“Neither give place to the devil.” (Ephesians 4:27)

 

Halloween has long been claimed as the high, holy day of Satan worship. This is the day when witches and warlocks gather to praise their leader and extend his work on Earth. Festivities are marked by unprecedented evil and blasphemy, with blood sacrifices and hedonistic practices playing prominent parts.

 

To far too great an extent, Christian families participate in the same, with children (and parents, too) dressing up as demons, ghosts, skeletons, wizards, etc. We can only surmise how much pleasure Satan derives from this deception.

 

Satan, we must remember, is the “adversary . . . [who], as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8), and many times he disguises himself as “an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). We are to “resist [him] stedfast in the faith” (1 Peter 5:9), for, “resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

 

Although Satan is acknowledged to be “the prince of this world” (John 14:30), his doom is sure. “The God of peace shall bruise [literally crush] Satan under your feet shortly” (Romans 16:20). He will be “cast into the lake of fire and brimstone . . . and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).

 

Until the realization of that ultimate victory is gained, our mission on Earth is to “turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God” (Acts 26:18).

 

Accordingly, let us strive to see that his harmful influence is thwarted on this, his special day. The children of each community need protection from the evil influences boldly swarming this night. May we, ourselves, not fall prey to his dark deceptions, and especially in the lives of our children, may we focus their attention on the Light, instead.

ICR
Days of Praise

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.” (1 Timothy 2:1)

 

The book of 1 Timothy consists of various charges (1:18-19) to Paul’s disciple Timothy. The first charge (2:1-8) concerns prayer in the church. The fact that Paul mentions it “first of all” (v. 1) indicates that he felt it of primary importance. Note the four types of prayer in our text verse.

 

Supplications, or perhaps petitions, referring to one’s personal needs: We must recognize our continued dependence on God’s provision. “The effectual fervent prayer [same word] of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16).

 

Prayers: This is a general term with a number of applications, but foremost it indicates reverence for and worship of the one to whom the prayers are offered. “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting” (1 Timothy 2:8).

 

Intercessions: This word implies a personal bequest on an intimate basis, as child to father. The only other occurrence of the word regards the eating of food that “is sanctified by the word of God and prayer” (1 Timothy 4:5).

 

Giving of thanks: When we give thanks, we recognize that our blessings are undeserved. “Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever” (Revelation 7:12).

 

These types of prayers, which should probably be understood as representing all types of prayers, should be made “for all men,” specifically those in authority (v. 2) and for the unsaved (v. 4). Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will present our prayers to the Father (v. 5) and insure that He will answer them as He sees best.

Days of Praise
Institute for Creation Research

"..for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." Philippians 2:13

"Our sanctification can't be deterred. The same God who justifies, who wrought justification will bring about sanctification. That is an undeniable inevitability. It is God who is the one at work. The immutable, unchanging glorious sovereign majestic righteous holy gracious merciful God, the God who rules all things and always accomplishes His will is never frustrated, always does what He desires. The God who is never thwarted, He is at work in us.

Our god is a God who loves us with an everlasting love. He who holds toward us an eternal kindness, He alone keeps us with an everlasting covenant based on everlasting promises, He is a god whose gifts and callings are without repentance, a god who says that whom He justifies He glorifies, a god who sees us through to the end. Our creator, God, who unendingly, unswervingly commits Himself to us to supply all our needs in Christ Jesus, that God is the one in us. He is the strength of our life...the God who made the world, the God who upholds the world by the word of His power, the God who is sovereign over everything for all eternity,

He lives in us."

God at Work in You
John MacArthur

What an astounding realization.

As Joel Osteen writes yet one more “best seller” to be read by millions of “Christians” perhaps we should take a hard look at reality.

The reality is that most American church-goers need to grow in a sense of their unworthiness, not their supposed worthiness. They need to see what the old Puritan writers called “the exceeding sinfulness of sin.” Then perhaps we would see how much we need the Savior. Being forgiven much, we would love much.

The mark of biblical love is self-sacrifice, not self-esteem.

Young  born-again American believers are moving away from a biblically-centered worldview, with only one in three affirming that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven, according to Steve Cable, senior vice president of Probe Ministries.

“We need to admit there’s a problem,” Cable said at a session titled “What Do [Young] American Believers Really Believe and How Do We Save Them From Cultural Captivity?” at Southern Evangelical Seminary’s 20th annual Christian Apologetics conference in Charlotte, N.C.

“Don’t go around with your blinders thinking that everything is fine. We have a lot of people that aren’t born again, so there’s a lot of work to do. But then you look at those who claim to be born-agains and see that we have even more work to do.”

source - Christian Post

'...when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?'

When God takes us, He breaks us so that we might be conformed to the image of His Son.

Broken pieces of our lives lie scattered among the ashes of our former self. Pride, arrogance, selfishness, defiant attitudes, over time are chiseled away so that we might become more like our Master.

We are broken, but not shattered, bent and oft times bruised but never crushed, and always by the hand of a loving Father and always for our good. His desires are eternal, ours are temporal. He is our Father, our Saviour and our LORD.

In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.

God used the tears of a baby to move the heart of Pharaoh's daughter and ultimately free Israel.  God used a shepherd stick to work mighty miracles in Egypt.  God used a sling and a stone to conquer a whole nation.  God used a little girl to bring the great Naaman to the prophet Elisha.  God used a widow and her little meal to sustain that prophet.  God used a child to teach His disciples lessons on humility.  He used a donkey to speak the truth.  He used a small lunch to feed thousands of people. And He can use us if we will become as clay in the hand of the Potter.

gleaned from John MacArthur' sermon: Divine Sorrow over Spiritual Defection,

In an interview with atheist Italian journalist Eugenio Scalfari, Pope Francis said:

“Each of us has a vision of good and of evil. We have to encourage people to move towards what they think is good . . . Everyone has his own idea of good and evil and must choose to follow the good and fight evil as he conceives them. That would be enough to make the world a better place.

Church leaders “have often been narcissists” and “clericalism should not have anything to do with Christianity”

"The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness."  2 Thessalonians 2: 9-12

Fidgety, fearful and frustrated. Anxious and even angry. Shamefully, all emotions experienced this past week as I waited upon the LORD.

Wait,??. “I want what I want and I want it NOW. LORD, You don't understand.!!. What about this, what about that.??. But LORD...”

But He does understand. The One who formed the worlds with a Word. The One who numbered the hairs on our head and length of our days understands. The Giver and Sustainer of live understands.

It is when I forget He is the Potter, me the clay that anxieties come. It is when I set agendas and time lines, making my own plans, attempting to take the throne reserved for the King, that pressure builds and my life begins to unravel, wrinkle and curl up on the ends.

Waiting always involves the passing of time. Waiting patiently means we have confidence in God’s person: confidence in His wisdom, love, timing, understanding of our situation and that of the world. It means knowing and trusting in God’s principles, promises, purposes, and power. It means trusting our Father to do what is best for us at all times and in all ways.

There is a time to plow, a time to sow, and a time to reap, but never at the same time.

“Wait for the Lord; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:14

“The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

Teach me LORD to wait with patient expectation. Please Abba Father, teach me to wait.