Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 1 John 2:18.
The enemy is preparing for his last campaign against the church. He has so concealed himself from view that many can hardly believe that he exists, much less can they be convinced of his amazing activity and power.
Man is Satan’s captive and is naturally inclined to follow his suggestions and do his bidding. He has in himself no power to oppose effectual resistance to evil. It is only as Christ abides in him by living faith that man may venture to face so terrible a foe. Every other means of defense is utterly vain. It is only through Christ that Satan’s power is limited. This is a momentous truth that all should understand. Satan is busy every moment, going to and fro, walking up and down in the earth, seeking whom he may devour. But the earnest prayer of faith will baffle his strongest efforts. Read the rest of this entry »
Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. Psalms 32:9
Men need to become better acquainted with themselves and be discerning in regard to their own weak points of character, and then make every effort to strengthen these points, for God makes this their duty. No one should lean wholly upon another’s mind; but as God’s free agent, each should ask wisdom of him. When the learner depends in a large degree upon another man’s thoughts and goes no farther than to accept his plans, he sees only through that man’s eyes, and is so far only an echo of the other.
God will, by his own Spirit, work directly through the mind he has put in man, if the man will only give him a chance to work, and will recognize his dealings with him. God designs that men shall use their minds and consciences for Read the rest of this entry »
In life there are many turning points and new beginnings. Opportunities to change, and improve our characters; New Years is one of them and everyday is the opportunity we most often receive.
Every year I read many books of the Bible, yet, somehow every year along with those books, I read Psalm and Proverbs again. God’s word is a never ending fountain that continues to give no matter how many times you’ve read a certain passage. Each time you read is a new opportunity for the Holy Spirit to reveal something pertaining to your soul. As I was reading, I read Psalm 52, which seems short and perhaps not too important considering it’s one of David’s “rants” and complaints against the “mischevious man” with the “deceitful tongue”. The way the chapter ended, however, impacted me.
Psalm 52 verse 9 says:
I reread it to myself and wondered. Sometimes there are times when you don’t know what to pray for because you know so many times you’ve prayed for something that wasn’t for you or wasn’t God’s will. Then sometimes you begin to wonder if you just lack faith…Sometimes we do lack faith and we resign ourselves. We are not like the woman that bothered the judge until she got what she felt she needed (in the case that it is God’s will and we just need to exercise faith and ask)… The words that impressed me the most were “because thou hast done it”, I couldn’t figure it out, but I knew it was something definite. When you say someone has done it, it’s final and accomplished.
Finally, I took my inquiries to the Bible Commentary (with comments from Ellen G. White) where I read that this was David praising God, he writes about how His name is good before the saints because He is merciful and loving. He also writes “because thou hast done it”, this phrase demonstrates David’s utmost faith that God had already answered his petition and that now all he needed to do was as he wrote “wait on thy name”. Let us each when we pray, take this simple lesson from David, it’s the simple lesson of faith and knowing that God is always in control and He has heard our prayer. Not only has He heard it but He has done it.
