Foundations Of The Faith

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 07 Jul 2048 21:09:00 +0000

Some say we shouldn't read the Bible "because it's hard to understand," therefore, they say, we should leave the interpreting of it to the "experts." I do not subscribe to that perspective.

It seems implausible to me that God would put mankind on the earth and say to him, "good luck, I hope you make it," and go his merry way. No, he gave us the "manufacturer's handbook," to reveal to us who he is, what his principles are, and how we are to come to him.

So let's take a look at some of these truths as we delve into the Word of God so that we can know and understand his purposes and his Father's heart, for he has given to us his Word containing "all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us." (2nd Peter 1:3)

Choose from the topics on the sidebars. And come back from time to time, as I'll be adding to these studies.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 29 Jun 2048 20:49:00 +0000

This is the video that has most impacted my life. If you agree, show it to others. I believe this is the most awesome video on the internet.

The Deity Of Jesus Christ

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 16 Dec 2047 16:55:00 +0000

WHY did the people take up stones to stone Jesus?

Because they understood exactly what He was saying, that he is God.

His claim, that HE is the I AM:

"Jesus said to them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, before
Abraham was, I AM.' Then they took up stones to throw
at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the Temple,
going through the midst of them, and so ...passed by."
-John 8:58

What did He mean when he said, "I AM" ???

That he is the I AM as revealed to Moses:

"Then Moses said to God, 'Indeed, when I come to the children
of Israel and say to them, `The God of your fathers has sent me
to you,' and they say to me, `What is His name?' what shall I say
to them?'

And God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM.' And He said, 'Thus
you shall say to the children of Israel, I AM has sent me to you.'
...The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham,the God
of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.

This is my Name forever, and this is my memorial to all
generations."

He also made this claim when questioned by the high priest:

"Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him,
Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
And Jesus said, I AM.
And you shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power,
and coming in the clouds of heaven."
Mark 14:61-62

And he stated it again to a woman at a well in Samaria:

"The woman said to him,
'I know that Messiah is coming (who is called Christ).
When he comes, he will tell us all things.'
Jesus said to her, 'I who speak to you am he.'”
John 4:25-26

Harry Potter - A Story

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 22:21:00 +0000

What would you say if someone told you that YOU are an abomination to God?

I'll never forget the day I was told that, because it was to change my life forever. To a statement like that, one can either go into self-defense, or one can investigate the claim. I investigated it. That was 32 years ago, and there's no way I could adequately thank the one who said that to me. Because it changed my life.

I was a very troubled young person, and the means I took to search out what might help me was the only means I hadn't yet pursued - the world of the "occult." I define "occult" as anything having to do with the psychic world, fortune tellers, mediums, astrologers, etc, etc. I never connected the two -- that while I was investigating these things my life was falling apart. The story ends, or rather begins, when I was told I was an abomination to God.

And the fact is, I WAS.

Religion was the last thing on my mind, because I had been raised in a very legalistic church, and nothing I did or tried within that context had helped me. So I was looking elsewhere.

Now I'm going to put that story on pause, it's a very long story, but I need at this time to get back to the point. The point is, tonight the last in the series of Harry Potter books is due to be released. If you are at all interested in pursuing the discussion with me, I invite you to email me. Otherwise, all I'll say about it is that anyone getting involved in any occult practice IS an abomination to God and there are very terrible consequences.

Don't get mad at me, I didn't write The Book. But I have come to know its Author, and there's nothing in life more important to me now, than helping others to come to know him too. I'm no longer troubled, I have "the peace that passes all understanding." I've found the meaning to life, the purpose for which I was put here, and the joyful privilege of walking with the One who called me. C'mon along with me. It's an awesome adventure.

Here's the reference:

"There shall not be found among you anyone who:
makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire,
or who uses divination,
or an observer of times (astrology),
or an enchanter,
or a witch,
or a charmer,
or a consulter with familiar spirits (a medium),
or a wizard (magician)
or a necromancer (one who contacts the dead).

For all who do these things ARE AN ABOMINATION to the Lord"
Deuteronomy 18:10-12

Is The Messiah One Of Us? Is He God?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 01:07:00 +0000

Let the prophet Isaiah answer this.

The Prophecy Of The Messiah:

"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given;
and the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called:
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Isaiah 9:6

This CHILD is the mighty God -El Gibor.
This CHILD is the eternal Father -Avi Ad.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Word for word translation from the Hebrew text:

Ci yeled yulad lanu, ben nitan lanu.
For a child is born to us, a son given to us.

Vatehi hamisrah al shichmo.
And will be the government upon his shoulder.

Vayikra shmo:
And will be called his name:

Pele, Yo-etz, El Gibor,
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Avi Ad, Sar Shalom.
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

L'marbeh hamisrah ul'shalom
Of the increase of government and of peace

ein ketz.
there is no end.

Al cisei David v'al mamlachto
Upon the Throne of David and upon his kingdom

lehachin otah ul'saadah
to prepare it and to uphold it

b'mishpat uv'itz-dakah
in justice and in righteousness

me-atah v'ad olam.
from now and until forever.

What Does It Mean to Accept Christ?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 00:30:00 +0000

by A. W. Tozer Sermon

Benny Hinn's Nephew Speaks on Word of Faith Teachers

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 00:27:00 +0000

by Costi Hinn

Hell Is Real

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 00:25:00 +0000

by Pastor Louie Giglio

Satan Doesn't Care What You Believe As Long As It Isn't The Truth

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 00:23:00 +0000

The post-modern "emerging" church propaganda is being revealed openly as we move further and further away from a faith founded on the Word of God. Believers of a variety of faiths are worshiping together. Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist, Zoroastrian, Judaic, Christian and Islamic texts are often read and prayed during the same service.

Islam speaks about Jesus and what a great prophet he was. Oddly though, they don't believe what he said. Do prophets lie? At "Abode of the Message," a retreat center in New Lebanon, New York, guests are invited to deepen their faith without suggestion to convert to anything. Buddhists at Zen Mountain Monastery say they see no conflict with Buddhist practice and any person's path in searching for God. Elat Chayyim Jewish Retreat Center in Falls Village, Connecticut, welcomes "seekers who have walked other spiritual paths."

Protestants, Catholics, Jews, and Muslims as well as followers of other faiths are coming to agree that all religions can lead to eternal life, and that all worship the same God.

So what's the problem with this?

The problem is ...it isn't true.

It is unacceptable to Christians because Jesus Christ made very specific statements about his purpose in coming and the requirements to follow him. And they are dogmatically exclusive.

Well, what DID Jesus say?

The New Testament record, written exclusively by eye-witness followers of Jesus, teaches that human beings are born in a state of falleness. This means that all humans will sin, and sin will bring them to judgment. The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ teaches that God sent his son Jesus to bear the judgment for sin ON BEHALF OF each sinner who receives him, and that those who receive him will have eternal life. The New Testament stresses that we are saved by the blood of the sacrifice God provided, as Jesus gave his life on that Cross.

Satan's agenda is to dismiss all truth about Jesus Christ. He will attack his deity, his virgin birth, and everything written about Him. He will underplay, ridicule, and steer you away from the concepts of the Cross, and the purpose for the Blood of Christ. And he will foster every and any other way of religion. From the beginning, Satan's hatred has been against the work of Jesus on behalf of fallen mankind and he raises all kinds of alternatives to steer people away from Christ. Satan doesn't care what you believe, as long as it isn't the truth.

Do Christians really believe what Jesus said? He said that He came to be the atonement for sinful man, and as the atonement provided by God, there is therefore no other way to salvation.

“I am THE WAY and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father EXCEPT through me.”
(John 14:6).

That pointed statement is Jesus Christ's claim to exclusivity. He said that he is the ONLY way.

The Bible speaks of a global religion in "the last days."Believers stand in shock and horror as this very thing evolves into just that. As in the days of Noah, the human race is going to perdition on a toboggan slide into hell. Jesus said that the last days would be "As it was in the days of Noah ...." And so it is! Everyone is doing his own thing, and neglecting the one thing that matters. Noah offered only one way of escape. They rejected it. And they perished.

A generation ago, it would have been a stretch to imagine how a global religion could come to be, because the people of most religions were immovable in their beliefs. But now, in these "last days," that very thing is taking shape right before our eyes, except most aren't watching and they're falling for it by the masses.

For those who belong to Jesus Christ, stay close to him because it's going to get worse. Much, much worse. Many think revival is coming, but that is not prophesied in the Word of God, rather the Bible shows a great apostasy, the falling away, as the world sets its heart on global peace, global warming, global environmentalism, global religion, the polar bears in the arctic, the fuzzy wuzzies, and all that avoids the one true God. They turn to everything and anything except the Word of God, because the Word of God makes it clear that it is NOT ecumenical.

"For there is one God and ONE Mediator
between God and men, the man Christ Jesus..."
1 Timothy 2:5

Satan is the author behind all these deceptions and division. He doesn't care what you believe, as long as it isn't the truth.

Is There Life After Death?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 00:22:00 +0000

Does the Bible answer this question? It sure does. Here are several passages speaking to this subject.

He Is The God Of The Living
"But concerning the resurrection of the dead,
have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying,
'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?’
God is not the God of the dead, but of the living."
Matthew 22:31-32

In context, Jesus was speaking here to the Sadducees, who were another sect of Judaism similar to the Pharisees, but they did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. When Jesus answered them, he proclaimed that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who had been dead for centuries, were ALIVE in heaven, asserting that God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

The Thief On The Cross
When Jesus was dying on the Cross, the criminal who was dying next to him asked Jesus to remember him when he came into his Kingdom. "And Jesus said to him, 'Assuredly I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.'" (Luke 23:43) If by that he meant the grave, of what import is the statement? Being in the grave with him would be a meaningless promise to
that man.

Paul's Dilemma
"For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21)
If there's no life after death, this statement is ridiculous. How can dying be gain?

vs 23-24:
"For I am hard pressed between the two,
having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you."

Paul clearly desires to depart to be with Christ. To be with Christ certainly doesn’t mean in the grave. Surely that wouldn't be "better." How can lying in a grave be "FAR better?" Why would he so earnestly desire death unless he was looking to being with Christ?

Absent From The Body
"We are confident, yes well pleased, rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord." (2 Cor 5:8) When a believer leaves the body, he is present with the Lord.

The Rich Man And Lazarus
Luke chapter 16 verses 19-31 records a conversation between a rich man in hell and Lazarus who was in Paradise, clearly showing them alive after death. In fact, the man in hell is begging that someone be sent to warn his brothers not to come to this awful place. The answer was that they have the Bible, and if they don't believe the Word of God then nothing will
persuade them.

Moses and Elijah
In Matthew 17:1-4, Jesus took Peter, James and John up onto a mountain and was transfigured before them. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared and began speaking with Jesus. Peter was so shook that he asked if he should build a tent for them. Obviously, Moses and Elijah had been dead for centuries, yet they appeared on that mountain with Jesus. Alive.

Believers, when you leave your body you are only changing location. YOU will not die, you will be alive -either in heaven, or in hell.

Shall Never Die

"I am the resurrection and the life.
He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live.
And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die."
John 11:25-26

Shall NEVER die! SHALL NEVER DIE!

Then Jesus added:

"Do you believe this?"

The Deity of Jesus Christ

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 00:19:00 +0000

WHY did the people take up stones to stone Jesus?

Because they understood exactly what He was saying, that he is God.

His claim, that HE is the I AM:

"Jesus said to them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, before
Abraham was, I AM.' Then they took up stones to throw
at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the Temple,
going through the midst of them, and so ...passed by."
-John 8:58

What did He mean when he said, "I AM" ???

That he is the "I AM" as revealed to Moses:

"Then Moses said to God, 'Indeed, when I come to the children
of Israel and say to them, `The God of your fathers has sent me
to you,' and they say to me, `What is His name?' what shall I say
to them?'

And God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM.' And He said, 'Thus
you shall say to the children of Israel, I AM has sent me to you.'
...The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham,the God
of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.

This is my Name forever, and this is My memorial to all
generations."

He also made this claim when questioned by the high priest:

"Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him,
Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
And Jesus said, I AM.
And you shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power,
and coming in the clouds of heaven."
Mark 14:61-62

And again when speaking to a woman at a well in Samaria:

"The woman said to him,
'I know that Messiah is coming (who is called Christ).
When he comes, he will tell us all things.'
Jesus said to her, 'I who speak to you am he.'”
John 4:25-26

ALL ABOUT JESUS CHRIST, HERE

Don't Soften The Reality Of Hell

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 00:17:00 +0000

by Charles Leiter

Making A Fool Out Of The Holy Spirit Of A Holy God

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 00:16:00 +0000

by David Wilkerson

Judgment On America When US Opposes God In Israel

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 00:14:00 +0000

The Bible prophesied that "in the last days" God will bring the Jewish people back from their dispersion throughout the world, and that He will place them in the very land that he gave to their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in "an everlasting Covenant." After 2,000 years of dispersion, we are seeing them come back from all over the world, we are seeing the prophecies come to pass right before our eyes.

But not all have respect for God or his restoration of Israel. The following is a compilation of judgments that have fallen on America usually within 24 to 48 hours after an American official has opposed God's program of the restoration of Israel.

Madrid October 30, 1991 George Bush Sr. opens conference in Madrid, Spain to start the Middle East “peace” process which will be on the basis of “land for peace.” Topic: Israel must give land for peace.	October 30, 1991 “The Perfect Storm” -Powerful storm in the north Atlantic traveling from East to West for 1,000 miles smashes into New England with ocean waves the largest ever recorded in that region. President Bush's home in Kennebunkport, Maine was heavily damaged. The storm travelled east to west, contrary to the norm of west to east.
Bush moves talks to Washington August 23, 1992 Madrid peace conference moved to Washington, D.C. where talks resumed.	August 23, 1992 Hurricane Andrew, the worst natural disaster ever to hit America prior to that time, hit south Florida. 180,000 homeless in Florida and 25,000 in Louisiana. Damage as high as $30 billion.
Clinton and Assad January 16, 1994 President Clinton met with President Hafez el-Assad of Syria in Geneva. Topic: An agreement that Israel would give up the Golan Heights to Syria.	January 17, 1994 The 6.9 Northridge Earthquake rocked southern California. With 61 dead and damages at $21 billion, It was the second most destructive natural disaster to hit the U.S, after Hurricane Andrew.
Clinton meets with Arafat March 1, 1997 Yasser Arafat met with President Clinton in Washington to discuss settlements being built “illegally” by Israel. Clinton rebukes Israel for building the settlements. Arafat went on a speaking tour of the U.S. The United Nations Security Council and the General Assembly voted to condemn Israel.	March 1, 1997 Powerful tornadoes devastated huge sections of the U.S. Arkadelphia, Arkansas was destroyed by tornadoes. Storms in the Dakotas result in the worst flooding of this century. Falmouth, Kentucky was destroyed by flooding. The storms stalled over Ohio causing extensive flooding. Cost was over $1 billion.
Washington Jan 21, 1998 Clinton humiliates Netanyahu with a cold reception at the White House, Secretary of State Albright refuses to have lunch with him.	Jan 21, 1998 On the same day, the Monica Lewinsky scandal breaks into the mass media, revealing Clinton’s sex life to the whole world and he is eventually impeached for lying about it.
Albright-Clinton-Arafat September 27, 1998 Sec of State Albright met with Arafat in New York in preparation for a meeting with President Clinton. On September 28, 1998 Clinton meets with Arafat and Netanyahu declaring that Israel has to give up 13% of the “West Bank.” Later, Arafat addresses the United Nations about declaring an independent Palestinian state by May 1999.	September 27, 1998 Hurricane George slammed into the Gulf Coast striking Mississippi and the Florida Panhandle causing $1 billion in damage. The storm stalled and then moved inland. Just as Arafat was leaving the hurricane dissipated.
Wye River Plantation, Maryland October 15-23, 1998 Yasser Arafat and Benjamin Netanyahu meet at the Wye Plantation, Maryland for a five day meeting on giving away 13% percent of the “West Bank.” Under pressure from Clinton, Israel agreed.	October 17, 1998 Rains and tornadoes hit east Texas. Twenty five percent of Texas was ravaged, leaving over $1 billion in damage. The day the talks ended the storms subsided. On October 21, Clinton declares this section of Texas a major disaster area.
Clinton-Arafat in Washington –November 30, 1998 42-nation meeting in Washington to raise money for a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as the capital. All the nations agreed to give Arafat $3 billion in aid. Clinton promised $400 million, and the European nations $1.7 billion.	November 30, 1998 On the same day, the Dow Jones average drops 216 points, and on December 1, the European Market had its third worst day in history. Hundreds of billions of market capitalization were wiped out in the U.S. and Europe.
Clinton in “Palestinian” area December 12, 1998 Clinton lands in the Palestinian-controlled section of Israel to discuss “land for peace.”	December 12, 1998 The House of Representatives votes four articles of impeachment against him.
Clinton-Arafat March 23, 1999 Arafat met with President Clinton in Washington, D.C. to discuss a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.	March 23, 1999 Stock market fell two hundred nineteen points. May 3, 1999
Arafat scheduled to declare May 3, 1999 Yasser Arafat is scheduled to declare a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as the capital. The declaration is postponed to December 1999 at the request of President Clinton whose letter to Arafat encourages him in his "aspirations for his own land."	May 3, 1999 The most powerful tornado storm system ever to hit the United States sweeps across Oklahoma and Kansas. The winds are clocked at 316 mph the fastest wind speed ever recorded. One of the tornadoes was over one mile wide. 43 people died.
Clinton-Arafat in Washington September 22, 1999	September 22, 1999 The day before and after the meeting the market falls more than 200 points each day. This was the first time in history the market lost more than 200 points for two days in a week. The market lost 524 points the week.
Under US pressure October 11, 1999 Jewish settlers are forcibly removed from 15 “West Bank” Israeli settlements and evicted from their covenant land.	October 15, 1999 Hurricane Irene slams into North Carolina. On October 16, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake rocks the southwest in the fifth most powerful earthquake in 20th Century to date. AND on the 15th the Dow-Jones averages lose 5.7 percent in the worst week in ten years. On October 15 the Dow lost 266 points.
Camp David, Maryland July 12, 2000 Clinton, Ehud Barak and Yassar Arafat meet at Camp David, Maryland to discuss dividing Jerusalem and giving away large portions of Israeli land.	July - August, 2000 Seven million acres of timber burn in the Western U.S. Montana and Wyoming are declared disaster areas. More than twenty five thousand from all over the world fought the fires.
Tenet to Israel June 6, 2001 CIA director George Tenet traveled to Israel to discuss stopping building of Settlements. This was the first involvement of the George W. Bush administration.	June 8, 2001 Hurricane Allison. Three feet of rain fell on Houston, Texas. Twenty Five thousand homes and businesses were destroyed or damaged. Cost $3-4 billion dollars.
Bush demands compliance August 9, 2001 President Bush demanded that Israel abide by the Madrid Peace Process, the Mitchell Plan, and United Nations Resolutions 242 and 338. The resolutions called for Israel to go back to the borders prior to the Six-Day War of 1967.	September 11, 2001 Terrorists destroyed the World Trade Center in New York, attacked the Pentagon and brought a plane down in Pennsylvania.
Bush approves “Palestine” November 10, 2001 In his major UN address on the war on terrorism, Bush speaks of “Palestine.” This was the first time a US President had every publicly acknowledged the idea of a Palestinian “Palestine.” The next day, November 11, 2001, Secretary Powell said that Bush's use of “Palestine” in his speech on Saturday was “deliberate and reflected administration policy.”	November 13, 2001 American Airlines Flight 587 exploded and broke apart over Queens in New York City, a short distance from the UN, where Israel’s covenant land and future had been discussed all weekend by the UN General Assembly.
Secretary of State Colin Powell January 31, 2003 Powell said Bush will become more deeply involved in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict than he was in his first two years in the White House. On the same day Bush and Britain’s Tony Blair met at the White House over the pending Iraq war. They agreed to give Iraq six more weeks to comply.	February 1, 2004 (1 day later) Ironically, this was the same amount of time Bush had just agreed to give Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to form his coalition government and for his formal response to the Quartet Road Map. Two days later the Space Shuttle Columbia broke up over Palestine, Texas.
Bush supports Gaza withdrawal August 2005 The Bush administration brings pressure upon Prime Minister Sharon of Israel to remove, by force, Israeli settlers in the Gaza Strip and to give their land to the Palestinians in order to establish peace.	August 29, 2005 As the last Jews are forcibly removed from their homes in Gaza, Hurricane Katrina crashes into the Gulf coast of the United States. Over $26 billion dollars in estimated destruction. This was the worst catastrophe in the history of the nation. Initial estimates of 80 dead in one county alone. Not long afterward, Sharon goes into a coma and remains in such, even to this day.
Condoleeza Rice in Israel October 2007 "Frankly, it's time for the establishment of a Palestinian state." And she continued, "That's really a message that I think only I can deliver," explaining her mission to prepare for the conference to be held in Annapolis.	October 2007 Then the "Severe weather" assaulted several states from Florida to Oklahoma with floods and tornadoes. Within two days after Rice left the Middle East, fires began in California forcing the evacuation of almost one million people and leaving more than 1,400 homes demolished and damages over a billion dollars.
Bush in Israel January 2008 President Bush visits Israel for the first time as President to discuss shared sovereignty over (dividing) Jerusalem.	January 2008 Bush arrives back home to a crisis in mortgage loan foreclosures, recession worries, and the DJIA drops 784 points on the year. A French investor loses $7 Billion dollars, rocking the financial world, and congress can’t get an economic stimulus package passed fast enough.
Obama campaigns in Israel July 23, 2008	July 23, 2008 Hurricane Dolly makes landfall at peak intensity July 23, 08 in South Padre Island, Texas
Bush: I'll Bring Peace to Israel Dec 20, 2004	December 21, 2004 A rocket attack kills 20 people at a U.S. military base near Mosul, Iraq.
US support for Israel ends at UN April 19, 2010 Fox News reports that the U.S. will no longer automatically support Israel in the United Nations.	April 20, 2010 The Deepwater Horizon oil rig explodes.
America’s decay advances. Media controlled. Elections compromised. 50 million babies butchered. Parents can’t be called Mom and Dad. Planned Parenthood working to teach kids to experiment with the pleasures of sex. Gays working for preferred access to everything. Controls over pornography disappear. All vestiges of Christianity and God being rejected.

Why Was The Rich Man In Hell?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 00:10:00 +0000

In the story Jesus told of the rich man who died and went to hell, and the poor man, Lazarus, who died and went to heaven, the question is, "did the rich man go to hell because of his wealth?"

The answer is no. Wealthy people CAN be saved.

Well then why DID the rich man go to hell?

The answer is buried in the story, and is very interesting.

Listen to the conversation between this rich man in hell, and "father Abraham."

Luke, chapter 16
The rich man appeals to Abraham to send someone from the dead to testify to his brothers on earth: 28. `for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.' 29. "Abraham said to him, `They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.' 30. "And he said, `No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' 31. "But he said to him, `If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.' ''

The determining words are "No, father Abraham."

No?

No?

No???

No ....what?

Abraham told him that they have the Bible, the Word of God, which Jesus often referred to as "the Law and the Prophets." This is what will bring them salvation if they will "hear them."

The man in hell says, "NO, but ......" and changes the subject.

He said "NO" .......to the Bible and its message, and thought a personal visitation from the dead, seeing a miracle, something supernatural, would persuade his brothers.

He was refusing the Word of God, and demanding a supernatural experience insisting that that would "persuade them."

Abraham made it clear that salvation is to be found in God's Word, the Bible, which God gave to man to reveal to man all about God and about salvation.

What is your response to the Word of God?

If it's "No, but ....." then you've missed it and nothing else will be able to persuade you.

Why Did He Let Him Go?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 00:08:00 +0000

There's something I've always wondered about in the story of the rich young ruler in Luke chapter 18, beginning in verse 18.

This is about the man who all his life had strived to do right. Then one day he comes to Jesus, and asks him what he must do to inherit eternal life. And Jesus answers, telling him to relinquish his riches and come follow him. And the rich young ruler walked away from Jesus "grieved, for he had great possessions."

The part that stands out to me is the fact that Jesus didn't run after him.

If it had been one of us ministering to that rich young man, when he turned to walk away we would have run after him pleading, "wait a minute, you don't understand ....you don't get it! What do you think of the Lord anyway, that he's a hard and cruel task master? Oh no, no, no, that's so wrong. You must understand that there is no losing when you walk with Jesus. Anything you lose for his sake is returned to you a hundredfold, and eternal life to boot! Don't be foolish! Relinquish to him whatever he asks of you. The way to receiving is through relinquishing. Please think again, please reconsider."

But Jesus did NOT run after him. He did NOT say those words to him. He just let him turn and walk away.

What I glean from this is that we cannot trifle with God. What he asks, we must be ready to relinquish, KNOWING that there is no losing in him, and that whatever we relinquish at his beckoning will be only for our GAIN. The walk with Jesus is a walk of obediance in faith, in a perpetual attitude of relinquishment, but relinquishment in trust.

"Then Peter said, 'See, we have left all and followed You.' So He said to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, "who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come everlasting life.'''

The promise is, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matt 6:33). This is a promise from almighty God to anyone who is willing to walk by faith. Having walked this way now for 31 years, I can attest to the absolute faithfulness of God to his Word. And, I can add, it's a life of joy and excitement, plus a rejoicing in the promises of the world to come.

As the apostle Paul said, "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. But indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ..."
-Phillipians 3:7-8

What Is Fundamentalism?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 00:07:00 +0000

Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
"a movement or attitude stressing strict and literal adherence to a
set of basic principles."

Christian Fundamentalism:

"'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with
all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great
commandment. And the second is like it, 'you shall love your
neighbor as yourself.'"
-Mathew 22:37-39

"Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those
who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and
persecute you, that you may be the children of your Father who
is in heaven."
-Matthew 5:44-45

Jewish Fundamentalism:

"Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord. And you shall love
the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and
with all your strength."
-Deuteronomy 6:4-5

"You shall not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of
your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself."
-Leviticus19:18

1. You shall have no other gods before me.
2. You shall not make for yourself any graven images to bow
down yourself to them, nor serve them.
3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You shall not commit murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet anything that is your neighbor's.
-Exodus 20:3-17

Islamic Fundamentalism:

Regarding infidels (unbelievers), they are the Muslim’s inveterate enemies.
-Sura 4:101

Muslims are to "arrest them, besiege them and lie in ambush
everywhere" for them.
-Sura 9:5

Muslims are to "seize them and put them to death wherever you find
them, kill them wherever you find them, seek out the enemies of Islam
relentlessly."
-Sura 4:90

A Muslim is permitted to kill any person if it be "a just cause."
-Sura 6:152

"Fight them until Islam reigns supreme."
-Sura 2:193

Muslims are to be "ruthless to unbelievers."
-Sura 48:29

"Cut off their heads, and cut off the tips of their fingers."
-Sura 8:12

Anyone who fights against Allah or renounces Islam in favor of
another religion shall be "put to death or crucified or have their
hands and feet cut off on alternative sides."
-Sura 5:34

"When the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters
wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them
and lie in wait for them in every ambush."
-Sura 9:5

"Allah loves those who fight for his cause."
-Sura 61:3

Allah will give "a far richer recompense to those who fight for him."
-Sura 4:96

A Call To Anguish

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 00:05:00 +0000

by David Wilkerson

Why Good People Suffer

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 00:02:00 +0000

"He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."
..Malachi 3:3

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.

One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.

That week, she called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest so as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse, "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver."

She asked the silversmith if it were true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time.

The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on it the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?"

He smiled at her and answered, "When I see my image in it."

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching until He sees His image in you.

Whatever you're going through, you'll be a better person in the end if you will just surrender into His loving hands.

-Author unknown

The Occult -Spiritual Adultery

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 23:52:00 +0000

Of all the sins man may commit, none is as rigorously condemned in the Bible as involvement in anything of an occult nature.

What Is "The Occult?”

The word occult is derived from the Latin word occultus which means "hidden." So it refers to the pursuit of hidden things, hidden knowledge, hidden power, hidden supernatural.

There are TWO sources of supernatural power: God, and Satan.
Satan will always have a counterfeit for everything of God.

God has made available to us an immense amount of knowledge, incorporated in the books of the Bible. In this, his Word, he has revealed what he wants us to know about himself, his purposes, what he wants of us, and myriad other topics which he has bountifully revealed to mankind. In his Word, we are commanded NOT to delve in supernatural things beyond what HE has made available to us.

"The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law."
Deuteronomy 29:29

Principle: Whatever God has and whatever God does, Satan will counterfeit it.

For every gift or calling that God gives his people, Satan produces a counterfeit. Are there prophets? Then there will also be false prophets. In pursuing occult experiences, one is not only going beyond the bounds of what is allowed to us, but in being involved in occult things one is actually taking part in the kingdom of Satan, and committing, in God's eyes, harlotry, or "spiritual adultery."

Example:Before bringing the children of Israel into the promised land, the Lord counseled them NOT to adopt the ways of the countries around them, because those countries did not believe in the God of Israel, but worshipped other gods. The Lord told Israel that they may NOT give their daughters in marriages with those of these other countries, nor take the daughters of the foreigners for their sons, lest these foreigners corrupt the faith of the children of Israel. But they disobeyed God and this brought the wrath of God against them. The Lord said that what they had done is harlotry in his eyes.

"Yet they would not listen to their judges, but they played the harlot with other gods, and bowed down to them. They turned quickly from the way in which their fathers walked, in obeying the commandments of the Lord; they did not do so."
Judges 2:17

"And they were unfaithful to the God of their fathers, and played the harlot after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them."
1 Chronicles 5:25

"Thus they were defiled by their own works, and played the harlot by their own deeds. Therefore the wrath of the Lord was kindled against His people."
Psalms 106:39-40
"They offer sacrifices on the mountaintops, and burn incense on the hills, under oaks, poplars, and terebinths, because their shade is good. Therefore your daughters commit harlotry, and your brides commit adultery."
Hosea 4:13

One can’t help but notice when reading through the Bible, that this particular offense is the one that angers God the most, and that’s because it’s spiritual adultery.

"For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me..."
Exodus 20:5

God wants his people to look to him alone for their needs, to look to him alone for anything of a supernatural nature, and to shun all occult activities because they are of Satanic origin.

King Saul

King Saul was the first king of Israel. For a long time, he had the prophet Samuel advising him, but after awhile Samuel died. Later, when confronted with the Philistines in battle armor, Saul was afraid. He no longer had God’s prophet to ask God whether he should go fight the enemy; God himself had withdrawn from Saul because of another previous sin, so Saul decided to go to a medium who would “bring up Samuel” to tell Saul what to do. And for this abomination, Saul died the next day.

“So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the Lord, because he did not keep the word of the Lord, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance.”
1 Chronicles 10:13

What Are Occult Activities?

"There shall not be found among you anyone who:
makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire,
or one who practices witchcraft,
or a soothsayer, (one who supposedly predicts the future)
or one who interprets omens,
or a sorcerer,
or one who conjures spells,
or a medium,
or a spiritist, (a channeler, or one who gets guidance from a “higher” spirit)
or one who calls up the dead.
For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord…”
Deuteronomy 18:10-12

So occult activity is anything having to do with fortune telling, magic, witchcraft, contacting the dead, etc. Ouija boards, tarot cards, tea leaf reading, palm reading, “psychic” predictions, astrology and horoscopes, and so forth. In short, every attempt to gain supernatural knowledge or power outside of the Bible is occultism, and the Lord calls it spiritual adultery, and the individuals who do those things are “an abomination” to God.

It’s important to add here that experience has shown another way Satan disguises himself in an attractive way, and that is through the philosophies and practices rooted in eastern religions. Yoga (–there is NO such thing as “Christian yoga,”) transcendental meditation, reikki, and all such practices are rooted in Satanic false religions and practicing these things will bring a curse or judgment one way or another. These things masquerade as things that can bring peace and health, but invariably the very opposite will come upon the one involved in these things and might even come upon the children of that person.

“For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.”
2nd Corinthians 11:14-15

Results Of Dabbling In The Occult

“Without exception, those who have become involved in any kind of occultism will eventually suffer Satanic oppression in some manner.”
Hobart Freeman, in “Angels of Light?”
Often the result is death.
King Saul died for this particular sin. (1 Chronicles 10:13)

Principle:
Involvement in any form of occultism opens a door in one’s life to Satanic oppression. One does NOT have to be doing this knowingly. Any form of occultism, even in ignorance, will open those doors and oppression is inevitable.

Based on research among men of God in the “deliverance” ministry, i.e. those who cast out evil spirits, the notable results of any dabbling in the occult are:

1. Mental illness
2. Deep depression
3. Premature death, especially among the children of those who have dabbled in the occult
4. Suicide
5. Repeated heavy-duty trauma such as houses burning down, car accidents. These things can happen to anyone and not be related to the occult, but when you see repeated instances of this kind of thing in a family, occult involvement should be strongly suspected.

Judgment Usually Spans Generations

"You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me…”
Exodus 20:3-5
“…but He by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation…”
Numbers 14:18

“…you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me…”
Deuteronomy 5:9

Because Satanic oppression will span several generations, it is common to see these things even at an early age in a child of an occult practitioner. The child may be “psychic,” or “sensitive” to things of an occult nature. What can be sadder than the sight of a child being affected by these things?

What Does One Do

... when realizing there is Satanic oppression on himself or his children?

Dealing with this kind of thing is no easy task. Many people go to their graves still in bondage or affliction. But for the person who takes this seriously and truly wants to be set free, here is what that person is to do:

1. Confess faith in Jesus Christ and surrender yourself and your entire life unto his lordship. He must be not only your Savior, but also your Lord. He ALONE can bring deliverance. Pledge total obedience to him as he leads you to paths of righteousness which will be pre-requisite to deliverance.

2. Confess out loud and renounce Satan. Renounce all occult sins as they come to your mind. Whatever sin, whatever memory he brings to your mind, do not make excuses, just confess it as sin.

3. Once you have totally surrendered your life to Christ, become observant of what he brings to you to do. Oftentimes he will make you very sensitive to anything of an occult nature in your possession and will have you part with it. NEVER sell or give to others what you are being led to part with. Throw it out or burn it.

4. Renounce Satan and command him to depart. Pray for deliverance from all Satanic oppression.

5. Be an astute observer of “the wiles of the Devil.” That is, learn Satan’s “M.O.” Learn the tricky ways through which he will try to ensnare you again. His primary M. O. is deceit. He will make sin attractive and seek to convince you that it isn’t so bad. Be WATCHFUL of deceit. Jesus said several times to be watchful lest you be deceived.

6. If you have very deep affliction or bondage, fast.

"And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, 'Why could we not cast him out?' So He said to them, 'This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.'''
Mark 9:28-29

Don’t be tricked into a “fast” of any kind other than complete abstinence of ALL food for a designated period of time. No liquids other than water. DO drink water though, because while the body can go without food for considerable periods of time, it can’t go without water.

How long should a fast be? Pray for specific direction. A fast is usually 24 hours, or up to three days.

7. Just as your body needs protein, your spirit needs the Word of God regularly. Read DAILY in the Bible, and ask for help to understand and receive it.

"Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, 'If you abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.'''
John 8:31-32

Meditate on and feast on Scriptures promising deliverance such as:

"For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
1 John 3:8
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed…”
Luke 4:18

8. Get involved in Christian fellowship. Attend a church or prayer fellowship in which you will receive nurture and counsel. Do NOT try to go it alone.

Sin

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 23:50:00 +0000

One of the teachings of the New Age movement is that there is no sin, that sin is just something our minds have made up, or that we were erroneously taught by “organized religion,” which they love to put down.

Let’s compare them with what the real Jesus said:

"I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.''
Mark 2:17

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."
1 John 1:8

"Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.."

For example, A Course In Miracles, that Oprah Winfrey teaches says:
"There is no sin; it has no consequence.”
Workbook pg 183

"...sin is not real, and all that you believe must come
from sin will never happen, for it has no cause"
Vol 2, p. 179
Supposedly these words were channeled by a spirit identifying itself as “Jesus Christ” to Dr. Helen Schucman who wrote the 3-volume book.

Romans 5:12

"Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures..."
1 Corinthians 15:3

"...lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."
Hebrews 3:13

"...when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death."
James 1:15

"Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
James 4:8

"If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?"
1 Peter 4:18

"God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell..."
2 Peter 2:4

"I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance."
Matthew 9:13

"This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners..."
1 Timothy 1:15

"In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atonement for our sins."
1 John 4:10

"Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts."
Romans 6:12

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 6:23

"Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear."
1 Timothy 5:20

"And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many."
Hebrews 9:27-28

"...if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins."
James 5:19-20

"So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.''
Matthew 5:29

"And if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire."
Matthew 18:8

"I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance."
Luke 15:7

"For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. As it is written: 'There is none righteous, no, not one.'"
Romans 3:9-10

"...choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin..."
Hebrews 11:25

Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us...
Hebrews 12:1

"...to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.''
Jude 1:15

The Prophet Daniel Foretells Date Of Christ's Crucifixion

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 23:48:00 +0000

The prophet Daniel lived in the 6th century BCE.
While in captivity in Babylon, he was given the famous "70-Week prophecy," which is of such precision that it boggles the mind when you realize what it’s saying. It actually names the actual day, the date, that the Messiah would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey, and be refused by national Israel.

The Book of Daniel, chapter 9, starting in verse 24
Daniel was told that 70 "shevuim" were determined upon his people and his holy city, Jerusalem. "Shevuim," translated "weeks," is a period of 7’s in the same sense that "a decade" to us would be a period of 10 years.

He was told that after 69 periods of 7, the Messiah would be "cut off," that he would be killed.

The prophecy says that the count starts at the issuing of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem. From that day, there would be 69 "shevuim," or 483 Biblical years "unto Messiah the Prince." Biblical years were 360-day years.

That command to rebuild Jerusalem was given many years later by King Artaxerxes Longimanus to Nehemiah, on March 14, 445 BCE. This is a historical fact. There were 3 prior edicts, but those were given commanding them to go back and rebuild the Temple. The fourth edict was that they go and rebuild JERUSALEM as the prophecy in Daniel 9 specifies.

So from 445 BCE there would be a time-span of 483 years (69 x 7).
We reckon 69 x 7 years, x 360 days, because in the Bible, prophecies are given in 360-day years. So it’s saying that from the issuing of that command, would be a time span of 173,880 days.

If you count 173,880 actual calendar days from March 14, 445 BCE using the worlds's calendar, here’s the math. We’re using 365-day years to get to the actual secular calendar date:

March 14, 445 BCE to March 14, 32 AD... = 173,740
(476 x 365) no year "0"
March 14 to April 6, inclusive . . . . . . . . . . . + 24
Added leap year days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +116
(119-3, adjusted for actual leap years) ................
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 173,880

What happened on that date, April 6, 32 AD?

We know historically that Jesus began his ministry in the autumn of the 15th year of Tiberius. (Luke 3:1) Tiberius was appointed August 19, 14 AD. His 15th year would be in the year reaching 29, so during the year 28 Jesus began his ministry. We know that Jesus ministered for 3-1/2 years and died on Passover, 32 AD.

So the day he presented himself to Jerusalem was on Palm Sunday, April 6, 32 AD. Nisan 10
Zechariah 9:9

To hear the teaching online, go to these archives at Koinonea House:

Listen to number 5: "The Precision Of Prophecy"

A Hidden Message In Bible Geneology

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 23:46:00 +0000

Take a look at the ten names in the geneology recorded in Genesis chapter 5.
Whoever established this, established it by deliberate design.

Adam                man
Shet                appointed
Enosh               "anash": mortal, incurable
Kenan               sorrow, (see Numbers 21)
Mahala-el           blessed God
Yared               came down
Enoch (Khanoch)     teaching
Methu-shalakh       his death will send
Lamech              despairing
Noah                comfort,rest

Now read the second column from the top:

"Man was appointed mortal sorrow. But the blessed God came down, teaching his death will send to the despairing comfort."

A Christian Alternative To Halloween?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 23:44:00 +0000

On a Christian program the speaker was offering alternatives for children of Christian families to do on Halloween night. You've heard it before, perhaps have a party at church and have the children dress up as Bible characters. He was giving suggestions on how to make it a fun night for the kids so that they wouldn't feel like they're missing anything by not going trick-or-treating. He spoke for more than half an hour suggesting to parents different ways Christians can make it a fun night without the elements of witches, ghosts, and occult themes associated with Halloween. Just provide a good alternative for them, so they won't feel "different" from other kids.

I disagree.

Hear me out.

We live in a "feel good" society, an instant-coffee society, a society in which our children lack for nothing and usually don't have to wait for anything either. Christmas has become a "who paid more" holiday featuring the most expensive toys marketing can offer. And you'll make sure YOUR kid has the latest. If you're a "good" parent, that is.

There's something wrong with this picture.

If you asked a Christian child what it means to be a Christian, he'd probably say it's believing that Jesus died for our sins and that you need to ask him into your heart.

If that's what you think it means to be a Christian, you have a very naive view of what following Christ is all about.

Most of the first century Christians were martyred. Had you asked any of the parents in the first century, they would have described Christianity far differently from anything you've heard in our "modern" day.

Christianity then was picking up your cross and following Jesus. Unto death if need be. The Jesus who said, "in the world you will have tribulation." I often hear people talking about "the promises of God." Well that's one of his promises.

In fact, most of what Jesus had to say to believers was about reckoning yourself NOT of this world. "Come out from among them," the Scriptures say.

Come out from among them?

What does that mean?

The most well-known passage in the Bible dealing with the occult is the passage in Deuteronomy 18:9-14. It starts with:

"When you come into the land which the Lord your God is
giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations
of those nations."

You shall not, as in THOU SHALT NOT ....follow the abominations of the nations you live in.

In the New Testament, it says something similar:

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the Temple of God with idols? For you are the Temple of the living God. ...Therefore "Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.'' 2nd Corinthians 6:14-18

Come out from among them and be SEPARATE, says the Lord.

Be separate?

That's hardly what we tell our young people! Rather, we foster the attitude that they have to be "like the other kids."

You can't have it both ways. You can't stroke them and help them to wear "the right thing" and do as the others do so that they'll be popular, and then tell them to pick up their cross and follow Jesus. The two are mutually antagonistic.

Christian father, Christian mother, are you teaching your young person to "come out and be separate," or are you teaching them to CONFORM to the world?

Are you buying them all the things that "everybody else" has? Taking them to places "everybody else" goes? Competing to do whatever it takes to be popular? Have you taught your child to bow down before America's god of "popularity?" Has it never occurred to you that being popular is the very OPPOSITE of what Christ taught?

How will they ever embrace the concept of coming out and being separate, if you're coaching them in their efforts to be popular? With the notion that being popular is a "good" thing, how will they ever be able to accept, yes, ACCEPT it when they are hated by "the world"?

If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, `A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you... John 15:19-20

A lost generation. Children taught to look at Christianity as an alternative to only the most blatant evil, while telling them the rest isn't evil, the other practices of the nations are ok. Tolerable. Just this one we need to avoid, you know, Halloween is the worst, let's do something else that's fun on that night so you won't miss out on anything.

How will the kids of this generation ever be able to accept being persecuted if all they've learned from parents and teachers is what they must do to be acceptable?

How has Satan been able to so confuse the minds of Christians that they think it's right and good to foster in their children the attitudes which are the very opposite of what Jesus taught, without batting an eye and then patting themselves on the back for being "good" parents?

The time may be coming when America may go through real judgment. Some see it coming and are prepared. Most are oblivious. If your child ever has to accept something other than popularity, if your child has to confess Jesus before the "popular" kids and be shunned and laughed at (persecuted) for it, how can you think your spoiled (but popular) child will ever make it?

Most of them won't.Those who do are those who have been taught to dare to be different.

Islam? What It's Really All About

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 23:42:00 +0000

As the players in the Middle East events become more and more visible, it becomes more and more clear that the issue is not land. The true issue is much more serious and much more dangerous. In view of the tremendous number of prophecies in the Bible concerning "the last days," and the things we are seeing now right before our eyes, it should come as no surprise that the real issue is "religion."

The real issue is "who IS God?"

A few years ago, at a meeting with Yasser Arafat, the Prime Minister of Israel decided to just give him what he wanted, because the Israelis were just so tired of the violence. So Ehud Barak offered the "Palestinians" just about everything they were demanding -- 95 percent of the "West Bank," and was even willing to divide Jerusalem and let the "Palestinians" take East Jerusalem as their capital for their Palestinian State. It should have been a slam-dunk end to the story. But what happened? Yasser Arafat got up, walked out, and cancelled any further "negotiations," leaving everyone stunned. And at that point, the whole world should have understood that this was not about land.

Fast-forward to today. It is now becoming clear that the Islamic terrorist groups afflicting Israel are actually proxies for the government of Iran. And one good thing that has come out of all this is that the truth is no longer being hidden behind the guise of a struggle for land. The mullahs of Iran, have made it clear and made it public -- this is about whose God is God. They believe it is their CALLING from Allah to prepare the way for the coming of the Islamic "Mahdi," who will subject the entire world under Islam. And they believe it is their CALLING to rid the world of the two great obstacles to that -- Israel and the United States of America; the God of the Jews, and the God of the Christians. To even the most casual observer this is clear at this point, because they've been saying it loudly and clearly and often.

This elicits a comment, an observation that is quite telling on this subject:

The Arab nations have been in the Middle East continuously for over 4,000 years. They have never been dispersed throughout the earth as Israel has. They have had 4,000 uninterrupted years to develop.

Israel has been in her land now for 69 years. Why has Israel been able to build a state as modern, as prosperous, and as advanced as it is today, after a world-wide dispersion, persecution throughout that time and in every place, a Holocaust determined to destroy every Jew on the continent, and the birth of their new nation at the hands of the survivors of the most devastating torture and death camps known to man?

*** Why has Israel been able to do in 69 years what the Arabs have not been able to do in 4,000 years of uninterrupted presence?

The answer is the God of Israel.

For it is Israel's God who kept her through all her sufferings and wanderings, and it is Israel's God who is glorified in her restoration IN SPITE of the determination of the Arabs to destroy her. The God of Israel is made obvious in the blessings on Israel, making her a chief among the nations in only 69 years though she has only a sliver of the land of the Middle East.

The god of Islam apparently is unable to bless his people or his lands, though they have 99 percent of the land in the Middle East, and almost unlimited supplies of the world's most precious commodity -- oil.

While on this subject, let's make another enlightening comparison between nations:The richest, most powerful, and most advanced nation on the face of the earth today is the United States of America. The US was founded on the Judeo-Christian Bible, the Word of the Lord, and is blessed beyond all the nations of the earth. Now take a look at Haiti. Haiti is one of, some say the most, poverty-stricken nations on the face of the earth. The government of Haiti dedicated their nation to Satan; not once, but later confirmed it, and then confirmed a third time by official government proclamation. Satan's dedicated land is a land of abject poverty, death, curses, and voodoo.

So here's the comparison:
Israel -Her God is the God of the Bible. She is among the most prosperous and advanced nations on earth in spite of endless hatred against her. Her sons have been among the great men of the earth in science, medicine, and in every field they have been involved in. America -under the Judeo-Christian God of the Bible. Prosperous beyond any nation that has ever been on the earth.

The lands of Islam? -under the moon god, "Allah." Backward, oppressed, and hate-filled.

Haiti? -dedicated to Satan and one of the most oppressed nations on the face of the earth.

God has showed Himself in His peoples.

And Satan has done the same.

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord."
Psalm 33:12