Perhaps every one of us begins the Christian life with selfish motives. But before many years have passed the Lord has performed (if we have permitted it) a masterful work within us in converting our self-love to pure love for God and His will.

However, many believers remain unconverted.

It is not unheard of in our time for a believer to divorce his wife (or the wife divorce her husband), marry someone else who is divorced, and the two of them go forth in "Gospel work." They are "successful." They make records of their singing that are purchased and enjoyed by thousands of Christians.

Can you imagine how God Almighty views their "ministry"? They suppose God has forgotten their wicked deeds because they appear to be blessed in their efforts. How little they understand the God of Heaven! What agony awaits them!

Ambitious "ministers" gather crowds of people in the name of Christ. They "put over" a successful (in terms of numbers) program, sometimes breaking the laws of God and man in the process. The pastors compete with one another in order to gain the largest "flock of sheep."

Professional musicians visit the churches on "concert tours," being "booked" as on a vaudeville circuit.

Can you imagine Paul and Silas returning from a concert tour of Rome or being booked in Philippi?

The "saints" in the wealthy nations are occupied with their overweight, their fun, their material prosperity.

All this chaff soon is to be swept away by the broom of destruction.

Antichrist keeps whispering to the Christian people that the highest will of God for them is that they be prosperous in the material realm, happy, content, free from pain, and successful in their various pursuits.

Some of the believers, having been filled with the man-centeredness that has entered Christian thinking, become angry with God if they do not receive immediately that which they desire (which also is Satan's attitude).

Christ teaches the saint that the highest will of God for him is that he lose his life in Christ so the purpose of God may be accomplished in his own life and in the lives of others.

These two approaches to the Christian discipleship are in direct opposition to each other. Which of the two approaches do you believe to be of God—that man should serve God or that God should serve man? You cannot hold to both.

Satan does not spend much of his time with the drunk rolling in the gutter, the prostitute following her sorrowful, wearying profession. Satan much prefers to gather together with the sons of God. Satan is a cherub and he covets the glory and delights that come from God alone.

It is in the midst of the believers in the most spiritual church available that Satan seeks entrance. He desires the fruitfulness and dominion God has promised to man. Satan desires to reproduce his image throughout the creation and to govern the works of God's hands.

The spiritually knowledgeable and ambitious Christian is the one who has the most to fear from deception. He is the individual whom Satan will attempt to turn into Antichrist or the False Prophet.

To be continued.