WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29
2 Corinthians 11:13-15
Proverbs 1:5-7

“Blessed be the
Lord God of Israel…”

SATAN’S STRATAGEM (II)

The Ecumenical Movement’s chief aim of re-uniting Christendom made little headway until the Charismatic movement “took off” in the 1960s. Within a short few years, Rome found many Charismatic fellow travellers in the same quest for “signs and wonders.” Both Pentecostalism and Roman Catholicism share a common identity in tongues, miracles, visions, extra-biblical revelations and prophecies.

Whereas formerly only the Roman Catholic Church was known for its apparitions and supernatural phenomena, eg. the visions of Lourdes and Fatima and a host of miraculous healings, now the Charismatics also are reporting visions and supernatural encounters and healings everywhere. One Charismatic leader sees an apparition 900 feet tall which he identifies as Jesus. Another claims to have been to heaven and back. The list of “happenings” is too long and some too bizarre to relate. Why all these supernatural “signs and wonders”?

Let us be wise and discerning. The whole spectrum of happenings is a mimicry or imitation of the gifts of the Spirit. When men, in defiance of God’s clear teaching, seek for gifts long ago withdrawn, Satan readily steps in as an angel of light to counterfeit the works of the Holy Spirit. Those who go for these “signs and wonders” are falling right into the deceiver’s snare.

Because of the common identity now existing between Charismatics and Catholics, an impassable barrier between the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant Church has finally been broken down, paving the way to early ecumenical union.

But God’s Word says: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers… come out from among them, and be ye separate… and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you… saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Cor 6:14-18).

THOUGHT: When ecumenical union comes to pass, who will be head of the church?
PRAYER: Lord, keep me sanctified and separate for Thee.