Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Matthew 7:15.
In the work in which my husband and I were called by the providence of God to act a part, even from its very beginning in 1843 and 1844, we have had the Lord to devise and plan for us, and He has worked out His plans through His living agents. False paths have been so often pointed out to us, and the true and safe paths so clearly defined in all the enterprises connected with the work given us to do, that I can say of a truth I am not ignorant of Satan’s devices, nor of the ways and works of God. We have had to tax every power of mind, relying upon wisdom from God to guide us in our investigations, as we have had to review the different theories brought to our attention, weighing their merits and defects in the light shining from the Word of God and the things God has revealed to me through His Word and the testimonies, in order that we might not be deceived nor deceive others. We surrendered our will and way to God, and most earnestly supplicated His aid; and we never sought in vain. Many years of painful experience in connection with the work of God have made me acquainted with all kinds of false movements. Many times I have been sent to different places with the message, “I have a work for you to do in that place; I will be with you.” When the occasion came, the Lord gave me a message for those who were having false dreams and visions, and in the strength of Christ I bore my testimony at the Lord’s bidding. . . .
During the past forty-five years, I have had to meet persons claiming to have from God messages of reproof to others. This phase of religious fanaticism has sprung up again and again since 1844. Satan has worked in many ways to establish error. Some things spoken in these visions came to pass; but many things–in regard to the time of Christ’s coming, the end of probation, and the events to take place–proved utterly false. . . .
“Take heed therefore how ye hear” (Luke 8:18), is an admonition of Christ. . . . Examine closely, “prove all things” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). . . . This is the counsel of God; shall we heed it?
Maranatha p. 155
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Prayer Requests
——Please pray for Susan who lost her mother yesterday. Pray for the family as well.
—–Prayers for Heather (she didn’t feel well this weekend) that she gets better soon. Kimberly
—–Abi as relapsed – not sure of a diagnosis yet. Going to have an x-ray of her chest and other tests. Please pray for her. Also keep Joann in prayer . she drove to her DR”s office after experiencing heart problems she walked into the DR office told them she need help and collapsed in a chair . they called the ambulance and took her across the street to the hospital.she has syncope where she faints with her heart not functioning correctly. I’m in need of prayer as I am having an artificial thumb joint put in on the 19th. Mary
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Dear Friends,
When our children were little, they used to love to have us play hide-and-seek with them. Most of the time, this was played in the house as a rainy-day game. When they were very little, they would hide in some rather obvious spots, but we would pretend not to see them for awhile. They would crouch down and giggle, so it was very easy to find them. When it was our turn to hide, we would have to find an easy spot for them to find us. How happy they would be when they saw us. Ron always made it more fun by pretending to run back to “base” but making sure that he was running slow enough for them to catch him.
The Bible tells of a family who spent a lot of time with “hide-and-seek, only this was no game. Being found would have fatal consequences. The last half of 1 Samuel tells about this sad “game.” So much of David’s life was spent hiding from his father-in-law, Saul. During this time, he had a lot of time to think. His relationship with God was top priority. He knew that at any time Saul could find him and that would be the end of him and many of the men who followed him. As David thought upon his life, he remembered the many times God had protected him in the past. He acknowledged that his strength came from God. He loved God supremely and praised and worshipped Him with his whole heart. He had acted in accordance with God’s will and had turned from every evil way, yet, problems and trials did not go away. Even though he stayed close to His Creator, his father-in-law still hunted him like a wild animal. Through it all, he determined to serve God and had faith that the Great Redeemer would keep his feet from slipping. Through it all, God watched over him and protected him.
Just as David daily made sure that all was well between him and his Maker, so should we. We have an enemy who is hunting us down even more diligently than Saul was hunting for David. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 There is no hiding from him except by hiding in the safety of Jesus’ arms.
Peter advises us, “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:10,11 Paul adds , “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Phil 2:12,13 Speaking of his own example, he says, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Cor 9:27
How important it is that we, like David, make sure that all is right between us and our Redeemer. How critical it is for us to let nothing stand in our way of being right with God. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor 6:2 In these hours of probationary time, we have the opportunity not only to choose to serve our Dear Saviour, but we have the privilege to walk with him. There is no second chance. Jesus bids us, “thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.” Mark 12:30 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15 Solomon sums it up, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” Ecc 12:13,14
While there is still time, may we accept of the grace which our Loving Saviour so freely offers. May we serve Him with our whole heart; not from fear, but from a heart filled and overflowing with love and gratitude for His great sacrifice for us. May we make sure of our standing with our Great Creator, that we may never declare those chilling words, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” Jer 8:20
Rose