From: Francis Harper
wbfrmsup@iowatelecom.net
Francis Harper Message for 5/25/18
“Deceiving and Being Deceived”
When Jesus was asked, “What is the sign of thy coming?” he answered, “Take heed that no man deceive you” (Matthew 24:4, 5). He added, “And many false prophets shall arise and shall deceive many” (Matthew 24:9 IV; 24:11 KJV).
Later on in his Olivet Discourse, he said again, “. . . in those days, there shall also arise false Christs, and false prophets . . . insomuch that, if possible, they shall deceive the very elect, who are the elect according to the covenant” (Matthew 24:23 IV; 24:24 KJV).
There are more than a hundred thousand Christian denominations today, all being led by men who claim they represent Christ. Of this, Jesus would probably say, “Ye know me not” (Matthew 25:11). Many of these are quite likely false Christs. Sadly, in our day, we have also witnessed false prophets and apostles, who say they are apostles and are not! The saints at Ephesus were commended by Jesus when he said, “. . . thou hast tried [proven] them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars . . .” (Revelation 2:2).
We are living in the perilous times of which Paul prophesied: “For evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13). We must be vigilant, watchful, prayerful and discerning at all times, lest we be found among the deceivers or the deceived. We need to be blessed with the gift of the Holy Spirit called “the discerning of spirits” (1 Corinthians 12:10).We need to be able to separate the holy from the profane; good from evil.
We are witnessing many who are calling the good evil, and the evil good today. Isaiah warned of these: “Woe unto them who call evil good [like sodomy], and good evil . . .” (Isaiah 5:20). Those who oppose the so-called “gay” lifestyle are often condemned today. Those who have studied the fate of Sodom, in Genesis 19, know how God feels about sodomy! “And Abraham got up early . . . and he looked toward Sodom . . . and behold, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace” (Genesis 19:34).
Today, we are witnessing some of those within the higher echelons of Christendom embracing Islam and the Koran, as being equal to Christianity; Allah being correlated to God, the Father; Muhammed to Christ, the Son, and the Koran to the Holy Scriptures. This is a “strong delusion!” Paul warns, “. . . because they received not the love of the truth . . . God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie” (2 Thessalonians 2:10-11).
Why are we so easily deceived? We trust in the arm of flesh rather than in the word of God. Jesus promised, “. . . whoso treasureth up my words shall not be deceived” (Matthew 24: 39 IV). We need to love the truth, embrace the truth, obey the truth, and cling to truth. “And they did press forward through the mists of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron [the word of God], even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree [of life]” (1 Nephi 2:69). “. . . the tree of life was a representation of the love of God” (1 Nephi 3:68-69).
We must be ever wary of the many devices of Satan and his servants, who “deceive and lie in wait to catch and destroy” (D & C 3:3-d). “Be diligent unto the end; pray always, that ye may come off a conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan, that do hold up his work” (D & C 3: 1-e). “Be not deceived. God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7).
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Dear Ones,
Some years ago I received two dreams on two successive nights. I feel the dreams are one, as Joseph told the Pharaoh of Egypt about his dreams, “ . . . the dreams are one . . . and for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God” (Genesis 41:25-32).
In the first dream, I saw a mature female sheep, a ewe. She appeared to be perfectly healthy. I observed that she was ready to deliver a lamb, or lambs. I noticed there was some blood on her wool; a sign of the nearness of her delivery. I continued to watch this beautiful animal for a while, and noticed that she was being pushed toward me from the side opposite me. After moving to a different position, I could see that the ewe was being eaten alive by a ravenous wolf! She seemed to be completely unaware of her attacker.
Perhaps you have seen two dogs chewing on the same bone, watching and growling at one another, but unwilling to let go of their prize. Similarly, in my dream, the wolf continued to devour his prey, watching me intently with his “beady” eyes.
I feared for the life of this unwary sheep. I thought surely the wolf would, at any moment, reach a vital organ, and death would come quickly. But the ewe continued to stand, completely oblivious to her perilous situation. Thus ended the first dream.
In the early hours of the next day I dreamed the second dream. In this, I saw two newborn lambs, resting peacefully in a green pasture. Their heads and necks were stretched alongside their bodies. Their eyes were closed; they were alone. They were obviously separated from their mother and the rest of the flock. Neither was there a shepherd nearby. I thought, “Oh, no! They are unprotected; helpless, and so vulnerable!” As the ewe in my dream of the night before, the little lambs seemed not aware of their perilous situation. Thus ended the second dream.
I believe the dreams were intended to be a warning to the Lord’s flock; his sheep and lambs. The Lord’s flock is presently in great danger. “In the last days, perilous times will come . . .” (2 Timothy 3). The Lord’s flocks are not aware of the ever-present dangers they are facing. Satan is even now devouring the flock, one by one. Innocent children and youths need to be warned, and nourished. The shepherds [preachers, parents and teachers] must be constantly and fully alert, keeping watch over the flock until the Good Shepherd returns.
The Lord said, “Take heed unto yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting [excesses, over-indulgences), and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you unawares” (Luke 21:34).
The apostle Paul warned, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock . . . to feed the church of God . . . For I know this . . . grievous wolves shall enter in, not sparing the flock . . . and when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all” (Acts 20:27-36).
My love to all,
Francis Harper
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