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Counsels for the Church
is not a God in Israel, that ye go to inquire of Baal-zebub the god
of Ekron? Now therefore thus saith the Lord, Thou shalt not come
down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.”
2
Kings 1:3, 4
. The magicians of heathen times have their counterpart in
the spiritualistic mediums, the clairvoyants, and the fortune-tellers of
today. The mystic voices that spoke at Endor and at Ephesus are still
by their lying words misleading the children of men. Could the veil be
lifted from before our eyes, we should see evil angels employing all
their arts to deceive and to destroy. Wherever an influence is exerted
to cause men to forget God, there Satan is exercising his bewitching
power. When men yield to his influence, ere they are aware the mind
is bewildered and the soul polluted. The apostle’s admonition to the
Ephesian church should be heeded by the people of God today: “Have
no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove
them.”
Ephesians 5:11
The Prayer of Faith
If our eyes could be opened to discern the fallen angels at work
with those who feel at ease and consider themselves safe, we would
not feel so secure. Evil angels are upon our track every moment. We
expect a readiness on the part of bad men to act as Satan suggests;
but while our minds are unguarded against his invisible agents, they
assume new ground and work marvels and miracles in our sight. Are
we prepared to resist them by the word of God, the only weapon we
can use successfully?
Some will be tempted to receive these wonders as from God. The
sick will be healed before us. Miracles will be performed in our
sight. Are we prepared for the trial which awaits us when the lying
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wonders of Satan shall be more fully exhibited? Will not many souls
be ensnared and taken? By departing from the plain precepts and
commandments of God, and giving heed to fables, the minds of many
are preparing to receive these lying wonders. We must all now seek to
arm ourselves for the contest in which we must soon engage. Faith in
God’s word, prayerfully studied and practically applied, will be our
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The Acts of the Apostles, 288-290