So many of us who name the name of Christ today can identify with this statement: I heard it in some Bible study, and therefore it must be true. More often than not, like the rest of the world, we tend to share our opinions rather than taking the time to dig deep into the word of God to verify what we have heard. It is Gods Words that are alive not ours. The dictionary defines the word opinion as a belief or conclusion held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof a belief or judgment that rests on grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty. I do the best I can in these emails to provide thoughts and insights based on the facts contained in and upheld by the Word of God only. His Word is not complicated like many say, but clear enough for a child to understand its basic yet deep truths. It is written by God to be a REVELATION not a mystery. When we raise our opinions above the Word of God, we do a disservice to the One we claim to serve. His Word is ABSOLUTE TRUTH. It has not changed over the last 4,000 years. The words of men, based on their opinions about the Word of God have changed throughout the generations as they adapt to each new culture. God spoke through the Prophet Amos about our day: "Behold, days are coming," declares the Lord GOD, "When I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, But rather for hearing the words of the LORD. Amos 8:10-12 (in Context) Amos 8 (Whole Chapter) Evangelism is at the core of my being. I cannot help but look at the world through the lens of Scripture. These emails are meant for you to share with others, to help plant seeds into the minds and hearts of those you love, so they may become Seeker s of GOD. If I error in anything I say or pass on to you, I am open to correction as long as you do so by using the Word of God. Again, its time to ask anyone who does not want to receive these emails simply to say so and I will remove you from this list. I need no explanation from you at all. In His Service, Because He Lives. Ernie "The world is not run by thought, nor by imagination, but by opinion" (Elizabeth Drew).
Astrology and the Bible by Annonymous thought I would pass it on to you well done. I have a co-worker who keeps telling people that the three wise men were astrologers because "they read the signs in the heavens and followed the North Star." I cringe every time I hear her say that, and I have, on several occasions, corrected her. Why she insists on perpetuating this lie is anybody's guess, but apparently she heard it in some Bible study, and therefore it must be true. Unfortunately, she's not the only one who's doing it. There are many people out there spreading a misinterpreted gospel, and the bottom line is, it's dangerous. I believe one of the biggest problems with Bible interpretation attempts is that many people don't really know Jesus, and don't have the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide them - yet they're ready to either espouse their uninformed opinions whenever possible, or swallow whatever nonsense they hear from others who are equally ignorant about the Bible. They might know ABOUT Jesus, but they don't have a personal relationship with Him and are, consequently, still "walking in the way of the world," using their human mindsets to try to interpret God's word. They are what a pastor friend of mine calls "fence straddlers." With one leg in the spiritual realm and one leg in the "carnal" world, they refuse to budge from either one. Granted, they might run to church every Sunday, or be involved in all kinds of church activities, but they wouldn't know Jesus if they fell on Him because they never try to dig deeper. They're just a bunch of people sitting at the edge of God's swimming pool so to speak, getting their big toes wet, rather than just jumping in and immersing themselves with the whole Truth. The other problem in our modern day world is that there is a garden variety of kooks with their own websites clogging up the Information Superhighway, sharing whatever muck is in their twisted minds. To wit, one astrological website I recently accessed boldly proclaims that "When the Bible talks about 'the stars', it is talking about Astrology." Is that so? Let's examine what the Bible REALLY says. The following verse from Isaiah shows God addressing Babylon about the sins they are committing, including the seeking of guidance from astrologers... Isaiah 47:13-14: All the counsel you have received has only worn you out! Let your astrologers come forward, those stargazers who make predictions month by month, let them save you from what is coming upon you. Surely they are like stubble; the fire will burn them up. They cannot even save themselves from the power of the flame. Here are no coals to warm anyone; here is no fire to sit by.
There are many other scriptures about astrology/witchcraft, and interpreters of omens. How anyone (even those who don't know the Bible very well) can misinterpret God's word on this issue is beyond me: Deuteronomy 4:19: "Be careful that you don't worship the sun, moon, and stars." Deuteronomy 17:2-5 in the Old Testament says that those who worshipped the sun, moon, or stars were to be stoned. Leviticus 20:6 says God will separate himself from those who go after mediums and familiar spirits. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 says that practicing witchcraft, sorcery, soothsaying, interpreting omens, making spells, and being a medium or spiritist, are all terrible sins to God. Daniel 2:27-28 talks of how God kept King Nebuchadnezzar's dream and its interpretation secret from the astrologers, magicians or dream interpreters, and soothsayers. However, he revealed it to his prophet Daniel. Acts 16:16-18 talks of a girl who was possessed by an evil spirit that enabled her to be a fortune teller. Paul commanded the evil spirit to come out of her in the name or authority of Jesus, and the spirit left her: Deuteronomy 18:9-11: "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft..." 2 Chronicles 33:5-7: "He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced sorcery, divination and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger." Throughout the entire Bible God allows only His prophets to accurately interpret any kind of "signs". It is important to realize that, when the Bible talks about signs in the stars, heavens, or whatever, they're usually literal signs: Luke 21:24-26 says, "There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Yes, there will be many "signs" in the heavens in the end-times: asteroids crashing to earth and causing certain upheaval, weird weather patterns, stars "blotted out" probably as a result of nuclear bombs, etc. But, make no mistake, these signs have nothing whatsoever to do with astrology. God does not mince His words as to how He feels when it comes to man-made hoodoo-voodoo and hocus pocus, so how can anyone possibly misinterpret what He said?
With so many people insisting on using their human mindsets to interpret God's word, is it any wonder we have so many "religions" and weird beliefs and false prophets today? Someone once told me they don't like the fact that Jesus referred to people as "lambs" or "sheep" in need of a shepherd. Well, we ARE like sheep. We all follow something or somebody. Those who are desperate to know their future follow astrology or tarot card readers or whatever (never mind the fact that God is in charge, whether they realize it or not!); the Germans followed Hitler, even after they became aware that he was off his rocker; history repeated itself with Milosevic in Kosovo when his followers went along with his efforts at ethnic cleansing in that region; the Hollywood jet set are following the false teaching of Scientology because it caters to their need to deify themselves; many Americans of the Clinton era gladly followed their illustrious prez down a path of immorality, dissecting the meaning of the word "is" along the way; hundreds died for Jim Jones and David Koresh, and the leader of that weird asteroid cult who dressed in purple and laid down to die while waiting for the mother ship to beam them up; American school children copy and mimic the dress, hairstyles and actions of their favorite movie stars and rock bands; Shirley MacLaine follows her belief in being born again, and again, and again... Instead of listening to God and what He wants, most people simply turn their backs and do their "own thing" because it's easier to be "in and of the world". Back in the Old Testament, when the Jews did their own thing, God simply killed them. Thanks to Jesus' sacrifice for us, today we don't get killed when we stray from God's Word. We can stray to our heart's content. We all have the choice to believe whatever we want and however we want - but we'd also better be prepared to explain "why" on Judgment Day, because God isn't going to let us off the hook: Revelation 3:16: "So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--i am about to spit you out of my mouth." Matthew 7:22-24: "Then I will tell them plainly, `I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' Many will say to me on that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, `I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." Astrologers, Satanists, witches, psychics, and all those who are dabbling in magic of some kind - take heed: Man's efforts to predict omens and tell the future are always fruitless. These "gifts" come from Satan, not from your Creator. Dabbling in these will only result in certain spiritual death. God says so. Anonymous
I thought the above was well done. I ll let God who is the Lord of the Lost and the Lord of the Found speak for Himself to close this message on Astrology. Revelation 20: vs 11-15 Then I (Apostle John) saw a great white throne and Him (Jesus) who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them (people standing suspended in thin air). And I saw the dead, small and great (some of you) standing before God, and the books were opened (the record of your life on earth). And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life (names of people who are Born Again in Christ). And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things written which were written in the books (the record of your life on earth). The sea gave up the dead (those billions who lived before the flood), who were in it, and Death and Hades (where physically dead, NON born again people reside, waiting to be Judged this is NOT purgatory according to Catholic Tradition. This place is where the condemned wait to be judged by God and then sent to their permanent place of residence Hell. If you find yourself here it is too late for you, no one on earth can pray you out!) And they were judged, each one according to their works (Gods standard is perfect Holiness to gain admittance into His Heaven none of my good works or yours is good enough to get in!). Then Death and Hades were cast into the Lake of Fire (Hell, the place originally created by God for the fallen angels but will also contain those who do not accept the work of Jesus on the Cross as payment for their sins and recognize Jesus as their Savior, the Son of God.) This is the second Death (you will have already died physically at this point. Now you are a spiritual being, standing before God. You will never die, you will always be you. The difference is where you will live permanently for Eternity (forever). And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. If you recognize yourself in the later verses, then God has become for you The Lord of the Lost for you are Lost.
If not, then the following from Gods Word is written for you; because for you God has become The Lord of the Found. Revelation 21: vs. 4-7 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things (your life on earth) have passed away. Then He (Jesus) who sits on the throne said BEHOLD, I make all things new. And He said to me (Apostle John), write, for these words are true and faithful. And He said to me (Apostle John), it is done! I (Jesus) am the Alpha and the Omega, The Beginning and the End. I (Jesus) will give of the fountain of the water of Life freely to him who thirsts. He (could be YOU) who overcomes shall inherit all things and I will be his God and he shall be my son. Heaven and Hell will both be populated by Believers in Jesus. For Jesus is The Lord of both the LOST and the FOUND. Revelation: vs. 21:8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Spiritual Death). No matter what we think as individuals, the Truth never changes, whether we choose to believe it or not. Our opinions mean nothing when illuminated by the Word of God. ernie