.

.

Daily Devotional, Year 3 – December 25

.

.

.

.

.

The 4 Winds of Revelation 7:1 Now Blowing!

.

Part 1:

“The 4 Winds of Doctrine”

.

.

.

.

“That we henceforth be no more children,

tossed to and fro, and carried about

with every wind of doctrine,

by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness,

whereby they lie in wait to deceive;”

Ephesians 4:14

.

.

.

.

Does it seem like we’re having a lot of bad weather lately?

.

The world, that is. Does it appear as if the world is experiencing a lot of extreme weather?

Well, it sure seems like it is, wouldn’t you agree?

.

Another question: are we getting a lot of “bad weather” in the political and social realm?

.

That is, doesn’t it seem as if hurricane winds of strife are now blowing amongst the nations of the world?

.

110413-NOAA-tornado-02

.

.

.

.

.

STRONG WINDS IN CHURCH

.

Here’s another question many are now asking: “Is the Christian world getting a lot of extreme weather lately?”

.

In other words, are there seemingly storm clouds and winds of doctrines blowing from every-which direction?

Does the Christian world seem as though there are countless different variations of the Gospel of Jesus blowing in the wind these days?

.

Yes, there are many Christians today, complaining about all the different viewpoints being tossed about in the world.

.

Church after hurricane – Wikimedia – Creative Commons lic.

.

.

.

.

.

1,001 FLAVOR GOSPEL!

.

It appears that, no matter which way a Christian might turn, there are preachers preaching with all the boldness and confidence of that great Apostle, Paul!

.

The problem is, they are mostly preaching many different things from each other!

You could possibly say, that if Christendom were an ice cream parlor, you would have to call it something like “The 1,001 Flavors Gospel Ice Cream Parlor”!

.

Oh yes, a person can choose just about any flavor of the Gospel that tickles his (or Her) fancy!

“Give me a scoop of ‘Hip & Trendy’, please”

“And I’ll take some ‘Heart-tugging Humanitarianism’, too!”

“But don’t give me any ‘Old Fashioned”, please! I tasted it as a kid when my parents gave it to me, and it’s just too bland!”

.

Helados – Wikipedia – share-alike license by Mackbeth24 at en.wikipedia

.

.

.

.

.

“SATAN…WILL, IF POSSIBLE, DECEIVE THE ELECT”

.

So how does one discern what is true and what is just a “look-alike” gospel?

.

Because let’s face it! The counterfeits which are blowing in the wind today are quite often so close to the truth, that it’s extremely difficult to discern the true from the false!

.

Audience hands – cropped & altered – Wikimedia – Universal Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

“For I am the LORD, I change not”

Malachi 3:6

.

One thing that many of these false gospels have in common, is that they quite often try to be fashionable and up-to-date.

.

Quite often they will mingle some faddish and trendy things of the world, in attempt to attract large audiences.

Maybe some hip music.

Maybe some “beautiful people”.

Maybe some “cool” talk.

And many preachers today strive to behave just a little like stand-up comedians, keeping their audience laughing.

Many other gospels mingle their ethnicity, which only divides and never unifies the body of Christ (see Colossians 3:10, 11).

.

But the true Gospel has a timeless quality about it.

The truth doesn’t need to be dressed up or updated.

.

Laughing – (color added) – Fotothek df roe neg – cropped and colored image – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

.

.

.

.

.

MINGLED GOSPELS VERY POWERFUL

.

But the great problem is, that many of these so-called gospels mingle a whole lot of Bible into their preaching!

.

Well, Satan is not as dumb as he would like us to suppose!

Everyone knows that mice will not take the poison unless it’s mingled with lots and lots of oatmeal.

.

Oh yes, it’s true that Satan has raised up some really poor counterfeit gospels.

But even those bad ones only make the really clever counterfeits look that much more convincing!

.

ABOVE PICTURE: Satan, The False Prophet who offers a world-loving gospel – www.signsofheaven.org

.

.

.

.

.

SOME WARNING SIGNS

.

So here are some questions to ask yourself, concerning any particular ministry in question:

.

Does that ministry constantly encourage to study, study, study the Bible? (see Psalms 119:97)

.

Does that ministry add to the Bible, further revelations, such as dreams, and visions, and voices? (see Revelation 22:18)

.

Does it appear as if that ministry encourages, either by word or by example, the seeking after the cares and pleasures of this world?

.

Do the followers seem to worship one day per week, followed by six days of going headlong after the pleasures and treasures of this life?

.

Or does that ministry try hard to keep from mingling fashion, trendiness, entertainment, “hip-talk”, comedy, ethnic, programs, non-biblical holidays, or any other earthy, non-Christ-like additions into their presentations? (See Ephesians. 5:3, 4)

.

And is the focus of that ministry on becoming Christ-like in every way?

Or do they rather focus on other things, instead of focusing on Christ, and our overcoming the world? (see 1st John 3:3)

.

Well, perhaps there are more biblical “acid-tests” that one could apply to some of these modern-day gospels which are currently blowing in the wind.

.

The important thing is to not let any one of these blow you away from the truth!

.

Holy Bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Lic.

.

.

.

.

.

“…A LAMP UNTO MY FEET”

Psalm 119:105

.

And if a person wants to NOT be misled, he or she must know the Bible well, and have a mature understanding of the spiritual nature of the Bible.

.

Or do we just let the “spirit” lead us?

.

In Martin Luther’s day, some groups rose up, proclaiming that because they had the “holy spirit” talking to them, they didn’t need the Bible anymore!

.

Regarding these groups, Luther commented… “They cry, ‘The Spirit, the Spirit!’. But what spirit they are speaking of, I know not!”

.

Luther 95 theses – Wikipedia – US public domain

.

.

.

.

.

STUDY THE REAL, NOT THE COUNTERFEIT

.

The point is, God has given us the Bible.

.

And instead of studying all the counterfeits, we need to study the true! Because most everybody knows, it is by being thoroughly familiar with the real thing, that one can easily spot the counterfeit! And so, let’s get to know the Bible!

.

It is only by having a very good knowledge of the Bible, that any of us can expect to get through the troublous and confusing days we’re now entering into!

.

A genuine 10000 bill – Wikipedia – public domain

THREE DOLLAR BILL – Wikipedia – Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

WHY NOT JUST STUDY FOR YOURSELF?

.

And really, why not simply turn off all those fancy and cool-talking evangelists and teachers, and just study for yourself?

.

After all, the Bible says… “But the anointing which ye have received of Him abides in you, AND YE NEED NOT THAT ANY MAN TEACH YOU…” 1st John 2;27.

.

Yes, God’s Spirit abides in every true worshipper.

So why even get mixed up and confused by so many of today’s preachers?

.

Chaplain reads Bible – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain.

.

.

.

.

.

.

TO READ PART 2, CLICK HERE…

May 15 (The 4 Winds of Revelation 7:1 Now Blowing! Part 2: “Separating The Wheat From The Chaff”)

Wheat Winnowing – Vannage du riz, Uttarakhand, – India – Wikimedia – Share-Alike License

.

.

.

.

TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me a very good knowledge of your Word, that I may be so well-grounded that I won’t fall into a selfish gospel of man’s making…

Prayer – USMC – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Fleeing to the Mountains: The Abomination in the Church, Part 1” or you can also read… ““Vanity Fair” & The False Prophet”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

.

.

.

.

THE END

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

.

.

.

.

.

LOCATING ARCTURUS…

.

An easy way to find Arcturus is to follow the arc of the handle of the Big Dipper, in the spring through fall (these are the months in which Arcturus is visible).

.

SUMMER CONSTELLATIONS: (Sketch to right: constellations span the heavens (Ark in south, 7 Stars in north), and travel from east to west through the night.

.

This sketch is of the Summer Constellations as they appear when in the western half of the night sky.

The box-like constellation is the The Ark of the Covenant (AKA Sagittarius) is in the south.

To the right is both the Flower of the Field Constellation (AKA Scorpius) and the The Cross/Scepter Constellations.

Further to the north is the Crown of Revelation Twelve (AKA Corona Borealis Constellation) and the star, Arcturus. Farthest to the north is the 7 Stars Constellation (AKA The Big Dipper )

.

.

.

.

.

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Arcturus (the star that wise-men follow!)”

.

.

.

.

.

.

TOMORROW:

December 26 (Cuttlefish & The False Prophet, Part 7: “It’s a Glad, Glad, Glad, Glad World!”)

Mad world poster – Wikimedia – Fair Use Rationale

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

90-MINUTE OPEN FORUM

.

ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO LISTEN TO THIS DEBATE REGARDING WHETHER THE CHURCH-AGE HAS ENDED.

.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN…The Open Forum Harold Camping April 8, 2003

.

ABOVE PICTURE: Holy Bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Lic.

.

.

.

.