Dr. Wesley L. Duewel- The Bible teaches that the origin of false doctrines (Tim. 4:1) and the origin of all false religion is demonic (1 Cor. 10:19-20). This explains the frequency of demon possession among people of false religions and the strong demonic opposition to missionary work in so many places throughout the world.
In a sense, all sinners are children of the devil (John 8:44); hence, they are much more susceptible to Satan's suggestions, often without even realizing it. It is not surprising, therefore, that Satan takes advantage of "natural" human emotions. Google image, Religions of the world).
He kindles the anger of family and friends against a new convert, whom they believe has been deceived by a false or foreign religion. He arouses suspicions, jealousies, hatred, and all forms of opposition against gospel workers penetrating a non-Christian society with the gospel. He precipitates persecution, threats, and even murder.
Added to this is the demonstration of actual demonic power through the words and works of witch doctors, voodooists, and some of the leaders of non-Christian religions. This power is present at times in some of the cults in our own country, but usually not to the same extent as in ancient non-Christian religions.
Such people by their occult and demonic powers try to curse Christian believers and workers in an attempt to hinder, injure, or destroy them. Your prayer is needed to claim Christ's protection for these Christians who become special targets of Satan.
An illiterate One Mission Society convert in Indonesia, on fire for the Lord, taped his testimony along with a brief Bible exhortation. He then returned to his home island, playing the cassette tape from door to door as a form of personal evangelism. This aroused intense opposition and threats to his life.
One day, as the new Christian sat in an open-front shop with his cassette player, he saw a ball of molten metal flying through the air. The object enter the shop and fell at his feet. (This phenomenon is not unknown among the practitioners of black magic in his area and is usually fatal to the one against whom it is used.
He waited till the red-hot metal had cooled and then picked it up and went to the house of a worker of black magic, who he knew greatly opposed his christian witness. He confronted this man, opening his hand and showing him the still warm mass of metal.
The magician leaped to his feet and shouted,"Tell me the secret of your power!"The convert immediately testified that Jesus had all power, power over all demonic forces.
During our first term in India, it seemed that every time I left home for an extended evangelistic or ministry trip, Satan attacked my family through accident or illness. These incidents became so frequent that my wife would say as I left, "Well, I wonder what will happen this time?"
I would assure her that God would protect the family, that Christ's blood would cover them, and not to fear or worry. But invariably, each time I was away, something would happen. this continued until some time later, when a church in London prayed one night. Afterward, the chain of incidents stopped for fifteen years. Other missionaries have given similar testimonies.
Such happenings are hard to explain, but they remind us that we are in a constant state of spiritual warfare. Your prayer is daily needed by God's faithful ambassadors on the front lines of missionary service.
(Chapter 16, pp. 123-125, italics added for emphasis)
"Thank You, Father, for providing everything I need to cause me to ride on the high places of the earth. The Son of Righteousness arose with healing in His wings and He took every disease and sickness as my substitute on Calvary so that I can walk in wholeness. I prosper, and I am in health even as my soul prospers. Healed, whole and infused with Holy Ghost power, I bring Your dominion into my world, in the name of Jesus. Amen."
Germine Copeland
Today's Bible verses-
Psalm 72:13 (NASB) “He will have compassion on the poor and needy, and the lives of the needy he will save.”
Rev. Charles G. Finney- "So far as we know, neither God nor man can covert the world without the co-operation of the church. Sinners cannot be converted without their own agency, for conversion consists in their voluntary taming to God. No more can sinners be converted without the appropriate moral influences to turn them; that is, without truth and the reality of things brought full before their minds either by direct revelation or by men. God cannot convert the world by physical omnipotence, but he is dependent on the moral influence of the church." [p 263, LECTURES ON REVIVALS OF RELIGION, the Life and works of Charles G. Finney]
Today's question-
What is God's plan A for the Church?
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