We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12.
Our heavenly Father is presented to us in the character of Christ. In Him the veil is drawn aside which conceals the glory of God from our eyes. The Bible shows us God in His high and holy place, not in a state of inactivity, not in silence and solitude, but surrounded by ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands of holy intelligences, every one waiting to do His bidding, and taking cognizance of every wrong action against those who are the property of God….
Let those who manifest so little unselfish interest in the purchase of the blood of Christ remember that the Lord will treat them as indifferently as they have treated their fellow men in their trouble. Every act of injustice and robbery and oppression is written in the books. Everyone who takes advantage of human beings formed in God’s image is cooperating with the great enemy of God and man and he shall receive at the hand of God double for all these works. The work of Satan is continually driven on with terrible vindictiveness, and men participate with evil angels in wounding and bruising the souls of God’s people. The Lord sees; the Lord hears the cries of His children.
The Lord has not concealed from His followers the plan of the battle. He has presented before His people the great conflict, and He has given them words of encouragement. He charges them not to enter into the battle without counting the cost, while He assures them that they do not fight alone, but that supernatural agencies will enable the weak, if they trust in Him, to become strong against the vast confederacy of evil arrayed against them. He points them to the universe of heaven, and assures them that holy beings are wrestling against principalities and powers and the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual wickedness in high places.
The children of God are cooperating with all the invisible host of light. And more than angels are in their ranks; the Holy Spirit, the representative of the Captain of the Lord’s host, comes down to direct the battle. Our infirmities may be many, our mistakes and sins numerous, but forgiveness is for all who, with contrition of heart, will confess and forsake their sins. Angels of light are sent to render them all the help that is required.—Letter 102a, March 9, 1896, to O. A. Tait, at the time circulation manager of the Review and Herald.
The Upward Look p. 82
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray that God will take away D’s depression and other issues.
—–Please pray for my dear uncle. I just found out he could not be awakened by his caregiver at around 3 am this morning. Connie
—-Please pray for my son, he has been ill with a bacterial infection which starts to get well then comes right back. Becky
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Dear Friends,
Some years ago, we had gone another state to visit Esther where she was living at the time. As we were on the way back home, a winter storm hit the area. By the time we got to Colorado, we found that they were having an ice storm. It was like a skating rink. We stopped at a campground for the night (we were driving our camper) hoping that the next morning it would be better driving. It wasn’t.
As we drove along, we saw accident after accident (some of them severe). We were traveling between 25 and 45 miles per hour according to the road conditions. Cars would pass us like we were standing still. A few miles down the road, we would see some of those very cars in the ditch. It was interesting to watch the drivers around us as they also saw these accidents and mishaps. Many had been speeding from five to ten miles over what they should have been doing on the icy roads. After they would see an accident, they would slow down for awhile. After a few miles, however, their speed picked up once again and soon they, too, were in the ditch or upside-down in some field. It was as if they had forgotten what they had just seen a few minutes before. They did not heed the warning. They did not believe that it would happen to them.
God’s Holy Word contains warning after warning so that we do not have to end up in a spiritual ditch. Paul, speaking of the experience of the Children of Israel, declared, “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” 1 Cor 10:11, 12 As we read the Bible stories and meditate upon them, they serve as a warning to us.
Yet, how often we think that it will not be that way for us. We know what is right, but we don’t do it. We feel that we can get by with it. We fail to realize that if we disobey we will get hurt and have to learn the hard way.
God gives us the same choice that He gave Israel so many years ago. “Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God” Deut 11:26 Which will we choose today? God’s greatest desire is to bless us, but so often we turn away and want to do our own “thing”. How much grief that causes His great heart of love. His greatest desire is for us to love Him as He loves us
Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15 John tells us, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:2-4
Our Loving Creator pleads with us, “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, 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 “love the Lord (our)God with all (our) heart, and with all (our)soul, and with all (our) mind, and with all (our)strength: Mark 12:30 May we “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil 3:14 May we, each day, have joy and fellowship with our Loving Saviour Who gave Himself for us that we may dwell with Him forevermore.
Rose

The Plan of Battle Revealed