Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7:13, 14.
Christ calls upon us to enter the narrow pathway, where every step means a denial of self. He calls upon us to stand upon the platform of eternal truth, and contend, yes, contend earnestly, for the faith once delivered to the saints. . . .
As we near the time when principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places will be fully brought into the warfare against the truth, when Satan’s deceptive power will be so great that, if it were possible, he would deceive the very elect, our discernment must be sharpened by divine enlightenment, that we may not be ignorant of Satan’s devices. . . . By giving us the cooperation of the holy angels, God has made it possible for our work to be . . . a glorious success. But success will seldom result from scattered effort. The united influence of all the members of the church is required.
The church today needs men who, like Enoch, walk with God, revealing Christ to the world. Church-members need to reach a higher standard. Heavenly messengers are waiting to communicate with those who have sunk self out of sight, whose lives are a fulfilling of the words, “I live; ye not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Of such men and women must the church be composed before her light can shine forth to the world in clear, distinct rays. Our views of the Sun of Righteousness are clouded by self-seeking. Christ is crucified afresh by many who through self-indulgence allow Satan to gain control over them. . . .
It is God’s purpose that all shall be tested and tried, that He may see whether they are loyal or disloyal to the laws that govern the kingdom of heaven. To the last, God permits Satan to reveal himself as a liar, an accuser, and a murderer. Thus the final triumph of His people is made more marked, more glorious, more full and complete.
Maranatha p. 110
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Prayer Requests
—– Niece’s baby was born with heart problem (see Facebook message attached), please pray for Hattie’s surgery early Tues, Nov 4, 2014. Linda J (Talked to the cardiologist today and Hattie’s surgery will be first on Tuesday so they will take her pretty early that morning if she doesn’t get bumped for some reason. She will have the Thoracotomy incision which the doctor and nurse both said will be much easier for her to recover from than going through the sternum! They will cut out the narrowed part of her aortic arch and then reconnect the 2 ends. She will be in the PICU for hopefully just a couple of days and then she’ll go back to the NICU to begin working again towards going home. We will be going through all those little step downs (off vent✅off oxygen✅off feeding tube✅) and eating all over again. The hope is that since she’s been doing so well since her first procedure with gaining weight everyday (she’s up to 7lbs 7.2oz from 7lbs 1oz when she was born) and eating like crazy that she’s that much stronger and it will all come back to her that much easier after surgery! )
—–Please continue to pray that D will soon find work. Things are at a critical point. L
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Dear Friends,
A few years ago, when we were camping by a river, we spent some of our time walking along the water’s edge. We noticed a light green plant growing on the sandy beach that we had not seen before. We stopped to look at it more closely. Most of them grew straight and tall, but the plants that were at the water’s edge were lying on their side. The wind was blowing the water into waves that were washing away the sand from under them, but those plants held on tightly to keep from being washed away. Long, white roots anchored them into the sandy shore. No matter how hard they were beaten, they could not be carried away into the river.
How often the trials and troubles of this old world beat upon us just as those waves were beating upon those plants. Just as those plants were rooted deeply into the shoreline, so we must be anchored deeply in God’s Holy Word in order to withstand the onslaughts of the evil one who is trying to shake our very foundation. Peter realized that God’s Holy Word is more reliable than what we can see with our eyes or hear with our ears. “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. [speaking of his experience on the Mount of Transfiguration Matt 17:1-9] We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:16-22 Paul adds, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Tim 3:16,17
God’s Holy Word is “is able to make [us] wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” vs 15 By beholding our Dear Saviour in its pages, ” we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Cor 3:18 “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. ” Ps 119:9-17
Anchoring deeply in the Word of God keeps us from being washed away by every wind of doctrine and theory of man; “that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” Eph 4:14-16 John warns us, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1 How can we try them? By comparing what they say and do by the precious Word of God. “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa 8:20
May we “study to show [ourselves] approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim 2:15 May we remember the works of the LORD and His wonders of old, meditating also upon all His work, and keep not silent but share with those we meet what we have learned of all His doings that they, too, may have an anchor in these troubling times. May our Dear Saviour grant us, “according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in [our] hearts by faith; that [we], being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that [we] might be filled with all the fullness of God” and be ready to meet Him when He comes to receive His own. Eph 3:16-19
Rose