Let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No,' 'No'...: occult

Showing posts with label occult. Show all posts

Sunday, November 22, 2015

We can choose to be lonely, or rejoice in the Lord Jesus always (Philippians 4:4)

Al Sabado

Shared publicly - 10:29 AM

When I stopped attending a physical church in 2009, loneliness was evident. But I discovered it's a choice to dwell in such a state, and it's a choice to rejoice in the Lord Jesus always (Philippians 4:4, http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Philippians-Chapter-4/#4). I've chosen the latter.

Why leave church? Perhaps, a more appropriate question is, "Why become part of a church whose errors unfold brazenly and contradict fearlessly what God's Word firmly teaches and commands us to do, and not what to do?" Think about it. If you're too comfortable in your church, beware...

Let's read God's Word and know what God's will is. But I hope you and I know by now that the Bible translation, "The Message," is such a mystic mess,http://www.av1611.org/kjv/mess_bible.html. Let's read the King James Bible version instead,http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/1611-Bible/.

A blessed stay-at-home Sunday to you and your loved ones! :)

Letter to the Editor: Alone and Dismayed By Condition of Churches in a Midwest Town -

lighthousetrailsresearch.com

Dear Lighthouse Trails Editors: I live in the Midwest, and one would think that the apostate church has not infiltrated us here. Nothing could be further from the truth. My

Monday, November 2, 2015

If a deceased neighbor shows up, beware! That’s a demon in disguise.

by Al Sabado

Are ghosts any of the people who died? No, they’re not. Contrary to popular belief, dead people, including our deceased relatives, neighbors, and friends can no longer come back, even in ghostly form, and roam around earth to visit or guard us. Our appointment, as humans, is to die once:

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Hebrews 9:27)

Then what are those “ghosts”? Such apparitions are demons or familiar spirits. In verse 27 of Hebrews 9 we can note that no activity transpires between death and the judgment. Did you notice that too? But Satan must be pleased to assume the exact appearances of dead people and make us believe we can still talk to our deceased loved ones, when God forbids us from doing such an abominable thing (see Deuteronomy 18:11).

“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” (2 Corinthians 2:11)

Satan will do everything in his power to fabricate lies and distract us from knowing God’s truth. He’s out there to deceive humans. As it is written,

“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” (Revelation 12:9)

Satan, whose name is a Hebrew word meaning “enemy,”¹ is capable of transforming into something else with his ministers, to appear as good entities despite being evil to the core. We can confirm this by reading God’s Word:

“And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15)

God forbids us to consult or commune with familiar spirits. For this reason, we must have nothing to do with familiar spirits or demons and we must not consult those who communicate with such evil spirits; they are not of God but of Satan. So to the “experts” out there performing these exact activities and those consulting such experts, listen to what God’s Word says:

“Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 19:31)

“There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12)

When we die, we’re dead. We’re no immortal beings who stay on earth earth after death—even in spirit form—to deal with unfinished business whatsoever. We won’t even know anything once we’re dead. God’s Word says,

“For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.” (Ecclesiastes 9:5)

And so the idea of purgatory or the reincarnation is also a lie of all time. These two man-made concepts—that is, purgatory and reincarnation—are not God’s design, but among the greatest lies of Satan. Once we’re dead, we can’t correct our wrongs in some midair and we can’t be re-created to take another form of life (e.g., bird, tree, etc.). God gave His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for all our sins so that instead of perishing in the fires of hell, we may live an eternal life in heaven. It’s our choice—NOW that we’re still alive—to accept or reject the reason behind the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. None of our good works will change that.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

The Lord Jesus Christ is the only way.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

So, are heaven and hell real? Upon reading the Bible we can note that they are. They’re not just a state of the mind or fictional places we replicate on earth. God’s Word describes that an immense gulf separates these two eternal places, so that those who go to heaven can’t cross paths to reach hell, and vice versa. As it is written, during the conversation of Abraham and a dead man,

“And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.” (Luke 16:19, read also following verses 20-31)

Do we then go to heaven, or hell, when we die? The condition God has set for us to enter heaven is in verse 16 of John 3: believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Not our good works. Not our church affiliations, rituals, or practices. Now, let me ask you, do you believe in God’s only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ? “Yes,” you say. That’s good. Let me ask you another question, if you die this very minute, do you go to heaven? Is your answer

a. “I’m not sure I know.”
b. “It’s up to God, really.”
c. “I believe so. I’ve done many good things in life.”
d. “I have no idea.”
e. “Yes, because I’m saved by God’s grace through faith in Christ Jesus.”

Is your answer the last one? Praise God! Or is your answer any one from “a” to “d”?

Dear friend, we ought not be uncertain about this important matter. We don’t guess where we go when we die. God has made that one thing, our eternal security, certain for us: do read John 3:16 again. I won’t tell you to say a sinner’s prayer. (I thought that’s the one thing to do to be saved from eternal damnation.) Just remember, nothing in what we do can change or add to the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, for us. Our salvation is a gift from God. But a gift can’t be ours unless we accept it.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

“And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (Acts 16:31)

Repent. Some people say that once we're saved, we're always saved. But if we don't repent of our sins and continue sinning, then that makes us disobedient, just like King Saul who'd lost the favor of God, right? Believing in the Lord Jesus means doing the will of God and refraining from sinning.

“And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:11-13)

Fear no one and nothing but God. Years ago I had to stay overnight in a two-story office building to finish editorial work. The following day the security guard asked, “Ma’am, hindi po ba kayo natakot (Ma’am weren’t you scared),” because the building was known to have familiar spirits. I smiled at him and said, “Hindi po, meron po tayong Panginoon (No, we have God).” And God is greater than he who is in this world (1 John 4:4).

“But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.” (Luke 12:5)

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:10-12)

Updated: 4 November 2015

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¹ Holy Bible. Authorized or King James Version. Red Letter Edition. Wichita, Kansas: Fireside Bible Publishers, 1970.

Monday, September 28, 2015

UPDATED: Lists of false (Christian) authors, churches, groups, leaders, practices, movement, teachers, etc.

by Al Sabado

Few days ago someone from a Baptist church wrote to me expressing his "concern" about my blog posts on non-church attendance. He said he wouldn’t contact me again because it seemed I’ve made up my mind not to attend church (and probably because I didn’t signify my interest attending his church here in the Philippines). He said he once left the Baptist Church, but returned to it when he was convicted. He admitted, however, that the Baptist Church has its flaws in that it claims to be the Bride of Christ, meaning the rest (other denominations) are doomed. But is that something new, when every denomination out there has similar (false) claims?

Nothing can separate a believer from the love of God. I no longer find the man’s message surprising because that isn’t the first time someone became "that" concerned, to the point of telling me I’m not worshipping God’s way. I responded briefly to his message saying I regret he has judged my way of worship as not God’s way. But I clarified that I’m a firm believer and that nothing can separate me from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39). I'm saved by God's grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Then he wrote me back. Now that surprised me, because he said he wouldn’t contact me again. He clarified he wasn’t judging me and that he wrote to me because of the verse I’ve quoted, which says,

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (1 John 2:27)

He ended his message by saying, “you tell your readers there is no need to belong to a church, that is not what the Word of God teaches.”

But God is not any graven image and He doesn’t dwell in churches made with hands. I didn’t respond anymore to the man’s message because I can tell we’re not on the same page. The verse I quoted came from God’s Word in the Holy Bible, not from me. If anyone thinks the verse is irrelevant to one’s church attendance, then please read the entire Bible and see if God tells us to seek membership in any man-made church so that we can "possibly" abide in Him. God’s Word says,

God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. (Acts 17:24-29)

Please don't cite Hebrews 10:25 to say otherwise. Read that verse again if it means we ought not to abandon false and corruptible churches:

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)

Believers can meet together. But we don’t attend church for the sake of belonging to a community. Because if that community is in error, we too become part of that error. Abiding in Christ is God’s enabling, not the enabling of any man-made churches. God's Word says,

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (2 Corinthians 6:17)

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. (Matthew 7:15)

Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee. (Jeremiah 7:16)

The believer’s anointing comes from God, NOT from church appointment, membership, or fellowship. Another reason I’ve stressed in my blogs is that we—believers in Christ Jesus—are the church of God. Our being believers is not dependent on any church building or structure but on God’s grace at work in our lives. God’s Word says,

For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. (Romans 9:15-18)

Also, among other verses,

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

But yes, I will now say there’s no need to belong to your church if it does deceive you—without you knowing it! Why would we go to such churches (or listen to such pastors, read such books, hear such music, submit a journal article to so-called Biblical yet fearlessly compromising institution such as Liberty University, etc.) when we know they're exploiting and serving contaminated spiritual food to the flock? Why lack the plain understanding that we ought to have nothing to do with them? For what harmony is there between the Lord Jesus Christ and Belial (2 Corinthians 6:15)?

Doesn't God command us in His Word to come out from among them (2 Corinthians 6:17) and avoid them (Romans 16:17-18)? God's Word tells us we "should earnestly contend for the faith" (Jude 1:3-4). For this reason, I’m reposting the following list I initially posted on my freelance editorial website. The list has links to related readings via Google search.

UPDATED: Lists of false (Christian) authors, churches, groups, leaders, practices, movement, teachers, etc.

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. (Romans 16:17-18)

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:22-23)