eat bread by the sweat of our brow. Imagine if it was so simple that we could command stones to become bread. Then many other temptations would also overpower us.

In verses 5 and 6 Jesus was tempted further. The next thing people are tempted to is to perform “tricks.” We can see how much people want to do this. In 1907 many people lived God-fearing lives, but there were also many who wanted to “perform tricks” by speaking in tongues and prophesying, one against another. Anyone who is not poor in Spirit will want to perform tricks. They want to make themselves out to be greater than they actually are.

“Again the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.’” Verse 8. This is no small thing. Think, He was offered all the glory and riches of the world!

Ezek. 28:13-19. Note that Satan has not lost his gifts. He can still charm people. Everything that is grand, everything that is great, everything that is highly esteemed draws admiration because the glory of Satan is in it. “I laid you before kings.” Ezek. 28:17. When a king holds a feast, those who are invited adorn themselves with their medals and honors. The king wants to see the most glorious things in the kingdom, and there Satan is present with his charms. Satan is a magician. He can beguile people and make everything appear different from what it really is. Satan, the fallen cherub, is present and beguiles people wherever there is no poverty of spirit. He is present then, and he blocks out anything that is undesirable. Do you really think that someone who is poor in spirit will attain to the heights in this world? You must make use of Satan, of the ability to exalt yourself, and of his charming protection if you want to attain a place there. If you do not do this, you will probably get the bread of adversity, but you will never make it to the top. We can be extremely thankful to God that we have come to the glorious mountain of God, from which the fallen cherub has been cast down; there we cannot be harmed. Recently we have read in the newspapers about the great Kreuger catastrophe. In Ezekiel 28:18 it is written, “I turned you to ashes upon the earth.” That is the way it has gone with this great man. In the midst of glory and splendor, the fire of righteousness arises and consumes. Never seek to move up in this world by unrighteous means. Eventually God’s fire will come and consume. Rather let us willingly burn all our bridges; let us come to Mount Zion. If we want to stay where God is, we must endure the fire over our old “I.” He Himself, our God, is a consuming fire. Heb. 12:29. Let us live in such a way that we will remain standing before the Son of Man, who is the Judge of all. The reason we gather for conferences is to remind each other of these things. Let us keep our eyes open so we come to know our adversary. Not in order to remain with him, but so we can see him and beware of him. May God richly bless the rest of the conference.

James 1:15-16.

It is a little difficult to begin the meeting. People are used to a preacher doing this; but anyone who has anything to do with the light should be able to be a priest before God.

When desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. If things go this far, God will not want to have anything to do with you until the Last Day. Then He will judge you. The Law of the Spirit judges everything that comes from the flesh. We need to have this Spirit in our hearts—the Spirit that stands on resurrection ground after having put the flesh to death. No matter how long I have been a believer, it is of no help to me unless I obey the Holy Spirit. No other religion or Christianity on this earth is of any value, except this: that we are continually delivered to death with Christ, so we can conquer powers and principalities on the cross with Him. Many people boast of their baptism of the Spirit and that they speak in tongues and prophesy; however, this does not help unless you obey this Spirit. The Law of the Spirit must prevail. Jesus says that He came to do the will of His Father. Whoever obeys the Holy Spirit will soon recognize and understand that Jesus lived in the world with the same flesh as us.

Rom. 1:1-4. Jesus was born of the seed of David according to the flesh. He had to deny the will of this flesh which He had inherited. Those who believe and live in the same way have Jesus’ life and nature revealed in them. Jesus was tempted. If He had not been tempted, there would not have been anything great about His work. No, let me tell you, Jesus was truly tempted, and He suffered in temptation. But people would rather sin than suffer. If you know nothing about being tempted or about saying “no” in the temptation, then you are not a God-fearing person; neither should you stand up in this assembly and preach God’s Word. You are to remain steadfast in the body, and you are to be tested and be victorious. You are to be presented on that Day where some will shine as the sun and some as the stars. There you will shine to the degree that you have overcome here. Let us make sure that we get something out of our life. It is vital to preach obedience to the faith. Who in these days preaches obedience to the faith? If we are not able through our labor to lead people to the obedience to the faith, we may just as well pack up and leave. Do not fear though the enemies rise up like Goliaths. Though their foreheads are ten meters thick, the stone you throw with the sling of faith will penetrate. Do not fear the adversaries. The very fact that you do not fear is proof to them that they will be destroyed. Just endure no matter how strong the resistance becomes.