As believers, our only safety is to be rooted and grounded in the love and strength of christ. Eph 3:16-19; what experience must we have? We must be strengthened by His spirit, so that we can be rooted and grounded in love. We wil never fully understand the mysteries of God, but unless we are rooted and grounded in His love, we will not understand the dimensions of God's love, or have christ dwelling in our hearts by faith.
Rev 13: 13-14; From these verses, we see that the devil will instigate the enforcement of the mark of the beast. What will his first deception be? > Miracles
Today, more than ever, people are putting their faith in miracles. To many minds, if something "miraculous" takes place, they believe it is a sign of God.
Satan's second method is a false Holy Spirit movement, a false Pentecostal experience based on feeling. The underlying issue, with both of his great deceptions, is getting people to trust in feelings. When you do not have the peace of christ, the devil gives you something in place of it. He gives this emotional; "feel good" experience. what does God's word say about that? Peter says something very interesting in 2 pet 1: 16-18; Peter here recalls the transfiguration where they were eye-witnesses of Jesus majesty. The transfiguration was a type of the second coming. Elijah was there, representing those who will be alive when Jesus comes. Moses represented the dead who will be raised. This was the most dazzling sight that human eyes had ever beheld. It was awe inspiring. Peter said in the next verse: "we have also a sure word of prophecy". Is God's word above miracles? Is it above dazzling sights? It is! Peter said, "we saw the transfiguration, that miraculous sight, but we have a more sure word".
How do we become firmly rooted and grounded in christ?
It takes more than just a casual study of God's word. Ellen White tells us in The Great Controversy that, "None but those who have fortified their minds with the truths of God's word will stand through the last great conflict." what does fortified mean? It means strong, built up, strengthened.