Rest

Hebrews 4:2-3 (NIV)

2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, "So I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest.' " And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world.

These words are vital to living in the Kingdom of God. You must enter to His rest, but as the Lord states in Hebrews 4:2, you can only enter His rest if you take the gospel and combine it with your faith will you be able to enter His rest. If you don’t use your faith, what good will the Word of God do for you?!

You have to have faith to attain anything in life-what makes anyone think differently?...

‘Rest’ is the key word, just thinking about it naturally would bring a feeling of relief knowing that in Christ we can go on and not be worn out or ready to give up.

There will be many people who will hear the word of God and never hold on to it, because they lack faith.

To have faith is to believe that even though you may not be able to see something you still believe it exists. If you can believe that God not only exists, but wants the very best for us and will provide it, you cannot enter His rest. 

We sometimes think it is up to God to prove Himself to us every time we have any doubts in Him and His abilities, but we are to stay close to Him in faith that He is who He says He is and that we will not be given anything that we cannot handle. He has finished all that He has to do, as stated at the end of verse 3, He has finished His work, now it us up to us to follow through and learn from His word.

Must be Blameless

As many of you should know by now, I have a major interest in Demonology and the Occult in relation to the bible. Due to the fact that I was heavily involved in the occult I can relate to many of those who have been lured into demonic traps.

Now, a born a again believer I feel that it is important for as well as well as millions of others to share their experiences and knowledge about the worldly dangers that trap many people in our generation.

Deuteronomy 18:10-13

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, ¹¹ or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. ¹² Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD; because of these same detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. ¹³ You must be blameless before the LORD your God.

“Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire,…”.

            Of course to most people this sounds like an obvious ‘no no’, but this type of behavior still exists and is more common than most may think. It’s not just some of the satanic churches, but some religious cults and witches that engage in sacrifices of humans. God never lets His dislikes/hates be secret and make you try to figure it out-He tells us out straight what He does not want us to do.

He goes on to list the things that we are to stay away from:

Divination

Sorcery

Interpreting Omens

Witchcraft

Casting Spells

Mediums

Spiritists

Consulting the dead

It’s not just performing these things, it’s also being exposed to them through your own curiosity or relationship to someone who is or has been involved in any of these areas. It doesn’t have to be lifestyle in order to get yourself in spiritual trouble.

The Lord cannot cover for us if we engage in these types of behaviors, in which He has already told us not to engage in. He will not bless you when you are in sin and allowing demonic spirits into your life.

Think twice before you ever agree to engage our “witness” any of these demonic practices.

Deprived of Good

Jeremiah 5:24-25

New International Version (NIV)

²⁴ They do not say to themselves,
   ‘Let us fear the LORD our God,
who gives autumn and spring rains in season,
   who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.’
²⁵ Your wrongdoings have kept these away;
   your sins have deprived you of good.

When we hear of odd weather and failing crops, some tend to think it is “mother nature” or God punishing innocent farmers. Never do they, at least openly, admit that maybe they have done something that is not right or have not watched over their crops as they should have, and allowing the enemy to have his way in their lives.

We forget that we can easily get into error and make mistakes, we are only human and Jesus is perfect.

Some people have their crops prayed over by shamans and so called spiritualists and in the meantime they suffer constant ups and downs in during the seasons and wonder why they can’t maintain or get better.

The same scripture can be used for those who do not deal with farming and such, but struggle with their jobs, housing and finances. These are all one in the same, the same sins, the same mistakes can keep us from being able to succeed in every season.

Like how the farmers expect rain during specific times through the year, others expect promotions and their paycheck to be in their hands every pay period.

Walking the walk requires a daily “overview” of where you are in your walk and repenting for anything you have done to offend someone or anything you may have said that will cause spiritual harm to yourself or others.

As a society we like to seek blame in others and circumstances rather than look inwardly at what it is that we have said or have accepted in to our spirit from other people. God does not desire to condemn people, but to enrich people and make them prosperous in their lives.

If you constantly have issues-check yourself first before you go blaming others, especially before you start to blame God. We all make decisions that impact our lives-we have free will, God does not force us into ANY of our messes, we walk into them and God can only stand back and let us make up our minds.

Unfaithful

Jeremiah 3:19-20

New International Version (NIV)

“ ¹⁹ “I myself said,

   “‘How gladly would I treat you like my children
   and give you a pleasant land,
   the most beautiful inheritance of any nation.’
I thought you would call me ‘Father’
   and not turn away from following me.
²⁰ But like a woman unfaithful to her husband,
   so you, Israel, have been unfaithful to me,”
            declares the LORD.”

In this scripture the Lord is referring to Israel, however we all can be like Israel.

The same goes for us, if we would call on the father, how much He would do for us and give us the best than any could ever give.

We as gentiles, tend to forget that just like Israel, we to can commit the same sins and distance us from the Lord our God. Like Israel, we can get into error and not trust God and know that we need Jesus and the Holy Spirit to guide us.

In many ways we have been unfaithful to the Lord, from when we were purely in the world, when we have doubted God’s abilities to turn your situations around, or when we have dabbled with practices and ideologies that were contrary to His teachings. 

When we entertain practices like yoga and a “zen” lifestyle, or getting into the whole “Mother Earth” mentality we get misguided and out of line with what God tells us to.

God has sooooooooo much to give us and it’s up to us to line up with His word and open ourselves up to receive the blessings that God has for us. These blessings are not just for us to have things, but to be able to be a blessing for others and strengthening your spirit man.

Do not be unfaithful to the Lord and stick to the truth, God’s word and allow the Holy Spirit to have his perfect will in you and through you so that you may remain as heirs to the riches and glory in Christ Jesus.

Drive out Spirits

Matthew 12:27-29

New International Version (NIV)

^“27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. ²⁸ But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

   ²⁹ “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.”

We all have seen or heard of exorcisms, usually performed by Catholic Priests in horror movies and documentaries. This practice of our authority to expel demons has been perverted and twisted to a point to where it is no longer done under the authority of Jesus Christ but from a dark source.

When you attempt to expel a demon from someone or something, and you are first and foremost, not a believer in Jesus Christ let alone understand, biblically, your authority in Christ to do so, you are putting yourself and whoever else is involved at risk. Dealing with demonic spirits is not child’s play and should be taken seriously.

You cannot expel a demon without the name of Jesus or the blood of Jesus!

When you enter into an exorcism/expulsion of a demon in someone, you face potentially allowing more spirits into the person and put yourself and others at risk of unknowingly opening “doors” that allow spirits into your lives.

Those who enter an exorcism/expulsion of a demon in someone who are believers, but do not quite understand their authority through Jesus and do not actually use the name of Jesus Christ or the blood of Jesus in their session, they risk the same as the none believers who do so and will take a long time to see any manifestations.

Always be prepared when you are planning to do an expulsion.

Some of the requirements for expulsion:

·         Have a Pastor or leader who is knowledgeable in the area.

·         Study scriptures about your authority to cast out demons/foul spirits.

·         Use the blood of Jesus and Name of Jesus (verbally)

·         Only have the people who are actually participating in the room (no onlookers) if possible.

·         Have a waiver for those who are being exercised filled out so as to not be placed in a legal issue if something were to happen that could be misunderstood.

And more…

Word & The World

Galatians 5:19-21

New International Version (NIV)

 ¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

As a continuation on foul spirits and living in the world, I looked up a verse that warns us about the flesh.

The world and the flesh are one in the same. Whatever the flesh wants it gets if the Holy Spirit is does not dwell within them and is not built to stand against the flesh.

Sadly, every single thing that the Lord warns us against in Galatians 5:19-21 are the very things that are running rampant in the world today- especially in the United States today. 99% of all of our programming focuses or somehow incorporates all these sinful acts.

Example of television shows that are dabbling in these areas (past and present):

·         Vampire Diaries

·         Jersey Shore

·         Real Housewives (series)

·         Bad Girls Club

·         Crossing Over

·         Ghost Whisperer

Etc…

All these shows and more all take after those things in which we should not feed in to.

I can say that I am guilty of watching some of these shows and others, they can be addicting, but it’s important to not get involved and ultimately stop or never begin watching these programs. It’s not always easy to cut programs like these out, especially since they are some of the most talked about.

Some believe that just because you don’t actually partake in these behaviors, but watch it on tv every week, does not mean you are in the clear. It all starts with watching or listening to these types of things that can draw you in.

Always be mindful of what you are watching and listening to on a regular basis and don’t fall victim to the enticement of these “pleasurable” attributes that the world has to offer…for you have been warned.

Demonology Revisited

The understanding of how to cast out foul spirits from yourself, your home, others and breaking any curses in your family is more important now than ever.

We tend to forget that we are not dealing with just flesh and blood, but with Spiritual powers.

In world that is rapidly getting darker and darker, we have to be guarded spiritually, we have to not take any chances with experimenting with things that we don’t know can potentially harm us. Like I have mentioned before in past posts, dabbling with things that deal with the supernatural is never wise. You cannot harmlessly play around with dark games such as Ouija board and tarot cards.

The lines between what  is and what is wrong is becoming more and more blurred, to the point where it will be hard for those living in the world to be able to make a choice to go to God because they are bombarded with things that appeal to their senses.

These progressions-to blended lines and crossed barriers has happened so quickly yet so stealthily that we can’t actually pen point a specific date and time when things crossed over. Don’t succumb to the pressures to accept alternative lifestyles, legalization of harmful drugs and reckless lifestyles that the world tries to push you towards. It’s easy to persuade people in to things that can feel pleasurable without work.

Just because it “feels” good or that others are doing it with promises of it doing good for others, does not mean that it is okay and safe to do.