“By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand…” Dan.8.25 ESV
Many believe that these visional words of Daniel refer to the antichrist that is yet to come. The apostles warned us that many antichrists have gone out into the world, each of them servants of the father of lies. And, as such, we should expect that deceit would be their weapon of choice. It is then not so much persecution that Christians should fear, but deception that might possibly lead us astray from “the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” And because this faith was “once for all delivered,” it is in the fellowship of past saints that present saints will find the voice of the Holy Spirit. For this reason, Christians should know well the orthodoxy (correct thought) and orthopraxy (correct action) of the saints who have lived before us. We should attend diligently to the beliefs and practices that have been common not to Christians mind you, but fruit bearing Christians in every generation? The presence of the Holy Spirit in their teaching and actions as evidenced by love, joy, peace, patience and the rest should be our aim. We should not only listen to the saints in our generation but in every generation and look for the consensual voice of the Holy Spirit in all that is good. To fall away is to fall from something to something else. I should think that if you find yourself moving from measurably good orthodoxy and orthopraxy there is a good chance you are being deceived. To be continued… 11/12/2008 ts
Just me trying to be honest with God.
