Today’s Devotional – October 11th (“Literally in Trouble: The Johnny Appleseed Delusion”)

By admin On February 6th, 2021

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Today’s Devotional – October 11th

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Literally in Trouble:

“The Johnny Appleseed Delusion”

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“And He (Jesus) said,

Unto you it is given to know

the mysteries of the kingdom of God:

but to others in parables;

that seeing they might not see,

and hearing they might not understand.”

Luke 8:10

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John Chapman, born in 1774, spent his adult life as a vagabond, traveling around Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Indiana, and Illinois, planting and caring for apple orchards, and being somewhat of a missionary and evangelist, preaching the doctrines of a self-proclaimed prophet, Emanuel Swedenborg.

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Drawing of Jonathan Chapman, aka Johnny Appleseed. – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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THE NATURAL (CARNAL) MAN

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Now this article is not to disparage the folksy legend of Johnny Appleseed. (But to set the record straight, the gospel Chapman preached is currently known as the “Jesus Only” gospel, which denies the existence of the Father and the Holy Spirit.)

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But it does make a somewhat appropriate introduction to a great problem which often occurs when people try to interpret the Bible literally, when the Bible should be interpreted spiritually, and even allegorically.

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Listen…

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God:

for they are foolishness unto him:

neither can he know them,

because they are spiritually discerned.”

1st Corinthians 2:14

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Those who are void of the Spirit of God cannot discern the spiritual nature of Scripture, to a high degree. Nor do they even desire to do so!

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Johnny Appleseed – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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but unto them which be disobedient…even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.”

1st Peter 2:7, 8

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The Bible uses many things in nature to present spiritual truths. For instance, John Chapman quite possibly read many passages such as this one…

“Now he that ministereth seed to the sower

both minister bread for your food,

and multiply your seed sown,

and increase the fruits of your righteousness…”

2nd Corinthians 9:10.

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And from such similar passages as this, John Chapman perhaps took a literal connotation and began his mission to plant literal apple seeds throughout the land.

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Johnny_Appleseed_stamp_5c_1966_issue_

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GETTING INTO REAL TROUBLE

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But there are many readers of the Bible who have ended up in a lot more trouble than Johnny Appleseed, by ignoring the true meaning of certain allegories. At least Johnny lived a somewhat healthful life!

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But there have been many who have read about wine in the Bible, and have taken such passages literally, and eventually became drunkards.

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There have been others who have read the parable of the Ten Virgins, and have begun advocating polygamy, when in fact that parable is speaking of churches, not literal women!

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And there are many today who look at passages concerning dancing, and have taken this metaphor concerning the joy we have in Jesus, as permission to engage in today’s sensual dances!

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Five Wise Virgins – Matt 25 – www.thebiblerevival.com – Public Domain

Dancing woman – Wikimedia – Creative Commons License

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THE BIBLE, A SUPERNATURAL BOOK

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“And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion,

that they should believe a lie:”

2nd Thessalonians 2:11.

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God has written the Bible in such a way, that it reveals to each person whatever is the ruling force within each particular individual’s heart.

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Listen to David…

“With the merciful Thou wilt show Thyself merciful;

with an upright man Thou wilt show Thyself upright;

With the pure Thou wilt show Thyself pure;

and with the froward (crooked)

Thou wilt show Thyself froward (unsavoury).”

Psalm 18:25, 26.

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For those who wish to prove the Bible is not the Word of God, they will have no trouble finding supposed error within its pages.

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For those who wish to have a God who will endlessly torture all those who reject their church, there are certain verses which seem to confirm that idea of so-called, “Eternal Torment” (which name is never found in Scripture).

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For those who wish the “bad guys” to be someone else, the Bible will seemingly point the accusing finger at “the other guy”.

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For those who wish to find an excuse to sin, the Bible will appear to supply excuses.

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For those who don’t want to be bothered with Bible study, the Bible will almost seem to give the necessary permission to be excused from Bible study.

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For those who want to go after worldly enterprises, earthly riches, or amusements and pleasures, the Bible supposedly contains all the necessary encouragements to do so.

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And on and on and on it goes…

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Hell – Jan van Eyck Diptych – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

ABOVE PICTURE: Unfunny Judgment Day Cartoon – a party tonight – signsofheaven.org

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THE BIBLE REVEALS MY OWN HEART

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**In other words, for those who wish to find the Jesus of their own making (for there are many Jesuses, howbeit false ones), there are enough relevant passages in which to do so.**

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No, it’s not that the Bible has lies in it. Every Word of God is true and pure. But God has written it in such a way, to judge each and every person, as to show just exactly what is in a person’s own heart.

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Listen…

“For the Word of God is (living), 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.”

Hebrews 4:12.

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Yes, the Bible is a discerner of each and every human heart! It cuts both ways, either to save or to destroy.

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GOOD NEWS!

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Well, there is Good News to be gleaned concerning these things. Yes, if I perceive that I have been deceived into believing lies, by my own misinterpretation of Scripture, God is allowing me time to amend my ways!

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Now isn’t that some really Good News!?

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David’s sorrow – Wikigallery – Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

***“Dear Lord,* *Please keep me from allowing my own heart to deceive me. Help me to seek the true Jesus, and be willing to forsake all, so to follow Him…***

Prayer – Anna Blunden – For Only One Short Hour – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

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FLEEING WOMAN CONSTELLATION

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***FROM WHERE &TO WHERE DOES SHE FLEE?* *WOMAN ROTATES THROUGH THE SEASONS…***

This page is about the Big Dipper, also called the Great Bear constellation (Ursa Major ). However, the ancient pagan cultures did not see this constellation as God intended it to be seen. It is actually a headless woman in childbirth. This is seen in springtime. It is seen in the northern skies.

But as the seasons progress, this travailing woman flips upside down, now appearing as a woman with upraised arms like eagle wings who is running (eventually flying, as shown in sketch on right) into the wilderness (westward). The single star representing her birth-child (Christ) now becomes her head (“Christ is the head of the church.” Ephesians 5:23

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The 7 Stars (Big Dipper) is easy to see with its very bright 7 stars. But the Revelation 12 Woman (Ursa Major) must be seen on a dark starry night, away from city lights.

These are star charts from Wikipedia, with sketches of the Woman added.

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TOMORROW:

” October 12th (Prayer in a Fragile World!)”

Woman Praying – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

Signs Of Heaven

Today’s Devotional – October 11th (“Literally in Trouble: The Johnny Appleseed Delusion”)

.

.

Today’s Devotional – October 11th

.

.

.

.

Literally in Trouble:

“The Johnny Appleseed Delusion”

.

.

.

.

.

“And He (Jesus) said,

Unto you it is given to know

the mysteries of the kingdom of God:

but to others in parables;

that seeing they might not see,

and hearing they might not understand.”

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

THE NATURAL (CARNAL) MAN

.

Now this article is not to disparage the folksy legend of Johnny Appleseed. (But to set the record straight, the gospel Chapman preached is currently known as the “Jesus Only” gospel, which denies the existence of the Father and the Holy Spirit.)

.

But it does make a somewhat appropriate introduction to a great problem which often occurs when people try to interpret the Bible literally, when the Bible should be interpreted spiritually, and even allegorically.

.

Listen…

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God:

for they are foolishness unto him:

neither can he know them,

because they are spiritually discerned.”

.

Those who are void of the Spirit of God cannot discern the spiritual nature of Scripture, to a high degree. Nor do they even desire to do so!

.

.

.

.

.

.

but unto them which be disobedient…even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.”

.

The Bible uses many things in nature to present spiritual truths. For instance, John Chapman quite possibly read many passages such as this one…

“Now he that ministereth seed to the sower

both minister bread for your food,

and multiply your seed sown,

and increase the fruits of your righteousness…”

.

And from such similar passages as this, John Chapman perhaps took a literal connotation and began his mission to plant literal apple seeds throughout the land.

.

.

.

.

.

.

GETTING INTO REAL TROUBLE

.

But there are many readers of the Bible who have ended up in a lot more trouble than Johnny Appleseed, by ignoring the true meaning of certain allegories. At least Johnny lived a somewhat healthful life!

.

But there have been many who have read about wine in the Bible, and have taken such passages literally, and eventually became drunkards.

.

There have been others who have read the parable of the Ten Virgins, and have begun advocating polygamy, when in fact that parable is speaking of churches, not literal women!

.

And there are many today who look at passages concerning dancing, and have taken this metaphor concerning the joy we have in Jesus, as permission to engage in today’s sensual dances!

.

.

.

.

**In other words, for those who wish to find the Jesus of their own making (for there are many Jesuses, howbeit false ones), there are enough relevant passages in which to do so.**