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TOPIC: Gordon, Samuel Dickey - Quiet Talks About the Tempter (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: 076. A Narrow Path
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A Narrow Path
Then there is the second finger-post—there must be no self-seeking in us. Self-seeking is the Satan-spirit. Through the self-seeking spirit in us, he gets a free hand to do what he chooses. And here we are just as helpless in ourselves as on the first item. Yet there is a way of victory here, too, and not a difficult way for the earnest man. We can yield the control of our daily life to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will burn the old self-spirit out. The blood of Jesus Christ to wash the sin out, the fire of the Holy Spirit to burn the self-spirit out—this is the sure way of victory here; it is the only way, but it is an unfailing way.
There needs to be the most rigorous discipline here. I do not mean in a morbid, extreme way, but simply a sane, sensible choosing to keep out of your life whatever comes from this source. And the quiet daily touch alone with the Master will cultivate your good sense to know what is to be kept out, or taken in. Whatever of the old self-spirit is allowed in will make just so much less the victory of your life.
And the third finger-post is this—simple, full obedience to the Master's will for you. Obedience is the one pathway of power. We should serve less and obey more, or rather, we should do no serving save as it comes in obeying the Voice. When will the Church learn to put obedience before service! When it does there will come new power and new triumphs.
Yet, mark keenly, obedience to be intelligent and wise means a clear vision. Moses, killing the Egyptian, was zealous, but he hadn't a clear vision. Paul, persecuting the Christians was full of zeal, but he hadn't a clear vision? Elijah depressed under the juniper tree, Peter refusing to eat with the Gentile Christians at Antioch—these men were earnest, but they lacked the clear vision. The secret of victory is this—a clear vision of God's purposes, and of His plan for you, and then a faithful steady unflinching obedience to that vision. The tempter can do nothing with or against the man who obeys. This is a sure road to victory.