O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called. 1 Timothy 6:20.
In New Hampshire there were those who were active in disseminating false ideas in regard to God. Light was given me that these men were making the truth of no effect by their ideas, some of which led to free-lovism. I was shown that these men were seducing souls by presenting speculative theories regarding God. . . .
Among other views, they held that those once sanctified could not sin, and this they were presenting as gospel food. Their false theories, with their burden of deceptive influence, were working great harm to themselves and to others. They were gaining a spiritualistic power over those who could not see the evil of these beautifully clothed theories. Great evils had already resulted. The doctrine that all were holy had led to the belief that the affections of the sanctified were never in danger of leading astray. The result of this belief was the fulfillment of the evil desires of hearts which, though professedly sanctified, were far from purity of thought and practice.
This is only one of the instances in which I was called upon to rebuke those who were presenting the doctrine of an impersonal god diffused through nature, and the doctrine of holy flesh.
In the future, truth will be counterfeited by the precepts of men. Deceptive theories will be presented as safe doctrines. False science is one of the agencies that Satan used in the heavenly courts, and it is used by him today. . . .
I beseech those who are laboring for God not to accept the spurious for the genuine. We have a whole Bible full of the most precious truth. We have no need for supposition or false excitement. In the golden censer of truth, as presented in Christ’s teachings, we have that which will convict and convert souls. Present in the simplicity of Christ the truths that He came to this world to proclaim, and the power of your message will make itself felt. Do not present theories or tests that have no foundation in the Bible.
Maranatha p. 134
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Prayer Requests
—– I am asking for a personal prayer for myself. I am struggling with some issues that I do not want to disclose at this time. I could use some serious prayer warrior friends to lift me up for. Kim
—–Please continue to pray for Brian as he conducts the week of prayer over in Macau. Also please pray for Eileen as she travels today. Rose
—— We are expecting a major storm to hit Wednesday night and last through at least Thursday. The prediction is for several inches of rain and high winds. The last time we had a storm of this magnitude (in 2008) we had a lot of downed trees, power outages and flooding. Please keep us in your prayers. Martha
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Dear Friends,
Many times as we are driving, we come upon road construction. This sometimes causes me to grumble because I have to slow down or stop because of the traffic trying to go from three lanes down to one or two. Although at the time, I don’t like the construction, I’m happy that the state of Kansas maintains their roads so well. It is rare to have to drive on a rough road, because as soon as there is a pothole or some other deterioration, they resurface it.
Not all Americans have such good roads. One time a few years ago, we were traveling in Ohio. We were really grumbling about driving conditions as most of the roads were very rough. There were pot holes everywhere so close together that they could not be avoided. I was worried about my tires and my alignment, but there was nothing that I could do but keep going through them.
As we were driving bumpily on the Interstate through a particular city, our car began to act as though it was not getting enough fuel. Then it died. I coasted to the side of the road. When I tried to restart it, we had no power. My emergency flashers were all that worked—-for a short while. Soon they, too, would not work. Unfortunately our cell phone was out of power because I had used it too much and had forgotten to bring the charger, so there was no way to call for help. Cars were whizzing by us, but no one stopped. Ronnie Jay spotted a police car on the other side of the highway. We thought that he would go to the next crossover and come and help us. He didn’t. After awhile, another police car went by on our side of the highway, and another. They didn’t stop. We began to think that we were going to be there forever. Since we could see that exit in the distance, Ronnie Jay decided that he and Esther could push us to the nearest exit. I wasn’t too sure I wanted them to, for I was afraid that they might get hit.
Just then, I saw another police car in the distance. Out of the car I jumped and waved him down. He stopped. He seemed annoyed but talked to us for a minute and called a wrecker. Then he explained that he was on his way to a call and could not stay. After about a half an hour the wrecker came and towed us to a mechanic. The problem was found. Because of the rough roads, something shook loose in the alternator and had shorted it out. This short had burned the connector that supplied the power from the alternator to the rest of the engine. An alternator is only a small put of the engine, but without it, the car cannot run.
How often it is that way with us spiritually. We can be going along the bumpy road of life, grumbling a bit but thinking that all is well until some trouble or trial comes upon us. Then we see that something is not right inside. It may be only a little thing that we have allowed within, but it has shaken loose our connection with our Dear Saviour. It may be a duty neglected, or a lack of spiritual growth through our own carelessness, or it may be a cherished sin that we refuse to give up. Whatever the problem, it has its effect on our lives. Whatever it is, it will keep us from receiving the power from On High that we need so much.
James tells us, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” James 2:10 We exclaimed as did the disciples, “Who then can be saved?” Matt 19:25 “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” vs. 26 Without our dear Saviour, we are weak and sinful and spiritually blind. Of ourselves, we cannot stand perfect before Our Maker. “We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Isa 64:6 “The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.” 1:5,6
Praise God! We do not have to stay in that condition. We do not have to keep something within us that can shake loose and cause a spiritual short at any moment. “We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” 1 John 2:1; Titus 2:14 Think of it! Our Dear Saviour not only forgives us, He also cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:9) If we let Him, He will dwell within us and change us into His image. (Rev 3:20)
May we come to the Master Mechanic and allow Him to do His work within us. May we stay in connection with Him on the bumpy road of life. May we ever look “unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb 12:2
Rose