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Page |
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Preface |
15 |
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Biographical sketch of the Author |
17 |
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Chapter 1: The Saint's Call to Arms |
23 |
I. |
THE CHRISTIAN'S CALL TO COURAGE |
24 |
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Cowardice vs. Courage |
25 |
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Sources of Christian Courage |
27 |
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1. An established knowledge of God's truth |
28 |
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2. A heart set in the right direction |
29 |
II. |
THE CHRISTIAN'S CALL TO SERVICE |
29 |
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Directives Issued |
29 |
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1. Renounce your bosom sins |
30 |
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2. Conform your life to Christ |
31 |
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3. Sidestep stumbling blocks |
32 |
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4. Trust God in every circumstance |
32 |
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5. Stay on course to the end of your life |
33 |
III. |
AN ADMONITION TO ‘BE STRONG IN THE LORD' |
33 |
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The Source of the Saint's Strength |
33 |
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The Significance of God's Strength |
36 |
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1. The nature of the saint's conscience |
36 |
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2. The character of the conscience |
37 |
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3. The nature of God's plan |
38 |
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4. The nature of God |
40 |
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A Solemn Warning |
41 |
IV. |
AN ADMONITION TO APPROPRIATE ‘THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT' |
42 |
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What Is ‘The Power of His Might'? |
42 |
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Appropriating God's Power |
42 |
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Three Reasons for Trusting God's Power |
43 |
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1. His past record |
43 |
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2. Your present dilemma |
44 |
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3. His eternal desire |
45 |
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The Fivefold Bond Securing God's Power |
47 |
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1. His near kinship to the saints |
47 |
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2. His dear love for the saints |
48 |
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3. His everlasting covenant |
49 |
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4. His self-imposed obligation |
49 |
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5. His interceding Son |
50 |
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Occasions for Using God's Power |
50 |
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1. When weighed down by sin |
52 |
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2. When overpowered by temptation |
53 |
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3. When oppressed by Christian duty |
54 |
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Four Reasons Why God's Power Is Sometimes Hidden |
55 |
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1. You may have overlooked God's power |
55 |
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2. God may have purposely delayed His power |
56 |
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3. The cause of hindrance of the blessing may be in yourself |
57 |
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4. God may call you to persevere in the face of overwhelming odds |
58 |
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Chapter 2: First Consideration: The Saint's Armour |
59 |
I. |
THE CHRISTIAN MUST BE ARMED |
59 |
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The Armed Saint – His Divine Provisions |
60 |
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1. Christ as armour |
60 |
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2. The graces of Christ as armour |
60 |
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The Unarmed Sinner – His Dim Prospects |
60 |
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1. Alienation from God |
61 |
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2. Ignorance |
62 |
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3. Impotency |
63 |
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4. Friendship with sin and Satan |
63 |
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The Enemy – His Diabolical Plan |
64 |
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1. The natural inclination of man's soul |
64 |
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2. The supernatural malice of Satan |
65 |
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The Armour – Its Creator |
66 |
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1. God is the sole designer of His saints' armour |
66 |
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2. God makes His saints' armour and trains them in its proper use |
68 |
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The Armour – Its Various Parts |
69 |
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1. All the parts together cover the whole saint, soul and body |
70 |
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2. Each piece has a special function |
70 |
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3. Each piece is complete and perfect |
74 |
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Our Graces – Why We Must Perfect Them |
74 |
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1. Because our graces can sustain injury |
74 |
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2. Because Satan is still perfecting his wrath and skill |
75 |
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3. Because we fulfill God's purpose when we grow in grace |
75 |
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The Armour – Its Proper Use |
76 |
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1. The armour must be put on |
76 |
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2. The armour must be kept on |
76 |
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The Armour – Its Proper Place |
80 |
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Final Exhortation |
80 |
II. |
WHY THE CHRISTIAN MUST BE ARMED |
81 |
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The Danger if Unarmed |
81 |
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Satan as Tempter to Sin |
82 |
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1. Satan chooses when to tempt |
83 |
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2. Satan chooses how to tempt |
85 |
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3. Satan chooses what or whom to use as the instruments of temptation |
89 |
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Warning |
93 |
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Precautions |
95 |
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1. Ask God for counsel |
95 |
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2. Know your heart |
95 |
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3. Read God's Word attentively |
95 |
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Satan as Accuser of Sin |
96 |
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1. Satan accuses the saints of his own wicked thoughts |
97 |
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2. Satan exaggerates the saints' sins |
98 |
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3. Satan appoints himself both judge and jury to try the saints |
100 |
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4. Satan tries to rob the saints of their covenant promise |
101 |
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The Saint's Proper Reaction to Satan's Accusations |
103 |
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1. Let his accusations make you more careful |
103 |
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2. Let them make you more humble |
103 |
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3. Let them show you the fallacy of his logic |
103 |
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God's Perfect Response to Satan's Accusations |
105 |
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1. God uses Satan's own schemes to make His saints wise |
105 |
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2. God uses Satan's tricks to make His saints thankful |
107 |
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3. God uses the devil's wiles to make His saints wary |
107 |
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The Saint's Fortification |
108 |
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1. Beware of Satan as a seducer |
108 |
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2. Cling to God's promise of justification |
109 |
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3. Avoid entrapment |
109 |
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4. Maintain assurance of salvation |
111 |
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The Assurance of Victory if Armed |
113 |
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Satan's Damnation |
114 |
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1. The curse that lies upon Satan |
114 |
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2. The limits God places upon Satan |
115 |
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Satan's Intentions and God's Intervention |
116 |
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1. Satan's intention: to defile the saint's conscience |
117 |
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2. Satan's intention: to defile other saints |
118 |
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3. Satan's intention: to defile the saint's relationship with God |
119 |
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Chapter 3: Second Consideration: The Nature of the War and the Character of the Enemy |
124 |
I. |
THE NATURE OF THE WAR |
124 |
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Why Saints Must Wrestle |
124 |
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1. The sharpness of combat |
124 |
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2. The universality of combat |
126 |
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3. The duration of combat |
126 |
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How Not to Wrestle |
128 |
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1. Do not wrestle against God's Spirit |
128 |
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2. Do not wrestle against God's providence |
129 |
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3. Do not wrestle by your own rules |
130 |
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How to Wrestle |
131 |
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1. Enlist God as your second |
131 |
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2. Stay in training |
132 |
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3. Use your advantage wisely |
132 |
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A Word of Encouragement to Wrestlers |
133 |
II. |
THE CHARACTER OF THE ENEMY |
134 |
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The Saint's Minor Assailants: ‘Flesh and Blood' |
134 |
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1. Our inner corruptions |
134 |
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2. Human beings |
136 |
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The Saint's Chief Assailants: Evil Spirits |
141 |
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1. Their system of government |
141 |
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(a) Satan's claim to his throne |
143 |
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(b) God's present concession to Satan's claim |
144 |
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(c) How to test your true allegiance |
146 |
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2. Their powers |
151 |
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3. Their kingdom (‘the darkness of this world') |
161 |
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(a) Why sin is described as darkness |
166 |
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(b) Why those in darkness are under Satan's rule |
168 |
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(c) Warning to beware of Satan's tricks |
170 |
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(d) The blinding power of ignorance |
172 |
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(e) Warning to beware of ignorance |
174 |
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(f) The way to knowledge |
181 |
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4. Their nature (‘spiritual wickedness') |
186 |
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(a) The importance of understanding the nature of devils |
193 |
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(b) Spiritual wickedness in the saints: the cause and the cure |
195 |
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(i) Sin in the heart |
196 |
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(ii) Sins about spiritual topics |
201 |
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Errors involving spiritual principles |
201 |
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Pride |
205 |
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(c) A final thought on spiritual wickedness |
223 |
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5. The grounds of war (‘in high places,' or ‘for heavenly things') |
225 |
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(a) The saint's heavenly calling |
225 |
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(b) A call worth fighting for |
228 |
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(c) A word of caution to those who desire a heavenly prize |
231 |
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(d) A practical note – on the folly of pursuing earthly things |
234 |
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(e) A final word about our heavenly prize |
238 |
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Chapter 4: Third Consideration: A Second Exhortation to be Armed |
240 |
I. |
THE EXHORTATION AND THE IMPLICATION |
240 |
|
First Observation: The Implications of a Repeated Admonition |
240 |
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Imperative truths |
241 |
|
Second Observation: The Need to Inspect and Repair Your Graces |
245 |
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1. Why your graces must be kept in good repair |
245 |
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2. Who suffers when your grace diminishes |
247 |
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3. How to know whether or not your grace is declining |
250 |
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4. How to recover from declining grace |
254 |
II. |
REASONS FOR THE EXHORTATION |
258 |
|
The Hour of Battle |
258 |
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1. The nature and quality of evil and the ‘evil day' |
260 |
|
2. The certainty of an evil day |
263 |
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3. The necessity of armour to withstand the evil day |
265 |
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4. Directions for preparing for the evil day |
267 |
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The Requirements for a Happy Outcome of the War |
269 |
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1. The necessity of perseverance |
271 |
|
2. The necessity of divine armour to persevere |
272 |
|
3. Why the unregenerate cannot persevere |
273 |
|
4. The certainty of persevering if armed |
276 |
|
5. The promised result of perseverance |
281 |
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Chapter 5: Fourth Consideration: The Position to be Maintained in the Fight |
285 |
I. |
STAND – DO NOT FLEE OR YIELD |
285 |
|
Scripture Expressly Commands it |
286 |
|
God Supplies Armour Sufficient for the Battle |
287 |
|
The Christian's Safety Lies in Resisting |
288 |
|
The Enemy is Overcome Only by Force |
289 |
|
1. Satan is a cowardly enemy |
289 |
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2. Satan is an encroaching enemy |
290 |
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3. Satan is an accusing enemy |
291 |
II. |
STAND IN YOUR OWN PLACE – DO NOT USURP ANOTHER'S |
291 |
|
Five Considerations to Persuade All to Stand |
294 |
|
1. You lose God's approval when you leave your appointed place to work outside your calling |
294 |
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2. You lose God's protection when you ignore His restrictions as to place and calling |
295 |
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3. God does not hold you accountable for another man's work |
297 |
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4. You suffer needlessly when you bear burdens God never intended you to carry |
297 |
|
5. A flighty spirit usually carries men out of their place and calling |
298 |
III. |
STAND – DO NOT SLEEP |
301 |
|
Why the Christian Must Remain Wakeful |
302 |
|
1. The Christian's work is too important and demanding to be done while half asleep, or in a half-hearted fashion |
302 |
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2. Watchfulness reaps advantages for the Christian |
303 |
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How to Stand and Watch |
304 |
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1. Watch constantly |
304 |
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2. Watch universally |
306 |
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3. Watch wisely |
307 |
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