"You Can't 'Put Christ' Somewhere He Never Was In the 1st Place!"

Easter, Halloween, Christmas, VALENTINE’S DAY…

When we hear the word HOLIDAY, we all get a big smile across our faces.  Generally speaking, holidays mean that someone somewhere is getting some time off.  From work, from school…its generally a day to sit back, relax, not follow your normal schedule or routine.  Holidays are also times when we take off to ‘celebrate’ something or someone.

The definition of holiday is ‘a religious festival’ or ‘a day of recreation.’

The term ‘holiday’ was derived from the holy days mentioned in the scriptures.  The holy days were festivals ordained BY GOD that the Israelites were to celebrate.  The original holidays in the scriptures ALL centered around ONE GOD and He is known by many names:  Yahweh, Elohim, Adonai.

In Judaism, observance of these festivals/holy days/holidays were required by the Torah, (or the Old Testament).

But in the New Testament, any religious/obligatory observance of these festivals were nullified by the presence of Jesus Christ.

One of the tricks of the enemy is to keep people bound to religious traditions that no longer are of no effect or consequence.  Just like today’s churches tell people that in order to used of God, one must wear clergy, go through elaborate ceremonies and receive accreditation from man, this was also done and instituted in the Old Testament.  And what many today do not realize is that none of the pomp and circumstance we see in many ordination, affirmation and consecration services are NO LONGER necessary!

One of the ways the enemy has succeeded in getting the ‘laity,’ for lack of a better word, to comply with and, thus, worship other gods is in the observance of holidays.  Most of the present-day holidays we recognize today are pagan in nature.  These holidays were substituted in place of the original holy day festivals by the Roman Catholic church.

So I know, you say…’So?  What’s wrong with celebrating holidays?  So what if they are pagan in nature?’

Glad you asked!

What’s wrong with professing CHRISTIANS celebrating holidays that have been proven to be pagan in nature is that observing (pagan) holidays is a direct violation of scripture.  A command by God that says ‘Ye shall have NO OTHER gods before me…’

God vehemently forbids His People to commit idolatry.  And when those who say they are saved ignore instruction and take on the customs and practices of those who are not saved, they are committing idolatry.

Now, I know.  A lot of us don’t get the big deal about idolatry.  I do believe this is because if they are a part of the institutionalized church system, they have ALREADY become desensitized to idolatry.  They commit idolatry EVERY WEEK when they attend services.  Every time they have a pastor’s anniversary service or celebrate 1st lady’s week, they are committing idolatry.  Every time they ‘honor’ their pastor, they are committing idolatry.

So it comes real easy for professing Christians to commit more idolatry by celebrating ‘holidays,’ such as Valentine’s Day, or Easter, or Christmas.

They have had much practice all year long!

THIS HAS BEEN THE TRAP OF THE ENEMY!  To get people into the church system and desensitize them to idolatry.

 I just want you to think on this for a minute.

Whenever a ‘holiday’ is approaching upon us, I want you to notice ‘the atmosphere.’  About a day or two before Valentine’s Day, single folks start getting all depressed because they don’t have someone in their lives.  Couples or married folks are arguing over what to do for ‘Valentine’s Day.’  Talking of spending money they DON’T have, to celebrate a pagan god that promotes lust and greed.  Think about it…

Flesh starts riling up right before V Day.  A LOT of people are getting laid that night.  That is no accident.  The SPIRIT behind Valentine’s Day is one of LUST.  So YES…if you are observing Valentine’s Day-married or single-expect an attack of lust to come your way.

For Christmas, about late November, folks start getting depressed.  They call it winter blues.  Some over lost loved ones.  Some over financial woes, that they cannot do what they want for Christmas.  The weeks up until Christmas are some of the most harried, frantic, stressful seasons of the year.  Folks are crowding the malls, the stores, Walmarts, anywhere…buying gifts they cannot afford.  Shipping services and the postal services are backed up for weeks.  Folks are antsy and nervous about their gifts getting to their intended parties in time for ‘Christmas.’

Folks are also the most hypocritical this time of year.  The same folks that go to work on Wall Street every day and step over a homeless guy without even acknowledging him will get all philanthropic and giving in December and decide to give to the homeless…ONE TIME that year!  As if the homeless only need help ONE TIME per year!

I want you to observe the SPIRIT that is in the air today…and right before your next so-called holiday.  I can promise you:  it is one that is NOT OF GOD.

WHY?

Because another god is being worshipped.  And when you worship other gods, there is no peace, no fruit, no love, nothing.

You just wasted your money, got in trouble and invited demons into your life.

Think about it….

The Black Church and the Mental Health Crisis

By Dr. William M. Young, Sr.

The scene was a poignant one, played out night after night all over the deep south. An exodus of dusty, overworked field slaves trudged through the darkness on their way to a “meeting on the old camp ground.” It was an appointment they had to keep – even after picking and gleaning in cotton fields since the sun’s rising.

Weary bodies were powerless against the compelling draw to the old camp meeting. Soaring spirits sparked exuberance and hopeful anticipation of the transformation about to take place. Some only had an open brush arbor, sometimes called a “brush harbor,” as a place of worship. Others had a little wooden structure they called “the praise house.”

Look now as they gather, singing and strutting on their way. Someone might raise a chorus of “Swing Low Sweet Chariot,” and everyone would join the refrain:

Swing low, sweet chariot

Coming for to carry me home

Swing low, sweet chariot

Coming for to carry me home

Perhaps a verse or two of “This Train Is Bound For Glory,” might be heard:

This train is bound for glory, this train.

This train is bound for glory, this train.

This train is bound for glory,

Don’t carry nothing but the righteous and the holy.

This train is bound for glory, this train.

Or the abiding favorite, “Steal Away to Jesus:”

Steal away, steal away, steal away to Jesus!

Steal away, steal away home,

I ain’t got long to stay here.

My Lord, He calls me,

He calls me by the thunder;

The trumpet sounds within my soul,

I ain’t got long to stay here.

The mood was jubilant and free because something wonderful was about to happen. These oppressed were preparing for the rapture of emotion and release that would sweep them up and take them beyond their mean and present fate. God’s hope of glory in Jesus promised something wonderful beyond the earthly realm in the hereafter. But a succulent foretaste was available to all every time they gathered for worship.

The itinerant black preacher made his rounds throughout the region, belonging to no one but God. He was the chosen conductor, anointed by his Creator, to lead the flock into an abandon of woes and cares weighty enough to rob them of life. Worshippers filled the arbor and packed the praise house to overflowing. They knew the bonds of depression and hopelessness would soon be unshackled.

God’s conduit of deliverance was the passionate swell of their preacher’s voice, recounting the well-loved Bible stories of “Ole Dan’l in de lions’ den,” or ‘Lil’ David slayin’ that big ole giant Goliah.” That “call-and-response” tradition brought over from the shores of Africa “helped the preacher preach.” He shouts a phrase, and the congregation roars an enthusiastic response. Back and forth, back and forth – the scene builds into a peaking crescendo when he proclaims the Lord’s deliverance in the sermon’s end.

The joyous throng fills the air with unbridled shouting that can be heard for miles around as dancing feet on the old wooden floor planks rumble underneath. What looks like a nonsensical and pointless display of emotion to outsiders is actually a liberating and transforming journey on the glory road. The genius of black preaching brought a cathartic, therapeutic relief that saved a race from committing suicide.

The shouting would go on late into the night and early morning. When the sun rose once more on the monotony of another work day in the fields, new strength and spiritual fortitude had somehow dispelled the fatigue and psychosis brought on by their hapless circumstance.

The black minister “preached them happy,” inciting the frenzied release of the emotional and mental anguish that struck at their sanity. What the black preacher did for his people was a reality, I don’t believe, that was ever lost on him. He understood his call. He understood his mission – the very survival of a race most assuredly rested upon his shoulders.

Today’s call-and-response practice in black congregations with their pastors is derived from those foregenerations. Indeed, the modern role of a pastor and the church family is as vital to African-Americans as ever.

Priests Kill Themselves….Why?

http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/14/10410289-colombian-priests-hire-hitmen-to-kill-themselves

This headline immediately caught my attention, so I decided to read why would two men of the cloth decide to kill themselves.

It turns out that one of the priests had AIDS and syphillis.  And I guess the other priest went along with the suicide pact probably because he had some kind of affair with the priest with AIDS.

Now, sad to say, we hear about this type of thing ALL the time.  Stories of sexual corruption within the Roman Catholic church.  Its quite sickening!

I read a testimony of a former nun, her name is Sister Charlotte, and how she was abused in the Roman Catholic Convent system.  She tells of the babies that were killed by Mother Superior, babies belonging to the priests.  She tells of torture chambers for nuns who were ‘non-compliant.’  She tells of initiation rites where nuns-in-training had to lie in a coffin for nine hours, dying to the world as they once knew it.  She tells of nuns coming from well-to-do families signing over their inheritances to the R.C. church after taking a vow of poverty.

You can read all about it here:  http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/charlot1.htm.

And while it would be easy for us ‘Protestants’ to point fingers at the R.C. church regarding these things, the fact of the matter is that we simply cannot.  We can’t because now the Protestant church is just as guilty for the exact same things!  I promise you, if you google the words ‘minister,’ ‘sex,’ ‘scandal,’ or ‘money,’ you can read a few stories about Preachers Gone Wild.

Why am I writing about this?

The Protestant church modeled itself after the Roman Catholic order many, many years ago.  And look what is happening within the walls of the institutionalized church.  Every seed produces after its own kind:  if you borne something out of a corrupt seed, the fruit thereof will ALSO be corrupt.

We should not act surprised or try to justify corruption when it is found in an ANY institutionalized church.  The discovery is to wake US up to the true condition of what we all at one time or another thought was ‘the church.’

WE ARE THE CHURCH!

We cannot attend a church because WE are the TEMPLES of the Holy Ghost.  We are carriers of the anointing, of the glory of God.  It is a gross misonomer to delegate the church as being merely a physical structure.  When we do so, we are desecrating the very thing that Christ TRULY died for…HIS BRIDE.

Once we recognize that, then we will be able to do what HE SET OUT for HIS BRIDE to do in the earth realm today!

In the words of Sister Charlotte herself, God will ‘… make a way for you to come out…’ of the convent (the church system).

Preaching Folks Into Heaven...AFTER Their Dead?

Ok, if you are black and have been to a funeral in a predominantly black congregation, then you know ALL about this familiar ritual that black preachers do.

A loved one or a friend of the family passes.  The funeral arrangements are made meticulously.  Folks who couldn't afford to pay a light bill go ALL OUT to bury loved ones (who regrettably didn't have insurance) in style!  To preach a great homegoing service for their dearly departed!

We have the viewing, the repasse, the funeral, and the burial.  Blacks folks take like a good week to bury their loved ones.

I don't say this mockingly; I say this because this is a tradition and a way of life (or should I rather say a way of death) for our people.

But what I want to focus on is preachers preaching EVERYONE into heaven!

This is a tradition that is traditional in the church.  Black people are said to be 'comforted' when the preacher gives a eulogy that portrayed the person in the casket in a glorified, glamorized, iconic, and almost divine way.  Oftentimes, the preacher automatically preaches the dead 'into heaven,' irregardless of how the dearly departed lived their lives, or how they left this life.

Coming up in a black Baptist church, this was commonplace and normal for me.  Even after having become a woman, I saw no problem with this tradition.  And truth be told, it did add 'temporary' comfort when a preacher would preach a departed loved one as 'entering the pearly gates.'

But since having left the institutionalized church, I have had time to sit back and observe much of what we embrace as culture and tradition....

And I can BLATANTLY proclaim that this is nothing more than a form of idolatry and hypocrisy that we have perpertrated inside of the four walls of the church!

I have seen preachers preach the funerals of drug dealers-who died while selling crack to little kids-into heaven.  I have watched preachers preach flaming, openly gay, unrepentant homosexuals into heaven.  I have watched preachers preach EVERYBODY into heaven, as a matter of fact!

This scares me.

Why?

This scares me because a minister of the gospel is supposed to TELL THE TRUTH.

Now, we can get into the semantics and suppositions  of  'we don't know if they repented right before they got shot, or while they were on their knees giving that last blow...' all we want.

But the fact of the matter is that when most people die, it is unexpected.  All of a sudden.  Death can happen in a millisecond.  Before anyone can say 'God, forgi....' they are snuffed out.  Gone.  Capeche!

There IS no time to repent.

Many don't realize that.

So they go on living their lives like they got tomorrow...and not truly knowing if they do.

But I want to address the PREACHERS who have all this blood on their hands.  YES, THEY DO.

How?

Because when that person in that casket was living, most preachers don't preach heaven or hell anymore.  Most preachers don't preach on sin.  They are afraid that folks are gonna come back at 'em with the 'Judge not, lest ye be judged...'

LOOK.

ALL OF US ARE GOING TO BE JUDGED.  AND WE ARE GOING TO BE JUDGED BY WHAT WE DID IN THIS LIFE.

But GOD HIMSELF has appointed SOME VOICES TO JUDGE.  And TO WARN people of their wicked ways.  And don't get it twisted...the ones who GOD is raising up and using are NOT going to be perfect and without sin themselves.

Since God has LEFT THE BUILDINGS, God is having to go into the highways and the byways.  God is raising up voices in the crackhouses.  IN the whorehouses.  IN the jails.  Compelling them to come in, NOT to church.  But into the KINGDOM OF GOD!

THE PREACHERS SHOULD BE PREACHING FOLKS INTO HEAVEN...WHILE THEY ARE YET ALIVE AND HAVE A CHANCE TO REPENT!!!

NOT WHEN THEY ARE DEAD....

PREACHERS, STOP LYING TO PEOPLE. YOU ARE NOT COMFORTING THOSE WHO MOURN BY LYING TO THE PEOPLE.  IF THAT PERSON WAS A HELLION ON EARTH, SAY SO.  THEN USE THAT LIFE TO WARN OTHERS TO COME TO CHRIST JESUS WHILE THERE IS STILL YET TIME!!!!

IT IS TIME TO REPENT!!!!!

God Exposes Sin...So Why Shouldn't We?

In today's world, when we see someone being exposed, it is generally viewed as a negative thing.  Bad publicity.  A Scandal.

And-in the world-when the world exposes someone, it is usually with the intent to destroy the reputation and image of another.  They use the TRUTH they know about someone to totally ruin their image.

So this brings us to exposing someone in the church...

When we expose someone (and yes, there are times that we should!), it is supposed to be with the intent of bringing that person to a state of repentance.

Exposure:   The act or an instance of exposing, /Revelation, especially of crime or guilt.

Expose: To reveal the guilt or wrongdoing of/To make known.

It is only in the religious setting that exposure is deemed or looked upon as a bad thing.  But my grandmother used to say that a wound cannot heal unless you let sunlight shine on it and allow fresh air to hit it.  Her argument was that instead of putting bandaids on wounds, that we need to allow air and light to hit the wound, that it will heal faster.

I also have talked to some doctors that have advised me to let a wound 'air out,' that fresh air is actually better for some wounds than to try and cover it up or seal it up with gauzes or bandaids.

I chose the picture above because when we understand why the Ten Commandments were written-to show us that we have sin, it is our very nature-Romans 7:7, then we can also understand that GOD HIMSELF exposed ALL OF OUR SIN right then and there.  He had been doing it before then...we just didn't realize it til Mt. Sinai.

That is why the Levites were consecrated to make sacrifices for our sin.  Because THEN, we knew about our sin.  We were found GUILTY...every last one of us.

But God had a plan of redemption-a way of escape-for us ALL.  And that way was through Jesus Christ of Nazareth!

A priest forever after the order of Melchezidek.

But that way could NOT have been made had we not known that we had sinned.  Until it was EXPOSED that we are all sinners until we are born again.

The very nature of the Word of God is that of an EXPOSER.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Dividing soul and spirit and discerning the intents of the heart sounds like a fancy way of exposing sin to me...how about you?

If God Himself was not an exposer, we would all still be in our sin.  On our way to hell ...in a handbasket.

But because God LOVES us, He will show us ourselves.  He will show us FIRST...and if we don't get it-or refuse to repent-then He will allow our sin to be aired out in public.

He will allow whatever to whomever to get us out of sin and bondage.

Let the wind of the Holy Ghost and the light of the Word of God shine on our sin-I will for mine-and let GOD'S exposure bring quick healing and deliverance!

Out of Touch With Reality...The Mass Trend Towards Denial, Part 2

In my last article, I touched on the various ways masses and masses of people willingly place themselves in denial, or enter into altered states of consciousness.

Let me say this: denial is a comfort zone.  All of us have comfort zones.  A place where we are most comfortable, a place that is free from stress, confrontation, pain and worry.  Peaceful.  Relaxing.  Stress and Drama-Free.

We ALL want to be in this place, right?

So what some do is that by functioning in a perpetual state of denial, they are able to maintain a synthetic-or false-form of peace, even if it is only temporary.

People who tend to love to stay in denial or people who are out of touch with reality, true.

But I want to present to you that there is another group of people who are in denial as well.  And they didn't CHOOSE to be there either.

These are people who have been traumatized.  Either by child abuse, or other forms of traumatic events, such as participating in war, crime, being victimized by natural disasters, has suffered severe loss, and so on.

I also want to state that the ones most vulnerable to unintentionally enter into denial/altered states of consciousness-and be in danger to open up their spirits to demonic activity on an increasing level are CHILDREN.

Yes.

Children today face MORE trauma than ever before, whether it be by child abuse or any of the things I mentioned above....even in foreign countries, we hear of child soldiers.  Kids who strap bombs to themselves and commit suicide for their country.

Our brains-as fully grown individuals-are meant to only take so much trauma.  If this is true, it is even more true that the mind of a CHILD can handle signficantly less an amount of trauma and stress than the average adult.

Yet we live in a society that places MUCH pressure on our kids today, pressure to perform, pressure to succeed, pressure to achieve...on TOP of the pressure of living in this world today!

It is NO wonder that children are shooting one another in schools!

When these things happen to kids, they can get to a place of being in denial about what they are really dealing with.  Kids love escapism, forming alliances with imaginary friends, watching the Barney cartoons that sing songs like 'Just Imagine."

All we have to do is turn on the Disney channel to see all of the witchcraft that is being taught to our babies.

Why NOW?

Because our babies are more stressed NOW than ever before.  They are bombarded with all kinds of things-drugs, alcohol, sex, and the pressure to perform and be the best.  That can induce a lot of negative emotions in a kid...

And since most kids are not that adept in expressing and communicating their emotions, they take it out in a number of ways.

It is in that place of denial where these kids can unintentionally enter into an altered state of consciousness.

For example, a child is molested and goes to a parent and confides in them.  The parent does not believe them, scolds them and instructs them to never tell another person about it.  That parent has just induced a state of denial/denial of the truth in that child, that opens up that child's spirit to altered states of consciousness, or demonic activity.

When you hear of a child who was abused saying, 'they left their bodies while they were being molested,' that is a way of someone unintentionally entering an altered state of consciousness.

Other ways to unintentionally enter ASC are:
- Sleep deprivation

- Oxygen deprivation
- Psychosis
- Having a high fever
- Near death experiences
- Deep lucid dreaming

Like I stated earlier, it is a dangerous thing to be in denial.

And it is even a more dangerous thing to make your child be in denial...or allow kids to not deal with the reality of their situations.

It is nothing more than a plot from the enemy to introduce demonic activity sooner and sooner to young, impressionable minds.

But also to address not just children, but all who have unintentionally open yourselves up to ASC, it is NOT your fault.  Whether it was trauma, or not getting enough sleep, being sick, almost dying...because of the sinful world we live in, a demonic doorway was opened in your life.

And that doorway MUST  be shut in order for you to obtain REAL, LASTING peace in your life.

Out of Touch With Reality...The Mass Trend Towards Denial, Part 1

Let's face it:  we live in a stressful world.  We have been told that stress is actually good for us.  So, in varying degrees, we either embrace stress, or we go to the other extreme and do whatever is necessary to get rid of stress.

How do YOU 'de-stress?'

Still others-no matter what their religious or spiritual backgrounds-find alternative ways to deal with stress.  I will say that a majority of the population deals with stress by denying that it is there, or that it even exists in their lives.

The ways that they deal with that stress varies.

Some do yoga, meditation, hypnosis. Some leave their bodies in spiritual exercises that is known as astral projection (Mental vacations, imagining you are somewhere else when you're really right there, etc.)  Some induce trances, either medically, spiritually, or naturally.

Some have plenty of sex-on the prowl for that orgasm or ejaculation that will propel them in another time and place, even if its only for a few seconds or minutes.  Some will participate in all kinds of sexcapades and dangerous sexual fantasies, because the last encounter only fueled a desire for MORE encounters.  Another realm of sexual satisfaction-reaching that next orgasm or ejaculation becomes just like a drug addict looking that their next high...

Some will do drugs.  Ectasy, crack, heroin, cocaine, reefer, and a host of other drugs are in demand as they are by a population of people who are looking to 'de-stress' from something.

Some will get drunk.  (Why do you think they call alcohol 'spirits?')

Some will go to church and participate in all kinds of spiritual exercises to allow themselves to be put in an altered state of consciousness.  Some call it 'in the spirit.'  What spirit is the million dollar question?

Some will allow preachers with DL lifestyles to lay hands on them to 'cast a demon out' of them.  Some will allow another language to come forth out of them, thinking that it is the Holy Ghost.  Some will run and dance all over a building.  (I have personally been in a church service where a man literally rammed his head into a wall, cracking the wall.  Actually putting a head-sized hole in the wall of the sanctuary! We had tauted that the Holy Ghost had 'moved' in that place....smh)

Some will allow their favorite mega preachers to call on gods, and then wave their hands over the audience, and then will fall to the ground, stating that they were 'slain in the spirit.'  Again, WHAT spirit slew you?????

What do ALL of these people have in common?

They ALL are looking for ways to get out of touch with THEIR REALITIES!

THEY are ALL looking for ways to de-stress.

We live in a society that does NOT want to deal with REAL REALITY.  With the amazing rise of so-called 'reality shows' that have cropped up on television, you would think that society embraces reality, thus, embracing TRUTH.

Isn't reality nothing more than THE TRUTH?

The problem is that society wants its own brand of reality-its own brand of truth, and NOT THE TRUTH.

Jesus Christ of Nazareth IS the WAY, THE TRUTH and THE LIFE!

When HE is rejected, then the ones rejecting Him have no other choice but to create their brand(s) of truth.

What better way to do that than to ALTER (OR CHANGE) THE MASSES STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS?

When you do not LOVE THE TRUTH, God promises that He would send a STRONG DELUSION, to make people BELIEVE A LIE! (Romans 1)

I asked God to reveal to me what was with the RISE in people being interested in being in altered states of consciousness?  Being an intellectual, I find it foolish and even dangerous to give our minds over to another power.  To allow another total control or access into our minds.  When we do this-no matter by what means-this gives the devil FREE ACCESS to implant demons in our lives to oppress and-in some cases-possess us.

And by writing this article, He has shown me why.

It is a very dangerous thing to be in denial, because then denial leads to deception.

Masses and masses of people are being deceived-in AND out of the church.

Whatever you do in this hour, don't lose your head.  Don't lose your mind.  Don't give ANYONE total access and control to your mind and spirit.  Be very aware of who prays for you, preaches or teaches to you.  Don't do drugs, drink, or get caught up in new age practices.  Stop chasing sexcapades.

Deal with your reality.  The truth of it, no matter how painful.  Allow yourself to feel the pain of whatever has come your way, then give it to God.

Let GOD allow you to de-stress and lay your burdens ON HIM.

Come OUT of Ichabod!

The Glory Of God has LEFT THE BUILDINGS!

How Do People Become Addicted???

Addiction has always been a mystery to me.  For as long as I can remember, I have always wondered what makes a person become addicted...whether it be to drugs, alcohol, sex, gambling, or anything.

ADDICTION: The state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma.

The fact of the matter is that anyone can become addicted to anything at any given moment in their lives.

What I have been trying to figure out is why they become addicted.

It became necessary for me to look into and study this.  Pray about it.  And through a combination of not only study and prayer, but divine connections with those who have insight into these types of matters, I believe God has finally begun to help me to begin to unravel the mystery behind addiction (the mystery behind addiction within the 'church' as well).

People choose to become addicted to substances and behaviors because they are looking for a form of escapism from their reality (I touched on this on another post about the altered state of consciousness).

Everybody is looking for an escape.  An escape from busyness.  An escape from the rat race.  An escape from stress.  An escape from drama, problems, trials and tribulations.  An escape from the reality of our lives.

I called it in the last article on this "The Mass Trend Towards Denial"

The fact is this tendency is massive among the population.  We as a society are more stressful now than ever before.  We are living in the last days, when things are prophesied in the Word of God to be extremely perilous (1 Timothy 3:1).

And as we draw closer and closer towards the end of times, more stress is inevitable.  At least for those who don't know Jesus Christ of Nazareth!

And since religion has done a masterful job at getting the masses UNfamiliar with the REAL Jesus Christ and MORE familiar with the 'another' Jesus, it is no wonder that more and more people are seeking ways of deliverance, peace and relief from the stress and pressures of the last days.

When people keep denying truth-a love for the truth-God promises to give them over to a lie, to strong delusion.

Masses and masses of people deny truth.  Some willfully, intentionally...others unknowingly, ignorantly.  NO matter the intent, when the enemy sees the denial of truth, then he has access to the souls of man, to impart untruth, deception, false doctrine, false teaching and lies.

So people who are looking for relief from stress and relief from (demonic) torment in their lives seek relief through alcohol, sex, gambling, ...and even RELIGION.

YES...RELIGION and CHURCHANITY indeed can be addictions!

The subtleness of the enemy is to lull churchgoers into a false sense of security-to rationalize and justify their behavior by concluding that avid churchgoing is 'the right thing to do.'  Most have been raised in church all of their lives.  They know nothing BUT church.  I mean, if you listen to the average sermon preached on a Sunday morning, you can hear the preacher talk about 'leaving your problems at the door' and 'entering the sanctuary' with praise and thanksgiving.

In other words, the preacher (who is nothing more than an enabler) is encouraging people to get in denial about what they really are dealing with and going through-even if only for a few hours-and 'get your praise on!'

The praise and worship leaders, the altar workers, the prophets...they are all enablers, enabling churchgoers to become 'addicted' to attending church, churchanity and religion-with all its varied forms & products of placation, pacification and flattery.

Mega preachers are counting on the masses being 'stressed out,' so they pump out books, CDs, DVDs, conferences and the such supposedly centered around and promising 'deliverance.'  Psalmists with recording contracts have replaced YOUR voice, so now in order to get into the presence of God, you GOT to go and purchase your favorite gospel artist so they can 'usher you into the presence of God.'

And all they are doing is ushering in 'another spirit,' a spirit that is NOT God,  It is a fake anointing.  A fake glory.  A fake shekinah.

The Word tells us to sing OURSELVES in psalms and spiritual songs.  We ALL have access to the presence of God now.  No ushers are needed.  No third persons, no mediators needed...JESUS CHRIST of NAZARETH is IT!

But these 'preachers' profit off you needing them.  They profit off your dysfunction.  They profit off your 'needing a word.'  They profit off your need to escape from your reality.  They are counting on it.  As a matter of fact, these leaders start getting nervous when you start growing in the things of GOD, and start hearing from God FOR YOURSELF.  They get nervous when their conference attendance and sales dwindles.  So they got to tap into another form of escapism.

They GOT to get YOU addicted to their ministry!

They are nothing more than spiritual pushers, enablers, feeding your need to escape from reality.  Feeding your need to not see what YOU NEED TO SEE.  THE TRUTH!  

I came across a really good site that talks about the enabling personality.  I encourage you to read 'Enabling Personality' by J. Lawson and see the shocking similarities of the enabler as presented on this site and the actions and practices of leadership in mainstream Christianity.

You will be utterly amazed...

'I Need CONFIRMATION!' Part 2

In the last article, I talked about the rite of confirmation in the Catholic Church, as well as the tendency of many within the modern day Protestant church to 'need confirmation' or seek a sign after they have heard a word 'from the Lord.'

Seeing that I'm a history buff, I always like to do my research and study to find out where a thing or tradition originated from, how did it get started.  It is my conviction that when we do that, we will fully understand the SPIRIT behind a thing and proceed accordingly....WITH CAUTION.

In other words, when we know WHY something was started, if the ROOT of it was GODLY or UNGODLY, then we can make an informed and wise decision to NOT follow it or participate in it if we find it started out NOT FROM GOD.

Is 'needing confirmation,' 'seeking after a sign,' of GOD?

Or is that mindset and all proceeding ceremonies and rites instituted thereafter, a result of RELIGIOUS PROGRAMMING and DECEPTION????

The very first time in the Word of God where a man actually sought a sign from the Lord was in the book of Judges. (Yes, there were times when God spoke to the Israelites with signs and wonders, delivered them by such.  But Gideon is the first account where a man asked God to 'show him a sign.")

We are all familiar with the story of Gideon.

The story is found in Judges 6.  The setting is starting from about Judges the first chapter, Joshua and the generation who remembered what God had done for the Israelites in the wilderness before they reached their promised land had died out.  One of the last things God commanded the Israelites to NOT do is to forget the precepts of God, to intermarry with unbelievers and to worship their gods.

Yet, after God gave them 'their promise,' that is EXACTLY what the Israelites did.  Read Judges 1-3 to understand just where Israel was before Gideon was born.  They were in rebellion and disobedience.  They had forgotten God and all that He had done for them.  They got the bling, the power, the fame and the very allegiance they promised God in the wilderness they gave it to other gods and allowed themselves to 'fall in love' with-and intermarry-with unbelievers.

In the 6th chapther of Judges, God has given the Israelites over to the Midianites.  After hearing their cries for help, God calls Gideon as their deliverer-calling him a 'mighty man of valor' in vs. 12. Instead of responding in faith, believing what God has said, what was Gideon's response?

"...If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me...." vs. 17

The Lord God 'confirms' His Word with a supernatural sign in vs. 21.

Then Gideon LACKED FAITH and TRUST in God again, seeking TWO more signs from God in vs. 36-40, signs that God wanted him to do what He said.

Now, we often make Gideon out to be this great man of faith and valor, taking the scripture completely out of context.  What we fail to realize is that God had already chided Israel because in spite of His MANY signs, wonders and deliverance(s) to Israel, Israel STILL went awhoring after other gods, STILL walked in blatant disobedience and rebellion to the things of God and STILL worshipped other gods.

Because God is long-suffering and merciful, He granted 'confirmations' here.  He sent signs and wonders...to confirm His word to His people...THEN.

But NOW?

God is NO LONGER sending signs and wonders for the purpose of feeding the faith of those who profess to be believers in Him.  God has a proven track record of HIS Faithfulness to man.  He does NOT need to confirm or prove ANYTHING to us.

We simply need to take heed to HIS WORD, trust implicitly in HIM, and NOT seek after signs and confirmations.

We hear preachers preach on the 10 plagues in Egypt.  We hear preachers preach on 'these signs shall follow them that believe...' We hear modern day apostles taut that they are supposed to have signs and wonders following them.

Well, I present to you that those who seek after signs and wonders are WICKED and EVIL.

Matthew 16:4A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it

The Word here actually calls this generation 'adulterous.'  Why?  Because seeking after signs is a form of idolatry!  And God sees idolatry as spiritual adultery.  Without FAITH, it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God.  When God speaks TO US, we simply must believe it, and act it out accordingly...(of course, trying the spirit is totally different than seeking a sign. God tells us to try the spirits, yes.  But He actually grows weary of people who seek a sign...)

Mark 8:11-12

And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.

And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.

It greatly displeases God when we keep asking for a sign.  Or even when we entertain 'confirmations' of words heard in the spirit merely by events that happen to occur, supernatural manifestations, prophecies, and the such.

Do you see where the Word says that God will NOT be giving signs to this generation?

God does not want us so caught up in signs, confirmations, miracles and the such in this hour.  We MUST understand that the enemy of our souls can perform signs, miracles and wonders, too.  The enemy can prophesy...ACCURATELY.  The enemy can raise folks from the dead, heal the sick, and the whole nine.  He got ALL kinds of tricks in his bag.

And he is waiting to pull one out JUST ON YOU, if you keep your spirit open to all kinds of confirmations...seeking a word...seeking a sign...stalking prophets and such.

That spirit of unbelief occurs in a people when they walk away from God in disobedience and rebellion to Him.  In sin, one cannot hear the voice of God.  NOT AT ALL.  So therefore, they have to rely on OTHERS to hear FOR THEM!

Whenever you find someone who cannot hear from God, who are always seeking a word, a sign, running from conference to conference, looking for that next prophetic 'fix,' they are in sin in some area of their lives.  SIN IS THE ONLY THING THAT SEPARATES US FROM GOD!

Another reason is that that person is IMPATIENT...which speaks to a LACK OF FAITH.

Faith requires you, at times, to WAIT ON THE LORD for an answer.  When we try to 'make things happen' in our own strength, in our own time, then that shows we don't trust God the way that we should.  So we go about trying to help God out...when HE DOES NOT need our help!

One of the gravest errors of the Word of Faithers is that they believe that if they merely 'utter the Word of God back to God,' then He is somehow 'obligated' to do their bidding, whether it be money, a mate, a job, a ministry, etc.

But when God does not grant them 'the desires of their hearts,' then they go about seeking signs and wonders to 'feed their faith' in a false word.  And religious spirits LOVE to feed false words!  Religious spirits will feed one's 'faith' in a word THEY believe it true ALL day, ALL year long!  By dreams, signs, wonders, prophecies, sermons, by ANYTHING they feel will keep them deluded and deceived.

Do you remember the movie, "Bruce Almighty," in one scene after Bruce gets God's powers, him and Grace, his girlfriend, has broken up.  He thought because he had God's powers now that he could make Grace love him and take him back.  But he finds out he cannot.

So in an attempt to win Grace back, Bruce uses his newfound, supernatural abilities to create all kinds of signs and wonders around her that hopefully will point to her taking Bruce back.  The 'Bruce & Grace Forever' carved on every tree stump she passes on a morning jog.  The numerous TV commercials that play messages that encourages Grace to take Bruce back.  Their dog who gives Grace the phone and encourages her to call Bruce!

That is much how a religious spirit operates.

EVERYTHING around you will seem to point towards 'what God said' or 'what God promised.'  You think, 'I mean SURELY, if ALL of these signs are pointing towards this, this MUST be God, right?'

I know what you're thinking: 'But hey! In the movie, Bruce and Grace DOES get back together..'

Yes.

But that was NOT because of Bruce's supernatural manipulations and control, trying to 'make' Grace take him back.  It had to be her choice.  Anything other than that would have been nothing more than witchcraft...and if the reconciliation began out of witchcraft, it would only be maintained by witchcraft as well.

I go into all this to help you realize one thing.

When we ask God to show us a sign, we are actually trying to control and manipulate Him, attempting to relegate God to be nothing more than our Magician, to do our bidding whenever WE want.  Most of the time, when people seek after signs and wonders, it is out of an unhealthy desire within them for control and power.  Two very powerful yet dangerous entities when combined without the Holy Ghost to temper them both.

And people who seek ultimate power and control REALLY not only lack faith in God, but are weak, and feel powerless over their situations and circumstances.  Instead of trusting God, they trust in their control of things.  This is another form of self-righteousness that nullifies the work of the Cross AND the power of the resurrection in our lives.

And any spirit that does NOT embrace AND confess that the resurrection of Christ is legitimate is of the AntiChrist. (1 John 4:2-3)

We must also be aware that the Antichrist WILL perform signs and wonders.  This is how he will be able to get so many people to follow him. (Revelations 13:13-14)

If you are 'addicted' to signs, wonders and confirmations, it is time to get 'detoxed' from them, FOR REAL!  Continuing to seek after them can cost you your life!

I encourage those who love God to TRUST the voice of God speaking to you.  Try the spirit and see if it is of God.  ALWAYS.

"I Need CONFIRMATION!" Part 1

Many have been found saying this very thing to themselves. Usually, they are at a crossroads, where they are trying to get an answer to prayer, or have received an answer to prayer, and want a 'sign' from God that what they heard was actually from HIM.

And most of the time, these people will heavily rely upon outward (supernatural) signs or 'prophecies' to back up what they have previously heard.

We all have been there, at that place where we heard from God, but thought we didn't.  So we didn't walk out the word we heard, at least not until someone 'confirmed' what the Lord God said to us.

For some, it took the pastor preaching on what we heard in the next sermon, or a prophet called us up to the front of the church and the prophecy 'confirmed' what we already had heard from God.

Or what we THOUGHT was from God...

What IS confirmation, anyways?

I found two different definitions of confirmation.  The first I was already aware of: confirmation is the act of confirming or verifying something.  It is additional proof that something that was previously believed is, in fact, true.  It authenticates a previously known truth or belief.

But did you know that a confirmation is also a rite of passage among the Catholic Church where a baptized person is given 'full membership' into the church?  According to www.catholicism.com, the confirmation 1) unites one firmly to Christ; 2) increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit; 3) renders one's bond to the church more perfect; and 4) gives one special strength to become witnesses.

I had never heard of this ceremony within the Catholic Church.  It is usually performed by a bishop, but sometimes bishops delegate authority to priests to conduct the confirmations within their respective dioceses.

Right away, I can tell you that this ceremony reeks of religiosity.  It feeds the notion that one needs a mortal man-i.e. a priest-to stand between us and God...to speak for us.  To pray for us.  To 'sacrifice' for us, much like the Levitical priests did in the Old Testament.  They take on the role of the Holy Ghost and demand loyalty and commitment NOT TO GOD, but to the local church.

I liken the rite of confirmation to these 'impartation' services held with pentecostal, non-denominational and word of faith churches and ministries that encourage people to come to the altar and get hands laid on them so they can receive 'an impartation,' healing, deliverance, revelation knowledge, and the works.

I believe ALL such ceremonies and tendencies to 'need confirmation' are totally unnecessary, and actually hinders one in their own growth in their relationship with God.  

1) You don't need to 'pledge allegiance' to a church, a denomination, a man, a woman, a fellowship and the such to be deemed faithful TO GOD.  God does NOT require such religious obligation from you.  HE SIMPLY REQUIRES YOUR FAITH.  WITHOUT FAITH, IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD (Hebrews 11:6).

2) You cannot be a member of the church.  You ARE the church, if you are born again.

3) There is NO ceremony that magically bonds us closer to Christ Jesus.  NONE.  All ceremonies are man-made traditions that actually open you up to be tormented by demons.  Most of these 'bishops'-in both the Catholic and Protestant realms-are doing nothing more than imparting demons into unknowing people who think they are getting closer to God by participating in them.

4) You do NOT get the Holy Ghost by natural means.  ANY group that claims you can get it by means of participating in their 'rites' are lying to you.  You will NOT be receiving the HOLY Ghost.  You WILL be receiving 'another spirit.' (2 Corinthians 11:4-6)

The need for confirmation really speaks to the lack of faith in the one seeking confirmation.  They lack faith that God will do just what He said He would do.  It could be out of immaturity.  It could be because they have not gone through enough-and watch God bring them out enough-to have developed a healthy, mature, unwavering faith and trust in God.  It could be for a whole lot of reasons.

In 'To Curse The Root' by Pamela Sheppard, she further discusses people's need for confirmation:

"...By losing all confidence in our self esteem, we will gain His esteem. We will not be tossed to and fro by pride and vanity because He will cause us to be immovable, unshakable trees that are tooted and grounded in Him. His acts of consolation will serve as a confirmation that He can be trusted in every crisis, every temptation, every trial."

Please continue on to Part 2 to understand where this mindset of 'I Need Confirmation' first originated, and why it has survived the test of time...