Imagine there is a bank account that credits your account each morning with $86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day. Every evening, the bank deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course? Each of us has such a bank…
Moments with God.
Have a minute to spend on Heavenly things? Short, simple and straight to the point mini studies for you.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
What is your Response When Bad things Happen?
A Study of Job! This is one of the Books of the Bible people reference when Bad things happen. Lets take a closer look at what is happening. Chapter 1: The book starts out telling us about Job. He's a happy man, has lots of land, children and he fears God. He shuns evil. For this reason…
Friday, August 3, 2012
Why do Christians leave the Church or decide they are atheist?
As I was talking to a man the other day, I wasn't shocked to hear he grew up in the church and decided he was better off without the church or God for that matter. He was angry and bitter towards the church and God's Word. As I thought about the situation, I realized, there are many who walk away from God. Why is that you ask? The answer is rather simple, lets look at the scripture!
1. Those who don't understand
Notice the evil one takes away what was sown in his heart. These are not people who have not heard the message of God these are people who had the word of God sown in their heart. They just don't get what it's about. They may even pretend to be of God and went to church out of obedience to parents or tradition. They went through the motions.
2. Those who fall away after receiving it with Joy!
For example those who hear it as a child but they don't put it to use. They don't apply it. The read the Bible and see it as face value not something that can change their lives. They may think it's great but for someone else. They see God is only a short term answer.
3. Those who fall away after the world and because of trouble.
These are the people where God is not part of their everyday lives. They fall in love with the world. Those who sin is more attractive than what the Bible has to say. Those who lose a loved one and cannot forgive God. Those who separate from God instead of coming to him in times of trouble. There desires rule them.
4. The last is the Good soil that produces a crop!
What does the good crop look like?
1. They practice the fruit of the spirit
2. They spend every minute they can in church
3. They serve in the church and outside of the church
4. They Tithe (at least 10% usually more)
5. They Trust God for their needs and for their choices in life.
6. They live Holy Lives. They are set apart, different from the world.
7. They choose Love instead of Hate, Peace instead of War.
8. When people meet them they know they are different and God is large part of their life. They speak of him often and pray often.
9. They have a relationship with God.
10. They memorize scripture and God's words often replace their own.
What can you do for those who have fallen away?
1. Pray
2. Be the example
3. Share Gods Goodness
4. Serve them
5. Invite them to church
6. Share Gods word with them
But most importantly "Love" them!
Matthew 13: 1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.3Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
18“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”The Answer: There are 4 types of Soil!
1. Those who don't understand
Notice the evil one takes away what was sown in his heart. These are not people who have not heard the message of God these are people who had the word of God sown in their heart. They just don't get what it's about. They may even pretend to be of God and went to church out of obedience to parents or tradition. They went through the motions.
2. Those who fall away after receiving it with Joy!
For example those who hear it as a child but they don't put it to use. They don't apply it. The read the Bible and see it as face value not something that can change their lives. They may think it's great but for someone else. They see God is only a short term answer.
3. Those who fall away after the world and because of trouble.
These are the people where God is not part of their everyday lives. They fall in love with the world. Those who sin is more attractive than what the Bible has to say. Those who lose a loved one and cannot forgive God. Those who separate from God instead of coming to him in times of trouble. There desires rule them.
4. The last is the Good soil that produces a crop!
What does the good crop look like?
1. They practice the fruit of the spirit
2. They spend every minute they can in church
3. They serve in the church and outside of the church
4. They Tithe (at least 10% usually more)
5. They Trust God for their needs and for their choices in life.
6. They live Holy Lives. They are set apart, different from the world.
7. They choose Love instead of Hate, Peace instead of War.
8. When people meet them they know they are different and God is large part of their life. They speak of him often and pray often.
9. They have a relationship with God.
10. They memorize scripture and God's words often replace their own.
What can you do for those who have fallen away?
1. Pray
2. Be the example
3. Share Gods Goodness
4. Serve them
5. Invite them to church
6. Share Gods word with them
But most importantly "Love" them!
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Love, the most important.
Many people today view Love as just a feeling. Some confuse it with Lust. Some dismiss their love for another person as a conversation gets heated. We have all said things to other people not for the purpose of love but for the purpose of saying, I'm right and your not. So how do we keep ourselves in check? Let's start with some Scripture.
Love will show in your motives:
1. Pure Heart: A pure heart is one that does not have any additional motives. To manipulate, to defend it's self or to hurt.
2. Good Conscience: Can you say it and know it is the "right" thing to say. If your a Christian than the Holy Spirit will provide the words for you. You will know it is what God would want you to say. The Bible will also line up with what you are saying. For example, I say to my kids when they are hiding something they don't want me to see, "Hiding is lying". The Biblical example is Adam and Eve hiding from God when they are doing something they know they shouldn't be doing.
3. Sincere Faith: A sincere faith is a faith that is genuine, not a pretend faith. It Thanks God, serves, prays, longs to tell others of Christ. A sincere faith will be a faith that Obeys and Trusts.
1. Love is patient: By definition, patience is an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay: to have patience with a slow learner.
2. Love is Kind: Kind means considerate, helpful, or tolerant (not of sin and false teaching)
4. Love does not Boast: to speak with exaggeration and excessive pride, especiallyabout oneself.
7. Love is not Self-seeking: the seeking of one's own interest or selfish ends
8: Love is not easily angered: moderate or self-restrained
9: Love keeps no record of wrongs: Forgives as God forgives
11: Love protects: to defend or guard from attack, invasion, loss, annoyance
12: Love trusts: confident expectation of something
13: Love always hopes: the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best:
14: Love always Perserves: to persist in anything undertaken; maintain a purpose inspite of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement; continue steadfastly
15: Love never ends: Without end, stopping.
1 Corinthians 13:12: Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Romans 5:8: But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.We must follow God's example. His loves shows in his motives and his actions.
Love will show in your motives:
1 Timmothy 1:3-5 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work--which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.They had something to say but they had to examine there motives and see if they were doing is with love. They looked at three things to determine this.
1. Pure Heart: A pure heart is one that does not have any additional motives. To manipulate, to defend it's self or to hurt.
2. Good Conscience: Can you say it and know it is the "right" thing to say. If your a Christian than the Holy Spirit will provide the words for you. You will know it is what God would want you to say. The Bible will also line up with what you are saying. For example, I say to my kids when they are hiding something they don't want me to see, "Hiding is lying". The Biblical example is Adam and Eve hiding from God when they are doing something they know they shouldn't be doing.
3. Sincere Faith: A sincere faith is a faith that is genuine, not a pretend faith. It Thanks God, serves, prays, longs to tell others of Christ. A sincere faith will be a faith that Obeys and Trusts.
2 Timothy 1: 3: I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.Love will show in your actions:
1 Corthians 13:3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.Again love is more than just actions it goes back to Pure Heart, Good Conscience and Sincere Faith. After you have examined your motives you can examine your actions.
1. Love is patient: By definition, patience is an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay: to have patience with a slow learner.
2. Love is Kind: Kind means considerate, helpful, or tolerant (not of sin and false teaching)
Revelation 2:2 "I know your works, and your toil and perseverance, and that you can't tolerate evil men, and have tested those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and found them false.3. Love does not Envy: a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard toanother's advantages, success, possessions
4. Love does not Boast: to speak with exaggeration and excessive pride, especiallyabout oneself.
2 Corinthians 10:17 But "he who boasts, let him boast in the Lord."5. Love is not Proud: having, or showing a high opinion of one's own importance, or superiority.
Matthew 23:12: For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.6. Love is not Rude: rough in manners or behavior
7. Love is not Self-seeking: the seeking of one's own interest or selfish ends
8: Love is not easily angered: moderate or self-restrained
9: Love keeps no record of wrongs: Forgives as God forgives
Colossians 3:13: Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.10: Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with Truth: Does not find pleasure in un-pure things.
11: Love protects: to defend or guard from attack, invasion, loss, annoyance
12: Love trusts: confident expectation of something
13: Love always hopes: the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best:
14: Love always Perserves: to persist in anything undertaken; maintain a purpose inspite of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement; continue steadfastly
15: Love never ends: Without end, stopping.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
What the bible says about Judging others.....
We have all heard the "Christians should not judge", however let me show you the rest of the verse.
Matthew 7:1-6"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
This is one of the hardest lessons to learn as a Christian because this is not the only teaching on this subject. Many people quote the first part but ignore the part that those who judge are called to clean up their act first then help others do the same. The judgement is not for looking at people outside of Christ but for helping your brothers and sisters in Christ. It's not based on what you look like or outside appendices. It is done to help others follow the command of Christ. Lets look at a few more examples.
Matthew 18:15-17 "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
2 Thessalonians 3:6-9: In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."
1 Peter 5:2 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
Ecclesiastes 4:12: Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take warning.
Matthew 28:19-20: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
1 John 5:16: If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that. All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death. We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him. We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true--even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
Proverbs 27:17: As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-23: Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
As Christians we are to help each other to obey Gods word. Sometimes that will be pointing out each others sins. Sometimes that will be coming along beside someone to help them learn to obey. Sometimes it will be done with rules.
1 Peter 2:13: Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
Sometimes you will throw your pearls to swine. People don't want to be told they are wrong or that something they are doing is wrong. Sometimes its because you come at the person with wrong motives but often it is not . Those are the days where your heart breaks because you know you have done the right thing but the person refused to listen. Sometimes people can't see beyond their hurt to see your heart.
We are to help our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are to be accountable to each other. We are to correct and rebuke each other.
Galatians 6:1: Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load. Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Friday, September 30, 2011
What the Bible says about.....Anti-Christs and the worship of other gods.
It is with a heavy heart that I write this blog entry. I've spent a long time in prayer about what to write and how to say it. So here goes.
2. You must worship him only
Exodus 34:14: Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
Luke 4:8: Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'"
1 Corinthians 1:9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.
1 John 8:1: Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God." The Jews answered him, "Aren't we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?" "I am not possessed by a demon," said Jesus, "but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death." At this the Jews exclaimed, "Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death. Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?" Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad." "You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!" "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.1. There is no way to God except through Jesus.
2. You must worship him only
Mark 3:32: A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, "Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.""Who are my mother and my brothers?" he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."Mary is human just like us. She did not remain a virgin after the birth of Jesus. She had other sons and daughters. She cannot forgive you from sins. She herself points to Jesus and is saved only through her son.
Mark 6:3: Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor."
John 2:5: His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."
Luke 2:34: Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."3. There is more than one Anti-christ
1 John 2:28: Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the anti-christ is coming, even now many anti-christs have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us. But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the anti-christ--he denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us--even eternal life. I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray.
2 Thessalonians 2:9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness. But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.The Pope is an Anti-christ. He puts himself in as Great High Priest at title given to Jesus. Jesus is the only Mediator between God and Us. God took away any other mediators when he tore the veil and allowed us to pray directly to Jesus. He also gave us the Holy Spirit to teach us.
Hebrews 4:14: Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
Mark 15:38: The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!"Finally, there are many many people who are deceived They only fall for the lie because as the Bible says ....They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. The truth is Jesus. Not Mary, not the Pope, not any other god you think to worship. Your own acts of being a good person will not get you into heaven.
2 Thessalonians 3:1 Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.We as Christians are not without hope. We are not without directions on how to deal with an unbelieving world or a deceived world.
Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Sunday, July 31, 2011
What the Bible says about....Casting out demons, battling Satan and spiritual warfare
These issues keep coming up in blogs, articles and it runs rampant in books (ie. Joyce Meyer). In order to distinguish false teaching from true teaching you must have a some knowledge from the scriptures to weed out the false teaching.
Luke 4:1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert,where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'" The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.So if you worship me, it will all be yours." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'" The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
First Satan tempts him with a physical need. Jesus answers with scripture.
Then Satan tempts him with power. Jesus answers with scripture.
Then Satan temps him with scripture and an opportunity to show off. Jesus answers with scripture.
The third attempt is true (quoting Ps 91:11) but Jesus knew it wasn't the time to show off and that there was a different scripture that applied besides the one Satan quoted.
1. You have to know scripture well enough to know how to apply the knowledge. Wisdom only comes from God.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
Eph 6:11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
2. We are to stand our ground and not slip back into old sin and into new sin. To keep this from happening we are given instructions. Seek Truth in the scriptures, live right, share the gospel, grow in faith, be assured of your salvation, and pray always for you and others.
As for casting out demons if you notice when Jesus and his disciples cast out demons they did so in Jesus' name. You will also notice that most of the cases had a physical alliment associated with them (ie, violence and trashing, throwing self in fire, mute, deaf). Most of them says, "since birth". This is not to say that people who are handicap are demon possessed. Sometimes God show us glory through the handicap people in our lives and through them we get a very good glimpse of a child like heart.
Luke 11: 24 "When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first."
3. There is a warning here. Unless the Holy Spirit is put in the place of the demon then you just made things worse.
Luke 11:17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.
Matthew 28:18: Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
4. These are your marching orders. Make disciples, baptize them, and teach them to obey. This is the will of God. This is how you are to battle Satan and demons.
One last verse:
Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
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