THE ENEMY ATTACKED - GOD SAVED ME.

A woman named Gina wrote an article (Chats with an Old Lady) that inspired me to share this story of what happened to me.  Her article was titled ‘I am NOT a Grace filled Woman’. Her link is in my sidebar.

Recently I went through a spiritual battle.  Out of the blue, the enemy of my soul came at me firing both barrels at once.  I wasn’t prepared for an attack and he hit me full force.    

"How do your really know you are saved?  You've just been fooling yourself.  Jesus said that in the last days many would come to him and claim they did all kinds of things for him, and yet, he will tell them he never really knew them.  How do you know you are not one of them?  Those people believed they were saved just like you do but they were wrong. Your heart is more deceitful above everything.  The Bible says so.   

How can you be saved when you have such terrible thoughts about others?  You are always getting angry with others and you fuss and fume inside. That's not love.  How can God love you when you don't love your neighbour as yourself?  How could God love you when you don't love those around you?  Don't you know that the Bible says that if you don't love your neighbour who you do see, then you can’t love God who you don’t see?”

On and on he went and I listened to every word and agreed with everything he said.  When he was finished his tirade I took over for him and began to accuse myself of every rotten thing I had ever done or ever do.  It was all true. I am a horrible person.  I was crumbling under the accusations.  I felt helpless and hopeless.  I was fooling myself.  My life was all a lie.  I had thoughts of ending it all yet I knew that either way I would end up in hell.  What could I do?  How could I be saved?  I knew I could never live up to what I thought God wanted of me?

With uncontrollable sobs I cried out, “Oh God, Please, Please help me, I don’t know what to do.  If I have been deceiving myself, please forgive me.  Help me to be the person you want me to be. Please have pity on me because I can’t do this.  I really am a bad person and I need you to fix me.  I can’t do this on my own.”

As my tears were subsiding I began to hear that wee small voice of my master reminding me of what Christ’s coming was all about.

Grace! 

God’s Grace! 

God’s perfect Grace for a sinner such as I. 

That was the whole reason He came and died in the first place.  None of us are perfect and we never will be.  That’s why we need a Saviour.  If we were perfect, He wouldn't have had to take our place.  No matter what we do we will never measure up to God’s standard of Holiness. 

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

Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

The enemy is real.  He is very subtle.  He knows our weak spots and he hits us when we are down. He is cunning and relentless. When we think we can stand on our own, that's when we become an easy target.  I've been a Christian for nearly 33 years and I thought I was standing but that's where I was deceiving myself. We can never do it on our own.  We need His help daily - moment by moment.  It is only in His strength that we are able to fight and win the battles. I didn’t have my spiritual armour on and nearly lost that battle.  God reached out and reminded me that it is only by His grace that I have been saved and nothing of myself.

Eph 6:11-18  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

I will end with this quote from Gina’s article.

“I am not a grace filled woman, but I serve a grace filled God and I desire that He work through me.  If you see any evidence of grace in my life it is only because of Him. He gets the glory.  And that is how it is meant to be.”

Random Thoughts on Christianity

• There was a time when the Church rejected the world's ways. Now she not only uses them; she abuses them. Of course we must use the world, because we need it; but let us not want it, let us not desire it.
• People wear suits to weddings or funerals yet dress casually in the Lord’s presence. I wonder why?
• Jesus did not say that we would know them by their great profession of faith, but that we would know them by their “FRUIT”.
• Faith takes your eyes off of yourself and everything this world has to offer and plants them firmly on Jesus Christ.
• If you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be any evidence to condemn you?
• History is His – story!
• Jesus I know and Paul I know but who are you?  They had the name of Christ on their lips but they did not have the power of Christ in their hearts.
• If your life doesn’t line up to the gospel you are deceiving yourself
• True faith is more than what is in your mouth.  It is what is in your heart and what comes out of your mouth, proves what is in your heart.
• Jesus wasn’t politically correct and he hurt the feelings of many people.  But He told the TRUTH.
• John the Baptist spoke the truth till they cut his head off.  Are you willing to follow his example? 
• Political correctness is about not offending others.  Are you more concerned about pleasing others or about pleasing God?
• Christianity should always be a source or irritation to the world, then, equally the world should be a source of constant grief to the Church.
• In the past the Christians suffered open persecution for their faith but today Satan’s tactics are more subtle.  He tempts the believer with the things of the world and makes them sound reasonable and acceptable, especially to those who do not know the word of God like he does.  Oh yes, Satan knows the word of God better than most Christians do.
• Satan conceived and now controls the world order, and is prepared to use demonic power through the things of the world to lure us into it.
• Would God urge us to watch and pray if there weren’t spiritual forces to guard against?
• Christians should be perfectly willing to part with anything or anyone at any moment. It matters not whether I leave two thousand dollars or merely two. What matters is whether I can leave what ever I have without a twinge of regret.
• A hypocrite is someone who wears a mask, an actor, someone who is pretending to be someone when they are not really that person.  The best actors really know how to play their part. A really skilled hypocrite would be impossible to recognise.
• Christian hypocrisy is so ugly and embarrassing because while claiming to love and obey Jesus, they act as if He didn’t exist.
• Almost all of the parables of Jesus had to do with true and false profession;  the two builders, the sower and the soils, wheat and the tares, sheep and the goats, almost all.
• Jesus was the most genuine, real, non-fake person ever – someone who talked the talk and walked the walk. 
• If we measure ourselves by the world’s standards, or the standards of other people, most of us will end up thinking we are OK.  If we measure ourselves by God’s standards, it is a totally different story.
• Are we seeking the knowledge of God or are we seeking the knowledge of the world?  God’s desire is that we grow in the knowledge of Him. 
• We should be constantly growing.  Not growing stagnant.
• You are either a servant of God or a servant of the devil.  It is black or white.  There is no middle ground. 
• Are people who claim to be ambassadors for Christ, and then live like the world, really using God’s name in vain?
• True Christianity is a matter of the heart, it is more than words. 
• True biblical faith affects the whole life of a person.  It involves the emotions, the affections, the actions and the will.
• True conversion is two fold.  We flee from sin and rush to him.
• You are not your own.  You are bought with a price.  Therefore quit flirting with the world and playing the harlot. 
• If you are in love with someone, you want to be with them, spend time with them, get to know everything there is to know about them. How much do you love Jesus?
• In the world we are taught how to improve our self esteem whereas the whole aim of the Bible is to bring us to our knees in repentance knowing that we are nothing without Christ. 
• Most people know the names of top sports personalities or TV personalities but do we know the names of Jesus’ brothers?
• We seem to find time for TV, Movies, The Internet and especially friends but we just can’t seem to find any time for God.  Hummm… 
• Are you teaching your children to put God first or are they more interested in watching TV, Playing games, being on the internet or in their newest toy, etc.?
• He is ‘A God of Grace’ but He is also a ‘God of Wrath’.  A half gospel is a lie taught by the devil himself. 
• There are people sitting in temples of God every week but do they have the God of the temples in their hearts? 

Php 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

BEWARE - CHRISTIANS BELIEFS - BEING ATTACKED - BY BIBLES???

The Christian church has gone through many changes in the past few
decades. What has transpired is a “new” way of thinking. We have given
up our individual rights by conforming to the “world’s” way of thinking
instead of God’s way of thinking. We want to be “politically” correct in our ways of thinking and speaking, not wanting to offend anyone.

How did we get this way? It started subtly. Just a little changing here and a little changing there.

Satan tells those who have God’s Word not to judge, so the counterfeit can be established. This way he can either keep you from growing or shipwreck your faith. He uses the world to tell us “its not loving,” and “its biblical not to judge.” However, it is biblical to judge. What they have done is use a particular Scripture out of context and then bring you to the conclusion that if you judge you are being divisive. Many walk in fear of using discernment because they have been convinced it is horribly wrong or “politically” incorrect.

The enemy wants to bring the church to the place where we cannot distinguish between God’s Word of truth and Satan’s lies. The whole point is to prevent one from finding what is disagreeable and make it all agreeable.

So now, a new technique has crept into the church called the Hegelian dialectic. This type of dialect is used in politics, T.V. shows, morality, commerce, advertising, film, churches, music, books, entertainment, etc. It is all about changing to accommodate the world.

The Hegelian dialectical formula is basically: A (thesis) versus B (anti-thesis) equals C (synthesis). Two contradicting statements or ideas brought together to form a new synthetic doctrine.

For example: If (A) my idea of evolution conflicts with (B) your idea of creation then (C) we can agree on a long age day theory called Theistic Evolution.

In a Christian setting, the presupposition is that the group's will determines "the will of God". It's no longer a question of what is right or wrong, good or bad, lawful or unlawful, but rather HOW WE ALL FEEL ABOUT IT......no absolutes, no conscience, no convictions, no laws, no Constitution, no Bible and NO GOD!!!.
This brings me to some Biblical examples taken from various versions of the Bibles. Who is right when 2 different translations say exactly the opposite? One would normally think that one version must be lying. Example

KJV - Hos 11:12 Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints.
NIV - Hos 11:12 Ephraim has surrounded me with lies, the house of Israel with deceit. And Judah is unruly against God, even against the faithful Holy One.

The KJV implies that Judah ruled WITH God and WAS faithful with the
saints. Yet the NIV implies that Judah was AGAINST God and AGAINST
the faithful Holy One. So what are we to believe?

Here’s another example:

KJV - 2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
ASV - 2 Ti 3:16 Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness.

The ASV seems to imply that there are some scriptures that are inspired and maybe others that are not. Is ALL the scripture inspired as the KJV implies or just some? Do we pay attention only to the scriptures that seem inspired and leave the rest?

Final and most important example:

KJV - Isa 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
NIV - How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!

The NIV is calling Lucifer the morning star when the Bible clearly teaches
that Jesus is the morning star.
KJV - Rev 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
KJV - 2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

Satan would have us believe that Jesus is Lucifer and the fallen one.

Can you see how the enemy has crept into the churches and is subtly changing just a little here and a little there. He has crept into some of the Bible translations and corrupted the word of God leaving it up to individuals to sort it all out. This should NOT be happening!!!

IT IS WRONG!!!

God places supreme importance upon His written word. The importance of God's word runs throughout the Bible. Psalm 119 (I think is the longest Chapter in the Bible) has 176 verses each talking about God's word. He even magnifies His Word above His name.

Psa 138:2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving kindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

God's word is so important to Him that he warns those who tamper with it.

"Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar." (Proverbs 30:5-6)
"Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you." (Deuteronomy 4:2)
"For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." (Rev. 22:18-19)

Anyone who has ever read the Bible diligently should recognize the importance God puts on His words.

Isa 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

Be very careful when choosing which Bible you should read. Pray about it. Ask God to direct you. We cannot depend on what “men” say anymore. We must go directly to God.

Jud 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

2Pe 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

COMMON EVERYDAY QUOTES -ORIGINATING FROM THE BIBLE

King James Version is the most common source of phrases in English. It ranks with the complete works of Shakespeare and the Oxford English Dictionary as one of the cornerstones of the recorded language. What raises that version above other versions of the Bible in terms of its linguistic impact is the fact that the language used has persisted into the present-day. Many of the phrase used are still commonplace.



I think it is Ironic that many people today - whether a believer in the Bible or not, use Biblical phrases without even knowing it. I think it might be God's little joke on people.



Here is a list of about 78 everyday Bible phrases that have a Biblical origin. You should be able to click on the phrase and it will take you to a page where the Bible verse and explanation can be found.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
A drop in the bucket
A fly in the ointment
A house divided against itself cannot stand
A labour of love
A man after his own heart
A multitude of sins
A thorn in the flesh
A wolf in sheep's clothing
All things must pass
All things to all men
Am I my brother's keeper?
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth
As old as Methuselah
As old as the hills
As you sow so shall you reap
Ashes to ashes dust to dust
At his wits end
Baptism of fire
Beat swords into ploughshares
Bite the dust
Blessed are the peacemakers
Born again
By the skin of your teeth
Can a leopard change its spots?
Cast the first stone
Coat of many colours
Don't cast your pearls before swine
Eat drink and be merry
Faith will move mountains
Fall from grace
Fight the good fight
Flesh and blood
For everything there is a season
Forbidden fruit
Forgive them for they know not what they do
From strength to strength
Get thee behind me Satan
Give up the ghost
Good Samaritan
How are the mighty fallen
In the beginning was the word
In the twinkling of an eye
It's better to give than to receive
Labour of love
Lamb to the slaughter
Let he who is without sin cast the first stone
Let not the sun go down on your wrath
Let there be light
Living off the fat of the land
Love of money is the root of all evil
Love thy neighbour as thyself
Man does not live by bread alone
Many are called but few are chosen
My cup runneth over
No rest for the wicked
O ye, of little faith
Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings
Pearls before swine
Physician heal thyself
Red sky at night; shepherds' delight
Sour grapes
Spare the rod and spoil the child
Strait and narrow
Swords into ploughshares
The apple of his eye
The blind leading the blind
The bread of life
The fruits of your loins
The love of money is the root of all evil
The powers that be
The root of the matter
The salt of the earth
The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak
The strait and narrow
The wages of sin is death
The writing is on the wall
Thou shalt not kill
Three score and ten
To everything there is a season
What God has joined together let no man put asunder
Woe is me
Wolf in sheep's clothing

DON'T BLAME GOD!!!

Do you get angry at the Law of Gravity if an airplane looses power and drops from the sky?

Do you get angry at the Weather if lightning strikes and ends up burning down a forest?

Do you get angry at the Law of momentum if you step in front of a moving vehicle and get hit?

Do you get mad at nature if you choose to go out in the middle of winter without proper clothing and you end up freezing a part of your body?

Do you accuse these Natural Laws of being unfair or unloving?

The answer is a resounding NO. That would be stupid.

Just as there are physical laws in the universe, there are spiritual laws set up in the universe as well. These laws should be followed and recognized just like the physical laws.

So why would someone get mad at God when they break His laws and suffer the consequences?

We hear people blaming God for every bad thing that happens to them. Why blame God and say He is unfair and unloving?

Is it God’s fault that a person does not respect His laws?

Just because one chooses not to “BELIEVE” a certain law exists does not change that law. Even if you believe that the law of gravity does not apply to you, you will still suffer the consequences if you choose to disobey that law.

Laws are put in place for the benefit of EVERYONE. Breaking a law can have dire effects on others, not only the individual.

Breaking God’s laws has caused our planet to be in a state of chaos. The more the laws of God are broken, the more EVERYONE suffers the consequences.

Think about these things as you go about your daily business. Each law you break –whether it be physical or spiritual - has a consequence – not only to yourself but to others as well.

God’s laws serve a purpose and they benefit all mankind.