To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Isaiah 8:20.
The miracle-working power manifested through spiritualism will exert its influence against those who choose to obey God rather than men. Communications from the spirits will declare that God has sent them to convince the rejecters of Sunday of their error, affirming that the laws of the land should be obeyed as the law of God. They will lament the great wickedness in the world and second the testimony of religious teachers that the degraded state of morals is caused by the desecration of Sunday. Great will be the indignation excited against all who refuse to accept their testimony.
Those who oppose the teachings of spiritualism are assailing, not men alone, but Satan and his angels. They have entered upon a contest against principalities and powers and wicked spirits in high places. Satan will not yield one inch of ground except as he is driven back by the power of heavenly messengers. The people of God should be able to meet him, as did our Saviour, with the words: “It is written.” Satan can quote Scripture now as in the days of Christ, and he will pervert its teachings to sustain his delusions. Those who would stand in this time of peril must understand for themselves the testimony of the Scriptures.
Many will be confronted by the spirits of devils personating beloved relatives or friends and declaring the most dangerous heresies. These visitants will appeal to our tenderest sympathies and will work miracles to sustain their pretensions. We must be prepared to withstand them with the Bible truth that the dead know not anything and that they who thus appear are the spirits of devils.
Satanic agencies in human form will take part in this last great conflict to oppose the building up of the kingdom of God. And heavenly angels in human guise will be on the field of action. The two opposing parties will continue to exist till the closing up of the last great chapter in this world’s history.
Maranatha p. 167
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PRAYER REQUESTS
—–I have several prayer requests—Tammy: had emergency surgery and a transfusion; she writes, “because our God is awesome, my son will wake up with his mommy and daddy; I still have a rocky road ahead since I’m no longer on blood thinners so please keep the prayers coming”.—A CO City: on Friday evening there will be a medium speaking to people to try to draw them to the devil; a young teenage girl wants people to pray against this and is asking for prayers and help passing out literature about the true state of the dead; thank you for joining them in praying against this atrocity.—AMY. TO HAVE A CONVERSION N WALK WITH GOD . Carol
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Dear Friends,
When we lived in southern Alabama, Ron and I decided to visit our parents. He went to visit his and I took Eileen, age 5, and drove to Florida to see my mother. Since we were both going to be gone for about two weeks, I took the food that was in the refrigerator to eat along the way. I did not want it to spoil. Unfortunately, we didn’t have an ice chest, so I decided to make one. I took a cardboard box, lined it with newspapers, put the food inside, and closed the box.
All went well for awhile, but somewhere in the panhandle of Florida, the car began to act strangely. It began to hesitate and sputter whenever it went up even the smallest hill and finally lost power altogether. I pulled the coasting car to the side of the road. It was like an oven inside the car, but we were afraid to get out because of some dogs nearby.
We began praying and eventually a man stopped to see if we were having trouble. I thought that he would take me to the next town, but he only promised to stop at the next garage and tell the mechanic about me. Perhaps he was afraid that someone would see him with a woman in the car and tell his wife. I began to think we were going to cook in that car, but still we could not get out. At long last, the mechanic came, towed us into town, and fixed the cracked distributor cap. It was only a minor problem and we soon were on our way.
When I reached my mother’s house, she was at work. I found the key she had hidden for me to use, let myself in, and unloaded the car. I carried the food inside and examined it carefully to make sure it was still OK. I had some lemon yogurt that still seemed to be cool, so I thought it would be OK to eat. Not long afterwards, I got very sick—sicker than I had ever been. I really needed help, but I didn’t know where my mother worked. I was too sick to get to the phone anyway. I sent Eileen over to Mary Esther’s house next door. She was not home. I felt like I was going to die. I was praying that I would not because Eileen needed me. Eventually, I began to feel a little better, but for the two weeks that I was there, I felt weak and poisoned and stayed in bed most of the time.
There is a way that is like that yogurt. It looks innocent enough and is even pleasurable, but it is full of poison to the soul. “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Prov 16:25 The evil one has a counterfeit way and many find themselves on that path. Jesus pleads, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matt 7:13-15
Jesus continues to explain, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 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. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” vs 16-20 So by their fruits we will be able to know if the messenger is true. What are these fruits? Jesus continues, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” vs 21-23 Often the messenger himself is deceived! How then can we know?
Isaiah gives us the answer. “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa 8:20 Here is the test. Here is the safeguard so we do not have to experience the broad way that leads to death. Everything must be tested by the Bible. We cannot always believe what we see. We cannot always believe what we hear. But we can believe God’s Word. And that Word will keep us on the right path which leads to eternal life. That Word tests the fruits, the doctrines, the actions, everything.
May we hide God’s Word deep within our heart that we may be able to discern truth from error. May we daily choose to follow Jesus on the rugged path that leads to Heaven. May we test everything by the Book of books, God’s Holy Word, that when Jesus comes in the clouds we can look up and say, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isa 25:9
Rose