Midnight Cry Messenger

• What Does Deception Look Like? Part 4 by Phil Enlow
  What is the heart of the gospel Paul preached?
• God's Chosen People, Part 5 by Phil Enlow
  Who are they? Continues a look at Paul's teaching on the subject as set forth in Romans 9 and 10.
• The Awakening by C. Parker Thomas
  Timely article on the awakening of the sleeping church. Chapter 1 of "Lying Signs & Wonders."
• Christians in the Night by Phil Enlow
  The challenge of the church in the end of the age.

Dear Saints,

Greetings to all in the wonderful name of Jesus! We continue to experience God’s mercy and grace and look to Him daily to lead us. Without Him we can do nothing.

In this issue we continue two on-going article series: “What Does Deception Look Like?” and “God’s Chosen People.” We are at Part 4 in the Deception series. This part gets to the heart of the gospel Paul preached. His message was “Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” Every other aspect of truth rests upon that foundation. Any other message is “another gospel” that leads away from truth and light. Satan is sparing no effort in our day to corrupt the one message that brings eternal life.

Part 5 of “God’s Chosen People” gets into the heart of New Testament teaching on this important subject. I hope you will read it with an open heart. We need the simple truth of God’s word and not the reasonings of men, no matter how sincere they may be.

“The Awakening” is an article written by Bro. Thomas way back in approximately 1970. It began a series of articles that became the book, “Lying Signs and Wonders.” Bro. Carl Johnson recently was moved to read it publicly and those who heard it readily recognized its relevance and simple power.

As I was considering what else might be appropriate for this issue my eye was drawn to an article I wrote back in the 1970s, “Christians in the Night.” It flows well with Bro. Thomas’s article and highlights the great need for Christians to be awake and alert spiritually as darkness falls upon our world in greater and greater measure. May God help us all to rouse from slumber and be about the Master’s business.

As I mentioned in the last issue Bro. Jimmy Robbins and I were scheduled for another visit to the Philippines. We flew out on October 29th and returned on November 23, just in time for our November meeting.

Once again we had a wonderful visit and enjoyed fellowship with many precious brothers and sisters in Christ. I’m glad that one day we won’t have to say goodbye!

One activity involved a number of evangelistic outreaches into poor areas. In each one we sang, preached, the young people performed some great skits illustrating spiritual truths, and then we fed the people a nourishing meal. Each area was different and in every one the Lord blessed. I know that we can trust Him to water the seed sown that it might spring forth at the proper time.

Each area we visited is in range of the gospel TV station run by the saints there. In one area we traveled out of the city way out in the country, far off the beaten track. One lady there came up to Bro. Jimmy and me and shook our hands telling us she had been watching us for four years! Praise God that His word is reaching into such places. It is the hour for going to the “highways and hedges” and compelling them to come in. I pray that God will use these outreaches as a small part of that.

Another interesting opportunity involved a visit to a city jail. We were given liberty to hold a very public service on a basketball court/courtyard between the cell blocks. Most of the prisoners (1000 in that facility) remained in their cell blocks but were able to hear. In addition another 200 or so were bused in so we had the opportunity to minister to around 1200, sharing the love of Christ in song, word, skit and also food. Some of the prisoners there were already listeners to the TV station and we hope many more will as well.

We also participated in a two-evening Pastors’ Conference. The Lord blessed and we enjoyed the fellowship of a number of enthusiastic believers. The Lord enabled us to focus on the simplicity of New Testament Christianity. There has been so much emphasis on other things that lead away from biblical truth. So many pastors are under great pressure to produce “results” and many resort to the methods of men. Jesus said, “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” Matt. 16:18. Our job is not to resort to human cleverness but to be instruments of Christ in carrying out his promise.

One very interesting opportunity came up that we did not anticipate. Bro. Jimmy and I participated in three different hour-long live TV interview programs (which were, of course, also recorded for later broadcasting as well). The saints there share the same burden we have for getting back to biblical truth and so we were “fed” wonderful questions that allowed us to open up the scriptures on many very relevant topics. What is salvation? Why do we need to be saved? What about professing believers who exhibit no real change in their lives? What about all the different crises in the world? What can we expect as the age draws to a close? What about the “prosperity gospel”? And many other similar questions. What a great way to speak directly to many people and simply open the Word! The Lord greatly helped us in spite of our weaknesses and we praise Him for the opportunity.

When we returned it was time for our November meeting! The Lord helped us to join in with the saints in spite of jet lag and we had a great meeting. There was a strong emphasis on the gospel and being genuinely “born again.”  There is a reality in that expression that has been lost in much of today’s religious world. Christ was lifted up for all the wonderful things He is. Men’s destinies depend on where they stand with respect to Christ. Men either bow to Him as Lord here or they bow in acknowledgment at the judgment when it will be eternally too late.

Saturday evening saw an emphasis on the truth expressed in Daniel 11 where some were easily compromised by an evil ruler while others – those who knew their God – remained strong and were able to take action. We face such an hour and only those who truly know their God will stand. Not only will they stand, they also will continue to be effective in the business of the kingdom. They will be strong because the God they know will strengthen them.

It was wonderful, as always, to fellowship in the Lord with those who were able to gather. There is a great mystery in fellowship. It is the very life of Christ that is mutually shared. I believe all – at least those with open hearts – left strengthened and encouraged in the Lord.

I hope every reader will honor the Lord during this Christmas season and that you will have a blessed new year in the Lord.

Your brother in Christ,
Phil Enlow

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