"Halloween"

October 31, 2011

“Halloween”

Blessings Folk!

Well folk, it is that time of the year again… Happy Happy

Most of y’all know my feelings about “halloween”.
Simply put, believers should not participate.

I know about All Saints Day.
I know about Reformation Day.

Fine.

I also know that October 31 is a “high, holy day” in the church of satan and in wicca.

Here is an interesting article that seeks to encourage Believers along the line that participation in “halloween” is fine...that it is really a christian holiday. No joke.

http://americanvision.org/3671/concerning-halloween/

Give attention to a couple of major things.

The author, from a “think-tank” (he is not swimming too deeply), immediately denies that Druids even exist. Strange.

Also, pay attention to his main theme - Believers power lies in mocking the enemy.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Word tells us not to do so…

Jude 9
But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”


Michael did not rebuke satan, much less mock him.
Neither should we.

Did you see how the author stated...

  • our primary battle is to “roll..back the demonic realm of ignorance, fear, and superstition”
  • the demonic realm is vanquished by mockery
  • to drive satan from us we ridicule him
  • the historic connections the author seeks to make...all without and evidence…
  • how the author can not “explain” things associated with the Druids

These are simply not biblical true.

It is God who sits in the heavens laughing and ridicules them. Not us.

What are we to do?

We are to…

Romans 12
 1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.


  • present our bodies a living and holy sacrifice
  • do not be conformed to the world (do not put on the “mask” of the world)
  • be transformed (same Greek word by which we get “metamorphosis&rdquoWinking by the renewing of your mind
  • prove the will of God...that which is good, acceptable and perfect

There are many portions of the Word that give us more insight.

Consider these…

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 ("Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.")
James 1:27 ("keep oneself from being polluted by the world")
3 John 1:11 ("do not imitate what is evil")
Romans 12:9 ("abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.")
Deuteronomy 18:9-14 (do not learn to imitate detestable ways, including spiritists, sorcerers and witchcraft)
Ephesians 5:11-12 ("Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness" / "live as children of light")
1 Timothy 4:1 (don't "follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons")
1 Corinthians 10:21
2 Corinthians 6:14-17 ("what fellowship can light have with darkness?")
Philippians 4:8 (think about pure, lovely, noble things)
1 Corinthians 11:1 ("follow the example of Christ")
1 Corinthians 10:31 ("whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God")
James 4:7-8 (submit yourselves to God / resist the devil / purify your hearts)
Ezekiel 44:23 ("…teach my people… to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.")
Proverbs 22:6 ("train a child in the way he should go")
Matthew 18:6 ("if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin…")
Hosea 4:6 ("My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.")
John 3:19-20 (people love darkness instead of light)
Romans 13:12 ("put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.")
Ephesians 6:11-18 ("take your stand against the devil's schemes.")

(List from http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/halloween.html)


Let us remember “who we are” in the Lord.

We are not to put on the mask of the world.
We are to pursue and press on in the power of the Lord, not the power of ridicule or mockery.

Sadly, most of the professing church will be play-acting and partying while the kingdom of darkness grows.

Still, we know that Christ is victorious.

We rest in Him.

Seek Him.

See what He says to you…

Blessings!!

"Lavish Love"

October 17, 2011

“Lavish Love”

Blessings Folk!

As we saw our last time together, we are Chosen and Blessed.

Give close attention to the Word.

Fear not what you learn.

Set aside preconceived ideas and teachings.

Simply let the Word speak.

Some folk have a difficult time with understanding that they are “chosen” and “predestined”. Press on in the Word and watch what the Lord teaches us.

We continue in Ephesians…

Ephesians 1

In love
5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,
6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace
8 which He lavished on us.


Note what the Lord has done…

  • predestined us to adoption
  • adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself
  • this was before the foundation of the world, vs. 4

Why?
  • according to the kind intention of His will
  • to the praise of the glory of His grace

  • grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved

Who is “He”?
Father God

Note what we received…
  • redemption...in Him through His blood
  • forgiveness of our trespasses...according to the riches of His grace...not partial forgiveness...forgiveness without limit...as is His grace
  • grace...His grace lavished upon us

We are not “barely saved”.
The Lord did not give just enough...love, grace, forgiveness…
We are adopted as sons.
We have the abundance of the Most High God...

The Lord releases without limit…
  • spiritual blessings
  • redemption
  • love
  • grace
  • mercy
  • forgiveness

...upon the chosen who have been predestined from the foundation of the world.

Yes, this is marvelous.
Yes, I do not understand all.
Yes, it is a mystery.
Yes, the Word states much more related to “chosen”, “predestined”, etc.

We do well to search the Truth of the Lord.

Today, rejoice in the what the Lord has done for you and who you are in Him.

Remember, He has freely given…
  • according to the kind intention of His will
  • forgiveness

Let us lavishly love as He does.

Blessings!



"Chosen and Blessed"

October 12, 2011

“Chosen and Blessed”

Blessings folk!

Too often we as Believers forget...or worse yet, never knew...who we are in Him.

“In Him”...a marvelous phrase found in Ephesians 1.

Let’s take some time to see what the Lord tells us…

Ephesians 1

 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
   To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.

Do not read too quickly through Paul’s greeting to the Believers in Ephesus. Read verses 1-2 again.

Paul knew who he was in Christ.
Paul knew what his calling from the Lord.

He was an apostle of Christ Jesus - one sent.
This was by the “will of God.”

We will see the phrase “the will of God” again.
Pay attention.
There is much to glean.

Many ask what “the will of God” is in their lives.
We will see…
Also, keep this in mind…

1 Thessalonians 5

16 Rejoice always;
17 pray without ceasing;
18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

God’s will lies in Christ Jesus.
We are to rejoice in Him, pray without ceasing, give thanks in everything.

So, Paul speaks grace and peace upon them.
We should do likewise with one another.

This is not just a cursory greeting or proclamation.

Blessing or curse comes from the tongue.

Speak forth blessing, grace and peace upon folk and situations and watch what happens.

Paul then blesses/worships the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for what He has done.
What has the Lord done?

  1. He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.
Think on that. Every spiritual blessing in Christ has been granted to us.

  1. He (Father) has chosen us in Him (Jesus) before the foundation of the world…
Yes, if you are true Believer you are chosen.
You were chosen before the foundation of the world...before anything was spoken into existence.
Do not think you are insignificant.
Do not think that you are meaningless.
Do not think that you are an “accident of nature.”
You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

  1. We are chosen before the foundation of the world that we would be holy and blameless before Him…
Only “in Him” (we will see more later) are we able to stand holy and blameless before Him.
Not in the flesh

Now, take a moment and give thanks to the Lord for what He has done…
His grace
His mercy
His love
His choosing
His blessing
His peace

Then, live in it.
Blessings!!

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