The telephone rings! You run to the phone only to find out it is a telemarketer. You try to hang up the phone but they are persistent. You remain on the phone and you finally give in and buy what they are offering you.
Does the above scene sound plausible? Can it happen? Does it happen?
Sure it happens everyday. People get on the phone and just do not know how to say "NO" to the telemarketer. They buy into the scheme.
How about scam artists? They make something sound too good to be true and people fall for their schemes everyday as well. Why do we do this?
First off, it is because we want those deals that sound too good to be true. We believe in our heart that maybe, just maybe this is the one true deal that will work for me.
There is another place where people desire something and fall prey to someone selling something.
This involves the matter of God and how He calls you to do something.
I personally know someone that will say at the drop of a hat that God has told her to do something. But the end result is never for God's glory but for her own pleasures.
Let me give you some examples...
God called her to go to a certain church.
On the surface that sounds plausible.
But the underlying reason was to meet up with a man in his mid 20's while the girl is not even 18 yet. It was to date a man who did not display Christian behavior (as in sex outside of marriage).
Do you think this is from God?
NO! God would never put you in a situation where it will cause you to sin. God does not tempt us to sin! He gives us the tools and the weapons to fight against sin. And as far as lust goes, He tells us to flee from it! So if this is not from God, who do you suppose is sending this message to the girl saying it is from God?
That's right, it is the Devil. He prowls around looking for whom to devour.
In our town, this girl claims that God called her to go to at the very least, 3 different churches. And in every case it had to do with meeting up with a boy who was not a true Christian.
One more example of being called to a church.
She was called to a church in a larger town. A mega-church. Where they play rock style music, wear torn jeans and they listen to a pastor destroy God's Word by saying it is okay to put tattoo's on your body. This pastor took scripture and twisted the meanings of it to please and tickle the ears of his audience. When Scripture was read in the proper context to this girl in reference to not marking your body, the Holy Temple of God, this girl went out and still put more tattoo's on her body. All in defiance of God's Word. She claims to know the bible and yet she does not live the bible. And she was still going to this church because it was so filled with the Holy Spirit.
She also met up with a "prophet" of God that told her she did not have a good relationship with her mom (she was 17 at the time, kind of fits every teenage girl's description). He told her that she would go on a mission trip oversea's and that she would have a big dog!
James 3:1 says, My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
These teachers who are perverting the Word of God will receive greater condemnation for their poor teachings.
After meeting with this prophet, this girl then said that God was calling her to a Christian school in Colorado, followed by a Christian school in Minnesota and finally a Christian school in southern Illinois. She ended up moving down there because she said God called her there. But she is not going to school as God had supposedly called her to do.
1 Corinthians 14:33 says, For God is not [the author] of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
To this girl, she does not see that her god is confused as to what calling he wants her to follow. Look at all of the examples above. Does that sound like the God of the Bible?
NO!
I write this not to condemn this girl or anyone else for that matter who "thinks" they are hearing from God. But to lovingly warn them that there are deceiving spirits out there that want nothing more to do than cause you to fall.
2 Timothy 3:13 says, But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived
James 1:22 says, But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Romans 12:2 says, Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.
To not conform any longer to the patter of this world is to not put tattoo's on your body for the sake of reaching other people who have tattoo's. To not be involved sexually with people outside of marriage. To not use language that is coarse (as in Mark Driscoll).
2 Corinthians 13:5 says, Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
1 John 4:1 says, Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world
When God has truly called you there will be no confusion.
It will always be for His glory and not your own glory or self-gratification.
You were created for His good pleasure, not the other way around!
If you have fallen for false leads in the past, you can be sure that the Devil has got your number and knows how to mislead you.
Have you repented of your sins?
Are you following after the advice of nonChristians, or of God's Holy Word?
If you are a rebellious person (especially with Christians), you can pretty much bet you are following the wrong god. You are following the god of this world.
You need to follow the God of all creation!
1 John 5:4 says, For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith
Have you overcome the world? Or are you still living to please the world? Sex? money? idols? self-gratification? selfishness? envy? strife?
One is of God...
the other is of the Devil...
Choose this day whom you will serve!
Has God been calling you lately?
or
Has it been that telemarketer by the name of Satan, deceiving you to buy his products?
Examine yourself daily to see if you are in fact, in the faith!
very nice and this is the way you treat your own family? Some things are better left unsaid in public even for a pastor. think about it.
ReplyDeleteGee, where did I say this was family? I didn't. I know who is writing this anonymous letter from Galesburg. "some things are better left unsaid in public even for a pastor."
ReplyDeletepretty sad isn't it. God's Word was written for the whole world to see. And He condemned sin at every level! the apostle paul spoke openly about the sins he encountered. There was no name mentioned at all.
everything is said for the purpose of showing this person the errors of her ways. She is walking in a path that leads to destruction and she does not see it. She is blinded to the truth. Her god has been telling her so many different things in the past several months that she needs to see that her god is confused and going against His Word and against His very nature. I love this girl, but am extremely disappointed in her right now. She is following after men who are leading her in the wrong path. She has followed after false prophets and false leaders who do not teach the truth of God's Word (example of tattoos)! I pray that she repents but so far it has not happened.
"When God has truly called you there will be no confusion.
ReplyDeleteIt will always be for His glory and not your own glory or self-gratification."
A loud AMEN to this Brian.
I thought at first you were going to offer advice for when tele-salesmen intrude your space. Perhaps this might be an opportunity to ask questions around 'if you were to die tonight ...'
I had a young man come to my home tryiing to sell me a Sky television package a few weeks ago. Turns out that I knew his Grandfather - a very Godly man. This really was an opportunity to share the gospel to a young man who had lost his way. I didn't buy his package - but he left (amicably!) in the full knowledge of where he presently stands before God.
you didn't have to say who she was, it's very evident. And maybe alot of things you say about her are true. I know her and I just don't think this is the way you treat someone (who supposedly has called you dad)by blasting away on facebook for all to see in the name of helping them to see the light. You have attacked her and then when I responded you even attacked me and said I must not have the correct biblical training and yet you know nothing about me. Just a picture and a name. Then you attack the church and pastor and one of their members besides megan without knowing the person. Have you met the prophet? Have you met this so called pastor? Just what she has told you? How am I doing? I get upset about things I believe in too. But can control myself. You just seem to want people to know your opinions. If anyone has a different one from yours it is wrong. Your way sounds like legalism to me. Jesus came to blow away the rule following and set us free from rules. Not that there aren't any. God is love, not rules. Do you have the ***** to approve this? Hmmmmmmmmmm
ReplyDeleteVanessa, I told you on facebook that I won't put up with your childish behavior and I won't on here. This is the last time you will appear on my blog, do you understand? But first, I will set the record straight for you...
ReplyDelete"Then you attack the church and pastor and one of their members besides megan without knowing the person. Have you met the prophet?"
"Have you met the prophet?"
That right there is enough for me to know he is fake! I am not attacking but exposing false teachings and errors. If someone does not like it, then they need to stop professing their christianity and proclaim to the world, what is true, they do not believe ALL of God's Word, only some parts of it! Honestly now, do you really think a prophet of God is going to spend his time telling people they will one day own a big dog? Come on now, that is not what a prophet found in scriptures does.
"Have you met this so called pastor?"
Don't have to personally meet him, I have heard his false sermons on his church site! his false teachings on tattoos is heresy!
"You just seem to want people to know your opinions"
it's amazing that when you present someone with what the bible says, it is seen as an opinion, and yet that person can never ever bring scripture up to refute what I am saying!
"Jesus came to blow away the rule following and set us free from rules."
oh you poor misguided little girl, please understand that He did not come to abolish the law, but that the law might be made perfect through Him! We are told to trust and obey, right? Then obey what? His Word, His rules!!! Do you get it yet? the girl I spoke about does not seem to get it and neither do you. We must be obedient to His Word. Without obedience, there is no salvation. No, it is not by works we are saved, it is by faith. But because of your faith, you WILL be obedient. If you are not obedient, then you have a serious problem with Jesus as LORD. You accept Him as Savior but not as LORD.
"Do you have the ***** to approve this?"
Like I said, Vanessa. I will no longer post any comment you put on facebook or on here. I did it here because you need to see the truth. I realize you are still blinded to the truth. My prayers are with you.
We are definitely in the end times people! God's Word is mocked in church by so many "so called pastor's". They do it in a way that gives an appearance of being filled with the Holy Spirit, but because people do not have discernment they do not see when someone is actually teaching against God's Word. They take scripture our of context and parade it around like it is truth. They play music in the background to get people all riled up and emotional and they disguise false teachings in order to promote their true agenda. To have a large church with a lot of money coming in! Most teachers you see on tv are corrupt and money hungry. Most mega churches are the same way.
ReplyDeleteThis church in peoria, Illinois that I spoke about is guilty of the charges I claimed. Just watch how they promote their own church on youtube. It is shameful. Where is the holiness and the sacredness of being a true minister of God's Holy Word? It is missing! But boy oh boy, they play rock music so it must be good! (sarcasm added there).
The church is filled with unbelievers. They present their church as a place with a same message, different language (or something like that). torn clothes, earrings, tattoos, little goatee's. You get the picture. Sure does not sound like one that is separated from the world. Sounds very much like a person who is "of" the world. The Bible warns us about such a person!
Neil, thank you for your comment! good to hear from you again. Are teenagers over there as obnoxious as they are here?
ReplyDeletestill seeing that people are not walking with God who call themselves Christians. Signing (for the deaf) is a good thing for people in church. I am all for it. They need to "hear" the Word too. But when the Word they are "hearing" is compromised by something that is perverted then God will judge the person doing the signing. Just because you say you can't sign the KJV doesn't mean you don't do it. When Christ is taken out of Scriptures then we are not giving the true Gospel message. John 3:16 is a great example. Now we all know that the bible is error free. No contradictions at all. Everyone will agree that those of us who name the name of Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are called children of God, we are sons and daughters of Christ. Now go to the NIV and many of the other versions. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Now compare that with the KJV where it says only begotten son. We are all sons and daughters of Christ (true believers), but only Jesus was begotten of the Father. And to top it off, when the person doing the signing goes back to the same church that had the false teachings in the first place and lives with a man AGAIN, that tells me she is not saved. Time to move on for people who truly want to be saved! Time to reach the lost!
ReplyDeleteWhy do all of the comments have to be approved here before they can be seen? Doesn't seem very fair, or Christian to me.... Do you run your church like a politician runs his office?
ReplyDeleteBecause I value God's Holy Word and I ensure that no false teachings by people who hate God should appear here. It is possible to take verses out of the OT and not line them up properly with the whole of God's counsel.
DeleteTo imply that to be fair is not to be Christian is way off base. Let me explain. Homosexuals demand equal right in America. The standards that America has in comparison to God's standards are not the same. A lost person has no place in trying to say how church should be conducted. Church is for the body of believers not unbelievers. When people LOVE their sins they should not call themselves Christians. I will always stand up for God's word without fail.
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