Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1 John 2:15). …Don’t you realize that friendship with this world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again, that if your aim is to enjoy this world, you can’t be a friend of God. (James 4:4).
…What the pagans sacrifice is to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot take part in the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Or are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we really stronger than he is? (1 Corinthians 10:20-22). No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other…(Matthew 6:24).
Jesus answered: "Watch out that no-one deceives you. (Matthew 24:4).
For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. (Romans 7:11). If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8).
Here we go again! October 31st-“Helloween“. It is this this time of the year when Autumn shows it’s wonderful colors as God once again paints beautiful sceneries. The air gets a little chilly as we break out our long sleeves and jackets. Retail stores across the land anticipate revenue from costumes of characters of both cute and hideous. Candy sales are up as well. But amidst all this “innocent fun” is a larger picture. A deception if you will. There is a puppet master. His name is Satan, and you my Christian friends are the puppets. You have been tricked to lose the treat of Jesus Christ.
Now at this point in the blog I have either lost you as a reader, or I have upset you and yet sparked a curiosity that has prompted you to keep reading. If you are still with me then let’s continue…
Halloween, or “Helloween” as I call it, is known worldwide as a holiday that has roots and continued traditions in paganism. I should not have to quote any research on this. Any person over the age of five should know this. It is a holiday in which the dead and other paranormal things such as ghosts, werewolves, vampires, demons, zombies, witches, mummies, etc. are honored and celebrated. Many love to watch horror movies where people are butchered to death by demonically possessed psychos. Adults dress as sexy and scary as can be and attend parties where there is usually a LOT of alcohol consumption. And children are dressed either as something cute, or something that will give them nightmares later that night, and sent out into neighborhoods to beg for food from strangers. What a disturbing concept this is. Yet Christians have been so deceived that they participate in these activities, or try to cover up the evil by having “Trunk or Treat”. Where is Jesus in all of this mess?
Now, if the main objective of the New Testament is to teach us how to imitate Christ, which is what He has asked of us, His church, then why would you believe that He would be pleased if we spent one night imitating Satan and preparing for one month to do so? That is one night that we could be witnessing, praying, worshipping, fellowshipping, etc. in His name. Instead we choose to do what the world does and what Satan wants us to do. Even for one minute God would not excuse this “innocent fun”.
Recently I was on a job in a nearby city when our contact asked me what ideas I had for Helloween with my children. The guy who I was delivering with said “Let me answer that for Chris-he doesn’t do Halloween. Something about it being the devil’s holiday.” Then the contact said “With the evil stuff aside, what about all the fun?” I just said “Nope. Not at all.” FUN! That is the main reason why so many Christians celebrate Helloween. Because it is fun. But does that make it right? I am sure when a group of guys go partying at the bar that they are “having fun”. I am sure when the man pursues his mistress that he is “having fun”. I am sure he is having “a lot of fun” when he succeeds. I am sure that teenagers smoking dope are “having fun”. Those car thieves down the road are having a “real thrill”. In all of these situations Satan’s hands are at play. But because it is “fun”, does that transfer it to God’s hands and therefore excuse the matter? No. Of course not! Sin feels good and is fun and pleasing to the flesh, but God most certainly does not accept and approve of it. His Word says so. So why would celebrating and honoring pagan ways be acceptable to a God that said “Thou shalt have no other gods before me”? (Exodus 20:3, Deuteronomy 5:7).
So I ask this of you my Christian friends. Do you feel that you are pleasing God when you dress up and party on Helloween? Do you feel like he is happy with you when you dress your children up and send them door to door to be tricked to lose the treat? Not to mention you encourage them to keep the cycle going for their children down the road. When they are taught to excuse God on Helloween night for fun, then what? Excuse church? Excuse prayer? Excuse the walk altogether until nothing is left but an adult who once knew Him, but is now lost? Hey, at least he/she is having fun while they are lost. Right? Isn’t that what is most important? “Innocent fun”?
Celebrating Helloween in an option. It is not forced. I know many Christians feel that they are obligated to celebrate it because it is “the norm”. Well the ways of the world are always “the norm”. Even Jesus said that He was “not of this world” (John 18:36). When we seek to do what the world is doing, we do it to appease our flesh and fellow man. Man is full of folly, but God is perfection and is above mankind in holiness. He was able to come to Earth as a man to show us how to live and to love. God and His Kingdom needs to be our focus. Through Jesus we can know Him. Through Jesus we can know what we should be doing every year on October 31st. The time has come to repent and seek His direction and destroy worldly customs and traditions.
So this year will you be praying for the crowd, or playing for the crowd?
Love in Christ.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Delilah Always Had Nice Legs!
But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it. (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (Romans 10:13).
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2:24).
See also Judges 13:1-16:30
It has been awhile since my last blog post. The month of September has been a very busy month for our house. Everything from our youngest son’s 1st birthday party, to a kitchen and bath makeover. I have found that time had seemed to slip through my hands each and every evening after work. I had begun to feel an empty void in my life. Something was not right. When storms came during this time, I had doubt and fear within my heart. My heart had actually grown cold. A Christian with a cold heart is not a good thing. I had felt defeated by life itself.
It took attending bible study at my wife’s grandparents house for me to figure out what was missing. Being in a room with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and reading His Word answered my questions. It hit me like a ton of cinderblocks. During late August and most of September I had no relationship with The Lord. I didn’t even crack open my Bible. Prayer was stretched very thin. I was simply distracted.
This reminds of a story in the Bible. Way back in the Old Testament, in the book of Judges, is a man who epitomizes distraction. Although there were many in the Bible who got distracted, I would like to talk about Samson.
Samson was quite an interesting character. He is known for being ridiculously strong and for having long hair. He might have been mistaken as a competitor in the WWE. But looks aside, we are introduced to Samson telling his Father to go fetch a Philistine woman that he had been eyeing. You see, Samson had the google eyes for this Philistine woman, yet he was an Israelite. Philistines were known for paganism and that’s a big “no no” in Israel. Samson and the Philistines went on to making life miserable for each other through riddles and quarrels.
Anyway, many moons and one torched first wife later we meet Delilah. Samson fell head over heels in love with Delilah. They spent much loving time together. One day Delilah is paid off by the Philistine mob to bind Samson so they could capture him and have their way. ‘Cuz no one messes with tha “Philly Mob”. She tricks Samson three times, and each time he breaks free before the mob could get him. I think after the second time I would suspect something was up. But not Samson! He was blinded dumb by his love for Delilah. Finally, with his head in her lap, she asks “Mmmm, honey? Where does your strength come from?” he replies “Baby, my long flowing hair is what gives me my strength. If you cut it, I am as weak as a baby.” Enter Flowbee, Exit God.
Nonetheless, Samson gets tied up, has his eyes plucked out, and is tossed into prison and made to work. They occasionally bring him up from prison so that he can entertain them. “Dance for us Samson! Dance for us you fool! Ha Ha!!!” they would say. Until one day Samson asks the guard who had been watching over him to place his hands on the pillars of the temple. He asks God to give him the strength one more time…then he “brings down tha house!” Every Philistine died including Samson himself. Scripture tells us that he killed more in that single move than in any battle.
In this story we see a man (Samson), and his distraction (Delilah). Someone so beautiful that he lost sight of the prize and submitted what God had given him. Then he lost it all. So let me ask this- What or who is your “Delilah”?
Is your “bills to be paid” stack twice higher than your “paid bills” stack? Is college football getting to be your number one passion? Are you striving and fighting to impress your boss so you can get that big promotion? Are your children forgetting your face because of those late nights? Are you compromising yourself? That big test getting you out of whack? Is it something more or something less?
Is your “Delilah” the bottom of the bottle? Maybe you see her face in every exhale of smoke. Is she the face that pops up on your computer screen when no one is looking? Is she starring in the vile movie or singing in that secular song you like so much? Is she driving that car that just cut you off, and now you want to kill her? Maybe, just maybe, she isn’t the woman that you are married to. Just another set of arms to give you temporary solace, only to lead you further into your Hell. And now you stand…weak and blind.
What is it that has caused you to stumble and fall? What has caused your walk with our Savior to be weakened, or completely forgotten? What is your “Delilah”? We all have one, had one, or will have one. Even if we “had one”, she will be back. She always comes back. She may not look the same every time, but she comes back. Our options are to let her in, or lock the door. Although she is beautiful, she can be defeated. You may say “I have tried, but I cannot win”. Instead change the theme of your song:
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).
Through the blood of Jesus Christ can we have the strength to defeat our “Delilah”. Only He can save us and bring us to God. Only He can show us how to live. Only through His words can we have the strength to win. All you have to do is ask for forgiveness for you letting Delilah get to you. Ask for that redeeming blood to cover you. Ask to be saved if you haven’t already. Come to Jesus! Cry out His name!
I cried out His name again two weeks ago and came running back to Him. He gave the forgiveness that I asked for. I felt that weight lift from me as He touched me. Then my heart was set ablaze once again. Just like an old furnace started back up to warm the home once more. Thank you Jesus!
So here you are. Weak and blind. You can’t see those who are mocking you. “He was once a strong Christian, now he’s a joke.” Maybe it’s your co-workers. Your neighbors. Your spouse. Your children. Yourself.
Step up to the pillars. If you are too weak ask Jesus to place your hands upon them. After all, He is the guard who has been watching over you. Then ask for the strength again, and bring the house down on all of them and yourself. But not physically, no. That would be murder. But spiritually. Let that house of sin, guilt, distractions and unforgiveness fall and kill you and those who mock.
Samson died physically. But because of Jesus Christ you will rise again. Your mockers that I mentioned will too. Their views will change:
“He is a good Christian man. He laid his ‘Delilah’ to rest. She was such a joke!”
Remember the scene from “Wizard Of Oz”, when Dorothy looked down and the house had landed on top of the Wicked Witch? Remember seeing those legs sticking out from underneath the house?
Delilah always had nice legs;-)
Love In Christ!
Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (Romans 10:13).
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2:24).
See also Judges 13:1-16:30
It has been awhile since my last blog post. The month of September has been a very busy month for our house. Everything from our youngest son’s 1st birthday party, to a kitchen and bath makeover. I have found that time had seemed to slip through my hands each and every evening after work. I had begun to feel an empty void in my life. Something was not right. When storms came during this time, I had doubt and fear within my heart. My heart had actually grown cold. A Christian with a cold heart is not a good thing. I had felt defeated by life itself.
It took attending bible study at my wife’s grandparents house for me to figure out what was missing. Being in a room with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and reading His Word answered my questions. It hit me like a ton of cinderblocks. During late August and most of September I had no relationship with The Lord. I didn’t even crack open my Bible. Prayer was stretched very thin. I was simply distracted.
This reminds of a story in the Bible. Way back in the Old Testament, in the book of Judges, is a man who epitomizes distraction. Although there were many in the Bible who got distracted, I would like to talk about Samson.
Samson was quite an interesting character. He is known for being ridiculously strong and for having long hair. He might have been mistaken as a competitor in the WWE. But looks aside, we are introduced to Samson telling his Father to go fetch a Philistine woman that he had been eyeing. You see, Samson had the google eyes for this Philistine woman, yet he was an Israelite. Philistines were known for paganism and that’s a big “no no” in Israel. Samson and the Philistines went on to making life miserable for each other through riddles and quarrels.
Anyway, many moons and one torched first wife later we meet Delilah. Samson fell head over heels in love with Delilah. They spent much loving time together. One day Delilah is paid off by the Philistine mob to bind Samson so they could capture him and have their way. ‘Cuz no one messes with tha “Philly Mob”. She tricks Samson three times, and each time he breaks free before the mob could get him. I think after the second time I would suspect something was up. But not Samson! He was blinded dumb by his love for Delilah. Finally, with his head in her lap, she asks “Mmmm, honey? Where does your strength come from?” he replies “Baby, my long flowing hair is what gives me my strength. If you cut it, I am as weak as a baby.” Enter Flowbee, Exit God.
Nonetheless, Samson gets tied up, has his eyes plucked out, and is tossed into prison and made to work. They occasionally bring him up from prison so that he can entertain them. “Dance for us Samson! Dance for us you fool! Ha Ha!!!” they would say. Until one day Samson asks the guard who had been watching over him to place his hands on the pillars of the temple. He asks God to give him the strength one more time…then he “brings down tha house!” Every Philistine died including Samson himself. Scripture tells us that he killed more in that single move than in any battle.
In this story we see a man (Samson), and his distraction (Delilah). Someone so beautiful that he lost sight of the prize and submitted what God had given him. Then he lost it all. So let me ask this- What or who is your “Delilah”?
Is your “bills to be paid” stack twice higher than your “paid bills” stack? Is college football getting to be your number one passion? Are you striving and fighting to impress your boss so you can get that big promotion? Are your children forgetting your face because of those late nights? Are you compromising yourself? That big test getting you out of whack? Is it something more or something less?
Is your “Delilah” the bottom of the bottle? Maybe you see her face in every exhale of smoke. Is she the face that pops up on your computer screen when no one is looking? Is she starring in the vile movie or singing in that secular song you like so much? Is she driving that car that just cut you off, and now you want to kill her? Maybe, just maybe, she isn’t the woman that you are married to. Just another set of arms to give you temporary solace, only to lead you further into your Hell. And now you stand…weak and blind.
What is it that has caused you to stumble and fall? What has caused your walk with our Savior to be weakened, or completely forgotten? What is your “Delilah”? We all have one, had one, or will have one. Even if we “had one”, she will be back. She always comes back. She may not look the same every time, but she comes back. Our options are to let her in, or lock the door. Although she is beautiful, she can be defeated. You may say “I have tried, but I cannot win”. Instead change the theme of your song:
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).
Through the blood of Jesus Christ can we have the strength to defeat our “Delilah”. Only He can save us and bring us to God. Only He can show us how to live. Only through His words can we have the strength to win. All you have to do is ask for forgiveness for you letting Delilah get to you. Ask for that redeeming blood to cover you. Ask to be saved if you haven’t already. Come to Jesus! Cry out His name!
I cried out His name again two weeks ago and came running back to Him. He gave the forgiveness that I asked for. I felt that weight lift from me as He touched me. Then my heart was set ablaze once again. Just like an old furnace started back up to warm the home once more. Thank you Jesus!
So here you are. Weak and blind. You can’t see those who are mocking you. “He was once a strong Christian, now he’s a joke.” Maybe it’s your co-workers. Your neighbors. Your spouse. Your children. Yourself.
Step up to the pillars. If you are too weak ask Jesus to place your hands upon them. After all, He is the guard who has been watching over you. Then ask for the strength again, and bring the house down on all of them and yourself. But not physically, no. That would be murder. But spiritually. Let that house of sin, guilt, distractions and unforgiveness fall and kill you and those who mock.
Samson died physically. But because of Jesus Christ you will rise again. Your mockers that I mentioned will too. Their views will change:
“He is a good Christian man. He laid his ‘Delilah’ to rest. She was such a joke!”
Remember the scene from “Wizard Of Oz”, when Dorothy looked down and the house had landed on top of the Wicked Witch? Remember seeing those legs sticking out from underneath the house?
Delilah always had nice legs;-)
Love In Christ!