A Family Prepared Pt 2

TimeWatch Editorial
June 24, 2017

As we consider the times in which we live, and become more aware of the fundamental changes that have taken place in society, It is important that I spend some time making absolutely sure that you understand that there is an essential need to develop a lifestyle of prayerfulness, if we are ever going to be overcomers, in this life and in the life to come. The dangers that exist are well beyond the capacity for society to correct. In fact, the dangers are created by society. The constitutional structure that was originally intended to protect society has been hijacked by the corrupt leadership of the day. Quite often, we consider that we must do something to correct the situation, but as the Word of God Has informed us, we are at that time when “Justice standeth afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.” Says Isaiah chapter 59, 14; the genius of our Heavenly Father predicted that truth would indeed “fall in the street.” In the book the Great Controversy by Ellen White says, on page 586: “Courts of justice are corrupt. Rulers are actuated by desire for gain, and love of sensual pleasure. Intemperance has beclouded the faculties of many, so that Satan has almost complete control of them. Jurists are perverted, bribed, deluded. Drunkenness and revelry, passion, envy, dishonesty of every sort, are represented among those who administer the laws.” What is therefore needed a wall of protection around our families and around our children. Listen to what the book Child Guidance on page 519 says:

Prayer Makes a Hedge about Children.--In the morning the Christian's first thoughts should be upon God. Worldly labor and self-interest should be secondary. Children should be taught to respect and reverence the hour of prayer. . . . It is the duty of Christian parents, morning and evening, by earnest prayer and persevering faith, to make a hedge about their children. They should patiently instruct them--kindly and untiringly teach them how to live in order to please God. {Child Guidance 519.3}

Why is this so important? Why should we maintain a direct and continuous line of communication with our Father in Heaven? Listen to this!!

• 1. A guardian angel is appointed to every follower of Christ.
  
  
• 2. These heavenly watchers shield the righteous from the power of the wicked one.
  
  
• 3. This Satan himself recognized when he said, “Doth Job fear God for naught? Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side?” [Job 1:9, 10.]
  
  
• 4. The agency by which God protects his people is presented in the words of the psalmist, “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.” [Psalm 34:7.]
  
  
• 5. Said the Saviour, speaking of those that believe in him, “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in Heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father.” [Matthew 18:10.]
  
  
• 6. The angels appointed to minister to the children of God have at all times access to his presence. {GC 512.2}

This is an army of protection, more advanced better trained, than any other force in the universe. These Special Forces have never lost a client, never failed an assignment.

God's people, exposed to the deceptive power and unsleeping malice of the prince of darkness, and in conflict with all the forces of evil, are assured of the unceasing guardianship of heavenly angels. Nor is such assurance given without need; If God has granted to his children promise of grace and protection, it is because there are mighty agencies of evil to be met,—agencies numerous, determined, and untiring, of whose malignity and power none can safely be ignorant or unheeding. {GC 513.1}

The reason for the struggles we encounter is because the enemy plots and plans our destruction, daily.

A striking example of their number, power, and malignity, and also of the power and mercy of Christ, is given in the Scripture account of the healing of the demoniacs at Gadara. Those wretched maniacs, spurning all restraint, writhing, foaming, raging, were filling the air with their cries, doing violence to themselves, and endangering all who should approach them. Their bleeding and disfigured bodies and distracted minds presented a spectacle well-pleasing to the prince of darkness. One of the demons controlling the sufferers declared, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” [Mark 5:9.] In the Roman army a legion consisted of from three to five thousand men. Satan's hosts also are marshaled in companies, and the single company to which these demons belonged numbered no less than a legion. {GC 514.2}

We must pray, daily. We must maintain that necessary connection to Our Father which art in Heaven.

Cameron A. Bowen