If you think there are still some Christian prime-time TV shows and mainstream movies, think again. Many shows and movies mention God...but how many times do you hear them mention Jesus unless it's used as a cussword? Or the Holy Spirit?
Think about "Joan of Arcadia", "Touched by an Angel", or even "Oh, God" with George Burns and John Denver. Much mention of God...none at all of Jesus or the Holy Spirit.
Bottom line: it's OK to talk about God in our culture, particularly out loud since you don't know if they're talking about God or a god (no capitalization means a false god.) The New Agers have their gods, the hindus have their gods, and Allah is referred to as a god. None of those are the one true God of the Bible, of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Remember the scripture about testing the spirits to see if they are of God?
1 John 4:1-3: "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
This is how you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. But every spirit who does not confess Jesus is not from God."
Friends, our culture is NOT Christian-friendly.
And here's something else...you hear a lot of people say they're "spiritual." That doesn't necessarily mean Christian or even believing in God at all. Remember the scripture about, "Even the demons believe?"
Satan is spiritual and so are the 1/3 of the angels who followed him when he was cast out of heaven, and those angels became demons. Satan isn't an atheist, either. He knows God exists. He just HATES him and all His creation!
"Spiritual" can mean New Age, Satanist, Indian folklore, Hindu, Muslim, or meditation.
If you really want to know where someone stands, ask them if they believe that Jesus came to us in the flesh from God.
And if they don't, please share the truth with them--that Jesus came in the flesh, from God, and He was both fully human and fully divine (I know it's a hard concept because our human minds are finite.)
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
Do not worship angels!
I worry when I hear about people appearing to worship angels. I know they're cute and nice to collect, but...
Here's why I worry: twice, in Revelation, the angel who shows John around heaven specifically warns him, "Do not do it!" when John tries to worship this angel.
Rev 19:10: "And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said to me, 'Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethern who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy"[I]
(note also that the last sentence means that prophecy is, as my Ryrie study Bible says, "designed to unfold the loveliness of Jesus.")
[I]Rev 22:8-9: "...And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things. (9) And he said to me, "Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethern the prophets and of those who heed the words of this book; worship God."
Interesting that John had to be told twice--the angel must have been radiant in his splendor!
So that's some daily bread--don't take your eyes off worshiping or praising God, His only son come in the flesh who is Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit! Or you might end up like poor Peter...who Jesus allowed to walk on water to come to Him, but when Peter took his eyes off the Lord...well, you know what happened! El-sink-o. Fortunately, before he was all the way sunk, he cried out to Jesus.
Cry out to Him right now if you need Him.
Jesus, please hear our prayers, and thank you so much for what you did for us on the cross!
Here's why I worry: twice, in Revelation, the angel who shows John around heaven specifically warns him, "Do not do it!" when John tries to worship this angel.
Rev 19:10: "And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said to me, 'Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethern who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy"[I]
(note also that the last sentence means that prophecy is, as my Ryrie study Bible says, "designed to unfold the loveliness of Jesus.")
[I]Rev 22:8-9: "...And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things. (9) And he said to me, "Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethern the prophets and of those who heed the words of this book; worship God."
Interesting that John had to be told twice--the angel must have been radiant in his splendor!
So that's some daily bread--don't take your eyes off worshiping or praising God, His only son come in the flesh who is Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit! Or you might end up like poor Peter...who Jesus allowed to walk on water to come to Him, but when Peter took his eyes off the Lord...well, you know what happened! El-sink-o. Fortunately, before he was all the way sunk, he cried out to Jesus.
Cry out to Him right now if you need Him.
Jesus, please hear our prayers, and thank you so much for what you did for us on the cross!
Friday, August 8, 2008
Intercessory prayer and leaning on God
In this morning's reading, I was cross-checking with my "Believer's Bible Commentary" (big, thick book that tells you what some things mean.)
I found something interesting. In reading Revelation 15:8, "[I]And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; [B]and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished."[/B][/I]
The commentary says this may mean that intercessory prayer from priests and others for mercy on the earth will not work during this time....God's temple is already filled with smoke---meaning His spirit and He will not allow anyone (or their prayers?) to enter.
I'm guessing this means prayers for His Wrath to stop...but as we know, it happens with the 7 bowl/vial judgments because it must. It has been foreordained.
TOPIC SHIFT:
My sunday school lesson I'm teaching this month involves having the kids make one big cookie and write on it with icing all their problems--their "giants" like David faced. We're reading 1 Samuel 16:6-13 (David's anointing) and 17:33-50, in which little old David defeats Goliath because he had God with him...and David trusted God.
Do you face giants, like financial fears, health hazards, political problems, or relationship worries?
Lean on your heavenly Father. Call out to Him in His Son, Jesus', name. He will lift you up, and help you, and wrap His loving arms around you...no matter who the giant is.
Let God love you. Open your arms, open your hands, open your mind and spirit and let your Father love you right now.
I found something interesting. In reading Revelation 15:8, "[I]And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; [B]and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished."[/B][/I]
The commentary says this may mean that intercessory prayer from priests and others for mercy on the earth will not work during this time....God's temple is already filled with smoke---meaning His spirit and He will not allow anyone (or their prayers?) to enter.
I'm guessing this means prayers for His Wrath to stop...but as we know, it happens with the 7 bowl/vial judgments because it must. It has been foreordained.
TOPIC SHIFT:
My sunday school lesson I'm teaching this month involves having the kids make one big cookie and write on it with icing all their problems--their "giants" like David faced. We're reading 1 Samuel 16:6-13 (David's anointing) and 17:33-50, in which little old David defeats Goliath because he had God with him...and David trusted God.
Do you face giants, like financial fears, health hazards, political problems, or relationship worries?
Lean on your heavenly Father. Call out to Him in His Son, Jesus', name. He will lift you up, and help you, and wrap His loving arms around you...no matter who the giant is.
Let God love you. Open your arms, open your hands, open your mind and spirit and let your Father love you right now.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
The technology predicted in Revelation
One thing that's always jumped out at me as I read Revelation is the prediction of new technology that could in no way have been predicted back when John wrote Revelation circa 90 A.D...without supernatural help, of course.
1. When the 2 witnesses are killed and their bodies allowed to lie in the streets of Jerusalem, Rev. 11:9: "And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves." (Side note: slightly interesting connection hwere with 9-11, in which about 3,000 to 3,500 died, most of which were not found to put in graves.)
Big question: how on earth could a guy in 90 A.D. have foreseen people from all over the world seeing those bodies lying in the streets, unburied...without it coming directly from Jesus (the knowledge, that is)? We know now--we'll see it on CNN!
2. When the woman clothed by the sun (Israel) flees into the wilderness, in Rev. 12:14, And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent."
Big question: Could "eagle" be a symbol for the USA? And could "two wings" refer to jets, or to two military wings (groups of jets) And if so, how could John have known that without Jesus telling him or showing him?
3. The famous mark of the beast from Rev. 13:16, "And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:"
Big question: Even 50 years ago, did they assume this was a tattoo or something? Because now--as we all know--the tech exists to implant something smaller than qrain of rice that lets you do all your financial transactions just with a swipe of your hand. They use it at high-end resorts in Europe, I hear.
My point is, NOW all of this tech exists. NOW we understand how all of it can happen. NOW it's becoming frighteningly clear.
Comments on other tech that's in Revelation?
1. When the 2 witnesses are killed and their bodies allowed to lie in the streets of Jerusalem, Rev. 11:9: "And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves." (Side note: slightly interesting connection hwere with 9-11, in which about 3,000 to 3,500 died, most of which were not found to put in graves.)
Big question: how on earth could a guy in 90 A.D. have foreseen people from all over the world seeing those bodies lying in the streets, unburied...without it coming directly from Jesus (the knowledge, that is)? We know now--we'll see it on CNN!
2. When the woman clothed by the sun (Israel) flees into the wilderness, in Rev. 12:14, And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent."
Big question: Could "eagle" be a symbol for the USA? And could "two wings" refer to jets, or to two military wings (groups of jets) And if so, how could John have known that without Jesus telling him or showing him?
3. The famous mark of the beast from Rev. 13:16, "And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:"
Big question: Even 50 years ago, did they assume this was a tattoo or something? Because now--as we all know--the tech exists to implant something smaller than qrain of rice that lets you do all your financial transactions just with a swipe of your hand. They use it at high-end resorts in Europe, I hear.
My point is, NOW all of this tech exists. NOW we understand how all of it can happen. NOW it's becoming frighteningly clear.
Comments on other tech that's in Revelation?
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
How are we strong when we are weak?
I never used to understand 2 Cor 9-10, (NASB): "And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness'"..."
and in verse 10, "...for when I am weak, then I am strong."
But then I thought about what my mother said when my dear grandmother passed away 3 years ago almost to the day this month, that as she'd aged she'd lost so many thing, including even her cherished ability to read (even with a magnifier) and play bridge even with the huge-font cards...yet she withstood it all in stride, with grace, as was her name, Grace Laurie.
Two days ago, in a devotional, I read a scripture saying that most of us have trouble with the loss of capability that aging brings. But when we are gradually stripped of everything propping us up--whatever it may be--we learn to lean on Him more, and on other Believers more.
Thus, when we get weaker, we learn--or should learn--to get stronger in our faith in the Lord, for His power is made perfect (or how about 'perfectly clear') in our weakness.
I've seen this in myself. As I've struggled with my many knee surgeries and lost my ability to run and lift heavy things, I've had to ask for help...and now the Lord is laying it more and more on my heart to help others.
In the past, it was all about me. The big marathon runner, the big powerlifter. I guess I inspired some people...but not much more.
Now, though, it's more about reaching out and lifting up others where I can, and helping and connnecting.
I feel a new priority in my life--to help others, and also to let myself lean on them more.
Praise God, His power is made more and more perfectly perfect as we are made weaker!
Love y'all,
Tam
and in verse 10, "...for when I am weak, then I am strong."
But then I thought about what my mother said when my dear grandmother passed away 3 years ago almost to the day this month, that as she'd aged she'd lost so many thing, including even her cherished ability to read (even with a magnifier) and play bridge even with the huge-font cards...yet she withstood it all in stride, with grace, as was her name, Grace Laurie.
Two days ago, in a devotional, I read a scripture saying that most of us have trouble with the loss of capability that aging brings. But when we are gradually stripped of everything propping us up--whatever it may be--we learn to lean on Him more, and on other Believers more.
Thus, when we get weaker, we learn--or should learn--to get stronger in our faith in the Lord, for His power is made perfect (or how about 'perfectly clear') in our weakness.
I've seen this in myself. As I've struggled with my many knee surgeries and lost my ability to run and lift heavy things, I've had to ask for help...and now the Lord is laying it more and more on my heart to help others.
In the past, it was all about me. The big marathon runner, the big powerlifter. I guess I inspired some people...but not much more.
Now, though, it's more about reaching out and lifting up others where I can, and helping and connnecting.
I feel a new priority in my life--to help others, and also to let myself lean on them more.
Praise God, His power is made more and more perfectly perfect as we are made weaker!
Love y'all,
Tam
Monday, July 7, 2008
Beware of false gospels!
False gospels are rampant today...do you know how to recognize them?
A false gospel is anything that looks and sounds like the true Gospel...but isn't. A prime example is the false gospels that proclaim that we are saved not only by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, but also by the good works that we do.
As I mentioned in a previous post, the problem with good works is, how do you know when you've done enough? And Saint Paul says, Gal 2:21 "I am not one of those who treats the grace of God as meaningless. For if we could be saved by keeping the law, then there was no need for Christ to die."
False gospels are designed by Satan to draw us out from the true Gospel and believe lies that will lead us into hell.
Fortunately, false gospels are somewhat predictable--they almost always start with an attack on God's Word, the Bible, because if Satan can cut us off from the truth, then we have no way of checking to see what God says about anything.
It usually starts with questioning the accuracy of the Bible, or even claiming that certain books are "no longer relevant" or even "we've gone beyond the Bible." Oh, really? And how do you go beyond the creator of the universe's Word? Where do you go? (Hint: it's a hot place.)
False gospels then go on to attack the divinity of Jesus Christ, or the idea that He WAS both fully God and fully human. False gospels do this because if they can make Christ into "just a man", then the Resurrection would have been impossible, and withou the Resurrection, we're left with a de-Christianized Christianity. No resurrection, no salvation through substitutionalry atonement of Christ. Thus, the false gospel starts steering it's adherents to salvation through works.
And yes, Jesus DID claim He was GOD:
Witnessing tip/tool: when someone starts attacking the Bible, ask them for a specific reference. Then share your own Biblical knowledge with them, in love, not argumentatively.
When in doubt, check the source--the BIBLE!
A false gospel is anything that looks and sounds like the true Gospel...but isn't. A prime example is the false gospels that proclaim that we are saved not only by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, but also by the good works that we do.
As I mentioned in a previous post, the problem with good works is, how do you know when you've done enough? And Saint Paul says, Gal 2:21 "I am not one of those who treats the grace of God as meaningless. For if we could be saved by keeping the law, then there was no need for Christ to die."
False gospels are designed by Satan to draw us out from the true Gospel and believe lies that will lead us into hell.
Fortunately, false gospels are somewhat predictable--they almost always start with an attack on God's Word, the Bible, because if Satan can cut us off from the truth, then we have no way of checking to see what God says about anything.
It usually starts with questioning the accuracy of the Bible, or even claiming that certain books are "no longer relevant" or even "we've gone beyond the Bible." Oh, really? And how do you go beyond the creator of the universe's Word? Where do you go? (Hint: it's a hot place.)
False gospels then go on to attack the divinity of Jesus Christ, or the idea that He WAS both fully God and fully human. False gospels do this because if they can make Christ into "just a man", then the Resurrection would have been impossible, and withou the Resurrection, we're left with a de-Christianized Christianity. No resurrection, no salvation through substitutionalry atonement of Christ. Thus, the false gospel starts steering it's adherents to salvation through works.
And yes, Jesus DID claim He was GOD:
John 14:7-10 [7] If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." [8] Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." [9] Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, `Show us the Father'? [10] Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.
John 10:30 "I and the Father are one."
John 14:11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.
John 10:37-38 [37] Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. [38] But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father."
Matthew 27:43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, `I am the Son of God.'"
Witnessing tip/tool: when someone starts attacking the Bible, ask them for a specific reference. Then share your own Biblical knowledge with them, in love, not argumentatively.
When in doubt, check the source--the BIBLE!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
What's the deal with all the earthquakes and wild weather?
People are spooked. The recent 7.9 earthquake in China and the one before that in Myanmar have killed many poor souls, hurt many more, and destroyed homes, schools and villages. What on earth is going on?
Well, it may not be exactly earthly. Jesus told us that earthquakes would be one of the signs preceeding his Second Coming.
Now I know what you're saying...sure, there have always been earthquakes. But doesn't it seem like there are more and more of them lately?
Matthew 24:6-7: "And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. (7) For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places."
What allows many people to dismiss end times signs is that many of them have always been with us to some extent. There have always been wars, and rumors of war, along with famines, pestilence, and earthquakes.
But if you study military history, you'll see that the 20th century really takes the cake for wars...and the 21st shows every sign of being the same way or even upping the ante. As for rumors of war...the invention and popularization of the internet allows rumors to spread as NEVER before!
The stories we've read lately about the worldwide food shortages support increasing famines, and it seems like every day we're being warned of some new exotic disease (pestilience.)
But Jesus warned us about this, and he said theses signs were "...the beginning of sorrows" (Matthew 24:8.)
You will not like what comes next, particularly if you have not repented of your sins--meaning to tell God you are sincerely sorry for them--and opened up your heart and accepted Jesus' wonderful and generous sacrifice of his body, blood and life on the cross for YOU and for all of us, that God would accept that sacrifice for our sins so we could enter heaven and eternal life sinless and with God forever!
Do it now. Pray the prayer. Repent, accept Christ, and ask God to forgive you for your sins. Ask Jesus to enter your heart and soul and bless you with the Holy Spirit within you.
And then when you hear more stories of worse earthquakes and wilder weather, you won't have to fear...you will know that you are SAVED for all eternity!
Well, it may not be exactly earthly. Jesus told us that earthquakes would be one of the signs preceeding his Second Coming.
Now I know what you're saying...sure, there have always been earthquakes. But doesn't it seem like there are more and more of them lately?
Matthew 24:6-7: "And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. (7) For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places."
What allows many people to dismiss end times signs is that many of them have always been with us to some extent. There have always been wars, and rumors of war, along with famines, pestilence, and earthquakes.
But if you study military history, you'll see that the 20th century really takes the cake for wars...and the 21st shows every sign of being the same way or even upping the ante. As for rumors of war...the invention and popularization of the internet allows rumors to spread as NEVER before!
The stories we've read lately about the worldwide food shortages support increasing famines, and it seems like every day we're being warned of some new exotic disease (pestilience.)
But Jesus warned us about this, and he said theses signs were "...the beginning of sorrows" (Matthew 24:8.)
You will not like what comes next, particularly if you have not repented of your sins--meaning to tell God you are sincerely sorry for them--and opened up your heart and accepted Jesus' wonderful and generous sacrifice of his body, blood and life on the cross for YOU and for all of us, that God would accept that sacrifice for our sins so we could enter heaven and eternal life sinless and with God forever!
Do it now. Pray the prayer. Repent, accept Christ, and ask God to forgive you for your sins. Ask Jesus to enter your heart and soul and bless you with the Holy Spirit within you.
And then when you hear more stories of worse earthquakes and wilder weather, you won't have to fear...you will know that you are SAVED for all eternity!
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