Study from God’s Word… Jeremiah, Chapters 13 – 15: 1 - 9 … Passage for Reflection: Jeremiah 14: 13 … NIV But I said, “Ah Sovereign Lord, the prophets keep telling them, ‘You will not see the sword or suffer famine. Indeed, I will give you lasting peace in this place.’ “
My Journal for Today: It’s no wonder Jeremiah was called the “weeping Prophet,” because there was so much disobedience, doubt, and despair evident among God’s people in his day, as well as those who mocked God with their behavior. And even Jeremiah had some doubts, especially with many false prophets providing messages to the peoples in those days which were much more comforting than that of Jeremiah. In today’s highlight passage we read of Jeremiah’s quandary; but God reassured him that he was indeed God’s messenger, taking God’s message of doom/gloom to Israel and Judah.
Today there is much confusion on the religious horizon. You can read the word of God interpreted by orthodox Reformation Theologians like R.C. Sproul, John MacArthur, and others; and then when you read the writings of “prophets” calling themselves “christian” teachers, like Joel Osteen, Benny Hinn, or Kenneth Copeland, you wonder if these men are reading and interpreting the same Bible. Then there are those who espouse later prophetic belief systems, like the Mormons, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, or those following more new age belief systems like Scientology or “the church of Oprah.” And with so many belief systems, labeling themselves as “truthful,” whom is to be believed?
Well, that is why one must have a rock to affix his/her anchor of faith; and that ROCK – for me (and I pray for you who read here as well) is Yeshua Hamashiach, … Jesus, The Messiah. He was the one foretold by the ancient Jewish Prophets, including Jeremiah; and He is the Son of God Who has fulfilled the Covenant of God by coming as the God-man, dying on a cross, being resurrected, and now sitting as the re-glorified Magnate in Heaven. And all of that has be chronicled in His word, which as 2nd Tim. 3: 16 – 17 documents, is the God-breathed Rock of our Faith.
Jesus is the only way, as He Himself declared (in John 14: 6); and to pursue any other is the path to eternal doom. God’s word, The Bible, is the only word of truth to know Christ as Lord and Savior; hence, I look to those who teach/preach the Gospel truth in these confusing days of religious smorgasbord. If a message of teaching/preaching doesn’t square with God’s word in this day of false prophets, I will not follow it. And that is my prayer today for any who read here with me.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, shine Your light of truth so brightly from Your word that it helps to reveal the counterfeits of the day. Amen
Showing posts with label new-age. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new-age. Show all posts
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
2010 – July 15 – Of Horoscopes and Other Nonsense
Study from God’s Word… Isaiah, Chapters 45: 14 – 48: 1-15 … Passage for Reflection: Isaiah 47: 13 … NIV 13 All the counsel you have received has only worn you out! Let your astrologers come forward, those stargazers who make predictions month by month, let them save you from what is coming upon you.
My Journal for Today: Sometimes, when you’re reading/studying God’s word, as through the written word of Isaiah today, you sense God’s frustration; and occasionally, as in today’s highlight passage, you can read (i.e., or hear, if read aloud) God’s outright sarcasm. And today that sarcasm is directed toward those who are foolish enough to rely on the nonsense of astrologers to see their way through the morass of life’s problems and circumstances.
Have you ever consulted your horoscope? And Dr. Smith begins today by asking his readers, “What’s your sign?” And if you’re reading here as a Christian, you’re probably like I was when I read that question, … smiling wryly and thinking, “Oh, I don’t play around with that worthless nonsense!” But we do know that the business of palm readers, psychic mediums, and astrology is a big bucks business in the world. So there are people out there who are drawn to the promise that people can follow the predictions and advice of these self-proclaimed “gurus” and find their way through the minefields of life. And my friends, for a number years, before I surrendered myself to Christ, when I realized I was spiritually weak, I was pursuing a lot of those “isms” which taught new age nonsense and the like, … not very far removed from astrology.
And very unfortunately some, who call themselves “christian,” are letting some of this new-age nonsense filter into their thought process; and they’re letting themselves be drawn into those who claim “Christ” but teach something akin to astrology. And we see it today in those who follow the “church of Oprah” or even those word of faith teachers such as Joel Osteen, teaching that man can claim, with his own word of faith, the power of God in their lives, … to be able to raise themselves up by themselves. It’s absolute NONESENSE … just as God sarcastically declares in today’s text.
But what it is in mankind that draws us to the flame of death like moths to the flame in the night? As Dr. Smith writes, “Something down deep in all of us craves special insight into ourselves and our future.” And I think the answer to that conundrum is found in the simple words about the nature of the human heart, which Jeremiah documented in Jer. 17: 9. You probably know it by heart, saying, ”The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”
We are so vulnerable to a heart [i.e., our flesh] which is “desperately wicked,” (NKJV translation) yet we try to satisfy our desire to know by searching for answers within in our own human understanding. And the bell of truth rings with God, saying [paraphrased from Prov. 3: 5-6] “Trust in ME (says God) with ALL your heart and lean not on your OWN understanding.” And if and when we’re TOTALLY willing to do that, as God promises in that same passage, HE will show us the way through the minefields of life from His truth … i.e., His word.
But even Christians today, keep trying to rely on science, on their own intellect, or on political solutions to fight our way through the dark morass of life. And we keep failing, because we’re unwilling to heed the warnings of passages like today’s and others like those I’ve mentioned in my journal entry today. We simply must surrender or way to God’s way, following HIS will from HIS word; and when we do, He will show us HIS light to follow through the darkness.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, shine Your light brightly so a near-sighted child like me can see it to follow You. Amen
My Journal for Today: Sometimes, when you’re reading/studying God’s word, as through the written word of Isaiah today, you sense God’s frustration; and occasionally, as in today’s highlight passage, you can read (i.e., or hear, if read aloud) God’s outright sarcasm. And today that sarcasm is directed toward those who are foolish enough to rely on the nonsense of astrologers to see their way through the morass of life’s problems and circumstances.
Have you ever consulted your horoscope? And Dr. Smith begins today by asking his readers, “What’s your sign?” And if you’re reading here as a Christian, you’re probably like I was when I read that question, … smiling wryly and thinking, “Oh, I don’t play around with that worthless nonsense!” But we do know that the business of palm readers, psychic mediums, and astrology is a big bucks business in the world. So there are people out there who are drawn to the promise that people can follow the predictions and advice of these self-proclaimed “gurus” and find their way through the minefields of life. And my friends, for a number years, before I surrendered myself to Christ, when I realized I was spiritually weak, I was pursuing a lot of those “isms” which taught new age nonsense and the like, … not very far removed from astrology.
And very unfortunately some, who call themselves “christian,” are letting some of this new-age nonsense filter into their thought process; and they’re letting themselves be drawn into those who claim “Christ” but teach something akin to astrology. And we see it today in those who follow the “church of Oprah” or even those word of faith teachers such as Joel Osteen, teaching that man can claim, with his own word of faith, the power of God in their lives, … to be able to raise themselves up by themselves. It’s absolute NONESENSE … just as God sarcastically declares in today’s text.
But what it is in mankind that draws us to the flame of death like moths to the flame in the night? As Dr. Smith writes, “Something down deep in all of us craves special insight into ourselves and our future.” And I think the answer to that conundrum is found in the simple words about the nature of the human heart, which Jeremiah documented in Jer. 17: 9. You probably know it by heart, saying, ”The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”
We are so vulnerable to a heart [i.e., our flesh] which is “desperately wicked,” (NKJV translation) yet we try to satisfy our desire to know by searching for answers within in our own human understanding. And the bell of truth rings with God, saying [paraphrased from Prov. 3: 5-6] “Trust in ME (says God) with ALL your heart and lean not on your OWN understanding.” And if and when we’re TOTALLY willing to do that, as God promises in that same passage, HE will show us the way through the minefields of life from His truth … i.e., His word.
But even Christians today, keep trying to rely on science, on their own intellect, or on political solutions to fight our way through the dark morass of life. And we keep failing, because we’re unwilling to heed the warnings of passages like today’s and others like those I’ve mentioned in my journal entry today. We simply must surrender or way to God’s way, following HIS will from HIS word; and when we do, He will show us HIS light to follow through the darkness.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, shine Your light brightly so a near-sighted child like me can see it to follow You. Amen
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
2010 – Mar. 24 – False Comfort From Religious Trappings
Study from God’s Word…Judges 17 – 18 … Passage for Reflection: Judges 17: 13 … NIV 13 And Micah said, "Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, since this Levite has become my priest."
My Journal for Today: Wow! When I read the story of Micah, who sold out to idolatry in these times of no kings and self imposed religion, I couldn’t help but think of the rise of Oprahism in our times. As we read in these passages in Judges, Micah was a man who deluded himself into thinking that the God of Abraham would be pleased because he set up his own brand of religion. He then bought out a Levite, one from the clan of Priests; and because he could purchased this religious leader’s blessing, he conned himself into thinking that he was living in and being powerful in the favor and will of the one true, and only, God.
And isn’t that what is going on right now in our times with Oprah Winfrey, who has established her own form of religion, even invoking her own line of “priests,” who parade themselves onto her TV show, having been purchased by her influence to sell their books and peddle their brand of religiosity. Oprah is a modern day Micah; and like many people of Micah’s day, there will always be people who’ll buy into a religious line of thought as long as it has the trappings for religion and is endorsed by enough fools who seem to have the credentials to call themselves religious leaders.
I stand amazed at the number of so-called “christians” Oprah can get to come on her show and agree with her brand of new-age malarkey, … giving Oprahism the credibility of men or women who claim to be agents of God, … some promoting their books and others who are selling concepts like “angelology.” And Oprah comes off being able to claim that she promotes a form of religion which is all inclusive and non-offensive to anyone.
I pray that no one who is reading what I write here has bought into this modern-day priestess of evil; because Oprah Winfrey, like Micah of Ephraim, is deluded and dangerous, capturing a lot of influence and moving her followers toward a brand of idolatry which will lead to the absolute and eternal death of anyone and everyone who follows after Oprah’s new-age delusions. Beware, my beloved fellow readers, of those like Oprah who can sell their ideas as idols and get others to buy into their disastrous form of religion. Follow Oprah to your peril, dear one.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, open our eyes to Your truth and keep us focused on You in the face of many false religions in our world. Amen
My Journal for Today: Wow! When I read the story of Micah, who sold out to idolatry in these times of no kings and self imposed religion, I couldn’t help but think of the rise of Oprahism in our times. As we read in these passages in Judges, Micah was a man who deluded himself into thinking that the God of Abraham would be pleased because he set up his own brand of religion. He then bought out a Levite, one from the clan of Priests; and because he could purchased this religious leader’s blessing, he conned himself into thinking that he was living in and being powerful in the favor and will of the one true, and only, God.
And isn’t that what is going on right now in our times with Oprah Winfrey, who has established her own form of religion, even invoking her own line of “priests,” who parade themselves onto her TV show, having been purchased by her influence to sell their books and peddle their brand of religiosity. Oprah is a modern day Micah; and like many people of Micah’s day, there will always be people who’ll buy into a religious line of thought as long as it has the trappings for religion and is endorsed by enough fools who seem to have the credentials to call themselves religious leaders.
I stand amazed at the number of so-called “christians” Oprah can get to come on her show and agree with her brand of new-age malarkey, … giving Oprahism the credibility of men or women who claim to be agents of God, … some promoting their books and others who are selling concepts like “angelology.” And Oprah comes off being able to claim that she promotes a form of religion which is all inclusive and non-offensive to anyone.
I pray that no one who is reading what I write here has bought into this modern-day priestess of evil; because Oprah Winfrey, like Micah of Ephraim, is deluded and dangerous, capturing a lot of influence and moving her followers toward a brand of idolatry which will lead to the absolute and eternal death of anyone and everyone who follows after Oprah’s new-age delusions. Beware, my beloved fellow readers, of those like Oprah who can sell their ideas as idols and get others to buy into their disastrous form of religion. Follow Oprah to your peril, dear one.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, open our eyes to Your truth and keep us focused on You in the face of many false religions in our world. Amen
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