HOME
HOME |
      |
 Midnight Cry MessengerVolume LII: Number 1 -- January-February-March, 2007Left: Great fellowship mailing the MCM!
Editor's LetterDear Saints, We greet you in the wonderful name of our Lord Jesus! Well, we're getting a little closer to being caught up on the publication schedule. In this issue we bring together several items published at various times in the past. One is a teaching article by Bro. Thomas on how demons work to oppress and possess. Then we have included several testimonies from past issues that relate to the subject of depression. Much of the time in the MCM we have focused our attention on doctrinal subjects. And it is true that God's people need to be taught, particularly in this day of such widespread error and confusion. Truth is one of the major defenses we have against the devil's assaults. When his lies are answered with, "It is written," then he has no defense. Truth must be believed and walked in but it gives us a solid foundation upon which to stand. Still, God's people greatly profit from testimonies of the experiences of others with respect to practical Christian living. The Bible contains much teaching but it also contains real history involving real people, people just like us, who served God in the midst of a sinful world. Doctrine is necessary but there is no substitute for biblical truth lived out in the experience of believers. The devil loves to oppress us with the thought that we are "all alone" or being "singled-out" in our trials but it is not so. Peter tells us that "your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings." 1 Peter 5:9. Satan cannot touch what Christ did for us on the cross. The salvation of anyone who has truly committed their soul into His keeping and trusted Him for salvation is secure. It rests upon His promises, His ability, His faithfulness. If it did not, we would have no hope. But, thank God, it does! But as long as we live in the flesh in this present evil world Satan will try to oppress us by every means possible. He takes advantage of every natural weakness and God's desire is that we learn of Him, grow strong, and learn to resist and overcome the devil's schemes against us. And far from promising us a life free of trouble we are specifically told to expect trouble in this world. But, thank God, we are also to be encouraged that Christ has overcome the world and promised never to leave us or forsake us. John 16:33, Hebrews 13:5. When trouble comes it is a common tactic of Satan to bombard our minds with negative and often self-pitying thoughts. If we fail to recognize and resist such thoughts but rather allow ourselves to dwell on them then he can bring us into great bondage and make our lives miserable and unfruitful. We are all prone to such attacks at one time or another -- some more than others. May God grant us the grace to overcome that His light may be seen through us. Once again, our convention in June is coming and we look forward to many attending. We are expecting some from overseas and look to the Lord to greatly bless. And now, until the next issue may God richly bless you... Your brother in Christ, |
