Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. Matthew 7:16, 17.
Before the final visitation of God’s judgments upon the earth, there will be, among the people of the Lord, such a revival of primitive godliness as has not been witnessed since apostolic times. The Spirit and power of God will be poured out upon His children. At that time many will separate themselves from those churches in which the love of this world has supplanted love for God and His Word. Many, both of ministers and people, will gladly accept those great truths which God has caused to be proclaimed at this time, to prepare a people for the Lord’s second coming. The enemy of souls desires to hinder this work; and before the time for such a movement shall come, he will endeavor to prevent it, by introducing a counterfeit. In those churches which he can bring under his deceptive power, he will make it appear that God’s special blessing is poured out; there will be manifest what is thought to be great religious interest….
Wherever men neglect the testimony of the Bible, turning away from those plain, soul-testing truths which require self-denial and renunciation of the world, there we may be sure that God’s blessing is not bestowed….
A wrong conception of the character, the perpetuity, and the obligation of the divine law, has led to errors in relation to conversion and sanctification, and has resulted in lowering the standard of piety in the church. Here is to be found the secret of the lack of the Spirit and power of God in the revivals of our time….
It is only as the law of God is restored to its rightful position that there can be a revival of primitive faith and godliness among His professed people. “Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16.
The Faith I Live By p.326
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray that His Name will be glorified and that Deb will be healed. Shari
—-Pray for believers in Kenya we are forced to register NIMS number and you can’t buy or selling or employed without that number. Jose
—-Tomorrow is Esther’s surgery. Please pray that all will go well. Rose
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Dear Friends,
Some years ago while she was in college, Esther and her classmates went on a short singing tour to Colorado. After a long day of travel, they arrived at their destination, changed into their choir garb, and warmed up their voices. Before they were to sing, Esther and a few others suggested to the teacher that they pray before their concert. He felt that there was no time for prayer and commented, “Since the songs we are singing are religious, they are our prayer.”
As they began their concert, they knew that something was not right. They did not sound as well as they normally did and had difficulty coming in on cue. In fact, one song was so bad that their teacher stopped them and started all over. By this time, both the students and the teacher knew why they were having all of the trouble.
The next day before the concert, the teacher began with prayer. What a difference in their singing. Everything went smoothly. Everyone’s voices sounded beautiful. They could feel the angels singing with them. They could feel God’s blessing upon their concert. What a difference prayer makes!
How important it is to sanctify with prayer all that we do, all that we say. If we do so, we will be able to feel God’s blessing upon us, He angels surround us. Paul advises, “Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thes 5:17, 18
We have a great privilege in prayer, for through it we come into the very presence of the King of the Universe. Whether we pray silently as did Nehemiah, cupbearer to a heathen king (Neh 1:11) or pray before a great multitude as did Solomon when he dedicated the temple (1 Kings 8), we can be assured that our Great Creator hears our prayer and will answer “abundantly above all that we ask or think.” Eph 3:20
Our Dear Saviour promises, ” If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” “And I say unto you, 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?” John 15:7; Luke 11:9-13
Think of it! Our Loving Father in Heaven is even now bending over His throne, waiting with longing desire to hear our prayer. His Great Heart of Love yearns to grant us our petitions as He sees fit. Sometimes we “ask amiss” (James 4:3) and do not receive that for which we ask, but we can know that He has heard and answered in the way that is best for us. Whether the Great Granter of Petitions answers with a “Yes,” a “No,” a “Wait awhile.” or a “Here’s something better;” we have the assurance “that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Heb 11:6
May we pray as did David, “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.” Ps 5:3 May we come to our Loving Redeemer telling Him all of our joys, all of our sorrows, all of our perplexities, all of our desires, laying them at His Nail-scarred Feet to be answered according to His will. May we “be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let [our] requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep [our] hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:6, 7
Rose

Revivals True and Counterfeit