“Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10a
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
Photo by Stephen Walker on Unsplash
I recently heard a pastor say something that sent shock waves through me. In an attempt to draw unchurched people to Christ, this popular pastor is teaching his flock that the Bible, especially the Old Testament, is not essential to following Jesus. (I find that really hard to accept since Jesus Himself taught from the Old Testament!)
Even more shocking, is how easily people accept it! That’s why I feel I have to talk about it on my blog. The Old Testament is vitally important because everything in it points to Jesus. The better we understand it, the better we will understand our walk with God.
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” 2 Timothy 3:16 NLT
Once the enemy convinces the church that we shouldn’t base our beliefs on the Bible, he can bring forth all kinds of deception and lies that will be gobbled up by itching ears. Without the Bible, the church is destined to embark on a path that gradually looks more and more like the world and less and less like Christ.
The importance of Bible reading can not be overemphasized. And if we read more books about the Bible than the actual Bible, well, we are treading on dangerous ground. But isn’t that what people like to do? It’s the lazy way out. Don’t let someone tell you what the Bible says, unless you have read it for yourself first.
“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4 NIV
“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” John 17:17 NIV
Yes, maybe our churches will grow bigger and faster if we present a message that mirrors the world view and culture, but is that really a good idea?
Jesus said,
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13 NIV
My purpose in writing this post is not to criticize, but to highlight the vital importance of reading, studying, and knowing God’s Word for yourself; and to warn against any teaching that does not honor God’s Holy Word. A cursory knowledge of the Bible is not good enough. For the Bible is our guide to discerning truth from error.
I challenge you to read the entire Bible within one year. It’s easier than you think! I did it last year and I’m doing it again this year. In fact, I plan on doing it every year from now on. Why? It’s so easy to do! And once you do it, you’ll want to do it again. I promise!
I personally like the One Year Reading Plan here. Using this chronological reading plan, you will study the Bible in the order that events happened. I found it very helpful to better understand the Biblical timeline. And it requires only a few minutes each day.
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105 NIV
The Bible guides us through life and teaches us what is true. It is indispensable!
As always, comments are welcomed and appreciated.
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
Photo by Jenny Smith on Unsplash
“And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.” Revelation 5:8 NIV
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
“From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the foe.” Psalm 61:2-3 NIV
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
“Praise the Lord; praise God our savior!
For each day he carries us in his arms.” Psalm 68:19 NLT
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
Photo by Ray Hennessy on Unsplash
Every Christian should know that divination is an abomination to God. But do they?
This subject was brought to my mind when I read 1 Chronicles 10. It is the story of King Saul’s last day on Earth. He is wounded by the enemy and then kills himself to keep from being captured. The next day, the Philistines stripped him and took his head. Verses 13 and 14 say,
“Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord; he did not keep the word of the Lord and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not inquire of the Lord. So the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.”
There are many Scriptures that make it clear that all types of divination are a sin and an abomination to God. Here are a few.
“When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 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, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.” Deuteronomy 18:9-11 NIV
“I will set my face against anyone who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute themselves by following them, and I will cut them off from their people.” Leviticus 20:6 NIV
“Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 19:31 NIV
God calls these things detestable. Yet people swarm to fortune tellers and psychics by the millions. According to an article by Paul Thagard, PhD in Psychology Today, “4 out of 10 people believe that psychics are effective and billions of dollars are spent yearly by people desperate to have psychics help them with their problems.”
Dr. Thagard explains the deceptive practices psychics use, but I’d like to point out that whether the psychics use trickery or not is immaterial. God says it is an abomination to consult them.
Christians should look to God for guidance, not demons. Consider these verses from Acts 16:16-18 (NIV):
“Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.”
The devil will entice God’s people to sin any way he can. One of his favorite ways is to make the sin seem innocent. (It’s just for fun!) But it’s not innocent fun, and sin has consequences.
Methods of divination include psychics, tarot cards, ouija boards, reading tea leaves, astrology, horoscopes, zodiac signs, the occult, fortune tellers, drug use and others.
God wants to protect His people from demonic forces. I believe that people can open a door to evil spirits by participating in these things. (Paul associates fortune-telling with demons in Acts 16 above.)
When I was a teenager, I participated in a seance with friends. They said there would be someone there who really knew how to do it. That night I was overcome by an intense fear that I had never experienced before or since. I knew I was doing something I shouldn’t be doing.
I repented of this sin and I would never, never do it again. I learned my lesson well.
If you know someone who is troubled by unusual fear, make sure they are not opening the door to the occult in some way. If they are, they need to study the Scripture, pray, and repent.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 NIV
Remember, sorcery of any kind is not innocent fun. God’s Word is our guide.
“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.” James 1:5-6 NLT
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT
The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you. Psalm 32:8 NLT
“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105 NLT
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
Paul Thagard, Psychology Today, Should You Believe in Psychics? April 24, 2019
Photos from Unsplash and Pexels
“Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53:12 NIV
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
Photo by Thanti Nguyen on Unsplash
