Poetry With A Mission



...a thought provoking poetical exercise.

“...Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is not strange if his ministers also disguise themselves as ministers of righteousness. Their end will match their deeds” (2 Cor 11:14,15).

“ ‘For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect’ ” (Matt 24:24, NASB).

“The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, lying wonders, and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion, leading them to believe what is false” (2 Thess 2:9-11).

“And I saw three foul spirits like frogs coming from the mouth of the dragon [Satan], from the mouth of the beast [revived historic power], and from the mouth of the false prophet [new power]. These are demonic spirits, performing signs [supernatural manifestations], who go abroad to the kings [political powers] of the whole world, to assemble them for battle [the religious conflict] on the great day of God the Almighty” (Rev 16:13,14).

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will renounce the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons” (1 Tim 4:1).

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).

“For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12).

“Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ ” (Matt 7:22,23, NKJV).

“And this is the boldness [confidence in approaching] we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14).

“Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that [we are not to presume upon God]’ ” (James 4:15, NIV).

“Concerning this thing I [Paul] pleaded with the Lord three times that it [his affliction] might depart form me. And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness’ ” (2 Cor 12:8,9, NKJV). Note also Heb 12:7,8.

“And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said, ‘Woman, you are set free from your ailment.’ When He laid hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God” (Luke 13:11-13).

Mind Those Miracles

Don’t judge truth by miracles, lest you sadly be deceived,
For Satan, via miracles, many a web has weaved.
Throughout our earth’s history, Satan’s sought to Christians fool,
By copying the genuine, (as deceit is his main tool).

We’re warned in Revelation that Satan will attempt to fool
All of earth’s inhabitants before Christ comes back to rule.
He’s hoping for that homage that the Lord alone is due,
So he’ll be using trickery, (like false miracles), right on cue.

The devil has his agents who assist him in deceit,
Thus, we shouldn’t be surprised if such ones in church we meet.
For we’re told there’ll be false prophets who’ll seek to lead astray,
And clearly -- such false leaders -- miracles will also display. 

Some are seen on television, making the erroneous claim
That they have power to heal or deliver in God’s name.
They tell of their successes, but seldom, if ever, reveal
Any solid evidence that their miracles are real.

It seems that such faith-healers are popping up everywhere,
And sadly, folk are falling for these things they see and hear.
The one’s supposedly healed topple backwards to the ground,
Unlike healings that took place when Christ healed the ill and bound.

We need to be very careful, (lest we mistake error for truth),
And not just look for miracles when it comes to seeking proof.
Both evidence and prophet should harmonize with God’s Word,
So check out very thoroughly whatever you’ve seen or heard.

God did not create this earth to constantly interfere
With the laws of cause and effect that we experience here.
Thus, true miraculous healing will be comparatively rare,
And only where it’s God’s will, will such miracles appear.

Yes, whatever is requested, God only grants if it’s His will,
As some things that we ask for, aren’t things that love would fulfill.
The Lord in His great wisdom only does what He thinks best,
Hence why He may deny us certain things that we request.

God never said that our suffering (on earth) He’d remove,
And Paul’s denied request -- this very point here -- goes to prove.
Removing our suffering, character would hardly build,
Hence, suffering serves a purpose in our fallen sin-sick world.

But no matter how spectacular miracles may be,
They aren’t always proof of the Divine, nor can we trust all we see.
The reasons for our belief should only be found in Jesus,
The Way, the Truth, and the Life -- He, who’d never deceive us.

So beware that old devil who works miracles and signs
(Via earthly instruments) in order to steal hearts and minds.
Yes, amazing things you’ll see, just before the Lord arrives,
As Satan, working miracles, deludes and thus claims lives.

God’s wanting faithful Christians who’ll obey and trust His Word;
Those whose faith is in Him, not the miracles seen and heard.
Such, trusting in the solid "Rock," will see with eyesight keen
Just what Satan's up to, and only on the "Rock" will lean. 

By Lance Landall