Counterfeits!

To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Isaiah 8:20.
The people of God are directed to the Scriptures as their safeguard against the influence of false teachers and the delusive power of spirits of darkness. Satan employs every possible device to prevent men from obtaining a knowledge of the Bible; for its plain utterances reveal his deceptions. At every revival of God’s work the prince of evil is aroused to more intense activity; he is now putting forth his utmost efforts for a final struggle against Christ and His followers. The last great delusion is soon to open before us. Antichrist is to perform his marvelous works in our sight. So closely will the counterfeit resemble the true that it will be impossible to distinguish between them except by the Holy Scriptures. By their testimony every statement and every miracle must be tested. . . .
The man who makes the working of miracles the test of his faith will find that Satan can, through a species of deceptions, perform wonders that will appears to be genuine miracles.
Satan is a cunning worker, and he will bring in subtle fallacies to darken and confuse the mind and root out the doctrines of salvation. Those who do not accept the Word of God just as it reads, will be snared in his trap.
Evil angels are upon our track every moment. . . . They assume new ground and work marvels and miracles in our sight. . . .
Some will be tempted to receive these wonders as from God. The sick will be healed before us. Miracles will be performed in our sight. Are we prepared for the trial which awaits us when the lying wonders of Satan shall be more fully exhibited? Will not many souls be ensnared and taken? By departing from the plain precepts and commandments of God, and giving heed to fables, the minds of many are preparing to receive these lying wonders. We must all now seek to arm ourselves for the contest in which we must soon engage. Faith in God’s word, prayerfully studied and practically applied, will be our shield from Satan’s power and will bring us off conquerors through the blood of Christ.
Maranatha p. 156
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for Peter, age 3, who broke out in hives yesterday and has more today. The doctor gave him prednizone and benadryl. As soon as the benadryl wears off, they come back. Please pray that we can figure out the cause. Rose
—–I am having a mitral valve repair which is requiring open heart surgery Wednesday, January 14. The prognosis is great and the doctors expect that my heart will be back functioning at 100% and that I will be better than ever. Thank you for praying and agreeing with me for a perfect procedure and a speedy and complete recovery. Jerry
—–Please pray for Tyler who was severely injured in a fireworks explosion. SM
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Dear Friends,
My Aunt Joyce loved children.  Whenever she was at church or anywhere that a baby might be, she would be the one carrying it around or baby-sitting it. When I was born, she was delighted. Now she had a baby to love and care for right in her own home. Auntie Joyce spent much of her paycheck on me. She wanted me to have the best.  Yet, no matter what wonderful thing she bought, I had much more fun playing with the box that it came in. You can imagine how she felt. She had worked hard for her money, and planned and saved to get me the best toys to play with, but I just set them aside and played with its worthless container.
How easy it is for us to do the same with God’s gifts. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17  He “maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”  Matt 5:45  Daily He lavishes His blessings upon us, yet we act as if these blessings were our right and something we deserve.   How it must break His Great Heart of Love when we take these gifts for granted.
How often we are content to “play with the box” and do not ask for those gifts He is just waiting to shower upon us.  Our Dear Saviour bids us, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”
 Luke 11:9-13; John 15:7 
Sadly, we do not receive half the spiritual, physical, or material blessings that God longs to bestow upon us, because if He gave them to us, we would not even recognize that they came from our Loving Creator. David sang, “Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually. Remember his marvelous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth.” 1 Chron 16:8-12 “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” Ps 107:8  Paul writes, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thes 5:18
Thankfulness brings a great blessing upon ourselves.  With thankfulness within us and upon our lips, how our heart will swell with joy and love for our Great Redeemer! How we will long to do those things that are pleasing in His sight. Our greatest joy will be to follow Him! Our thoughts will be filled with His praises. Our tongue will speak of His goodness. The trials and perplexities of life will fade as we focus upon His self-sacrificing love for us. We will have the “peace of God, which passeth all understanding.”  Phil 4:7
May we be quick to recognize God’s blessings each day. May His praise continually be upon our lips. May we our heart swell with love for our Dear Saviour Who gave Himself for us that we might be saved.
Rose