God's Truth In Love

Posts Tagged ‘Evil’

Evil Transforms (If We Let It) – Pt. 5 – Sexual Values

In Agape Love, Anxiety, Apostasy, Bible, Biblical Principles, Chrisitan Lifestyle, Christian, Christian Living, Christianity, Courage, Encouragement, End Times, Evil, Exhortation, God, God's Voice, Godliness, Godly Counsel, Holy Spirit, Humanism, Jesus, Persecution, Prayer, Prophecy, Prophet, Prophetess, Religious Freedom, Remnant, Renewal, Revival, Rhema Words, Spiritual Activism, Spiritual Activists, Spiritual Fruit, Spiritual Remnant, Spirituality, Truth, Uncategorized on December 4, 2015 at 3:04 pm

The last posting ended with the following statements. “Sex is such a powerful weapon of evil because it was designed to be something so beautiful, the expression of a man and woman’s love and commitment to one another for life. Sex is so powerful as source of destruction because it was meant to be a source of creation, a means by which new life is formed.”

In this piece we will explore chapter two of David Kupelian’s book, How Evil Works, the second half of the chapter. Please find a link below where you can purchase the book from Amazon. We will focus on how we as a society got to a place where our sexual values are so distorted in comparison to God’s ideal, as found in His Word?

The primary cause for the distortion is a byproduct of how Christian and biblical values are viewed by society. As the author points out there was once deep core values which underlined American society and those values were rooted in the Word of God. Having our values as a country rooted in the Word of God, God blessed us as a country due to our overall values. Likewise, as the values of this country have deteriorated the blessings and favor of God have begun to lift from this country.

At one time in our society there was a much greater grasp of the “intuitive understanding of right and wrong” as Kupelian puts it, than there is now. I myself have seen an incredible shift in morality based on God’s Word in just the last twenty plus years. The understanding that we are born in sin and therefore plagued by the sin nature, including in the area of sex, is no longer something people are willing to admit to, thus, they view their sexual sin as their right, as natural, as acceptable to both themselves and for some individuals also acceptable to their god (little “g” intended). Yet, I assure you that sexual sin IS NOT acceptable to God, the ONE and ONLY God, The Almighty of The Holy Bible.

People who partake in sexual sin have their desires for such behavior rooted in some form of trauma Kupelian points out. I would add that they often do not realize that the trauma they went through is connected to the sexual cravings they experience. These cravings are an emotional reaction to cruelty, confusion, and seduction they have experienced at some point in their life, the author notes. Most anyone who is knowledgeable in human behavior will tell you that sexual abuse as a youth almost always leads to sexual promiscuity manifest in some sexual form as an adult. Therefore, there is a call for compassion and understanding to be shown toward these individual by godly people without compromising the Word of God or labeling sin anything other than sin.

I heard someone recently refer to Christian (Devout Christian) beliefs as “archaic” in nature. I assure you they are not. Man continually changes his mind about what is right and what is wrong, what is good for you and what is not. If you live long enough you will see that approximately every twenty or thirty years the “they” of society change their minds about what is best or good for us. For example in the 19080’s homosexuality was considered a mental disorder according to the APA experts. Today, the APA experts would consider you to have a disorder of some type if you consider homosexuality sin or unnatural in nature. Often they label these changes in their position on matters as us evolving as a society, getting better, smarter, more enlightened all the time. If that were true then our society would be getting better not worse. True growth brings positive change not destructive change. However, God’s position on matters of morality, as found in His Word, have not changed, and although our society has changed the principles of His Word still lead to life, life abundant, when they are applied to an individual’s life.

John 10:10 (NKJV) – Jesus speaking

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

People seem to forget that our legal system was founded on the core values that are found in God’s Word. Why do we not murder freely? Because it is morally wrong to murder. How do we know it is morally wrong to murder? Because God’s Word tells us it wrong to murder. Adultery and sodomy (homosexuality) are still illegal in many states. Those who champion homosexuality would condemn murder, yet according to God’s Word both are sin, and to God sin is sin regardless of the form. As the author puts it, ‘We live in a society that mocks and denies the “old truths” that are still at the core of everything of value we possess today – a society similar in nature to C.S. Lewis’ latter-day Narnia.’

It seems even some people who call themselves Christian’s have sold-out God’s Word in order to be accepted by their society or viewed as “loving” people. Very few people who claim to be Christians actually have a Christian Worldview. Kupelian states, and I fully agree, that we as a society and as The Body of Christ seem to have forgotten that we are here to serve a greater purpose than fulfilling our own desires. I would add to that, people forget they would not have America and their constitutional rights if it were not for people with a Christian Worldview.

The author points out that the sexual-predator epidemic has another important factor to it that people must deal with, the mindset that “right” and “wrong” are just not real for most people anymore. For a Devout Christian “right” should equal righteousness according to God’s Word not his or her own views or opinions. Additionally for the Devout Christian “wrong” should equal sin and secularism, those things that are contrary to God’s Word, the Bible. Kupelian states that knowing something is wrong should be enough to keep us from doing it even if we desire to. I would say that the problem with that is that both words, right and wrong, repel either secular or Christian people.

I agree with the writer when he sates, that most people are guided by how they feel about something, their emotions, instead of an inner conscience. He then gives the example of a person who grows up with problems in their childhood that make the individual feel uncomfortable in their own gender therefore, as an adult they seek to change their gender instead of dealing with the problems that created their inner conflict to begin with.

The author goes on to state that “choosing” what is principled and self-sacrificial over our own selfish feelings – preferring something noble or righteous over something ignoble and sinful – implies that there is a God to whom we must answer. This poses a problem for today’s “secular, de facto atheistic worldview” that there is no good or evil. This same worldview believes there is no heaven or hell, and we are all just highly evolved animals. Even Christians to a large degree have abandoned the idea that it is a “choice” that must be made, a choice for godliness and righteousness. Some people seem to believe that if they don’t “feel it” then God is not in it and therefore, they do not need to do it – whatever “it” might be. We as Christians are called to honor God’s Written Word whether we feel like it or not! When and how we got away from this truth is beyond me, beyond my comprehension!

Kupelian states an opinion that I am not sure I agree with and one I would very much like to know my readers thoughts on. He states that, “at the root of so much loathing toward Christianity and the Bible is what they have to say about sex.” I am not so sure that “so much” of society’s “loathing” for us comes from just the sex issue. I believe many factors and principles we as Devout Christian stand for drives society’s loathing of us. Please send me your thoughts via the comment link at the end of this post.

The author makes clear a truth that many people do not want to face. ‘Love is commitment.

It is impossible for there to be love where there is no commitment.’ Sex inside of marriage is sex inside a life-long commitment. A life-long commitment brings about a deep respect that is hard to form outside of long-term commitments. Sex outside of marriage is about exploration of another person to fulfill one’s own needs, as Kupelian puts it so well.

People expect love to be merely some feeling that makes them feel good and gives them an emotional high. Love, real love, agape love is so much more than that. Real love is a choice not a feeling. Real love is a commitment to action that shows love over the course of time. Real love stays put would it would be much easier to leave.

Kupelian goes on to remind us ‘that the Bible exhorts us to choose either life or death – good or evil – listening to our higher or lower nature, our renewed man or the old man. Satan will always want you to choose your lower nature. God will always want you to choose your higher nature. A secular worldview will listen to the lower nature and attempt to justify it’s evil ways. A Christian and godly worldview will listen to the higher nature and never be at peace with sin or in the presence of evil. Each person must choose between godliness and sin.’

Deuteronomy 30:19 (NKJV)

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;

The biblical standards for life and morality were first; they existed even before the Word was written down for us. They existed in God, they came from God, they represent the Holiness of God. The biblical standard was always first.

Just as was found in C.S. Lewis’ book depicting the mythical land of Narnia, we find ourselves in a society today that mocks and demonizes “those who rebuke our growing infatuation with our lower nature” the author notes. I would add to that truth the reality that we live in a time when Devout Christians who stand for biblical Truth have been classed haters – “The Haters” as they are often labeled. I say the opposite is true. People do not bother to tell people the Truth if they hate them. Parents who love their children discipline them. Parents who do not care do not discipline their children. In much the same way Devout Christian tell people the truth about sin because they care about their fellow mankind. Devout Christian must not remain silent, they must speak out. Those who have spoken out Truth for the world to hear, they must continue to speak out.

The author sums up this chapter by commenting on “lie-based revolutions” and how they always turn out bad. Communist revolutions promised freedom and equality but instead delivered misery, death, and tyranny. The sexual liberation movement that was meant to offered equality, self-fulfillment, and unlimited pleasure has just about destroyed America, as the author rightly puts it. I would add that Satan’s bait is always a tasty treat with arsenic at the center.

Are we going to live as humans or animals? If we give way to every compulsion that we have, if we wallow in our desires, all the while justifying them we are not much more than animals. Living in such a way is not truly living at all.

In the next posting we will begin to explore chapter three of David Kupelian’s book, How Evil Works.

 

 

How Evil Works

http://www.amazon.com/How-Evil-Works-Understanding-Transforming/dp/1439168202/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443464127&sr=8-1&keywords=How+evil+works

Evil can be understood and overcome before it transforms our country entirely. Evil can be understood and overcome before it transforms someone you know or even you. Knowledge is power and without it we will perish. We need to be extremely knowledgeable when it comes to evil.

Hosea 4:6 (NKJV)

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

Because you have rejected knowledge,

I also will reject you from being priest for Me;

Because you have forgotten the law of your God,

I also will forget your children.

The Marketing of Evil

http://www.amazon.com/Marketing-Evil-Pseudo-Experts-Corruption-Disguised-ebook/dp/B006N75LFI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1443464127&sr=8-2&keywords=How+evil+works

Evil is sold in our society just as anything else might be sold, through marketing. Satan has marketed his product through those willing and those ignorant to his schemes. Through his craftiness he has turned the minds of even Believers to think that tolerance of his evil is some form of love. In so doing he has transformed to a large degree the once Devout Church and transformed our society to an enormous degree. He has not accomplished this without his workers however, the willing, the sold out for their own gain, and the ignorant masses following blindly behind the majority.

 

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Evil Transforms (If We Let It) – Pt. 4 – Sex, Sex, Sex

In Anger, Anxiety, Apostasy, Bible, Biblical Principles, Chrisitan Lifestyle, Christian, Christian Living, Christianity, Courage, End Times, Evil, Exhortation, God, God's Voice, Godliness, Godly Counsel, Holy Spirit, Humanism, Jesus, Loss, Love, Persecution, Prayer, Prophecy, Prophet, Prophetess, Religious Freedom, Remnant, Renewal, Revival, Rhema Words, Spiritual Activism, Spiritual Activists, Spiritual Remnant, Suffering, Truth, Uncategorized on November 24, 2015 at 10:49 am

In this piece we will explore the first half of chapter two of David Kupelian’s book, How Evil Works. Please find a link below where you can purchase the book from Amazon.

Chapter two covers the sexual mayhem we find in our societies today. The author points out the sad reality that something that was once consider sacred by the majority is no longer consider so, by the majority of people that is. All forms of perversion have been in our society to some degree since the Old Testament days nevertheless, the degree has skyrocketed along with the push for legitimacy of sinful practices.

According to Kupelian’s view this began to change in the 1906s with the sexual liberation movement and has progress far beyond free sex, evolving into the heights and depths of sexual anarchy on a widespread level. As I mentioned earlier and the author notes, not only is it widespread there is the push for sinful behavior to be considered normal and in some forms natural behavior. Among these behaviors is teen sexting, middle school hookup of sexual behavior outside of marriage, homosexuality to include homosexual unions that some consider marriage, people mutilating their bodies and putting them on display under the banner of a transgender identity, and an increased tolerance of adult-child sex with the increase in teachers having sex with their students.

All the while the perpetrators of these sexual acts, the instigators, view themselves as individuals who are simply expressing their love for another person. Yet, those expressions of love damage a person and bring harm to the lives of many. Love based on God’s standard of love does not bring harm and does not violate His Word.

Kupelian notes some research done on sexual behavior. The U.S. Department of Education did an investigation and found out that almost ten percent of students had been targeted with unwanted sexual attention by school employees. These predator people are individuals that thousands of parents entrust their children to each day. Education Week reported that sexual abuse in schools is one hundred times higher than the abuse by priest. Sexual misconduct is everywhere in our society. What is scarier than the sexual predator that has been caught and put on a sexual offender list somewhere? The sexual predator that has yet to be caught.

Having counseled people in the ministry for years under the seal of pastoral/minister confidentiality I can tell you there are many people, trusted people in society, who you would never expect that beat their wives, have secret desires to molest children, practice homosexuality, adultery, do drugs, drink excessively, visit prostitutes, engage in incest, animal abuse, et cetera. You may think these are individuals considered of lower class in our society, however they are not. I myself have firsthand knowledge that some have been police officers, psychologist/counselors, elders in churches, journalist, writers, pastors, corporate managers, business owners, and prison officials.

Sin can be found everywhere, among any group of people. Evil is found heartbreakingly too often among those in trusted positions of authority. They are often the most difficult to catch as the author points out. Claims of their wrong doing are glossed over among the glare from all the awards handing on their walls – “Outstanding Teacher”, “Businessman of the Year”, “Officer of the Month”, “Charitable Contributor of the Year”, and so forth.

Horribly most often the most vulnerable children and people of our society are targeted by those who wish to live out their sinful desires. We must remember that healthy, godly attention in relationships, all relationships, protects people from being vulnerable to those who desire to use them.

Children crave love, for that matter people crave love and need love, when they do not get the love that is needed it leaves them vulnerable. Children craving love and attention begin to believe that the inappropriate touching is an expression of love. The man who gets no affirmation at home begins to feel undervalued making it easier for him to listen when another woman tells him how wonderful he is. The woman who lacks the attention she needs from her husband begins to convince herself that the “harmless” flirtations of another man are fulfilling her needs but are not wrong. The single person who cannot find the attention and love they need in godly friendships will begin to fall prey to unhealthy sexually driven relationships outside of marriage.

C.S. Lewis said, “You don’t have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.” People often think what we are is found in what our bodies are. Not true. What we truly are is found in our spirit/soul.

Sex is such a powerful weapon of evil because it was designed to be something so beautiful, the expression of a man and woman’s love and commitment to one another for life. Sex is so powerful as source of destruction because it was meant to be a source of creation, a means by which new life is formed.

How did we as a society get to a place where our sexual values are as such? That we will explore in the next piece. In that posting we will explore the second half of chapter two of David Kupelian’s book, How Evil Works.

How Evil Works

http://www.amazon.com/How-Evil-Works-Understanding-Transforming/dp/1439168202/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443464127&sr=8-1&keywords=How+evil+works

Evil can be understood and overcome before it transforms our country entirely. Evil can be understood and overcome before it transforms someone you know or even you. Knowledge is power and without it we will perish. We need to be extremely knowledgeable when it comes to evil.

Hosea 4:6 (NKJV)

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

Because you have rejected knowledge,

I also will reject you from being priest for Me;

Because you have forgotten the law of your God,

I also will forget your children.

The Marketing of Evil

http://www.amazon.com/Marketing-Evil-Pseudo-Experts-Corruption-Disguised-ebook/dp/B006N75LFI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1443464127&sr=8-2&keywords=How+evil+works

Evil is sold in our society just as anything else might be sold, through marketing. Satan has marketed his product through those willing and those ignorant to his schemes. Through his craftiness he has turned the minds of even Believers to think that tolerance of his evil is some form of love. In so doing he has transformed to a large degree the once Devout Church and transformed our society to an enormous degree. He has not accomplished this without his workers however, the willing, the sold out for their own gain, and the ignorant masses following blindly behind the majority.

 

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Evil Transforms (If We Let It) – Pt. 3 – The Power of Lies

In Bible, Biblical Principles, Chrisitan Lifestyle, Christian, Christian Living, Christianity, Courage, End Times, Evil, God, God's Voice, Godliness, Godly Counsel, Humanism, Persecution, Prayer, Prophecy, Prophet, Prophetess, Religious Freedom, Remnant, Renewal, Revival, Rhema Words, Spiritual Activism, Spiritual Activists, Spiritual Fruit, Spiritual Remnant, Spirituality, Truth, Uncategorized on October 31, 2015 at 4:46 pm

In this piece we will explore the second half of chapter one of David Kupelian’s book, How Evil Works. Please find a link below where you can purchase the book from Amazon.

One of the undoubtedly evil men in history was Hitler who himself explained the power of lying in his autobiography. As he stated, ‘the magic of lying that “is known to all expert liars in this world” is to simply make the accusation. Whether it is based in any grains of truth or not the accusation alone will do great damage.’ As Kupelian points out the charges can be totally false, and the accused can answer the charges in a creditable manner, yet big lies, ugly lies, always leave their stains on a person. There are those individuals who having once heard the allegation that is made whom will always believe the lie, believing the person is guilty of something they did not do.

Lying is a powerfully evil tool that is meant to bring about confusion and chaos. The author does an excellent job of explaining how people prey on us emotionally by lying. When we become upset over something, a lie that has been told, a small amount of guilt for being upset emerges within us, followed by a bit of anger, confusion, and in some cases a small amount of fear. Once all of these emotions take root it ‘can easily result in our compulsively believing the lie’ – the upset we feel makes us susceptible to believing lies.

Proverbs 29:12 (NKJV)

If a ruler pays attention to lies,

All his servants become wicked.

John 8:44 (NKJV) Jesus speaking

You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

Lying is a tool used by various groups, individuals, organizations, and governments. The author notes that one of the “most creative uses of lying” is in “the creation of a crisis.” This is something organizations and governments do in order to bring about their own agenda and to use public fear to gain support for their cause. Saul Alinsky, a radical left-wing organizer, openly endorses the creations of crises in order to tear down a capitalist society. Socialist progress is advanced in what socialist might define as a peaceful manner by means of conflict and/or crisis, and the answer to resolving the conflict or crisis always seems to be greater socialism.

A fake or over dramatized crisis is a lie meant to serve those who desire evil control and power over people’s lives. In a similar fashion to how we react to big lies, when we encounter a crisis we become upset and destabilized to some degree and are more “willing” to accept “solutions” that under normal circumstances we would reject. Fake crises are all around us; our government presents the idea of one with regularity, while continually expanding their power over individual’s lives, behaviors, beliefs (or right to express them), and money.

Kupelian points out that people who desire to manipulate and remold us always create crises to use as leverage. It does not matter if the crisis or conflict is real, imagined, small, or large as long as they can use it to gain more of a foothold of control in our life. Once emotionally upset by the crisis our ability to think straight is impaired, as is our ability to make sensible decisions thus their ability to succeed at manipulating us is increased. This happens in personal relationships as well. There are evil manipulators who are self-serving in the arena of their personal relationships.

This creation of a crisis for the purpose of bringing about change or remolding a person is actually a perversion of one of God’s methods He uses with His children – trials. God does not necessarily create a crisis so much as He allows a crisis to enter the life of one of His children in order to refine them into His image. Once a crisis enters our life due to the crisis we seek Him, His Word, His Commands, His Guidance, His Wisdom, et cetera for a solution to the crisis and in so doing we grow in Him, are refined, and are brought to a greater degree of spiritual maturity, which results in our being closer to God Himself.

Some people have a sick need to create a crisis in order to inflate their own self-worth. Far too many people are troubled and insecure to the point that they “develop an unhealthy need to be needed by others” as the author points out and I fully agree. Then there are other individuals who are consumed by pride and thrive on watching other people fail. Watching people’s failures gives them something to compare themselves to that they deem “lesser than” themselves. Either way these individuals like to weaken and fool people or groups of people into depending on them for their sustenance and happiness – thus their egos are fed. This can happen in a personal relationship, a small group of people, a church congregation, a community, or a country. It can involve a two person dynamic or can involve millions of people. Prideful, selfish, denial-based people can do terrible things to other people such as deceive them, betray them, enslave them, destroy lives and even civilizations when allow to continue.

The author notes in this chapter that if we seek to elect liars or allow liars into our lives it is because we “need” lies, and we need lies because we are unwilling to face the truth. Two examples the author gives are: in a troubled marriage there is always someone willing to tell us it is not our fault it is our spouse’s fault therefore we need and should be with them instead of our spouse. If we are depressed or full of rage but not really interested in understanding ourselves and understanding why we have these feeling we have “experts” ready to prescribe whatever pill is necessary to make our symptoms disappear, or we might opt to skip the doctor and hit the liquor store or the criminal drug dealer to find what we need to mask our problems. When we are unwilling to face the truth our secret war against the still, small Voice of Truth within us must be waged in order to subdue the conscience, and we are willing to enlist the troops of lying tongues, pills, booze, excessive food (gluttony), busyness, and the like to do the job for us as we are unwilling to be governed by God. A person unwilling to be governed by God needs to be lied to and they also lie to themselves.

‘Freedom, true freedom, apart from God is just an illusion of pride’ Kupelian states, as many other individuals have stated. “If man is not governed by God, he will be ruled by tyrants.” – William Penn. “Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of maters.” – Benjamin Franklin. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. – 2 Corinthians 3:17 (NKJV).

In the next posting we will explore chapter two of David Kupelian’s book, How Evil Works.

 

 

How Evil Works

http://www.amazon.com/How-Evil-Works-Understanding-Transforming/dp/1439168202/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443464127&sr=8-1&keywords=How+evil+works

Evil can be understood and overcome before it transforms our country entirely. Evil can be understood and overcome before it transforms someone you know or even you. Knowledge is power and without it we will perish. We need to be extremely knowledgeable when it comes to evil.

Hosea 4:6 (NKJV)

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

Because you have rejected knowledge,

I also will reject you from being priest for Me;

Because you have forgotten the law of your God,

I also will forget your children.

The Marketing of Evil

http://www.amazon.com/Marketing-Evil-Pseudo-Experts-Corruption-Disguised-ebook/dp/B006N75LFI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1443464127&sr=8-2&keywords=How+evil+works

Evil is sold in our society just as anything else might be sold, through marketing. Satan has marketed his product through those willing and those ignorant to his schemes. Through his craftiness he has turned the minds of even Believers to think that tolerance of his evil is some form of love. In so doing he has transformed to a large degree the once Devout Church and transformed our society to an enormous degree. He has not accomplished this without his workers however, the willing, the sold out for their own gain, and the ignorant masses following blindly behind the majority.

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Evil Transforms (If We Let It) – Pt. 2 – Government

In Apostasy, Bible, Biblical Principles, Chrisitan Lifestyle, Christian Living, Christianity, Courage, End Times, Evil, God, God's Voice, Godliness, Godly Counsel, Humanism, Jesus, Persecution, Prophecy, Prophet, Prophetess, Religious Freedom, Remnant, Renewal, Revival, Rhema Words, Spiritual Activism, Spiritual Activists, Spiritual Remnant, Suffering, Truth on October 14, 2015 at 2:13 pm

In this piece we will explore chapter one of David Kupelian’s book, How Evil Works, which addresses evil in the governmental portion of our society. Please find a link below where you can purchase the book from Amazon.

Do we truly trust our government? If you asked nine out of ten people on the street that question the answers would be consistent. Most individuals would answer either no or not entirely. Why have we evolved from a society who in the nineteen fifties primarily trusted their government to a society in two thousand fifteen that primarily does not trust their government? Broken trust, pure and simple. People hungry for power took the place of people who thought it an honor to serve the American people. In this chapter Kupelian explores why governments no matter where they might be on the earth tend toward being “tyrannical and predatory” – his words.

Iraq we are familiar with, and Saddam is not unknown to most of my readers. This was a government who in two thousand authorized the amputation of the tongues of people who dared to criticize the government or Saddam personally.

North Korea where the people surrendered their freedom and in return got the government’s assurance they would care for them ‘from the cradle to the grave.’ Sound familiar? Some of those individuals aspiring to government office and who have previously held government office in America have used the phrase, ‘Care from cradle to the grave.’ when referring to Americans and desired changes in our society. Does anyone have an opinion regarding whether North Korea’s situation has enhanced the lives of that country’s people.

Zimbabwe a country that routinely bulldozed Christian churches. Not something any Christian should endure.

According to Amnesty International China’s government imprisons anyone who dares to criticize their actions or policies. A government that enforces their one child per family policy through mandatory sterilization, forced abortion, and in some cases infanticide. Forced abortion is a horrible situation, I have counseled a woman who went through it multiple times as an adolescent.

Within the United Kingdom and Europe you find the grip of socialism the effect of which has been to suffocate the various countries once strong Christianity. The government there has slowly over time implemented ‘cradle to the grave’ policies at the expense of their people’s freedoms, independence, and personal wealth.

These are all examples Kupelian gives in chapter one of governments that have come to dominate their people in ungodly, evil, and life draining ways.

Communistic practices lead to nothing more than a progression from freedom to slavery. The societal encouragement of immorality in the form of sexual promiscuity, abortions, easy divorce, are tools of the socialist modus operandi, according to the author, because where you find degenerate dysfunctional people who are willing to cross the moral lines leading them from God will need to replace God with another “god” – a socialist government that will tell them how to live, what to think, how to be, etc.

Slowly, we here in America are seeing the same types of governmental evil rise to power. We have not yet lost our ability to do something about this, but Christian’s passivity has made room for evil to flourish in our mist. Thank God for the Christian country clerks and the Christian flourishes of the world who are willing to stand for His Principles.

The universities in our country have filled our young people’s minds with lies and distortions that serve the governmental society more than they serve the overall society, and an alarming number of young people have bought into these lies and distortions. Among the lies being sold by universities today is the idea that the “self-evident truths” our founders considered a given and which are part of our Constitution are just outdated and considered a dangerous myths, as Kupelian points out in this chapter. Our government in America has all but abandoned the original principles of this country and the Constitution has become a relic in practical practice that would be inline with the founders’ intent and vision.

The authors notes that if we observe the power-hungry officials they attempt to use the same methods over and over: demonize the rich by claiming they got their wealth through exploration of the poor, which is not always the case but instead is only occasional the case, stirring up racial tensions whenever possible, when being a peacemaker would serve society better, they create problems then reach for a scapegoat when society gets upset, and their end game – they promise universal peace if we will just give them unlimited power over us.

How do people like this get us to support them? They do so by appealing to the basest part of us, according to the author, and I agree, appealing to hate, dissatisfaction, greed and especially envy. They lure people away from their dependence on God attempting to shift that dependence onto themselves. The outcome is power for them by creating confusion, demoralization, and ultimately bondage for those who follow them, for society, for us as a collective group.

Some of Kupelian’s observations about society have also been my observations of both society and The Church. The same shift in dependence from God to man can take place on a more personal level among people in relationship with one another, such as a group, The Church, a marriage, or a work environment. The evil nature in people thrives on pulling that power, in the form of God-dependence, away from God and toward them, in the form of man-dependence. As Christian’s we are to submit to authority (Romans 13) but we are not to do so if submitting to authority will result in disobeying God. If we cannot submit as unto to the Lord, we do not submit (Eph 5:22 and Col 3:18).

The author points out some Truths that are key to understanding the shift from God to Evil. Almost everyone knows deep within themselves there is an all-knowing God. They know God created them for a purpose and that the purpose entails being obedient to Him. When we go against God’s laws both written in His Word and our hearts our lives go badly. Those “self-evident” truths are written in our hearts, which is why a small child knows inside themselves it is wrong to steal. If we choose to ignore these inner truths that we sense and know to be true we will need to elect leaders who will be liars because we are hiding from the truth and want to be lied to. When we rebel against God we need lies and deception to maintain the illusion we are living under thus because we refuse to submit to the True God we will seek out a false god, and governmental authorities are more times than not willing to step in and accept our worship.

The mother of all lies, the BIG LIE Jesus warned us about, the biggest propaganda weapon of all time – lies in the form of making evil look good and good appear to be evil.

Sadly, the author states that we are more likely to believe big lies than we are small ones. Whether a lie has any degree of truth in it or not, once it has been stated it has done its damaged to some degree because some people, no matter how well the accused defends themselves, will be left with lingering doubt about the individual. As Hitler said, ‘This is the magic of lying that “is known to all expert liars”’.

Why is lying so powerful? We will address that in the next piece that will cover the second half of chapter one.

 

How Evil Works

http://www.amazon.com/How-Evil-Works-Understanding-Transforming/dp/1439168202/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443464127&sr=8-1&keywords=How+evil+works

Evil can be understood and overcome before it transforms our country entirely. Evil can be understood and overcome before it transforms someone you know or even you. Knowledge is power and without it we will perish. We need to be extremely knowledgeable when it comes to evil.

Hosea 4:6 (NKJV)

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

Because you have rejected knowledge,

I also will reject you from being priest for Me;

Because you have forgotten the law of your God,

I also will forget your children.

The Marketing of Evil

http://www.amazon.com/Marketing-Evil-Pseudo-Experts-Corruption-Disguised-ebook/dp/B006N75LFI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1443464127&sr=8-2&keywords=How+evil+works

Evil is sold in our society just as anything else might be sold, through marketing. Satan has marketed his product through those willing and those ignorant to his schemes. Through his craftiness he has turned the minds of even Believers to think that tolerance of his evil is some form of love. In so doing he has transformed to a large degree the once Devout Church and transformed our society to an enormous degree. He has not accomplished this without his workers however, the willing, the sold out for their own gain, and the ignorant masses following blindly behind the majority.

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Evil Transforms (If We Let It) – Pt. 1 – Evil an Ever-present Reality

In Agape Love, Anger, Anxiety, Apostasy, Bible, Biblical Principles, Chrisitan Lifestyle, Christian, Christian Living, Christianity, Courage, Depression, Encouragement, End Times, Evil, Exhortation, God, God's Voice, Godliness, Godly Counsel, Holy Spirit, Humanism, Jesus, Persecution, Prayer, Prophecy, Prophet, Prophetess, Religious Freedom, Remnant, Renewal, Revival, Rhema Words, Spiritual Activism, Spiritual Activists, Spiritual Fruit, Spiritual Remnant, Suffering, Truth, Uncategorized on October 5, 2015 at 11:01 am

In this piece we will explore the introduction portion of David Kupelian’s book, How Evil Works. Please find a link below where you can purchase the book from Amazon.

Far too many people, including Christians, bury their heads in the sand and pretend evil does not exist. At best for the majority of Christians evil exist in their theological beliefs but when it comes to them recognizing it in their everyday existence you would find no evidence they believe it is actually at work within the world. Why is this true? How did we get here? There was a time when Christian people were very aware and protective against evil, now they tolerate evil as though they are doing some loving service for God.

Let me inform you clearly – GOD HATES EVIL and there is no glory for Him found in His people embracing or even tolerating evil. We do not choose to be martyrs, God makes that choice. We are to stand up for God, stand up for Truth, and stand up for Holiness whenever possible and wherever needed.

Kupelian makes the point that we as a society seem to be evolving in our knowledge and growth except in the area of understanding evil. He claims we do not understand evil and how it routinely and effortlessly ruins lives, including our own at times. It is vital that we understand what evil is and how evil works.

Kupelian goes on to point out that 30 million Americans take psychiatric drugs to deal with a host of so called mental health problems despite the fact that there is a clear link between those drugs and violent behavior. His figure of 30 million, at the time he researched and wrote his book, is no doubt low compared to the figure today.

I can recall when antidepressants began to enter The Church many years ago as an acceptable alternative for Christians to deal with their problems. I was extremely alarmed and within a few years horrified at what I saw, and what I sensed God telling me about psychiatric medications and people’s problems. I was additionally horrified that it took years before I was willing to speak out about what God had shown me. Satan would use antidepressants and similar medications to take control of American, including Christians to some degree. While everyone around me seemed to think in those initial years that a savior in the form of a pill had arrived for the troubled, I secretly dreaded what I could see was on the horizon and is now here, a society filled with medicated drones that can no longer sense the presence of God.

Evil typically causes psychological damage and psychological damage opens the door to evil. (Perhaps I will elaborate more later, in another piece, on what I mean by that statement.) As Kupelian points out the evidence is in the fruit. Our relationships are fragile at best, marriages fail routinely, and people do not even know what they truly believe any longer. He goes on to state that secular medical “experts” are able to treat the tri-fold mental-emotional-spiritual problems of rage and depression with drugs because they tell people what egos love to hear, “It’s not your fault”.

I recall a debate I had years ago (1990’s) with another church leader over the stronghold of drinking or what the other person referred to as alcoholism. The individual said to me, ‘What are you going to do when you find out it is a disease people can’t help?’ My response, ‘Nothing, because it is not a disease, it is a choice.’ A sin involving abuse of alcohol that has taken place to the degree that it has become a stronghold in someone’s life is just that a stronghold, not a disease. A stronghold is simply something ungodly that has deep roots in a person’s life. By labeling it a disease people have removed the need for dealing with the excess of alcohol as sin and have alleviated the need for personal responsibility.

Another evil, reprogramming people. Though we have those who hate America and wish it nothing but ill as the author points out, we seem to take an overall national view of being almost submissive or apologetic as a nation for considering certain religious groups dangerous. The author equates it to “a national version of Stockholm syndrome.” It is simply tolerance run-a-muck. As the author points out a key factor in terrorism is reprogramming people’s beliefs per Stockholm syndrome. I say reprogramming of people’s beliefs is widespread in America, and I do mean negative, evil, sinful reprogramming.

What causes the success of this reprogramming? Kupelian and I agree on the answer. American people’s disillusionment with Christianity has caused a spiritual vacuum and evil has entered that vacuum. The result being widespread evil painted as progress, enlightenment, and evolution of the mind, celebrities who self-destruct, minister’s or celebrity minister’s of mega churches that self-destruct, people in general who self-destruction – destruction is the result.

The only way out of evil is to understand, resist, and/or confront evil. Once evil is brought into the light it loses it power, the darkness begins to lift, and we can find our way out.

James 4:7 (AV)(KJV)

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

In the next posting we will explore chapter one of David Kupelian’s book, How Evil Works, which addresses evil in the governmental portion of our society.

 

 

How Evil Works

http://www.amazon.com/How-Evil-Works-Understanding-Transforming/dp/1439168202/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443464127&sr=8-1&keywords=How+evil+works

Evil can be understood and overcome before it transforms our country entirely. Evil can be understood and overcome before it transforms someone you know or even you. Knowledge is power and without it we will perish. We need to be extremely knowledgeable when it comes to evil.

Hosea 4:6 (NKJV)

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

Because you have rejected knowledge,

I also will reject you from being priest for Me;

Because you have forgotten the law of your God,

I also will forget your children.

The Marketing of Evil

http://www.amazon.com/Marketing-Evil-Pseudo-Experts-Corruption-Disguised-ebook/dp/B006N75LFI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1443464127&sr=8-2&keywords=How+evil+works

Evil is sold in our society just as anything else might be sold, through marketing. Satan has marketed his product through those willing and those ignorant to his schemes. Through his craftiness he has turned the minds of even Believers to think that tolerance of his evil is some form of love. In so doing he has transformed to a large degree the once Devout Church and transformed our society to an enormous degree. He has not accomplished this without his workers however, the willing, the sold out for their own gain, and the ignorant masses following blindly behind the majority.

 

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Evil Transforms (If We Let It) – Introduction

In Agape Love, Apostasy, Bible, Biblical Principles, Chrisitan Lifestyle, Christian, Christian Living, Christianity, Courage, End Times, Evil, Exhortation, God, God's Voice, Godliness, Godly Counsel, Holy Spirit, Humanism, Persecution, Prophecy, Prophet, Prophetess, Religious Freedom, Renewal, Revival, Rhema Words, Spiritual Activism, Spiritual Activists, Spiritual Fruit, Spiritual Remnant, Spirituality, Truth, Uncategorized on September 28, 2015 at 3:19 pm

Hello everyone I realize it has been a while since you have heard from me. My apologizes, but please know the time has not been wasted but instead temporally refocused. I recently completed two more books and prepared them for publication, hence my absence.

Much consideration and prayer has gone into how to proceed at this point. I have many questions and topics I could do a series on, but I am not going to do any of that at this moment. Right now God is leading me in another direction, a very familiar direction for those who have read me over the years.

I will be doing a series based upon the insights of an outstanding and award winning journalist David Kupelian. The series will be in the form of a written book discussion that will cover two of his best known works, How Evil Works and The Marketing of Evil, both of which I highly recommend. I have provided links below where you can locate both books via Amazon. During this series I will discuss his insights, along with my observations of our society and The Church over the last thirty years, tying both together and connecting them to both God and Satan’s work in the world, more specifically in America.

I do hope you will be able to obtain both books reading them in full, and share your insights with me along the way. However, if you are only able to follow the highlights of each book, chapter by chapter, via the blog postings that will be wonderful as well, and I welcome your comments.

We will begin with How Evil Works, which is actually the second book but will the first book we discuss. I have chosen this because I believe a fundamental understanding of how evil works in the world is imperative to understanding and recognizing when evil is being marketed to you or to your society.

How Evil Works

http://www.amazon.com/How-Evil-Works-Understanding-Transforming/dp/1439168202/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443464127&sr=8-1&keywords=How+evil+works

Evil can be understood and overcome before it transforms our country entirely. Evil can be understood and overcome before it transforms someone you know or even you. Knowledge is power and without it we will perish. We need to be extremely knowledgeable when it comes to evil.

Hosea 4:6 (NKJV)

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

Because you have rejected knowledge,

I also will reject you from being priest for Me;

Because you have forgotten the law of your God,

I also will forget your children.

The Marketing of Evil

http://www.amazon.com/Marketing-Evil-Pseudo-Experts-Corruption-Disguised-ebook/dp/B006N75LFI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1443464127&sr=8-2&keywords=How+evil+works

Evil is sold in our society just as anything else might be sold, through marketing. Satan has marketed his product through those willing and those ignorant to his schemes. Through his craftiness he has turned the minds of even Believers to think that tolerance of his evil is some form of love. In so doing he has transformed to a large degree the once Devote Church and transformed our society to an enormous degree. He has not accomplished this without his workers however, the willing, the sold out for their own gain, and the ignorant masses following blindly behind the majority.

In the next posting we will explore the introduction of David Kupelian’s, How Evil Works.

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Blessing of Good and Evil

In Advice, Agape Love, Bible, Biblical Principles, Chrisitan Lifestyle, Christian, Christian Living, Christianity, Devotional, Encouragement, Exhortation, God, God's Voice, Godliness, Godly Counsel, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Love, Persecution, Prophecy, Prophet, Prophetess, Remnant, Truth, Uncategorized on April 24, 2014 at 3:34 pm

You may submit your own question via the contact information on the “ABOUT” page. A link to the about page can be found at the top of any of the website pages.

Question Summary:

Why do people who are sinful get blessed? Why do people who are godly have trouble? Why do people believe sin causes trouble and blessings? How can we make sense of all the mess and injustice in the world?

Reply:

This is actually a combination of several questions whose answers have the same basic root. I have been asked this question in one form or another ever since I became a minister. It comes from the heart of hurting people or angry people who cannot understand how the world, Satan’s kingdom, and the eternal, God’s Kingdom work. Jesus is our example for all things so I will use situations surrounding Jesus to address these questions.

The first point I will make, regarding the evil aspect of the question, is that people can be rewarded, bribed, or compensated by Satan in this world. He can do nothing that has not been allowed by God, Job is an example of that, but Satan can in fact provide worldly blessings for sinful people. We have seen some of the most corrupt and depraved, sometimes privately, individuals and families receive blessings in this lifetime. Their ultimate cost however, for those evil blessings is something much deeper that they lack inside and their eternal souls many times. Satan even tried to bribe Jesus.

Matthew 4:8–11 (NKJV)

8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”

11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

The first point I will make, regarding the godly aspect of the question, is that people can know God, people can profess all the right things but still be deeply rebellious in their hearts and that rebellion will cause them problems in life. Even Jesus chose obedience over rebellion. Scripture referring to Jesus, states how He had to hear the Father and choose not to have a rebellious heart. If Jesus had to consciously make that choice, while He was here in human flesh, of course we each must do the same every day. If we remain in rebellion, either inwardly or outwardly, against God’s Will we will not be consistently blessed in life.

Isaiah 50:5 (NKJV)

The Lord God has opened My ear;

And I was not rebellious,

Nor did I turn away.

Another reason we see both groups blessed and both groups suffer is because God has chosen such for His own purposes. Jesus taught that, when He walked the earth in the flesh.

Matthew 5:45 (NKJV) Jesus speaking

that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

For a True Believer any suffering or difficulty they go through that is the type, which Jesus taught about above, has a guaranteed redemptive purpose. God wants to use what they went through. For the Unbeliever any difficulty they go through that is the type, which Jesus taught about above, are magnets meant to draw them to Him.

For the True Believer any blessings they obtain from the hand of God that is the type, which Jesus taught about above, are meant not merely as a form of reward but as a source to be used to glorify God further. For the Unbeliever any blessings they obtain from the hand of God that is the type, which Jesus taught about above, are intended to draw them to God through His goodness. Those blessing given to both groups are almost always removed one day if the Giver is not acknowledged and glorified.

There is much injustice, evil, and wrongdoing in the world. It is often hard to make sense of it all but people, most especially Christians must keep in mind this world is currently under Satan’s dominion and Satan can afflict people, including True Believers, with harm, disease, various afflictions, and general difficulties.

2 Corinthians 4:4 (KJV)

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

John 14:30 (NKJV) Jesus speaking

30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.

Luke 13:16 (NKJV) Jesus speaking

16 So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?”

Most dedicated Believers make claims about wanting to be like Jesus and to live for Him. They aspire to resemble their Savior but then are shocked and backslide when life, the world, and the Devil brings about difficulties. Yet, do they really know their Jesus, who He really was and is, as well as what He went through while walking the earth. I will end with passages form Isaiah, one of which that addresses some of what Jesus was to expect, and received, when He came to the earth. The passage also reflects how He responded.

Jesus knew and knows who He was and is, He knew and knows His power and ability, yet, He states what He choose to allow people to do to Him and how He chose to respond. We should pray for the grace of God to do likewise when we find ourselves in difficult circumstance for there is abundant life to be found in that type freedom, strength, and power.

Isaiah 50 (NKJV)

The Servant, Israel’s Hope

50 Thus says the Lord:

“Where is the certificate of your mother’s divorce,

Whom I have put away?

Or which of My creditors is it to whom I have sold you?

For your iniquities you have sold yourselves,

And for your transgressions your mother has been put away.

2 Why, when I came, was there no man?

Why, when I called, was there none to answer?

Is My hand shortened at all that it cannot redeem?

Or have I no power to deliver?

Indeed with My rebuke I dry up the sea,

I make the rivers a wilderness;

Their fish stink because there is no water,

And die of thirst.

3 I clothe the heavens with blackness,

And I make sackcloth their covering.”

4 “The Lord God has given Me

The tongue of the learned,

That I should know how to speak

A word in season to him who is weary.

He awakens Me morning by morning,

He awakens My ear

To hear as the learned.

5 The Lord God has opened My ear;

And I was not rebellious,

Nor did I turn away.

6 I gave My back to those who struck Me,

And My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard;

I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.

7 “For the Lord God will help Me;

Therefore I will not be disgraced;

Therefore I have set My face like a flint,

And I know that I will not be ashamed.

8 He is near who justifies Me;

Who will contend with Me?

Let us stand together.

Who is My adversary?

Let him come near Me.

9 Surely the Lord God will help Me;

Who is he who will condemn Me?

Indeed they will all grow old like a garment;

The moth will eat them up.

10 “Who among you fears the Lord?

Who obeys the voice of His Servant?

Who walks in darkness

And has no light?

Let him trust in the name of the Lord

And rely upon his God.

11 Look, all you who kindle a fire,

Who encircle yourselves with sparks:

Walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks you have kindled—

This you shall have from My hand:

You shall lie down in torment.

Isaiah 55:1–13 (NKJV)

An Invitation to Abundant Life

55 “Ho! Everyone who thirsts,

Come to the waters;

And you who have no money,

Come, buy and eat.

Yes, come, buy wine and milk

Without money and without price.

2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread,

And your wages for what does not satisfy?

Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,

And let your soul delight itself in abundance.

3 Incline your ear, and come to Me.

Hear, and your soul shall live;

And I will make an everlasting covenant with you—

The sure mercies of David.

4 Indeed I have given him as a witness to the people,

A leader and commander for the people.

5 Surely you shall call a nation you do not know,

And nations who do not know you shall run to you,

Because of the Lord your God,

And the Holy One of Israel;

For He has glorified you.”

6 Seek the Lord while He may be found,

Call upon Him while He is near.

7 Let the wicked forsake his way,

And the unrighteous man his thoughts;

Let him return to the Lord,

And He will have mercy on him;

And to our God,

For He will abundantly pardon.

8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.

9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are My ways higher than your ways,

And My thoughts than your thoughts.

10 “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,

And do not return there,

But water the earth,

And make it bring forth and bud,

That it may give seed to the sower

And bread to the eater,

11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;

It shall not return to Me void,

But it shall accomplish what I please,

And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

12 “For you shall go out with joy,

And be led out with peace;

The mountains and the hills

Shall break forth into singing before you,

And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree,

And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree;

And it shall be to the Lord for a name,

For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”

 

Regarding worldviews:

Secular sources – self-help, advice, mass media – some of these resources can be useful in obtaining knowledge about what is going on in our world but they are not credible sources for a Believer when it comes to establishing beliefs, opinions, and directives for life. The gap between the two foundational platforms (biblical vs. secular) is too vast at this point in our present day society to bring reconciliation between the two. A Believer should seek out Christian lifestyle training, godly counsel, and Christian forms of mass media using those to shape their approach to life.

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.