And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men. Acts 19:18, 19.
By burning their books on magic, the Ephesian converts showed that the things in which they had once delighted they now abhorred. It was by and through magic that they had especially offended God and imperiled their souls; and it was against magic that they showed such indignation…. By retaining these books the disciples would have exposed themselves to temptation; by selling them they would have placed temptation in the way of others. They had renounced the kingdom of darkness, and to destroy its power they did not hesitate at any sacrifice. Thus truth triumphed over men’s prejudices and their love of money…. The influence of what had taken place was more widespread than even Paul realized. From Ephesus the news was widely circulated, and a strong impetus was given to the cause of Christ. Long after the apostle himself had finished his course, these scenes lived in the memory of men and were the means of winning converts to the gospel.
It is fondly supposed that heathen superstitions have disappeared before the civilization of the twentieth century. But the word of God and the stern testimony of facts declare that sorcery is practiced in this age as verily as in the days of the old-time magicians. The ancient system of magic is, in reality, the same as what is now known as modern spiritualism. Satan is finding access to thousands of minds by presenting himself under the guise of departed friends….
The magicians of heathen times have their counterpart in the spiritualistic mediums, the clairvoyants, and the fortunetellers of today…. Could the veil be lifted from before our eyes, we should see evil angels employing all their arts to deceive and to destroy. Wherever an influence is exerted to cause men to forget God, there Satan is exercising his bewitching power…. The apostle’s admonition to the Ephesian church should be heeded by the people of God today: “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”
Conflict and Courage p. 343
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Prayer Requests
—–update—The surgery went well, and Buddy is back in ICU. Praise the Lord! Thank you for your prayers and support through this trying time. Pray for a quick recovery and restoration of health so that Buddy can continue his ministry in the church and in the community. He touches many lives. Donna
—– please pray for Francisca as she been gone to _____ cancer hospital… She was diagnosed with breast cancer. May the Lord will be done. Jenny
—–update—I want to thank all of you for your prayers regarding Rick. God has answered our prayers and healed Rick. They can not find any sign of blood poising and Rick is being send home. Thank you. Leonard
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Dear Friends,
Esther has an English Cockerspaniel named Jack that is at least ten years old. He is such a sweet dog and so good with the children. He has a couple of bad habits, however, that cause him great pain. He loves to chase rabbits, cats, squirrels, or any other little critter he happens to see. When he was younger, that was not a problem, but now that he is getting older, he is starting to have trouble with his joints. Rabbit chasing causes him to have to take medicine from the vet and to limp around painfully for days. Rather than realize what his trouble is and stop doing it, just as soon as he is feeling better he will go back to his chasing ways.
How often we are like Jack. Some little forbidden pleasure can cause us heartache and pain, yet we do it over and over again. Like Jack, we seem unable to reason from cause to effect. Over and over we fall into the same sin and suffer for it. We are as Solomon observed, “As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.” Peter agrees, “”The dog is turned to his own vomit again’ and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” 2 Peter 2:22
Jeremiah tells us that our Heavenly Father “doth not afflict willingly nor grieve that children of men.” Lam 3:33. So true. Like Jack, most of our problems stem from our own doing. Like Jack, we suffer because we refuse to change. Our dear Saviour pleads with us, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?” Eze 33:11
May we turn from those old habits and sins that cause us pain and trouble. May we “put off the former conversation [conduct] the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts” by which we are tempted by the enemy of souls. Eph 4:22 May we determine to “walk in newness of life”is my prayer. Romans 6:4
Rose
Profitable Bonfire