"HOW TO PREVENT CHRISTIANITY FROM STRANGLE YOU"
Copyright © 1998 by J.A.Mcbean. Library of Congress Washington.D.C.20559
M any people of faith today are being strangulated by religions. One of my minister friends has kidney stones and the Doctor told him to drink one pint of bear per day. The impression that I got from him, he believes that if he drinks some bear he sin, and will loose his salvation. Therefore, he prefers goes down with what he got. Many Christians do not understand the message of salvation. And they are tied up and tied down under strict precise observation of do’s and don’ts. We have missed the spirit of the law, and are being strangled by the letter.
CHOKING ON GOD.
Psalm 34:8 (KJV) O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
The lord want people to taste him, taste mean to take a small portion and if you think it is ok you came back for more. The lord does not want you burn any bridges to serve him. Our lord told his people that his burden is light. If Christianity is hard to you are carrying somebody else burden and not the lord’s burden because his burden is light. God do not want you bight off a big piece of him then choke on it.
Matthew 11:30 (KJV) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 6:16 (KJV) Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
CHRIST SAYS HE WILL MAKE YOU PERFECT.
1 Peter 5:10 (NASB-U) After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
God want you and I to go through our baby stage as we walk with him. God do not want you to fake holiness, are lied about it God want you to put on Jesus righteousness.
1 Peter 2:2 (NASB-U) like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,
Isaiah 64:6 (KJV) But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
WHERE THE SUFFERING FOR AWHILE COMING FROM?
Mark 10:29-30 (KJV) And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, [30] But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
PERSECUTIONS CAME BECAUSE OF THE WORD.
Mark 4:17 (KJV) And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
PERSECUTIONS COMES BECAUSE GOD MAKE YOU LOOK DIGNIFIED.
Psalm 149:4 (KJV) For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
The lord is going to put Excellency upon you; you are going to look like a king son. People will just look at you and see that you are different from them, and have better qualities than them and the offense to it. You will be looking like the supervisor, or looking like the boss, when you are only the floor cleaning person. The patients were calling me doctor, when I did not have such a degree. Brethren calling me pastor when I was only a street preacher. Because God is making me looking good. People take offense to this and they tries to desecrate my character, every thing happen on the job even when I was not at work I was blamed for it. This is where the suffering comes in, but it was not from God but from covetous people. Some pastors love when I came to there church and sit down so they can preach to me, it make them look good. When I left they spread dung on my name. Persecutions will come from godly living. However, it not from Christ.
2 Tim. 3:12 (KJV) Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
DO NOT LET PEOPLE BEAT UPON YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE A CHRISTIANS. DAKE'S NOTES.
Eccles. 3:1-22. Earthly pursuits are no doubt lawful in their proper time and order (Eccles. 3:1-8), but unprofitable when out of time and place; as for instance, when pursued as the solid and chief good (Eccles. 3:9-10); whereas God makes everything beautiful in its season, which man obscurely comprehends (Eccles. 3:11). God allows man to enjoy moderately and virtuously His earthly gifts (Eccles. 3:12-13). What consoles us amidst the instability of earthly blessings is, God's counsels are immutable (Eccles. 3:14).
1. Man has his appointed cycle of seasons and vicissitudes, as the sun, wind, and water (Eccles. 1:5-7). purpose—as there is a fixed "season" in God's "purposes" (for example, He has fixed the "time" when man is "to be born," and "to die," Eccles. 3:2), so there is a lawful "time" for man to carry out his "purposes" and inclinations. God does not condemn, but approves of, the use of earthly blessings (Eccles. 3:12); it is the abuse that He condemns, the making them the chief end (1 Cor. 7:31). The earth, without human desires, love, taste, joy, sorrow, would be a dreary waste, without water; but, on the other hand, the misplacing and excess of them, as of a flood, need control. Reason and revelation are given to control them.
2. time to die— (Psalm 31:15; Hebrews 9:27). plant—A man can no more reverse the times and order of "planting," and of "digging up," and transplanting, than he can alter the times fixed for his "birth" and "death." To try to "plant" out of season is vanity, however good in season; so to make earthly things the chief end is vanity, however good they be in order and season. Gill takes it, not so well, figuratively (Jeremiah 18:7, 9; Amos 9:15; Matthew 15:13).
3. time to kill—namely, judicially, criminals; or, in wars of self-defense; not in malice. Out of this time and order, killing is murder. to heal—God has His times for "healing" (literally, Isaiah 38:5, 21; figuratively, Deut. 32:39; Hosea 6:1; spiritually, Psalm 147:3; Isaiah 57:19). To heal spiritually, before the sinner feels his wound, would be "out of time," and so injurious. time to break down—cities, as Jerusalem, by Nebuchadnezzar. build up—as Jerusalem, in the time of Zerubbabel; spiritually (Amos 9:11), "the set time" (Psalm 102:13-16).
4. mourn—namely, for the dead (Genesis 23:2). dance—as David before the ark (2 Samuel 6:12-14; Psalm 30:11); spiritually (Matthew 9:15; Luke 6:21; Luke 15:25). The Pharisees, by requiring sadness out of time, erred seriously.
5. cast away stones—as out of a garden or vineyard (Isaiah 5:2). gather—for building; figuratively, the Gentiles, once castaway stones, were in due time made parts of the spiritual building (Ephes. 2:19-20), and children of Abraham (Matthew 3:9); so the restored Jews hereafter (Psalm 102:13-14; Zech. 9:16). refrain. . . embracing— (Joel 2:16; 1 Cor. 7:5-6).
6. time to get—for example, to gain honestly a livelihood (Ephes. 4:23). lose—When God wills losses to us, then is our time to be content. keep—not to give to the idle beggar (2 Thes. 3:10). cast away—in charity (Proverbs 11:24); or to part with the dearest object, rather than the soul (Mark 9:43). To be careful is right in its place, but not when it comes between Jesus Christ and us (Luke 10:40-42).
7. rend—garments, in mourning (Joel 2:13); figuratively, nations, as Israel from Judah, already foretold, in Solomon's time (1 Kings 11:30-31), to be "sewed" together hereafter (Ezekiel 37:15, 22). silence— (Amos 5:13), in a national calamity, or that of a friend (Job 2:13); also not to murmur under God's visitation (Leviticus 10:3; Psalm 39:1-2, 9).
8. hate—for example, sin, lusts (Luke 14:26); that is, to love God so much more as to seem in comparison to hate "father or mother”, when coming between us and God. a time of war . . . peace— (Luke 14:31).
SOMETIME ONLY JESUS CAN HELP US:
Matthew 6:33-AV But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Isaiah 55:6-AV Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Isaiah 55:7-AV Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
LOOK AT THE BENEFITS OF BECOMING A CHRISTIAN:
How does a person become a Christian, and are sure that he/she is save? First the person must know that he/she is a sinner and need deliverance from the lord.
Romans 3:23 (KJV) for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Galatians 3:22 (KJV) But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
THE SINNER MUST BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A GOD:
Hebrews 11:6 NKJV But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
THE SINNER MUST BELIEVE THAT GOD IS READY TO FORGIVE HIM:
Isaiah 55:7 (KJV)Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
THE SINNER MUST BELIEVE THAT CHRIST DIED FOR HIM:
Romans 5:6 (KJV) For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Romans 5:8 (KJV)But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
1 Cor. 15:3-8 (KJV) For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; [4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: [5] And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: [6] After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. [7] After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. [8] And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
MUST BELIEVE THAT GOD CAN KEEP HIM:
Ephes. 3:20 (KJV) Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Jude 1:24 (KJV) Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
PERFECTING THE SAINTS IS A WORK OF GOD:
1 Peter 5:10 (KJV) But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.
THE SINNER MUST KNOW THAT ONLY JESUS CAN SAVE THEM:
Acts 4:12 (KJV) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
THE SINNER MUST MAKE A DECISION TODAY:
Isaiah 1:18 (KJV) Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
2 Cor. 6:2 (KJV) (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
BOW YOUR HEAD AND PRAY THIS PRAYER:
Lord I am a sinner and need your salvation. Forgive all my sins. I accept your son Jesus as my savior today.
We can sing with the song writer" I rise walk in heaven’s own light above the world and sin with heart made pure and garments white, and Christ en-throned with in. The cleansing stream I see I see I plunge, and O It cleans-eth me. O praise the Lord, it cleans-eth me, it cleans-eth me yes, cleans-eth me."
DROP ALL PRE-CONCEIVE IDEAS OF CHRISTIANITY:
Drop all preconceived ideas of Christianity because these conflict with the reality of Christianity. The lord will live the life through you day by day. You do not drop things from your life on your own. The spirit of God will walk you out of sins in his own time.
FIRST HUMBLING YOU:
Ephes. 2:8-9 (KJV)For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.
If you stop sins and get holy before God’s timing you will begin to boast how it is your own magnetism got you so far, then you became a source of discouragement to others. Therefore, you are going to stuck upon a sin or two. The sin always getting the better of you. This will push you to always accept God’s grace, and to see your own frailness.
1 John 1:8 (KJV) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
TO CONTINUE GROWING IN GOD:
1 Peter 2:2 (KJV) As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
2 Peter 1:5-10 (NKJV) But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble.
FINDING OUT YOUR CALLING:
When I was newly save, the believers always, ask me if I know the will of God for my life! I never really know what they were talking about. Every person that was saved had a mission and a gift. However, because you are just a babe in Christ you do not know any of these. As you go on with the lord his will for you will unfolds day bay day. Do not run off and make any big commitment. Your mate has to be tailor made for you by God. You are now a citizen of heaven. Heaven does not rule by democracy. You cannot serve God with democratic mind set.
WHAT YOU MUST DROP OFF:
Hebrews 12:1 (Living Bible) Since we have such a huge crowd of men of faith watching us from the grandstands, let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back, and especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up; and let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us.
Ephes. 4:31 (Living Bible) Stop being mean, bad-tempered, and angry. Quarreling, harsh words, and dislike of others should have no place in your lives.
Col. 3:8 (Living Bible) but now is the time to cast off and throw away all these rotten garments of anger, hatred, cursing, and dirty language.
GET A GOOD BIBLE, AND FIND A GOOD CHURCH:
One of the best Bibles out there is the New King James Version. Dake’s annotated Bible is very good. Next, you need a living bible to make some thing simple.
Hebrews 10:25 (Living Bible) Let us not neglect our church meetings, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.
PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM BEING SPOILED BY MAN:
Col. 2:8 (KJV)Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Hebrews 13:9 (KJV) Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
Seven Ways that People Can Spoil Christians:
1. Through philosophy (Col. 2:8)
2. Through vain deceit (Col. 2:4,8,18-19)
3. Through human traditions (Col. 2:8)
4. Through human religion and world principles contrary to the gospel (Col. 2:8,14-23; note, §Galatians 4:3)
5. Through circumcision (Col. 2:11-13; Acts 15:1; Romans 4:9-16; Galatians 5:1-11)
6. Through the law of Moses, demanding observance of the laws on meats, drinks, holy days, new moons, feasts, and sabbaths (Col. 2:14-17)
7. Through cults that puff up and imitate the gospel (Col. 2:18-23)
By all these means, unsuspecting souls are being carried off as plunder and booty by false teachers. The founders of false religions and human philosophies which pamper the flesh and give their victims elated feelings of importance make an appeal to them.
Christianity is loaded down with some false concept. Some little believe system, which are spread by false believers. One of such teaching is that you must “Look like Christians” How does Christians look? Genuine Christianity is not an external thing but of the heart and spirit.
Micah 6:8 (KJV)He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
When cults capture a newly converted Christians, the cult first job on that new believer is to close their mind. Preventing the new believer from reading any material from other churches. So that new believer will never get out of their trap.
YOUR HORMONE DOES NOT STOP WORKING WITH CHRISTIANITY:
Philip. 3:20-21 (KJV)For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: [21] Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Romans 8:23 (KJV) And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Our bodies were not save at conversion. The work of redemption took place in your spirit man. Our body will be redeemed at the return of our lord. We are still waiting for the redemption of our body.
According to Philip 3:20-21 and Romans 8:23. You are still going to have urges. You have to present your body to the lord as a living sacrifice. Not dead one. Living sacrifice give trouble, you will have trouble keeping that body tied to the altar. However, as you and I grow in the lord what seem impossible will be quite possible.
Come back for update soon.
Bearer Of The Mind Sword.
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