Infiltration

Thursday November 1st, 2001

By Elder Lawrence Nelson

Many Seventh-day Adventist living today seem to be totally unaware that, as members of God’s true church, we are actually at war with the devil and his angels. The majority seems to be living in an atmosphere of tranquility and peace oblivious to the battle we are engaged, in which God is depending on each faithful member to defend the divine authority of His law.

Our Commander is Michael, the Lord Jesus Christ. The commander of the opposing side is Satan, the devil. This gigantic struggle has to do with the character of God as revealed in His law. Freedom, justice and love are at stake. Should Satan succeed in abolishing God’s law, the government of God would cease to exist. Every individual would then be governed by force and freedom would be gone forever.

To ensure the protection of each soldier for Christ we must investigate the plans of the enemy. But this could be a disaster without God’s help. So let us first seek for divine aid. Let us pray. Our loving Father, as we embark on this dangerous mission to discover Satan’s sinister plans for our destruction, please commission the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit, the Representative of the Captain of the Lord’s hosts, to guide us in this perilous mission. We acknowledge that our infirmities are many; our sins and mistakes grievous, but with humble contrition we beg this great Power of Omnipotence be granted in our behalf to guide us with success. We thank Thee for such divine assurance. In Jesus’ name, we ask, Amen.

Now in this war, in which every believer must participate, we must be aware that this great struggle began in heaven and has spread to this earth. Let us read of its history from God’s word. I’m reading beginning with Revelation 12:7. “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him….Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time….And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

From the beginning history reveals that in any war, each opposing side tries to secretly discover what the enemy’s plans are for attack so they can successfully meet and overcome them. We should not be surprised to discover, from God’s word, of Satan’s attempt to break into heaven’s council to ascertain God’s plans in this great war.

Satan’s Masterpiece

Tuesday December 1st, 1998

By Elder Lawrence Nelson

We are told by the Spirit of Prophecy, “Spiritualism is the masterpiece of [Satan’s] deception.” Signs of the Times, August 26, 1889. This alarming statement that spiritism is now a masterpiece needs some clarification. When will its full accomplishment take place? Thank God, divine Inspiration has the answer found in Great Controversy p. 561. We are told, “Satan has long been preparing for his final effort to deceive the world. The foundation of his work was laid by the assurance given to Eve in Eden: ‘Ye shall not surely die.’ ‘In the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.’ Genesis 3:4,5. Little by little he has prepared the way for his masterpiece of deception in the development of spiritualism. He has not yet reached the full accomplishment of his designs; but it will be reached in the last remnant of time.”

If you believe, as I do, that we are living in the very last remnant of time, then spiritualism is the greatest deception facing the people of God, and the world, today. Before we proceed with this investigation of satanic activity we must first plead for divine guidance so we will not be ensnared.

Dear Father, our most righteous God, we have been warned in Thy Holy Word that last-day deception will be so great that it is possible that some of the very elect may be misled. Should any of us doubt in any way the truth as revealed in Thy Holy Word we will be captured by Satan. Therefore grant us Thy Holy Spirit to guide us in this study so that we may be able to understand and be unmoved by Satan’s masterpiece and be grounded in Thy truth. I thank you for answering this special request, in the name of Thy dear Son, Jesus. Amen.