THIRTY ONE DAYS OF BIBLE TRUTHS - DAY 2 (DARKNESS)

VERSE: “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19)

TRUTH:  We must remember that in our zeal to tell the world about the Hope that is within us, that the vast majority are not really concerned about hearing Truth. The god of this world (sin, self and Satan) has deceived them and they are blind to the wonders of God as a cloud of darkness has descended over their spiritual eyes and remains there. We never give up when these same people, whether friend, family or foe, reject us. We pray mightily and intensely for them to see the error of their ways. We pray for a realization, on their part, that the things they hold up as important and good, are worthless compared to the Eternal Light Who can chase away the blackness of the soul and reconcile it to its Creator. #Pray

PRAYERS OF THE BIBLE SERIES: THE BOOK OF JOB, Prayer #3

As tedious (after the first chapter) as it may seem to the average person, the Book of Job is one of the most important pieces of factual literature ever produced in the entire history of mankind. Chronologically,  as previously mentioned,  it is the first book ever written and the Hands and Spirit of God are all over it.  As we continue visiting some of the outstanding prayers of this outstanding man, whom God Himself mentioned as one of His three top saints in another Scripture (Ezekiel 14:14 “even though these three men, Noah, Daniel and Job were in its midst, by their own righteousness they could only deliver themselves….”), 

Job 10:
“My soul loathes my life;
I will give free course to my complaint,
I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
2 I will say to God, ‘Do not condemn me;
Show me why You contend with me.
3 Does it seem good to You that You should oppress,
That You should despise the work of Your hands,
And smile on the counsel of the wicked?
4 Do You have eyes of flesh?
Or do You see as man sees?

5 Are Your days like the days of a mortal man?
Are Your years like the days of a mighty man,
6 That You should seek for my iniquity
And search out my sin,
7 Although You know that I am not wicked,
And there is no one who can deliver from Your hand?
8 ‘Your hands have made me and fashioned me,
An intricate unity;
Yet You would destroy me.
9 Remember, I pray, that You have made me like clay.
And will You turn me into dust again?

Now in the previous prayer (Click here) Job had just finished saying he wished he had someone to "stand in the gap" for him before the Lord (a "mediator"). You and I know we are the most blessed people ever, as Jesus Christ is our High Priest and Intercessor before His Own Father, on our behalf. Job did not have that privilege....so off he goes on a rant which comes close to insulting God....and which the Father responds to in Job 38-39, demanding a reply from Job.

Actually everything which Job lists above points to the human incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ! Job prays to the Lord:  
- "Do You have eyes of flesh or see as a man sees?" (Verse 4)
- "Are Your days like the days of a mortal man?"(Verse 5a)

This is prophetic before he launches into the self-pitying pathetic discourse, asking God to just take his life and get it over with! We do close to the same thing, in essence, because most of the time we are as unaware of the specific plans and purposes of God for the particular trial we experience, as Job was.

Job then goes further and reveals the depth of his knowledge of not just WHO God is but He has done for him (Job). Later on we will see that knowing all these facts about God, and staying faithful to Him to the letter of the Law, is not as complete as a close personal knowledge (YADA) of Him! Job thinks that only God may be able to do this to him, but he obviously does not know that it was the devil - Satan - who was allowed to do some horrid damage to Job (see Job chapter 1).

Here in verses 12-15 (Chapter 10) Job says:
12 You have granted me life and favor,
And Your care has preserved my spirit.
13 ‘And these things You have hidden in Your heart;
I know that this was with You:
14 If I sin, then You mark me,
And will not acquit me of my iniquity.
15 If I am wicked, woe to me;
Even if I am righteous, I cannot lift up my head.
I am full of disgrace;
See my misery!

Before we get real harsh and self-righteous on old Job here, let's look in the mirror and ask if we had ever done the same and if it all came down to this, would we - even knowing Jesus as Lord and Master - do the same thing?! Sure, some of us may breathe deeply and not complain, but frankly, this is a minority view! At the same time, we can still pray as Paul did when he was in so much pain and affliction at the thorn in his flesh that he asked the Lord to take it away three times. It does appear though that Paul was in this said minority. He mentioned his personal pain only three times, and when God answered "My Grace is sufficient for thee", Paul is recorded as never mentioning it again! In fact, he did his best work under conditions no human could endure.

Moving on to our final portion of this prayer from Chapter 10, Job wraps up this portion of his long-running one way "conversation" (prayer) with God thus:
Chapter 10:18-20....
18 ‘Why then have You brought me out of the womb?
Oh, that I had perished and no eye had seen me!
19 I would have been as though I had not been.
I would have been carried from the womb to the grave.
20 Are not my days few?
Cease! Leave me alone, that I may take a little comfort.

This is a harsh wind-up. If we had not known better, we would think Job was a non-believer and just challenging the Lord to just end it right now because he (Job) has no idea why he was born in the first place! He seeks comfort with a proposed departure from this life, in the quiet darkness of the grave as he sees it. 

So how does all of this navel-gazing apply to us in our own Christian walk? There are a lot of wounded walking in our midst. and not just our Wounded Warriors from the recent wars. There are folks with battle scars from families, churches, friends, jobs, neighbors and just about every where. Some of these battle scars are even self-inflicted. The level of hopelessness is reaching critical mass. Young people see no future for them. Their elders have sold their birth right for a bowl of soup and a seat with the temporarily powerful. Their parents are void of any true scriptural guidance and nothing is in order.

We see legalized potheads clouding over the skies of Colorado and yet football coaches are ordered to not pray with the kids to whom this same coach is the only true male role model they have. The rich, powerful and those in charge mandate ungodly and demonic instructions for the young and helpless to become indoctrinated into, guaranteeing they will wish they had not done so, when they stand before Job's creator. It is an unholy mess and many are saying (or praying) like Job in verse 20...."CEASE! LEAVE ME ALONE, that I may take a little comfort"!

But you know, there is a better way - we will see next in the prayers of Chapter 19! The lesson here is - as bad is it gets...AND IT IS GETTING WORSE...there is a way..there IS THE WAY - THE TRUTH...and the LIFE, and His Name is Jesus. Do you know Him? He is but a breath and a prayer away!
Amen.

#THE BIBLE SERIES - LIONS, FIRE AND FISH

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only. (A TALE OF TWO CITIES by Charles Dickens 1859)

The above quote from over 150 years ago could be written about this current day! It is amazing how prophetic this wonderful Christian author Dickens really was. The world is in turmoil and closer to the Final Moment than ever before. Right smack dab in the middle of run on banks in southern Europe; chemical warfare genocide in Syria; nuclear strike threats from North Korea and an American pastor abandoned by his country's officials in the islamic terrorist regime in Iran - we have the most joyful event of 2013 exploding all over our consciousness!

The Bible Series (2013), currently the most watched program in America on any TV network, has accumulated over 68 millions viewers in only three episodes on lesser known cable channels Lifetime and History! The fast moving narrative of the Greatest Book on Earth has captivated minds across the board - one last time! This is the first exposure most folks, forty ever had of the Hand of God throughout history. Many of the majority of North Americans are not raised in church anymore, and even if they are, their megachurches treat the Bible as a powerpoint slide and never encourage true expository Biblical teaching.

This is the first Chronological examination of the History of our Judeo-Christian heritage. Eschewing a few important textual and/or dramatic errors, none of them take away from the fundamental accuracy of the message. In the final episode before the New Testament era, the treatment of the Babylonian exile; the brutality of Nebuchannezzar and the rescue of the Jews by the unlikely pagan Persian King Cyrus were explained in stark high definition in more ways than one. Cyrus was prophesied by Isaiah 100 years earlier when God the Father Himself said in Isaiah 45: 1-7: "“Thus says the Lord to His anointed,

To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held—
To subdue nations before him
And loose the armor of kings,
To open before him the double doors,
So that the gates will not be shut:
² ‘I will go before you
And make the crooked places^[a] straight;
I will break in pieces the gates of bronze
And cut the bars of iron.
³ I will give you the treasures of darkness
And hidden riches of secret places,
That you may know that I, the Lord,
Who call you by your name,
Am the God of Israel.
⁴ For Jacob My servant’s sake,
And Israel My elect,
I have even called you by your name;
I have named you, though you have not known Me.
⁵ I am the Lord, and there is no other;
There is no God besides Me.
I will gird you, though you have not known Me

(note in these last five lines - in bold, God said Cyrus does NOT know Him...and Cyrus did not...he worshiped pagan idols until he died)

The Power and Sovereignty of God, as He appeared in the flames which the vicious Babylonian king caused goosebumps all over the fruited plain! The appearance of the great Prophet Daniel, who has never had a movie made about him before, was treated with great courage and integrity. So was his appearance in the Lion's Den after being set up by the evil Haman who sought revenge for what the Israelites did to his people - The Amalekites (whom Moses killed)!

The transition from Daniel and the returning Jews to Jerusalem to the Roman Empire oppression of the Holy Land was seamless, sad and still - very powerful. The quality of production was so realistic, the viewer could feel thorough disgust at the foul King Herod and the evil Roman Empire mistreating the peasantry. A major controversy erupted over the comparison of the zombie looking figure of Satan with a well known American leader, but it does not distract from the magnificence of the Son of Man appearing on the Scene to begin His Ministry on earth.

The best line of the series so far is quoted by the actor playing Jesus. When Peter asked Him why He was going to make him (Peter) "fishers of men", Jesus said "To Change The World"....and looking around these days, the World does need changing!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW TRAILERS & MORE OF THE BIBLE TV SERIES

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SHOULD CHRISTIANS STAY SILENT WHEN TRAGEDY HITS

PRAYER VIGIL IN NEWTOWN, CONNECTICUT

Well, the answer to that question is NO! As America faces Judgment (yes JUDGMENT) from God for its mounting sins against Him, more and more events like Hurricanes Katrina (2005), Sandy or Tornadoes that destroyed Joplin Missouri (2011)...or the current horrific massacre like the loss of over 20 children in Newtown, Connecticut are going to draw people's attention to the time-worn question of "HOW CAN GOD LET THIS HAPPEN"?!!!

Whether it is an earthquake in Haiti or a Tsunami in the Far East where hundreds of thousands of lives are lost and millions affected, God always gets the blame - either the blame FOR it, or the blame for ALLOWING it to happen! We can go even farther than that - World War II and the Holocaust where six million of our Jewish brethren were murdered by the Germans and Hitler. Did God cause that? When the great American President Franklin D. Roosevelt REFUSED to allow the SS St Louis to land in the United States 1939 with 937 Jews fleeing Hitler by ship, and they were forced to return to Europe and sure death, did God cause that? NO! FDR did! They even made a movie out of it called the VOYAGE OF THE DAMNED.  We can look at the ill-fated voyage of the SS St Louis some other time. By the way, the Prime Minister of Canada Mackenzie King did the same thing as FDR!

Apart from natural disasters like tsunami, earthquakes, hurricanes and tornadoes, criminal acts like what happened in Newtown are simply acts of Evil. 
It is the same evil of national socialism (Nazism) which caused the Nazi Holocaust.
It is the same evil of communism and Stalin killing 30 million Russians.
It is the same evil of communism and Mao killing 40 millions Chinese, some of it in an effort to wipe out Christianity.
It is the same evil of demonic tinhorn dictators like Castro, Pol Pot, the Ayatollah, Saddam....and on and on....
It is the same evil and political calculation to stay as far away from getting involved by FDR and Canadian PM Mackenzie King (re: the Voyage of the Damned).
It is the same evil at Columbine, Aurora, Waco, Jamestown Guyana...and now Newtown, Connecticut.
It is the same evil of 55 million abortions in America since Roe vs Wade in 1973.
It is THAT evil which entered the world in Genesis 3 and the Fall of Man.

The world refuses to blame Satan and the evil he has wrought on mankind since he ushered in SIN into the world, because the world has walked hand in hand with what the Bible calls 'the god of this world'. Former Pastor and Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee was asked by Fox business anchor Neil Cavuto the usual question which secular media people always  asked "How could God let this happen?" During Hurricane Sandy, people in the media, who do everything to dishonor, disregard and just plain "diss" God from their "exalted" chairs on ABC, NBC etc were asking the same question.

Maybe, as both a pastor and political commentator, Gov. Huckabee's answer was not as fully fleshed out as say Rev. Franklin Graham's or David Wilkerson's would be, but he was on the right track. Huckabee said "It’s an interesting thing. We ask why there’s violence in our schools but we’ve systematically removed God from our schools. Should we be so surprised that schools would become a place of carnage? Because we’ve made it a place where we do not want to talk about eternity, life, what responsibility means, accountability. That we’re not just going to have to be accountable to the police, if they catch us, but we stand one day before a holy God in judgment…  Maybe we ought to let [God] in on the front end and we would not have to call him to show up when it’s all said and done at the back end".

Well, the good former pastor is now catching a lot of flack from it from secularists in the public square, both on the left and the right. Forget what those people think, was Governor Huckabee CORRECT? Yes. Should he have answered it that way? Maybe or maybe not, but he WAS asked a question. What was a man of God supposed to say? This is going to be a debate coming up soon, right before the evil and corrupt American culture tries to enforce laws against Christian speech, but watch for this phrase in the next two years "Freedom of Worship". US government officials at the highest levels are starting to use it both in this country and abroad. It is meant to silence Christ followers from proclaiming God's Truth of Salvation, Hope, Love, Sin, Pain, Death, Evil and the coming Judgment....and to prevent men like Huckabee from saying precisely what he said above. It is okay to preach inside your church, but "just don't take your Jesus" into the marketplace of ideas. 

When horrible shootings like Newtown or Virginia Tech happens, and well-known American pastors do not speak up, they leave a vacuum for secularism, pluralism and the growing "inter-faith" movement. You are moving to see more and more of this as the True Hope of Jesus Christ is watered down, as the followers of the god of this world play into the Hands of Biblical Prophesy. When the tragedy of Columbine happened, the good people of Colorado allowed a deeply moving service led by Rev. Franklin Graham where he brought the true comfort and hope of Christ to a grieving nation. However, we have not seen that sort of Gospel-centered message since (in response of national tragedies), except for Franklin's dad, Billy, at Washington DC's National Cathedral a few days after Evil from the Middle East hit us on September 11, 2001. 

So it is up to the people of God - us Christians - to pray for the salvation and comfort of the people of Newtown and especially the families of those who lost their precious young children, who are now in the loving Care of the Savior. It is up to us, the followers of Christ, to keep sharing the Gospel of our Lord and Savior...to keep sharing how folks can be saved from their sins...to keep sharing how to be delivered from evil and temptation and sin...to keep sharing, no matter what the world will say about us. Remember, my friends, the world hated our Lord Jesus, long before they hated us. What makes us think that they will love us now?! So be mindful WHO is watching us - God. He has the power of life and death - both now and in Eternity. He is the One to Whom we are accountable first and foremost. Let us now go and love others to Him. Evil is going to ramp up in these last days. God will get the blame. But the world will be sent to eternal shame.  Let's win many to Glory and Heaven, while there is still time. 

So, should Christians stay silent when evil and tragedy like Newtown hit? No...and a thousand times NO! We speak loudest when we speak directly to our God in prayer and through our love to our fellow man, regardless of what the world says.
Amen

IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING NICE TO SAY...

KIRK AND WIFE CHELSEA NOBLE

VERSE OF THE DAY: 1 Peter 3:16 (ESV) "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

Continuing from this headline,  you know the rest of the story "...don't say it"! That is drilled into our lives from the moment we can understand the first words our moms say to us. Apart from the time I was once part of the media stream in the mid to late high-flying 1980's, I don't know anyone who wakes up in the morning thinking or saying to themselves "I am going to get someone today"!

Granted things are different in the political and business world, but that is not where most normal people live. But what about some of the things going on these days. I am not talking about the Rush Limbaugh controversy or so-called comedian Bill Maher's personal attacks on conservative women. I am not even talking about all this garbage about "the lack of civility" by people don't practice the opposite. But what has seemed to have gotten under a lot of people's skins are the comments by Kirk Cameron, about an oxymoron called "gay marriage"!

In brief, here is what the former GROWING PAINS star, Cameron, said on the Piers Morgan Show (CNN) recently: 

- He called homosexuality unnatural.

- He called it  "destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization.

- He said Marriage between a man and a woman was "older than dirt"

So was he correct? Yes, on all counts.

Why did he say it? - He was asked by the interviewer, Morgan and did NOT volunteer it.

SHOULD he have said it or punted like most modern day American christians, including Joel Osteen, who can't take a real stand for anything Biblical? Yes on all counts again!

But what if Kirk offends people?  Doesn't he know that in 2012 his belief in the 6000 old story of Creation and the Bible is outdated? Doesn't he know that more and more young Americans and even seven American states are allowing 'gay marriage'?

I have seen and heard Kirk speak as well as spoken to him when he came to town about 10 years ago. First of all, this brother is the real deal. He has not changed his beliefs one bit and neither has his sister Candace Cameron. They are firm believers in God; live according to the Bible and follow Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. 

The new move in America, according to certain high government officials is this - it is okay to have these views and "freedom to worship", just don't take it outside the walls. This is not only wrong, but unAmerican and unconstitutional. The very first Amendment guarantees Freedom of Religion. That is, freedom to practice whatever your religion is! This is how the country was established - by people who left oppressive Europe and sought out the new world!

So not only did Kirk Cameron call homosexuality a sin against God (as is adultery, lust etc) but he had the nerve to quote God in Genesis 2:24 " Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." This is a most important Scripture verse because Jesus Himself quoted it in Matthew 19:5 and other parts of the Gospels.

Marriage was instituted by God Himself at Creation - for Adam and Eve. Why can't a man who believes the Truth speak it? Have we gone totally off our rocker that we must bow down to the false gods of this world and deny Him? This is what the god of this world wants. This is what many so-called Christians from the highest positions in the land to the lowest, live in the course of their lives. 

Knowing Kirk Cameron and his ministry, he will never back down from God's Word. The man is as solid as it comes. He may not sell as many books or TV shows as the rich TV preacher from Houston with the big smile and positive message. However, when he stands before God, he will not have much answering to do as he stood firmly in the face of the culture and lived up to the commands of the Word, in our Verse of this Friday at the top of this page!


This verse is not just about what the Word of God says about the Great issues of the Day. It has everything - from cover to cover - about the only Hope of ALL mankind, if they (all the world) will only receive it. 


This animosity to Kirk Cameron and anyone who proclaims the Word of Truth in the public arena, is really an attack on the One Who gave it, not just His messengers. Those potential attacks should never deter us from preaching the Good News of Jesus from sea to shining sea, no matter what the cost! Those attacks should never detour us, from preaching the Gospel and if possible, at times, even use words! Amen.



But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
(Romans 10:8-11 ESV)

Keep on speaking up, men and women of God! He will honor you for it, on that Day! Amen!

THINK IN THESE THINGS - FRIDAY

AMERICAN CULTURE IN ITS TWILIGHT

NEXT UP IN OUR DISCERNMENT SERIES ON HALLOWEEN: 'THE TWILIGHT PHENOM"

It is absolutely shocking that some christian outfits, ministries and even church groups recommend the latest teenage sensation cult book/TV Series "TWILIGHT" as something teenage girls and boys should watch!

Have they no sense of biblical decency and discernment? First, here is what the Bible says we should do: "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret (Ephesians 5:11-12)

No fellowship, means NO FELLOWSHIP! It means, you don't mess with that stuff, hoss! Not just that, but we kick it to the curb! Do we even know who wrote this piece of demonic heresy?

Twilight was first a fast selling book about a 17 year old young woman named Isabella "Bella" Swan, who falls in love with a vampire named Edward Cullen. Now imagine the following book being not just a New York Times Bestseller book, but on the CHILDREN'S BEST SELLER LIST as well!

Now here is how Publishing magazine critics summarized the entire gist of Twilight: (it is a) "dark romance that seeps into the soul" and reflects "perfectly the teenage feeling of sexual tension and alienation".

YES! This is your wholesome family entertainment which people say a sweet, innocent 13 year old daughter should read! Some mom was on the official Disney blog, doing just that! These people are sick! The comments from the other young moms were just as bad!

Stephanie Meyer, Twilight Author

But, just what is the thinking behind this Twilight? Well, it was written by a  young lady named Stephanie Meyer who said she had a vision on June 2, 2003. This vision made sit down and start writing what became "Twilight". In the vision, she saw, according to her website " One of these people was just your average girl. The other person was fantastically beautiful, sparkly, and a vampire". Did you catch that? The beautiful sparkly thing was a Vampire!

Who else disguises himself as an 'angel of light'?  SATAN! 

She then said she had an additional dream after Twilight was finished, when the main Vampire  Edward literally came and visited her to talk about it and he was angry with her. The 'vampire' or angel of light told Stephanie that 'he was real". Stephanie Meyers also said she felt as if this was too terrifyingly real and who she thought was Edward, was going to kill her!

This is demonic activity from the pit, my friends. Again on her website, Meyers said "The apple on the cover of Twilight represents “forbidden fruit.” I used the scripture from Genesis (located just after the table of contents) because I loved the phrase “the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil.”

I will go no further in explaining this garbage except to say, this Twilight author condemns herself by her very words.  She meets and fellowships with the prince of darkness, takes instruction from him and then goes to Genesis chapter 3 to glorify the Fall of man and sin.

Her books have led to movies and a TV series, which has corrupted this current lost generation, many of whom are church going teens. Notice, I did not say born-again christian teens. Some youth pastors are taking their groups to see this garbage and have youth reading these books. 

Woe unto them for allowing this with no discernment, not just what the Scriptures says about this kind of behavior (teenage immorality and witchcraft) but HOW to apply it to real life. There also seems to be no discernment when it comes to not just what HOLY GOD demands, but just the basic decency of humanity.

What kind of parent ....and thousands of modern moms allow this, what kind of parent would not only allow this in their living rooms, but then take their 9, 10, 13 year old kid to see it??!! Then, they see nothing wrong with it!

Lord have mercy! My prayer is all these people, especially so-called christians, who are just really carnal professing cafeteria christians, will one day come to a knowledge of the Truth. May there be repentance and restoration with God, because one day soon, there will be an accounting for this stewardship  here on earth!

How we live now, will determine how the coming Judgment Day will go! Are you ready?!

(Image by Google Images)

THINK ON THESE THINGS - THURSDAY

CHRISTIANS AND HALLOWEEN

Next Monday October 31 is the national holiday of Hell! How dare I say that of that 'innocent fun day of Halloween'? Because I could! "But, Bernie, what's wrong with kids dressing up in costumes, going door to door for cheap candy etc etc...?"


Well, there is nothing wrong with candy or costumes as separate items. There is plenty wrong with being duped into thinking there is something innocent  about this day though! Therefore, from now unto October 31, most of the THINK ON THESE THINGS devotionals/posts will be dedicated to exposing the 'spirit' of Halloween. 


Today's message caused me some grief last year when I first posted it, but I think it is relevant in showing how our culture was slowly brainwashed into making Halloween one of the biggest celebrations in America, after Christmas and Thanksgiving!


“Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls…” 1 Peter 2:11 (NLT) 

Each year around this time, we go through this exercise – what  does a sold-out Believer in Christ to make of Halloween.  Each year men, fathers and radical Christians like me sound like fuddy duddys to the rest of the world….and that includes a number of Christians (professing and real)! 

However, I can take the blowback, as am used to being hammered and ostrasized for taking a bold stance for Christ. So basically, I have never allowed my own kids to trick or treat, celebrate Halloween or watch the horror show garbage on TV, each and every October, period.  

I don’t see how one can allow their kids to dress up like the devil or something sleazy, and then try to teach them to watch out for Satan who comes to steal, kill and destroy!! This is selective insanity. Halloween is an oxymoron – like “Christian Yoga”….which I will address next issue. 

AMERICA'S FIRST WITCHES - THROUGH COMEDY

Sin and darkness have been around since Genesis 3 and the Fall of Man caused by Satan. But some of the modern incarnation of the popularity of Witchcraft, Wicca and the like began with Ouija boards and the TV Show BEWITCHED!! Yes, BEWITCHED!!

For the 8 years it ran (1964-72), BEWITCHED brought a “sweet” All American family face to the an ancient evil by deception! Starring Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha the witch, who married a mortal named Darren Stephens, “Samantha” was portrayed as a normal suburban wife. Darren married her knowing she was a witch with the admonition/command to “not  practice any witchcraft in this house”!! Of course, a witch is going to obey you! The entire series was full of wizards, warlocks, spells, incantations and the like.  

Sam’s mother – Endora – is taken directly from the Witch at Endor whom King Saul stupidly visited to have a séance with the late prophet Samuel (see 1 Samuel 28:3-25)…and on and on. All the other worldly beings in this TV series were ageless beings who lived in the air! 

DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR??!! “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood enemies,  but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world and against EVIL SPIRITS in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12, NLT). It is my contention that this TV series “boiled the frog” slowly by showing witchcraft as this harmless little lifestyle that was “oh, so cute…just look at Samantha and Tabitha (her daughter – another witch)”!  

Combine this with “I Dream of Jeannie”, only three TV networks for decades, and you have a cultural absorption into worldwide consciousness from the pit of hell! Think am overreacting?  I don’t believe so. 

The Spirit of God and the Word of God are EXPLICIT in their commands about this evil. Until we were saved and redeemed and knew better, we too thought these shows were funny….even though something did not quite feel right! What BEWITCHED and Jeannie opened up was an explosion in the ancient cult of Wicca…and not to mention a number of new brand of female TV shows with “nice” witches . 

Concerning Wicca – that involves prayer circles and seeking “help” from spirits of another world as well! Most practicioners are women. Most mature believers think that Wicca and other satanic rituals involving pagan “goddesses” appeal to women, because it gives a certain amount of Power to those seeking that kind of thing! Never mind this kind of empowerment leads straight to eternal damnation in the Lake of Fire! 

THIS MAKES WITCHES ATTRACTIVE TO TEENS!

Concerning other TV shows with attractive female witches, here is a short list: SABRINA, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, CHARMED AND TABITHA (offshoot of BEWITCHED).  The new book and movie phenomenon called TWILIGHT is also a demonic-induced attack on the mostly young female population of America. That story was given to its creator by what she called an “angel of light”!! 

Read here in the Bible to find out who the “angel of light” really is!! What does this have to do with Halloween? Everything! Halloween is a celebration of all these spirits – clean and unclean, which are not from the Real God.  

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER

I am sure many well-meaning and Christians will disagree with me, and say celebrating Halloween or watching Sabrina or TWILIGHT is JUST entertainment..(more on TWILIGHT tomorrow).

Concerning our children – there are many other ways to have alternative activities for them at this time of year. This will take a proactive stand to live DAILY in the Word, and according to His Word (see Psalm 119). 

This can involve all like-minded members of the Body of Christ, in the Local Church. 

Finally, I close with what the Bible says in Philippians 4:8 (ESV) : "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think* about these things.”

*(THE WORD THINK HERE IS “LOGIZOMAI” (in the original Greek) OR consider , counted , credit , dwell on,  reason , reckon or  regard ,take into account ….these things)

All images are courtesy Google Images

THINK ON THESE THINGS - THURSDAY

JESUS KNOCKS DOWN THE GATES OF DEATH FOR HIS SAINTS

WORD FOR TODAY: SEPARATION!

Faith is well….taking things on “Faith”. There used to be a time when the U.S. Dollar represented the “full faith and credit” of these United States of America. We all know what happened to the latter – the credit of the United States is lower than a crawling reptile’s stomach! The full faith part still exists. In fact, some people seem to have more faith in the concept of this great country, than they have faith in the God Who created us!

Our next verse in the Hebrews 11 Series is 13 "These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth….Hebrews 11:13 ESV

Every Old Testament saint died without seeing the Great Hope and Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. Adam knew the Creator Jesus, Who walked in the “cool of the Garden” and talked with Adam daily. But he lost that fellowship after sinning with Eve and the serpent in Genesis 3. Still, the Lord provided for and blessed his family. What about the others?

The following well known saints died without seeing the Promise of Christ, yet they believed: Enoch; Noah; Joshua; Samuel, King David; Jeremiah; Daniel; Hosea and Abraham. These are the well known faithful ones, but there were many, many whom God calls His Remnant throughout the almost 4000 years before Christ, who never sold out to the world, sin and Satan!

They are like you and I!!

They are the ones who went about their lives; raised their families and had a Fear of Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel. We hardly ever see the awe and respect and fear for Holy God we read and know about from Tradition or of long ago Biblical Worship services. 

But while the modern church does not conduct according to the high standards of Old Testament believers, in our own lives and families, we do not have to participate. 

So for today - the word is SEPARATION. Yes, separate yourself from the Culture and the Filth, even if we have to live and work next door to or IN it! 

Let us be strangers and exiles like those whom we read about in Hebrews 11:13!

Amen!

THINK ON THESE THINGS - SUNDAY MESSAGE

DO NOT BUY THE BREAD OF THIS WORLD!

But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'" Matthew 4:4 NASB

This powerful verse quoted by Jesus, right back in the devil's face, was given during the "temptation of Christ" in the wilderness after Jesus had fasted for 40 days. Now a fast by both Jesus and Moses and others, during Bible days, meant - NO FOOD!

Here is what Jesus is really saying to this evil scoundrel, in bullet point to drive it home:
* This is NOT about you.
* This is about My Father God's REVEALED Word - RHEMA.
* This Rhema is His revealed Truth for mankind to live by.
* This Rhema carried the repository of all which SUSTAINS.
* That which sustains is not found in physical food only.
* Physical food perishes and is expelled.
* If that food was good, it nourishes, if it was not, it causes heartburn.
* Therefore, man's lifetime should not be wasted chasing these things.
* The life of a man or woman is more than just seeking that which fills us daily.
* But combined with the riches of God through the Truthful Revealed Word of God - we have found the true meaning and fountain of Live!

All of this and more are packed into this one simple phrase! Also if you study the original language, we find out Jesus was only talking to those who believed! This Truth is not for those who have rejected Christ or even those who are YET to know Him, my friends.

In going right back at the god of this world - Satan - with the Word, Jesus proved Himself, once again, to be the Word Who became flesh...and dwelt among us. Even more revealing is this - He is teaching us NOT TO BUY THE WORLD'S BREAD!

He is not talking about banning Wonder Bread or the latest delight from the local bakery in our homes. In another place, Jesus warned His disciples to beware of the YEAST of the pharisees (Matthew 16:12 NASB)- Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Again, the Lord is NOT talking about physical bread...but the Yeast that puffs up or proofs the dough. This is the dough which Abba Father uses to mould us into His children. When we get puffed up with pride, because we bought the lies of this world, we then begin to eat the "Bread of this World".

The bread of this world is a basket full of lies, deception and misdirection. It is sin, sex and satan. It is Rihanna, Lady Gaga, iCarly, Miley Cyrus, the Twilight movies, Harry Potter..It is not just Hollyweird....but ANYTHING, even a so-called Christian activity or book or cd...ANYTHING which takes us away from God or from Living for Christ...it is ANYTHING which causes us to grieve His Holy Spirit Who lives in us...
THAT IS THE BREAD OF THE WORLD..AND DON'T BUY IT!
DON'T FALL FOR THE LIE!
DON'T FALL FOR THE CHEAP IMITATION!
DON'T FALL FOR THE LIPSTICK ON THE PIGS OF THIS WORLD...but savor, immerse yourself in and just BE the TRUE IMITATION AND FRAGRANCE OF THE LORD JESUS!

This is the TRUE BREAD which gives, sustains and leads to - ETERNAL LIFE!