My Year with Owen #24

I will be sharing some John Owen quotes this year. The second book I'll be reading is Of Temptation: The Nature and Power of It.

Meet your temptation in its entrance with thoughts of faith concerning Christ on the cross; this will make it sink before you. Entertain no parley, no dispute with it, if you would not enter into it. ~ John Owen

Say, “‘ It is Christ that died’— that died for such sins as these.” This is called “taking the shield of faith to quench the fiery darts of Satan” (Eph. 6: 16). Faith does it by laying hold on Christ crucified, his love therein, and what from thence he suffered for sin. Let your temptation be what it will— be it unto sin, to fear or doubting for sin, or about your state and condition— it is not able to stand before faith lifting up the standard of the cross. ~ John Owen

Suppose the soul has been surprised by temptation, and entangled at unawares, so that now it is too late to resist the first entrances of it. What shall such a soul do that it be not plunged into it, and carried away with the power thereof? First, do as Paul did: beseech God again and again that it may “depart from you” (2 Cor. 12: 8). And if you abide therein, you shall certainly either be speedily delivered out of it, or receive a sufficiency of grace [so as] not to be foiled utterly by it. ~ John Owen

Second, fly to Christ, in a peculiar manner, as he was tempted, and beg of him to give you succor in this “needful time of trouble.” ~ John Owen

Third, look to him who has promised deliverance. Consider that he is faithful and will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able. Consider that he has promised a comfortable issue of these trials and temptations. Call all the promises to mind of assistance and deliverance that he has made; ponder them in your heart. And rest upon it, that God has innumerable ways that you know not of to give you in deliverance; ~ John Owen

Fourth, consider where the temptation, wherewith you are surprised, has made its entrance, and by what means and with all speed make up the breach. ~ John Owen

And, therefore, I shall show: (1) What it is to “keep the word of Christ’s patience,” that we may know how to perform our duty; and (2) How this will be a means of our preservation, which will establish us in the faith of Christ’s promise. ~ John Owen

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible