Blog Archives
Quick reminder: Guard yourself against media deception of all sorts
The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. (Proverbs 27:12)
But test everything; hold fast what is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)
Do not lose hope if you’re a habitual sinner (Part 1)
Someone reading this might be having an issue with habitual sin. I mean, one knows that a particular sin is bad for him and so he’s on guard against it but in a few days he again commits that sin. Now such a person wants to get out of this sin habit but keeps going back to it. I do not come to judge any habitual sinner but rather to encourage him or her to do what is right for his or her soul.
To any such person I’d say, ” Don’t lose hope if you’re a habitual sinner but keep trying to live up for the Lord”. I have a few principles from the Bible which you can use with enough faith and perseverance you could no longer be slaves to bad desires.
Be willing to leave your sins
Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. (Proverbs 28:13)
Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22)
Acknowledge and confess your sins to the Lord
I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah (Psalm 32:5)
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:8-10)
Exercise your choice to choose life and blessings
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live (Deuteronomy 30:19)
In the path of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death. (Proverbs 12:28)
Be sad for your sins that you repent well
For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. (2 Corinthians 7:10)
You need to believe in Christ for your justification
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” (Romans 10:10-11)
Open your heart to Jesus once again
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)
Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. (John 14:23)
Love God more that you follow him better
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5: 1-5)
Desire to be a slave no more as Christ wants you to be free
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1)
Even if it’s the Nth time you sinned you still crucify the flesh
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:22-24)
An exhortation to live a life pleasing to God
For a believer in Christ is there is no better life than to live a life pleasing to God. Do not be concerned with pleasing a fallen world which is highly fickle and sinful. They do not have a true to sense of justice and easily fall prey to their lusts and vanities of life. You have been taken out the ways of darkness into the light of Christ in which you are encouraged to live on forever. Do no fall back into the world. Remember this; And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:17)
Making the world your backbone is one of the worst choices one can do. Because the world will be judged due to its sinfulness then on what would one lean on? Though the world loves sinners yet it also ends up dishonoring them in the end. For instance, the world likes lustful movies which promote adulterous lifestyles but if a man gets divorced due to his adultery, then the world is the first to condemn him, that’s how hypocritical it has become. Besides, the world will only love you as long as it can extract benefits from you. After that it will keep away from you as if you never existed.
Therefore, put your trust in the Lord God and do not live for the sinful ways of the world. You got out of the grime of wickedness by God’s grace, so now keep yourself clean. This is not about yourself but rather about God. Yes, our God who has willed by Jesus Christ that you be saved from sin and damnation. You are not living for yourself but for Christ Jesus! Live by the Holy Spirit for the glory of God every hour and every day. That is the real best life now (and forever).
Here are a few verses from the Holy Scriptures to reflect upon (a bit long but worth the reading):
- So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive good or evil, according to what he has done in the body. (2 Corinthians 5:9-10)
- Now this I affirm and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds; they are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart; they have become callous and have given themselves up to licentiousness, greedy to practice every kind of uncleanness. You did not so learn Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus. Put off your old nature which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:17-24)
- Finally, brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God, just as you are doing, you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from unchastity; that each one of you know how to take a wife for himself in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like heathen who do not know God; that no man transgress, and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we solemnly forewarned you. For God has not called us for uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. But concerning love of the brethren you have no need to have any one write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do love all the brethren throughout Macedo′nia. But we exhort you, brethren, to do so more and more, to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we charged you; so that you may command the respect of outsiders, and be dependent on nobody. (1 Thessalonians 4:1-12)
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Every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. (1 John 4:1-6)
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The specific will of God for you (Part 2)
It’s vital to know what the Lord God wants you to do in life. You can’t go on aimlessly in your walk with Christ. God has a will for your life which only you can do. He has already been preparing your for it though you may not immediately see how. This is done by the enabling grace of God. He can qualify the unqualified. Remember how David was just a shepherd but the Lord made him the King of Israel. Also, how Jeremiah said he was too young, yet God still encouraged him to be his prophet (Jeremiah 1:1-7).
Even Jesus had to follow the specific will of God for him. He didn’t come on earth without a mission. He came for the salvation of the world as per the will of God.
Jesus said in John 6:38-40 “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
If Jesus had to stick to God’s will, how much more are we to abide in God’s will for our lives? No wonder there’s a verse which is part of the Lord’s prayer which is “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). When the Apostles wanted to know how to pray, Jesus gave them a prayer what is popularly called as ‘The Lord’s prayer’ which isn’t a legalistic prayer but aptly points to doing the will of God.
Once you know the specific will of God, never back down on it. Make your life for God abide in him forever. Remember 1 John 2:17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
The Lord will enable you to specifically do what he has called you to do and will confirm it to you. I remember the words by a wise person which go on like this ‘no supernatural revelation without supernatural attestation’. At certain times of my life, I would meet men and women who I had never seen nor met before and they would say to me that I would do so and so great things for God. It was not about speaking a blessing, these people were very clearly told me the works I’d do, though by prayer only I had witness to those good deeds. No one else knew the plans of God for me but some how they knew it word for word. This would amaze me a lot. So after they would speak I normally wouldn’t get to see them again but would feel stronger in spirit.
Now you don’t need a person coming to you all of a sudden to confirm the will of God. You can get it by praying, reading the Bible, being with people who themselves have received the specific will of God for themselves (like I mentioned in one of my earlier posts).
Psalm 138:8 says that; The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.
Once you know that God has given you a good work to fulfill, be rest assured that he will see you through. He will make sure that you receive all the wisdom, provision and favour that you need to do his will. Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’
It always about giving glory to God. A believer in Christ our Lord must not focus so much on the good works than the Lord God who is the giver of the good works. Boast not of your good works but rather boast that the Lord God chose despite your limitations. Humility is the key to doing the specific will of God in sincerity both before men and God. It’s that virtue which gives back the glory to God who first blessed you to bless others. It that thing which prevents the Devil from filling you with pride and other vices. This will save you from deception.
May you be always be humble before the Lord God in the service of people whom he chooses to bless through you. What God has given you freely, give to other freely in faith.
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Beware of false prophets and false christs!
When Jesus Christ warns you about something, you better make notice. He knew well in advance that the Devil would do everything that he can to stop the spreading of the Gospel to the ends of the earth. But sometimes instead of stopping the preaching of Gospel, the Devil he will simply try to corrupt it or make sure a corrupted gospel is preached. And for this he will send false gospels to counter the true Gospel. Many false teachers and cults have done Satan’s work to that effect. But nothing beats his use of false christs and false prophets to advance deception in the world.
If you read the following Gospel verses which were all spoken by Jesus himself he clearly warned us about false christs and false prophets you will understand the serious warning he gave us. Here we go:
And he said, Take heed that you be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draws near: go not therefore after them. (Luke 21:8)
And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand. (Mark 13:21-23)
Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. (Matthew 7:15)
As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.…. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. (Matthew 24: 3-5, 11)
Christians getting deceived
Someone might wonder, that how it possible for the Christians who are the elect mentioned in Mark 13:21-23 to get deceived even after Jesus has warned us about it? This can be answered by saying that some Christians try to confirm the truth by emotions, signs and wonders instead of the written Word of God. They act like skeptics who will only believe when a miracle is given on demand. Skepticism is not the same as genuine biblical discernment.
So the Evil One tries to give them a false miracle at the hands of his workers on earth. This means that if prosperity, healing or some special favor is granted to a person, that person blindly accepts that it’s of Godly origin instead of checking if all this is consistent with the teachings of the Bible. These workers of iniquity usually use half-truths to deceive people. They may even use Bible verses to make their false claims. Some Christians have got deceived in to wrong doing just because they were given some Bible verses which were interpreted in the wrong way. A lot of people want to influence their preachers into preaching what they want to hear and if that doesn’t work then they leave the preacher. In fact a prophecy in 2 Timothy 4:3 says that; For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.
Are false prophets and false christs working for the Devil?
It’s rare for a false christ or false prophet to say that they are working for the Devil. They will usually claim they are divinely inspired instead. These are highly deceived hypocrites who feel that they speak the truth even though their actions project falsehood. They do not care about the truth as their focus is on getting admiration from their followers. They may have had spiritual experiences which they assumed are from God but in reality it was only evil spirits promising them fame or riches or both in exchange for promoting demonic doctrines. It Satan who controls them though they may not be aware of that.
Is there a difference between false christs and false prophets?
False christs are and false prophets are not the same thing. Though rarely a false prophet will deceitfully project himself as the Messiah too. You need to be able to understand the difference between false prophets and false christs.
False christs will desire worship and adoration from everyone they come in contact with. They claim to be incarnations of Jesus Christ but might also add the claim that they are gods of other religions. Some won’t call themselves as Jesus but rather call themselves as The Messiah or the savior of the world. It doesn’t matter what type of lies they speak as their main purpose remains their own worship. I’ve found a list of people who claimed to be Jesus, which is listed on Wikipedia. I’ll make a mention of some of them here:
- Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of India was a Mohammedan who believed himself to be a likeness of Jesus and formed the Ahmadiyya sect of Islam. His claims to be the Messiah and prophet sent by God were so outrageous that even mainstream Islamic people consider him a heretic and persecute his followers. (People who claim to be Jesus may even turn up from other religions)
- Jim Jones claimed to be Jesus Christ and gained followers to eventually form his own cult. His last vile dead was to commit suicide after leading some of his followers in to a mass murder suicide at Jonestown, Guyana on November 18, 1978. (False christs may lead their followers to suicide!)
- Marshall Applewhite was another who claimed to be Jesus. He founded the infamous Heaven’s Gate cult and led his followers to commit mass suicide and he too died along with them. (I was really shocked when this came in the news way back in 1997)
Now false prophets themselves do not desire worship but they try to mislead people from obedience and/or worship of the true Lord God. Sometimes they do not say to worship a false god but simply teach disobedience to God in subtle ways. They may use religious words to deceive gullible people. They will promise riches, protection etc if you follow their teachings but in the end it’s just a convenient trip to damnation. They will speak positivity instead of repentance to people who are not in line with the teachings of the Gospel, so those people remain in their sins. Don’t be surprised if they use miracles to make their point. You have been warned! Here’s a few Bible verses about them:
But there were also lying Prophets among the people, as there shall be lying teachers also among you, those who bring destructive heresies and deny the Lord who bought them, while bringing upon themselves speedy destruction. (2 Peter 2:1)
“If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him. (Deuteronomy 13:1-4)
What should be our response to false prophets and false christs?
Going by the above verses against false prophets and false christs, here’s what you can do:
- You need to say a NO to them.
- You don’t need to follow them or go after them.
- You need to reject their teachings.
There are more Bible verses on what should be our response to such people, though these verse may even have a wider application. Here we go:
- Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment (John 7:24)
- Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. (Ephesians 5:11) (Please do the exposing part very carefully as cults are dangerous)
- See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. (Colossians 2:8)
- But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8-9)
- As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. (1 Timothy 5:20)
- Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.(2 Timothy 3:5)
- If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting (2 John 1:10) (teaching here means the Gospel)
A few videos exposing false christs:
The Illuminati Plan to Fake the Return of Jesus
Australian Man claims to Be Jesus Christ The Messiah living in Australia
Siberia – Cult Leader Thinks He’s Jesus (Documentary Exclusive)
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Don’t take a guilt trip
I’ve noticed that some people after hearing the preaching in church go on a guilt trip. Trust me, it’s not a pleasant trip at all. You need to get off that trip and instead hold the hand of Jesus and walk with him.
Guilt is associated with legalism while grace is associated with the Gospel. You need grace and not guilt. Now its normal to realize that sin doesn’t make God happy, so you can acknowledge that things did go wrong. What is not right is that once you’ve confessed your sin to the Lord Jesus you keep dwelling in the region of guilt. Because you are now called to live in the region of faith along with Jesus to guide you by the Holy Spirit. 
It may have been that you’ve done the worst of the worst crimes such as terrorism or heresy. You are totally aware of the consequences of your bad actions therefore. You know its very difficult to undo the effects of some of the worst crimes. There’s still hope for you. All you need to do give up the burden of your sins and guilt unto Jesus the Son of God and believe that he will and can forgive your sins. Jesus on the cross took upon himself all the sins of the world, therefore by this you can approach him for forgiveness of your sins. Don’t worry for he came not for the righteous but instead for the sinners.
Try to reflect on the following scriptures:-
- Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow; though they be crimson red, they may become white as wool. (Isaiah 1:18)
- For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:11-12)
- If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us (1 John 1:9)
- He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:2)
- There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)
- For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
- For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Let me reiterate, when Jesus shed his blood by dying on the cross he took upon himself all of your sins. Guilt comes due to sin. As your sin is dealt with by the Lord’s finished work on the cross then the power of guilt is taken away. Therefore, you need not carry on with feelings with guilt over your sins. Instead hold the hand of the savior of the world Jesus Christ and be happy in him.
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Express your emotions to HIM
It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. 1 John 13:1
As Jesus was not ashamed nor hesitant to express his feelings towards his Disciples, so must a child of God not flinch a bit to show emotion. And the best emotion is love followed by honor, respect and gratitude. Say that you appreciate HIM whenever you get the chance and make sure that you get that chance every day and every night.
Say to the Father, Dear Lord our Father thank you for sending your Son Jesus. I honor and respect your Son death and resurrection for me.
Say to the Son, Dear Jesus, thanks for the abundance of grace that you give me in the partaking of your body and blood. I appreciate and am still in wonder of the love you’ve shown to me.
Say to the Spirit, Dear Spirit, thank you for making me your temple. Dwell in my spirit and soul forever.
Disciples of hope 