Grace | Charis | Favor of God

"O to grace how great a debtor, daily I'm constrained to be! Let thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love; here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above." By Ruben Alexander

O to grace how great a debtor, daily I'm constrained to be! By Ruben Alexander

 

"It takes a good theologian to help you misunderstand the bible!" Jesse Duplantis

Today (09/27/14), at Gateway Church, Pastor Robert Morris talked about Grace. He mentioned how in bible school the students used to sit around and "debate" (another word for argue) about various topics (like Calvin vs Armenian). He stated, that he was asked what he thought about this Grace vs Works debate they were having, and he said: "Look, all I know is that I once was lost, and now I'm found". They turned back to their debate.

This reminded me of the stories my wife told me about her experiences in college. She took a class on Augustine, and thought the whole class was about the most ridiculous waste of time she'd seen to that point in her life. A whole class of people having  heated arguments over things like infant baptism.

Truth be told, I enjoyed those kinds of debates. I was in there all heated up with the best of them in my college days. My wife... and Pastor Robert... are among the more simple in faith... and as a result, they both see more results than people like me do.

In fact, they showed THIS video today, of a father carrying his son through life, and how that was supposed to picture God's grace toward us, carrying us through life, if we let him. My lightening fast mind saw the work of the father as my work that I would have to do to carry others... I totally missed the point at first. I turned a message of Grace into a message of Works in less than 30 seconds.


Jesus said:

“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3 English Standard Version

Isn't it amazing how we tend to complicate life?

This verse doesn't mean that we won't go to heaven unless we become like Children. It means that we will not experience God's Kingdom, in full operation, in our lives here on earth the way Jesus did... unless we become like little children in our faith.

Did you know you are NOT saved by faith?

I know... that TOTALLY threw me for a loop the first time I heard it. But it's true!

King James Bible
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Eph 2:8

The bible actually teaches us that we are saved BY GRACE... THROUGH FAITH. I like the way the the New Living Translation (which is actually a paraphrase but whatever) says it:

New Living Translation
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God.Eph 2:8

Grace

Cognate: 5485 xáris (another feminine noun from xar-, "favor, disposed to, inclined, favorable towards, leaning towards to share benefit") – properly, grace. 5485 (xáris) is preeminently used of the Lord's favor – freely extended to give Himself away to people (because He is "always leaning toward them").5485 /xáris ("grace") answers directly to the Hebrew (OT) term 2580 /Kaná ("grace, extension-toward"). Both refer to God freely extending Himself (His favor, grace), reaching (inclining) to people because He is disposed to bless (be near) them.[5485 (xáris) is sometimes rendered "thanks" but the core-idea is "favor, grace" ("extension towards").]

The Father is constantly showing his grace towards us. Isn't it amazing that we think we have any work to do at all (one point the for Calvinists) or that this loving Father would leave a single person out of his redemptive plan (one point for the Armenians).

There is only one thing that is stopping his Grace toward me... my willingness to accept, or not accept that help? He will not force anyone to be saved. Not anyone. Neither is he willing to let one single person to go to hell. Nevertheless, He will not force us to accept his Grace. He will respect our choice, even if it means loosing us to hell.

But what about smaller things? Let's put the far future life and death aside for a moment. What about, say, the traffic ticket you got last week... Does God care about that?

Yes! Not a single hair on your head falls without his notice.

Nevertheless, He will not force His grace on you or I for a traffic ticket, anymore than he will heaven.

The question is... will I turn to Him, ask Him for help, and be willing to listen long enough to hear instruction, and obey that instruction when I receive it?

In other words... will I #BeStillBeLed?

---

And now I leave you with a question:

What do you think about Grace?

To Respond Leave A Comment on This Post

By Darrell Wolfe

About This Blog, and Darrell. 

This Weeks Resource:

• Grace: The Power To Change, Dr Jim Richards

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Street Noise

He sat alone in a leather bound chair, in the corner. Always in the keep your back to the wall, be near the most exits, but never too visible. Training never stopped. Even here, in Podunk, Nowhere, USA. He had specifically looked for a city that was large enough to blend into, small enough to be off radar, and not a frequent tourist area. He enjoyed the northwest, so Ash chose a city he'd never been to, in the right quadrant of the country.

Out of the corner of his eye, Ash thought he saw two men dressed in all black duck behind a car. " Now I know I need a his vacation. I'm seeing black ops teams in small town Oregon. "

Some commotion outside broke his self absorbed train of thought... People were turning and staring. He heard yelling. Ash stepped outside to see what wax happening. An man in torn clothes and graying beard, was standing on top of a pick up truck screaming at noon one in particular.

"You always did love Mother best... I know... That's why... That's why she died you know... You couldn't keep your mouth shut..."

On he went, incoherently. Ash took a step closer, the then the man turned to him and in a deeper, more gutteral voice: "YOU... Child of the King... What do you want with us? You ho have seen?"

As the Looney man stood staring a large creature suddenly came into view, as though he were made of smoke taking form. It was 8 feet tall , at least. But it had three heads on its neck, many more protruding from various parts of its body. It was staring at Ash directly. As it tilted it's head  to the left, the gray haired loon tilted in unison. They both tilted their heads back and laughed menacingly, "He doesn't even know what he is.... Ha ha ha ha..."

With that the  creature disappeared and the man leaped down off the truck, and ran at Ash. It took all his training to keep from being pinned down. The wiry man was stronger than he looked. Ash was so surprised that he let out a "Jesus!" But it also came from down inside of him too, as though he meant to say it,but didn't premeditate it.

The wiry man stepped back as though he had been punched. That was all Ash needed. In 30 seconds he had the man hog tied with his own belt. By now the police were just arriving. "Charlie's at it again... take him in..." Three fairly big men put a muzzle on the old man,and  threw him, rather harshly, into the back of the squad car. Turning to Ash, the more seasoned cop replied "Those were some moves Marine. Would you like to press charges?"

" USAF, and no... No harm done."

"You be in town long? We could use a guy like you on the team."

"Just on vacation. Thanks."

With a small town friendly waive and smile, the squad cars took off North. Ash was left non the worse for wear... On the outside anyway..." He started to get up and walk away when he realized he'd dropped his coffee cup in all the commotion. It was spilled all over the floor.

"Why don't you let me get you another one, on the house." Ash looked up to see a man in a plaid shirt and jeans sitting nearby.

"My name is Jim Struthers, this is my coffee shop, it's on the house."

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Street Noise

He sat alone in a leather bound chair, in the corner. Always in the keep your back to the wall, be near the most exits, but never too visible. Training never stopped. Even here, in Podunk, Nowhere, USA. He had specifically looked for a city that was large enough to blend into, small enough to be off radar, and not a frequent tourist area. He enjoyed the northwest, so Ash chose a city he'd never been to, in the right quadrant of the country.

Out of the corner of his eye, Ash thought he saw two men dressed in all black duck behind a car. " Now I know I need a his vacation. I'm seeing black ops teams in small town Oregon. "

Some commotion outside broke his self absorbed train of thought... People were turning and staring. He heard yelling. Ash stepped outside to see what wax happening. An man in torn clothes and graying beard, was standing on top of a pick up truck screaming at noon one in particular.

"You always did love Mother best... I know... That's why... That's why she died you know... You couldn't keep your mouth shut..."

On he went, incoherently. Ash took a step closer, the then the man turned to him and in a deeper, more gutteral voice: "YOU... Child of the King... What do you want with us? You ho have seen?"

As the Looney man stood staring a large creature suddenly came into view, as though he were made of smoke taking form. It was 8 feet tall , at least. But it had three heads on its neck, many more protruding from various parts of its body. It was staring at Ash directly. As it tilted it's head  to the left, the gray haired loon tilted in unison. They both tilted their heads back and laughed menacingly, "He doesn't even know what he is.... Ha ha ha ha..."

With that the  creature disappeared and the man leaped down off the truck, and ran at Ash. It took all his training to keep from being pinned down. The wiry man was stronger than he looked. Ash was so surprised that he let out a "Jesus!" But it also came from down inside of him too, as though he meant to say it,but didn't premeditate it.

The wiry man stepped back as though he had been punched. That was all Ash needed. In 30 seconds he had the man hog tied with his own belt. By now the police were just arriving. "Charlie's at it again... take him in..." Three fairly big men put a muzzle on the old man,and  threw him, rather harshly, into the back of the squad car. Turning to Ash, the more seasoned cop replied "Those were some moves Marine. Would you like to press charges?"

" USAF, and no... No harm done."

"You be in town long? We could use a guy like you on the team."

"Just on vacation. Thanks."

With a small town friendly waive and smile, the squad cars took off North. Ash was left non the worse for wear... On the outside anyway..." He started to get up and walk away when he realized he'd dropped his coffee cup in all the commotion. It was spilled all over the floor.

"Why don't you let me get you another one, on the house." Ash looked up to see a man in a plaid shirt and jeans sitting nearby.

"My name is Jim Struthers, this is my coffee shop, it's on the house."

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Christian Meditation Re-Imagined

Meditation by Moyan Brenn

What is Meditation?

When one says "meditation", the hearer often thinks of a Monk, or Hindu, or Buddhist. Wiki, describes meditation as:

Meditation is a practice in which an individual trains the mind or induces a mode of consciousness, either to realize some benefit[1] or as an end in itself.[2]

What does this mean for Christians? Many Christian's write off "meditation" as a pagan practice. But... how can that be? Since meditation is mentioned so often in the bible?

"My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD." King James Bible Psalm 104:34

 

Biblical Meditation

Meditate: (Hebrew: siach): 
complaint, musing

Original Word: שִׂ֫יחַ
babbling, communication, complaint, meditation, prayer, talk
From siyach; a contemplation; by implication, an utterance -- babbling, communication, complaint, meditation, prayer, talk.
see HEBREW siyach

 Meditate: basically means to murmur or babble to one's self. To speak to one's self. Now, before you think "Cloud KooKoo Land" on that. Think about it for a moment. I don't know a single human on earth who hasn't spoke, out loud, to no-one-in-particular when they were alone in a room, or thought they were alone.

EX: "What did I come in here for?", "Now... where did I put those keys..."

Imagination: Key to Meditation

You KNOW you do it. This is often manifested in a thing we call "Worry". You rehearse, over and over, the things that went wrong, the things you would change, the things you'd like to change, the things that you are afraid will happen... You speak them, silently and out loud, to yourself frequently. So frequently, in fact, that you don't even notice it anymore.


I suggest a change... What if we took the power of imagination, and started to use that imagination for good. What is imagination? It's thoughts, ideas, words, and images, stories we tell ourselves about the past, present, and future.

What if we wrote our story based on God's outline? What if we let HIM tell us the story, and we write it down?

Practical Christian Meditation

I've written on "hearing God", believing through hearing, and being still to hear God. I talked about taking a few moments to be still... absolutely still!

Let that mind of yours, that's so busy God can't get a word in edgewise, and still that thing down. Shift that gear into LOW SLOW. I'll start by getting into a comfortable position, and then tensing and releasing my muscles. Then I will allow my thoughts to float, bounce, whatever, until they still. Sometimes, I'll pray softly, either in English or Tongues.

Then after a few moments of that I bring my focus in toward the Word. I may grab a verse I've been thinking about or one that's been on my heart. I may open my bible a few moments to read that verse, but then I close it.

I allow my heart to "ponder" that verse. That's what meditation actually means, to ponder, think about, speak, murmur to one's self, speak softly, etc. I will let my mind settle on that. After a while, I'll move on to other daily routine activities.

And now I leave you with a question:

What do you think about Meditation? How could this apply to your walk with God?

To Respond Leave A Comment on This Post

By Darrell Wolfe

About This Blog, and Darrell. 

This Weeks Resource:

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White Noise Notes | 09/16/14

White Noise Notes:



Science experiments need replication and controls. They would both be in the same process. White room first, then dark room.



Possibly they don't remember being in the room? They have flash backs to it later?



Or they do go through the room, with some results, but then experience results after they leave?



They are both found on the beach/island after X hours? (48 hours?) The subdermal beacons went dark for that long, then reappear next to each other on a different island than the one's they were dropped off on, both were on different islands, found on the same third island.



They return to normal life, in different states, but end up needing to talk to each other about the experiences they are having.



They end up on a wild adventure to find the one who did this to them. They are being followed by someone, but never quite see them. They are seeing things that "aren't there" so they attribute the people following them to this new phenomenon.



The end? Unkown... ties to a new story? Most likely...



Gypsies

Cowboys

LA Thugs/Mexican Gangs

A retired pastor, a pastor of a large church, a priest???? Maybe not a pastor, maybe a spiritual mentor that doesn't work at a church.... hmm....



Book: White Noise

Series: Phenomenon?



Phenomenon:



A phenomenon (Greek: φαινόμενoν, phainomenon, from the verb φαίνειν, phainein, "to show, shine, appear, to be manifest (or manifest itself)"),^[1] plural phenomena, is any observable occurrence.^[2] Phenomena are often, but not always, understood as 'appearances' or 'experiences'. These are themselves sometimes understood as involving qualia.

The term came into its modern philosophical usage through Immanuel Kant, who contrasted it with the noumenon. In contrast to a phenomenon, a noumenon is not directly accessible to observation. Kant was heavily influenced by Leibniz in this part of his philosophy, in which phenomenon and noumenon serve as interrelated technical terms.

The noumenon /ˈnɒuːmɨnɒn/ is a posited object or event that is known (if at all) without the use of the senses.[1] The term is generally used in contrast with, or in relation to "phenomenon", which refers to anything that appears to, or is an object of, the senses. In Platonic philosophy, the noumenal realm was equated with the world of ideas known to the philosophical mind, in contrast to the phenomenal realm, which was equated with the world of sensory reality, known to the uneducated mind.[2] Much of modern philosophy has generally been skeptical of the possibility of knowledge independent of the senses, and Immanuel Kant gave this point of view its classical version, saying that the noumenal world may exist, but it is completely unknowable to humans. In Kantian philosophy the unknowable noumenon is often linked to the unknowable "thing-in-itself" (Ding an sich, which could also be rendered as "thing-as-such" or "thing per se"), although how to characterize the nature of the relationship is a question yet open to some controversy.




Darrell Wolfe

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White Noise Notes | 09/16/14

White Noise Notes:

Science experiments need replication and controls. They would both be in the same process. White room first, then dark room.

Possibly they don't remember being in the room? They have flash backs to it later?

Or they do go through the room, with some results, but then experience results after they leave?

They are both found on the beach/island after X hours? (48 hours?) The subdermal beacons went dark for that long, then reappear next to each other on a different island than the one's they were dropped off on, both were on different islands, found on the same third island.

They return to normal life, in different states, but end up needing to talk to each other about the experiences they are having.

They end up on a wild adventure to find the one who did this to them. They are being followed by someone, but never quite see them. They are seeing things that "aren't there" so they attribute the people following them to this new phenomenon.

The end? Unkown... ties to a new story? Most likely...

Gypsies
Cowboys
LA Thugs/Mexican Gangs
A retired pastor, a pastor of a large church, a priest???? Maybe not a pastor, maybe a spiritual mentor that doesn't work at a church.... hmm....

Book: White Noise
Series: Phenomenon?

Phenomenon:

A phenomenon (Greek: φαινόμενoν, phainomenon, from the verb φαίνειν, phainein, "to show, shine, appear, to be manifest (or manifest itself)"),^[1] plural phenomena, is any observable occurrence.^[2] Phenomena are often, but not always, understood as 'appearances' or 'experiences'. These are themselves sometimes understood as involving qualia.
The term came into its modern philosophical usage through Immanuel Kant, who contrasted it with the noumenon. In contrast to a phenomenon, a noumenon is not directly accessible to observation. Kant was heavily influenced by Leibniz in this part of his philosophy, in which phenomenon and noumenon serve as interrelated technical terms.

The noumenon /ˈnɒuːmɨnɒn/ is a posited object or event that is known (if at all) without the use of the senses.[1] The term is generally used in contrast with, or in relation to "phenomenon", which refers to anything that appears to, or is an object of, the senses. In Platonic philosophy, the noumenal realm was equated with the world of ideas known to the philosophical mind, in contrast to the phenomenal realm, which was equated with the world of sensory reality, known to the uneducated mind.[2] Much of modern philosophy has generally been skeptical of the possibility of knowledge independent of the senses, and Immanuel Kant gave this point of view its classical version, saying that the noumenal world may exist, but it is completely unknowable to humans. In Kantian philosophy the unknowable noumenon is often linked to the unknowable "thing-in-itself" (Ding an sich, which could also be rendered as "thing-as-such" or "thing per se"), although how to characterize the nature of the relationship is a question yet open to some controversy.


Darrell Wolfe

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#Religiholics - Recovering from addiction to religion

Stainglass Church Window, Attributre Wikipedia

Our job is to leave religion behind, and move with God's next move.

In light of all the talk about Islam and 9-11 this week. I've been thinking about religion broadly, and Christian religion more specifically.

 

What is a religiholic?

A religiholic: is a person so addicted to religious tradition, that they miss God in the process.

What IS religion?

Religion is a set of traditions and doctrines; whereby, man serves his idea of God.

God's plan is to have relationship, as Father to Son/Daughter. He is constantly moving us to deeper relationship with Him. Each time a mass movement of God starts, it is designed to break us from outward process, and take us to inward progress.

What is Christian Religion?

Christian Religion is the by-product (traditions/doctrines), left over, when God's move turns from movement to monument.  

Thereby, man turns God's movement away from the traditions and doctrines, back into new traditions and doctrines. The crust hardens, the life is drained, and the denomination is born. God begins a new movement, and it starts again.


---

And now I leave you with a question:

Are you serving God... or your idea of Him?

To Respond Leave A Comment on This Post

By Darrell Wolfe

About This Blog, and Darrell. 

This Weeks Resource:

Ted Dekker: Circle Series... that should help break some of the religious crust off.
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God Wants You Happy! Lessons from Victoria Osteen, Stargate SG1, and the Ori, etc

Amazon Prime: Stargate SG-1 Season 10 (affiliate link)

How do the Religious Community, Stargate SG1, The Ori, and Joel and Victoria Osteen all relate? To find out, keep reading...

"Let them shout for joy and rejoice, who favor my vindication; And let them say continually, "The LORD be magnified, Who delights in the prosperity of His servant." Psalm 35:27 New American Standard Bible

* I want to be careful here to address the thoughts and ideas, and not the people involved. 

So often, when we begin to find mass disagreement (religious disagreements, political disagreements, etc), we find ourselves attacking each other, rather than discussing the ideas and concepts. Which is what has happened in the following instance. Let's examine the idea/concept/thought, not the person(s) involved.

Victoria Osteen is on people's hearts this week

Bloggers and News Media all seem have Joel and Victoria Osteen on their hearts lately. So before we get started, let us do what they are all hopefully doing too, let us pray FOR Joel and Victoria:

"Father, you are the One who has matchless Love for us, you are passionate about us, to the point that you sent your Son, Jesus, to suffer, die, go to hell, and rise again; so that we could be saved. He who knew no sin, became sin, so that we who knew no righteousness could be made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Father, we only know how to love you, because you first loved us, and we thank you for wooing us as Your bride. We thank you for the life of Joel and Victoria Osteen. We ask that Your fruit in their life abound, and you continue to work in them to complete the work you started in them. So Be It!" (Prayer by Darrell Wolfe)

Religion

Hello, for those of you who don't know me, I feel compelled to introduce myself today. My name is Darrell Wolfe, and I am a Recovering Religiholic. I was raised in a #StainedGlassOrgans&Hymnals Church. Eventually I made my rounds through other styles, cultures, and backgrounds. I am very PRO Jesus, and very ANTI religion. As I look through history I define religion as:

"Religion is the by product left over after God's move, turned from movement to monument." (Tweet That!)

Religion really doesn't change at it's core, just it's make up and dress. From Pharisees to Priests to Pastors the titles change, but you can always smell the attitude. More addicted to their traditions than the truth of God.

A supposedly controversial statement:  "Jesus Wants You Happy!"

People are upset about a statement recently made by Victoria Osteen. ChristianNews.Net; tells how this YouTube Clip, shows Victoria Osteen making the following statement:

“I just want to encourage every one of us to realize when we obey God, we’re not doing it for God (I mean, that’s one way to look at it), we’re doing it for ourselves. Because God takes pleasure when we’re happy. That’s the thing that gives Him the greatest joy. So, I want you to know this morning: Just do good for your own self. Do good because God wants you to be happy. When you come to church, when you worship Him, you’re not doing it for God really, you’re doing it for yourself; because, that’s what makes God happy. Amen?” Victoria Osteen

So what's wrong with that statement?According to some, the problem with this statement is that it focuses on self.

Apparently: "It is wrong to worship God for your own self benefit."

So let's examine this idea.

Worship God For Myself

I cannot, will not, pretend to know what SHE meant. I wasn't there. You can only properly interpret a statement in it's context. Not just the context of that 10 minutes, but the entire service, indeed the entire life of that person and all they've taught and said until that moment. However, what I can do is tell you what I hear out of that statement, and it's counter statement. 

As soon as I heard that we should not worship God for our own self, I'm left to ask:

"Who benefits from worship if it's not me? God?" 

If I don't worship God for my benefit, then it must be God who benefits from my worship.

God needs our worship?

The very next thought reminded me of a concept born out of one of my favorite Science Fiction television series: Stargate SG1. In the last seasons of SG1, they encounter a religion enslaved to a race of energy beings called the Ori.

This excerpt from RDAnderson.Com explains:

The Ori draw their power from the worship of the humans who devote themselves to the religion of Origin. There is a real, physical transfer of energy to the Ori that occurs simply through a human being's belief in them, however, for it to have a measurable effect, it requires massive numbers of humans relinquishing their will.

That sounds an awful lot like a doctrine about demons, not the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob.

Does God NEED our worship?

It's fairly clear, from a reading of the whole bible, that God does not NEED anything or anyone. However, God does enjoy, and take great pleasure in, his created Mankind. Mankind, is his offspring, so to speak. He loves us as dearly loved children.

And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.Colossians 1:17 English Standard Version

“‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’" Acts 17:28 English Standard Version

"Let them shout for joy and rejoice, who favor my vindication; And let them say continually, "The LORD be magnified, Who delights in the prosperity of His servant." Psalm 35:27 New American Standard Bible

Does God benefit from our worship?

Yes, God benefits from our worship in the same way that a person benefits when their spouse tells them how much they love and adore them. The bible tells us that He get's great pleasure when we prosper, and He throws parties for us when we come home, like the prodigal son. So yes, He get's pleasure from our pleasure.

Does Mankind benefit from our own worship of God?

Yes, ultimately God doesn't need us to worship Him.

Unlike the fictional Ori, if every human ever made never worshiped God, it wouldn't change God for a moment.

However, when a man/woman worships God it changes the man/woman. So who REALLY benefits from worshiping God? We do! And when we spend time in His presence, worshiping God, we are changed, and become more like Him.

Now, in that context, read this again:

“I just want to encourage every one of us to realize when we obey God, we’re not doing it for God (I mean, that’s one way to look at it), we’re doing it for ourselves. Because God takes pleasure when we’re happy. That’s the thing that gives Him the greatest joy. So, I want you to know this morning: Just do good for your own self. Do good because God wants you to be happy. When you come to church, when you worship Him, you’re not doing it for God really, you’re doing it for yourself; because, that’s what makes God happy. Amen?” Victoria Osteen

So...

God the FATHER, takes pleasure in His kids happiness? Yes.

You and I benefit from our worship of God, as we become more like him? Yes.

What's really being addressed here? It's religion. People often fall into a religious mindset in their worship of God. It's their duty, obligation, to worship God. Instead of being a powerful emotional experience, that changes the worshiper into being more like God, religion turns worship into an obligation that turns the worshiper into a self-righteous check list minded, slave of the religion. What I hear Victoria saying here, is that if you throw out all your religion, and just worship God because it changes you, and benefits you, and makes you more like Him... something paradoxical happens.

The worship starts as you needing the benefit, then as you worship Him, you become more like Him, and being like Him, you are no longer consumed with self. The very act that started as self-benefit did benefit self, and the overflow of that self-benefit is a benefit to others. Only people who are supplied can supply others, spirit, soul, body, financially, etc.

God doesn't need your worship, but you need your worship of Him, and others need your worship of Him.

Worship - For Your Benefit - The Ultimate Sacrifice


Will He also call you to sacrifice? Sure.

I OFTEN do not feel like worshiping God. It is not my flesh that wants to worship God. However, when I sacrifice that flesh and worship God anyway, I benefit, and so do other around me. The bible calls this:

A Sacrifice of Praise Heb 13:15

Paul and Silas were thrown in a prison for their life in God. But what did they do in that prison? They SANG (it's hard to sing depressed) and God busted open the doors. The religious minded person would have sat in that jail cell, and moaned about how they are "suffering for Jesus".

Paul and Silas sang, not for God's benefit, but for theirs, which turned into overflow and benefited the fellow jailed, the jailor, the jailors family, it even started a new Church in that city.

Worshiping God, for your benefit is the highest selfless act you can do.

And now I leave you with a question:

What do you think, who benefits from Worshiping God more, You or God?

To Respond Leave A Comment on This Post

---

By Darrell Wolfe

About This Blog, and Darrell. 

This Weeks Resource:

• Amazon Prime: Stargate SG-1 Season 10(affiliate link)

Affiliate Disclosure:
I earn commissions off of some of my suggestions. Full Disclaimers (Click Here)
See my Store for more suggestions (Click Here)

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Subscribe By Email

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Spell Casting VS Authority (Wicca vs Christian)

The Gathering Storm (Judgment Day version) by Dennis Wong

So I had this thought come to me:

How do Witchcraft and Christianity differ?

The devil has absolutely NO (ZERO) original ideas or abilities. Satan was not created to be a creator. Man was created to be a co-creator with God, in His image. Man is on a higher order than angels were created to be. Satan was not, is not, and never will be anything but a servant. The only thing he can do is take something God has created, and twist it for his own devices.

So when you want to understand something that seems evil/dark, look at it's light opposite. If you want to understand something that is light, you can always find a dark/evil opposite to it somewhere.

The word "Witchcraft", as found in 1 Samuel 15:23, in Hebrew is the word "Qesem". It can also be translated "divination". As I read, here, the break down of this word; divination, I find some interesting meanings. The essential root of divination/witchcraft, is to find out secret knowledge that man cannot know on his own. This may be in the form of "how to", which would be where spells come. It may be future related, which ties into fortune telling. Any attempt to gain access to knowledge beyond the reach of man's powers of observation through his five physical senses, could be called divination or witchcraft.

Definition#1: Witchcraft: Any attempt to gain access to secret knowledge (with using man's natural senses), without God. 

Witchcraft-Wicca vs Christianity

One of the best known forms of spell casting and witchcraft in today's society is called Wicca. Spell casting is witchcraft, often using a book of spells, spoken out loud, to obtain a desired end result. The spell caster may believe that he/she is doing this out of a benevolent heart to help other people. However, spell casting at it's base it about the power of the individual' therefore, by nature selfish: "Look at this power I have!" In fact, the motto of Wicca is: "an it harm none, do what ye will." In other words, it's OK to do whatever YOU want to do, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone.

Witchcraft Focus: Self Will/Self Pleasure

Christianity on the other hand is inherently self-less. Sure, you can find people calling themselves Christians involved in killing, murder, and all sorts of atrocities. However, this is where I draw another line. "Religion" is witchcraft. Religion is man's attempt to put God into a box, control Him, and make Him more palatable. When man attempts to gain access to God or Spiritual things on his own terms, this is again Witchcraft.

Definition#2: Witchcraft: Man's attempt to gain access to God/Spiritual things, on his own terms, apart from God's terms.

Therefore, Religion is Witchcraft.

Christianity, at it's heart is not a religion. 

People have made into one, actually they've made into thousand of religions. The vast majority of labels we've chosen have become religious witchcraft. What started as a move of God, turned into a movement, as that stalled it turned into a monument. The Holy Spirit moved on, and a stale religion was left in it's wake.

Don't misunderstand me, I'm not saying that all people going by a title are bad or evil. You can be saved and be a __Fill in the blank denomination_. It's just that the form is old, crusty, and broken. Many of the methods and traditions used by these forms have long since lost their meaning.

For the true Christian, regardless of the label/denomination they choose, Christianity is about Jesus. What I do is not for me, it's not even for you, it's for Him. I love Him; because, He first loved me!

Christianity Focus: Jesus Christ/God

Source of Power: Spell Casting VS Authority

 

The only way for any human to obtain real spiritual power is to be connected to the spiritual world. As mankind died spiritually at The Fall, there is no natural connection to the spiritual realm. The only way to tap into it is through connection to a spirit being. Therefore, in order for Wiccan's, or any other non-Christ based religion to tap into that world, they must invite spirit's in. This may be called "Guides" in their vernacular, You and I will call them demons.

Christian's are different. Born again people are alive spiritually, but that life doesn't derive from them, it derives from being possessed by another spirit: The Holy Spirit.

Kingdom people walk in Authority. If you are on assignment from God, and you have his instruction on where to go, what to do, how to do it... you are walking in His Authority. With that Authority comes the power to accomplish the assigned task. However, this power is not resident within me as though it were mine, this power is resident within me because I have yielded to the one the Authority Giver.

One friend of mine watched the first Harry Potter movie before he'd let his son see it. This friend was a former Warlock turned Christian. He said that many of the spells used in Harry Potter were the ones he'd used, and therefore the root of that movie was evil and he refused his Son to be exposed to it.

As many know, J.R.R. Tolkien was a Christian, and friend to CS Lewis. The root of his writing, although the concept of Wizard is used, is a different root. So the look an feel of his writing is much different. 

LOTR: The Two Towers - Gandalf breaks Saruman's spell over King Theoden

Now compare the Harry Potter movies to the scene where Gandalf releases King Theoden.  Potter uses spells that he has remembered and Gandalf uses authority. It's a subtle but profound difference. One cannot generalize and say that all movies and books using a particular title or typology is bad/good. One must look to the root.

Being Led

And of course, this all comes back down to #BeStillBeLed.If you are submitted to His leading, on His assignment (and not your own agenda), than you are not only able to be Led by Him, but empowered by Him to do what He assigned you to do.

We ALL have an assignment here on this earth, one that is very specific to each one of us.

And now I leave you with a question:

What is YOUR assignment, at this point in your life, right now?

To Respond Leave A Comment on This Post

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By Darrell Wolfe

About This Blog, and Darrell. 

This Weeks Resource:

• Finding God in The Lord of the Rings, by Kurt Bruner (Author), Jim Ware (Author)

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