Some today are insisting that we tell them everything, that we bare ourselves to them. This is of Satan. We believe Antichrist will insist on complete openness. A strong leader can manipulate his group by keeping the members in a state of confession and openness.

The human-inspired openness and unity of which we have been speaking is not the unity the Lord Jesus desires. It is a counterfeit of the spiritual marriage God has planned for us.

The Lord Jesus is in a state of Oneness with the Father. Both the Father and Jesus are full of Divine Light. There is no darkness in Them.

We are full of darkness, with what is unacceptable to God. As the Light of God's Spirit penetrates the recesses of our personality, exposing worldliness, sin, and self-will, we see what is preventing our rest in God. Through the wisdom and grace given us by the blood of the Lamb and the power of the Holy Spirit of God, we remove from our personality what is displeasing to the Lord.

When the darkness is expelled from us, the Lord enters us in the unity enjoyed by the Father and the Son. We now are full of Divine Light and Life. We are at rest in God.

The Truth has entered us and has set us free from all that hinders God and His Christ from finding rest in us.

Where He is, there we also are—for eternity.

We are not suggesting that we do not strive for peace among ourselves or do not watch carefully for roots of bitterness. Every pastor knows the constant need to guard against disunity. Rather we are speaking of going beyond this by the creation of ever larger organizations, stressing human togetherness to the point of elevating fellowship with one another instead of fellowship with God, or, as we mentioned before, engaging in group therapy where everyone confesses his or her innermost thoughts.

The Problem of Reveling

When believers are feeling the need to be closer to one another they may plan social events that they hope will help them to become better acquainted.

Every experienced pastor understands what results from church parties and socials. Such gatherings cause many people to be added to the assembly. They also can destroy the spiritual life of the church.

Frequent socials may be a sign a church is deteriorating spiritually.

Yet the early Church broke bread daily from house to house.

There is a difference between fellowshiping and reveling.

The following characteristics are guidelines to help us distinguish between fellowshiping and reveling.

True fellowshiping is a time for sharing with one another what the Lord has done for us.

Reveling is an occasion for "letting our hair down" as we say, for indulging the adamic nature.

The scornful say to us Christians, You are putting on a front. All this holy behavior is not the "real you." You are not going to be able to hold out. You can't keep this up. Why don't you be yourself.

This advice is of Satan.

To be continued.