Titus 3:9 KJV “But avoid FOOLISH QUESTIONS, and genealogies, and CONTENTIONS, and strivings about the law; for they are UNPROFITABLE and vain.”

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When Satan asked Eve the famous question in the Garden Of Eden, did he really wonna know? (Genesis 3:1) Like their father the Devil there are folks who are skilled at asking questions; starting controversies, etcetera for the sole purpose of getting us to doubt our faith. Often they even pretend to be believers like you, then comes some weird question.😳??? I get this a lot and I got it the other day. A guy I met seemed very mild and friendly. He mentioned he had just come from a dinner ran by Christians who feed the community regularly which he attends on a regular basis. He raved about how good the food was and said he enjoyed the brief sermons they preach before dinner. Then his conversation suddenly turned to, “Many Christians are hypocrites.” But he sure likes those hypocrites food, smiling in their faces, pretending to like them. Now who’s really the hypocrite?🤔 (Jude 12 2 Peter 2:13) Then he asked me this question as if he fully supported what he was asking, “But some male and female Pastors are gay? What do you think about that?” I in turn asked him, “So do they believe in the Bible they preach and teach?” He said, “The Bible’s been changed over the years.” I said, “What it says about homosexuality it said from the beginning. So do they believe in the Bible they preach and teach?” He avoided my question again because he knew the point I was making which is: “You’re saying that so many Christians are hypocrites while the gay male and female Pastors you support don’t live by the Bible they teach. If they did they would have to renounce homosexuality. Does this not make them hypocrites too?” Hmmmmm.🤔

I asked the guy if he asked God his question and he said, “No.” I explained to him whenever I ask people this and they tell me, “No,” I wonder, Why are they asking me? I told him when people do this they really don’t want an answer, they’re just trying to prove a point. I then let him know I don’t engage in such arguments and debates, and that if he asks God his question with a sincere heart God will answer him not only regarding this but on many other things. He then started saying proudly, “Oh I already know the answer, blah blah blah…” You see:👀 he’s asking me a question he thinks he already knows the answer to. So why ask it? Because he only wants to argue and plant seeds of doubt about what the Bible says. This is his tactic for spreading false doctrine. His question was just a setup to draw me into a conversation then once he has my attention spread his false teaching. There are MANY like him. This is the same way the Devil setup Eve in the Garden. We are told to avoid strife and not to cast our pearls before swine for good reason. (Proverbs 9:7-9 Matthew 7:6)

Proverbs 20:3 NIV “It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.”

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Like their father the Devil there are folks who are skilled at asking questions; starting controversies, etcetera for the sole purpose of getting us to doubt our faith. Often they even pretend to be believers like you, then comes some weird question.😳???

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A few days later I saw this guy draw someone else into a similar conversation. He started off nice and friendly talking about religion then suddenly started saying Christians are hypocrites again. This is what he does. He’s on a mission. Many like him are. (1 Timothy 4:1-2) They are imposters and deceivers. It’s their job to get you and I to question our faith and feel like we have to prove ourselves to them. One way they do this is by pointing out any negatives done in the name of Christianity. Sadly, there’s some truth in their statements but it’s nothing new. Jesus Christ Himself repeatedly said many claiming to follow Him would be false. (Matthew 7:21-23) And Jesus’ words are always true.

Yeah, there are some who will point out all the faults of phony and real Christians then say that’s why they are not Christians. But I’ve never heard anyone say, “I don’t wonna be rich because many rich people are ruthless, and many of them are hypocrites.”🤔 I’ve never heard anyone say, “I don’t wonna be pretty, or beautiful, or handsome, because many of those folks are conceited and fake.”🤔 I’ve never heard people say, “You know, I’m not going to the car lot and buy a new car because so many car salesman are crooked, liars,” etcetera. I only hear this reasoning when it comes to Christianity. Hmmmmmm,🤔 sounds like an excuse.

THE BEST EXAMPLE

The best example for answering questions about God is Jesus Christ. Studying Him in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; seeing how He skillfully answered and refuted friend and foe alike is priceless. There are times Jesus gave no answer at all to people’s questions because Jesus knew they were not sincere. (Matthew 21:23-27) There are times Jesus’ answers or responses stunned folks but they were the truth. (John 8:3-11 John 6:52-69) The more we grow in following Jesus the better we will be at giving the right answer at the right time.

Proverbs 25:11 KJV “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”

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Ephesians 6:10-12 NLT “A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. [11] Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. [12] For WE ARE NOT FIGHTING AGAINST FLESH-AND-BLOOD ENEMIES, but against EVIL RULERS and AUTHORITIES of the unseen world, against MIGHTY POWERS in this dark world, and against EVIL SPIRITS in the heavenly places.”

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Doesn’t this explain the bizarre behaviors of our persecutors? “WE ARE NOT FIGHTING AGAINST FLESH-AND-BLOOD ENEMIES.” There are evils people do that defy all humanity (and humanity is pretty evil). These evils are of another sort, they are demonic. The outward appearance looks human, but it’s not. Evil spirits use human bodies and hide behind their faces.🧑

The Bible says we are fighting, “Against EVIL RULERS and AUTHORITIES of the UNSEEN world, against MIGHTY POWERS in this dark world, and against EVIL SPIRITS in the heavenly places.” The UNSEEN forces of Satan are IN THIS WORLD waging war against us. But remember, they’re not, “Flesh and blood enemies,” the Bible says.🤔 I think this is why it’s sometimes hard to spot them. I also believe this is why it’s hard to think of one of these, “Evil rulers,” “Authorities,” “Mighty powers,” or, “Evil spirits,” as your girlfriend, or your boyfriend, or your best friend. They’re flesh and blood; they’re human, right? Plus their handsome or pretty, and they make us feel good (sometimes). How could they be one of these evil entities or any part of them? I don’t claim to fully understand this guy’s but I will use a true experience of mine to try to explain:

SHE TURNED INTO AN EVIL DARK FIGURE

I had backslidden hard years ago and was in a fornication relationship with a woman for about a year. God mercifully, and miraculously got my attention one day and let me know I was as good as dead if I did not repent. Long story short after picking up my Bible again (something I hadn’t done in a year), styudying it DAILY again, begging for God’s help to get out of that relationship, and begging for forgiveness for my sins, I felt my strength returning to me. God also let me know I was forgiven but of course I had to break off the relationship. God also revealed to me the lady I was sleeping with was a practicing witch.😳 It took about 2 weeks for me to be ready to break it off for good, but it wasn’t an easy 2 weeks (lots of spiritual warfare). Now I know I was fighting much more than my own evil desires, and an evil woman. I went to her home. I remember very calmly telling her why I’m breaking up with her; that this is wrong, it’s a sin against God, and so forth. And I let her know that God revealed to me she had been putting witchcraft on me. She never denied it either. Then as I was speaking her entire body changed in an instant before my eyes into an evil looking dark figure. I could only see the whites of her eyes! Everything else was pitch black, a darkness I had never seen before.😳 I had to be under the control of the Holy Spirit while this took place because I didn’t get scared or react in any way, I just kept talking as if I had seen nothing. But I was in silent amazement at what my eyes were beholding. Then suddenly she turned back into her normal, human looking self. Again, I had no fear or didn’t react, I just kept talking. A couple of minutes later it happened again! She instantly turned into the dark, black figure. Only this time the chair she (or it) sat in slowly turned pith black, then the darkness spread slowly to the carpet, then to the other furniture in the room until it was all just darkness, like something you’d see in a horror movie. Again, I had no fear or reacted in any way, but just kept talking as if I had seen nothing (silently amazed). Then she instantly turned back into her human looking self again and everything else in the room; the floor, the furniture also reappeared as normal.😳 (Proverbs 5:3-8) You know, that happened a little over 20 years ago and I think I’m just starting to understand somewhat what God was showing me. Back then I thought God was showing me a vision of how dark she was metaphorically. Now, I firmly believe God was showing me what or who she really is.🤔 (Proverbs 2:18-19)

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Evil spirits use human bodies and hide behind their faces.🧑

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SATAN’S KINGDOM CAN BE SOPHISTICATED

Unseen, “Rulers,” “Powers,” “Authorities,” “Evil spirits,” can be anything or anyone. They don’t have to work only through humans in high places. The Bible never said that. The Bible says they have high rank in their unseen realm. But they can come through your boss, your coworker, school teacher, your doctor, your spouse, your baby sitter, your favorite beautician, your Pastor, your favorite neighborhood store clerk. Again, although these beings are in, “High places, they can and do come through the lowest of places on earth to engage us in spiritual battle. They can even be found among the homeless, yes. Satan reads the Bible too. He knows most of God’s chosen people are among the poor by the world’s standards. (1 Corinthians 1:26-29 James 2:5 Revelation 2:9) So what sense would it make for him to station all of his most powerful troops in high places of human society? Yes, the rich run the world, I know. And yes, from there you can influence the fate of billions of people especially the poor by passing laws and doing other things that mainly affect them, I get that. But do you think that’s the only way Satan attacks God’s people? Just look at what Satan did with Judas. He had one of his own right there among them the whole time and the disciples never knew it!😳 Jesus knew of course but they never had a clue until it was time for him to be revealed.

The Devil engages us in battle daily through our day to day associations, (Revelation 12:17) not only through the high ranking human powers to be. He uses all people, places, and things. So choose wisely. I believe many of us are fighting and have fought very powerful, “Rulers,” “Principalities,” “Mighty Powers,” and, “Evil spirits,” from the dark, unseen realm without even knowing it. (Ephesians 6:12) What do you think pornography is? Only our evil lusts? What do you think lying and stealing are? Do you think all anger is just emotions? We don’t have to know (and shouldn’t want to know) all of the intricacies of the dark side. All we have to know is JESUS!😊 He is our defense. Learning and obeying His commands is our only weapon in this war. (Matthew 7:24-27) May we put on and keep on the complete suit of armor from God! Take nothing for granted! That can prove to be deadly.😳

DANIEL 2:43 THE MYSTERY HYBRID KINGDOM

Daniel 2:43 KJV “And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.”

According to the prophecy God gave Daniel the last kingdom to rule the world would be a hybrid one; a mixture of iron and clay, “They,” mingled, “with the seed of men.” There is much speculation as to who, “THEY,” are. But we do have a record in Genesis chapter 6 of the Nephilim in the earth during the days of Noah when the sons of God (fallen spirit sons of God) cohabited with women on earth producing a hybrid offspring.😳 These beings ruled the word. Mankind was totally ruined, his way being utterly wicked. God destroyed all mankind back then by a worldwide flood and saved only Noah (a righteous man), his wife, his 3 sons, and their wives. (Genesis Chapter 6-7) There are some who believe something similar has already taken place in our day or is taking place as we speak which explains the excessive evil times we’re living in similar to Noah’s day. And isn’t it interesting that we find ourselves literally in the last days spoken by Jesus Christ? (Matthew Chapter 24, Luke Chapter 21, Mark Chapter 13) This time God says He will destroy the world by fire.🤔 (2 Peter 3:10-12)

When it comes to who’s who, or who’s what, in Satan’s kingdom remember, his main government is, “Of the unseen world.” But God does give us lists of individuals throughout His word to look out for who are of Satan’s kingdom. In other words, we can know when we’ve made contact with the Devil’s government:

2 Peter 2:12‭-‬15 HCSB “But these people, like irrational animals — creatures of instinct born to be caught and destroyed — speak blasphemies about things they don’t understand, and in their destruction they too will be destroyed, suffering harm as the payment for unrighteousness. They consider it a pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, delighting in their deceptions as they feast with you. They have eyes full of adultery and are always looking for sin. They seduce unstable people and have hearts trained in greed. Children under a curse! They have gone astray by abandoning the straight path and have followed the path of Balaam, the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness.”

2 Timothy 3:1‭-‬5 HCSB “But know this: Difficult times will come in the last days. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people!”

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GOD’S GRACE DOES NOT MAKE US LESS LIABLE

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Hebrews 2:2-3 HCSB “For if the message spoken through angels was legally binding and every transgression and disobedience received a just punishment, how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was first spoken by the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.”

Hebrews 10:26-29 KJV “For IF WE SIN WILFULLY after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth NO MORE SACRIFICE FOR SINS, [27] But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. [28] He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: [29] OF HOW MUCH SORER PUNISHMENT, SUPPOSE YE, SHALL HE BE THOUGHT WORTHY, WHO HATH TRODDEN UNDER FOOT THE SON OF GOD, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?”

Romans 2:4 HCSB “Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that GOD’S KINDNESS IS INTENDED TO LEAD YOU TO REPENTANCE?”

Titus 2:11-12 NIV “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. [12] It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”

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The purpose of God’s grace is to lead one to repentance; a change of heart and mind. The grace of God teaches us to say, “No,” to sin, not, “Yes,” to it. It does not tell us that God loves us unconditionally, hence it’s ok to sin more. It does not say, “Do as thou wilt,” as Alister Crowley said. God’s grace does not tell us there are no rules, no actions or works that are wrong. Or that striving to please God is a moot point since He loves us unconditionally. I’ve heard people make these claims. How wrong they are! They say God does not reward the righteous or the wicked. What a sad reward awaits them if they do not repent.😢 They want to be so free from God’s righteous judgment yet they have brought it on themselves:

Jude 1:4 NLT “I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”

THEIR CONDEMNATION (JUDGMENT) WAS RECORDED LONG AGO

Interestingly everyone I’ve met who thinks God’s grace is an excuse for loose conduct has a serious problem with fear of being judged.🤔 They are HORRIFIED of it. They often say things like, “Don’t judge me,” or express wanting to live FREE to do whatever they want without anyone judging them. If someone disagrees with them or offers counsel they throw a tantrum. If their way was right, why would they be so afraid of being judged for it?🤔 It’s because their way is not loving or right. If it was there would be no fear of judgement. (1 John 4:18) Their way is selfish. It is filled with envy and strife. It’s lower wisdom, which is earthly, sensual, and demonic. (James 3:14-16)

I believe some do misunderstand God’s grace. Some are young in their faith and are still learning about God’s marvelous grace. Others for whatever reason simply misunderstand it. But then there are others who use God’s Love and grace to whitewash their sins. They say things like, ‘Since God loves us unconditionally it doesn’t matter what we do.’ They quote scripture one moment then speak against them the next. They use or talk about God when it’s convenient then oppose him in the next breath. It sounds like they are spiritually bipolar; double-tongued, double hearted, and double-minded, going from one extreme to the other:

James 1:7-8 KJV “For let, not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. [8] A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

HOW DOES ONE BECOME THIS WAY?

Yes, there are some who willfully sin, and say that it’s ok for us to use our bodies sexually as we please and the like. When you read the next passage believe and accept only what God says about such people:

Romans 1:18-32 HCSB “For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. For His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse. For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles. Therefore God delivered them over in the cravings of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served something created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen. This is why God delivered them over to degrading passions. For even their females exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. The males in the same way also left natural relations with females and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Males committed shameless acts with males and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty of their error. And because they did not think it worthwhile to acknowledge God, God delivered them over to a worthless mind to do what is morally wrong. They are filled with all unrighteousness, evil, greed, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, arrogant, proud, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, and unmerciful. Although they know full well God’s just sentence — that those who practice such things deserve to die — they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them.”

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Psalms 120:1 HCSB “In my distress I called to the Lord, and He answered me.”😊

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What a joy to experience God’s love as David describes in the passage above. Powerful enemies may be mounted against you. Or you’re facing financial difficulties. Or maybe a relationship left you heartbroken. Sometimes it’s all the above and then some. David, the man after God’s own heart went through the same trials we go through. David was a king, a musician, a warrior, a writer, among other things. But David was also a crying man. His life wasn’t easy. Tough situation after situation, problem after problem at times zapped his strength. Sounds familiar? But David knew who to cry to and how to ask God for help. And God came through for him time and time again.😊

God maneuvers people and circumstances to care for us in ways we could never imagine.😊 God often does this when you have no resources left. Then you know it’s Him who rescued you:

2 Chronicles 16:9 BSB “For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him…”

As we just read, ‘Heart’s that are fully devoted to God,’ will always experience His help. There is no insurance policy (Assurance Policy) like it on earth. God is constantly on the lookout to show Himself strong to, “Those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him.” This is why David received God’s help so often and could write about it. He was fully devoted to the Lord:

Psalm 34:19 NIV “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.”

Again, David, the man after God’s own heart, knew how many are the troubles of those who earnestly seek God. But he could also say affirmatively that, “The Lord delivers him from them all.” What a confidence to possess! What a relationship to have with Almighty God!😊

Would you like to have such a relationship with God? We can pray to God and ask Him for it.😊 (Matthew 7:7-11) We can let God know how much we need Him in our lives, that we don’t know what to do, that we’re not in control like we thought we were, and that we want God to be our leader and guide us. A relationship with God should not be solely because of what He can do for us, but because we recognize who He is: Almighty God; the creator of all things (including us) in heaven and earth! Doesn’t that alone mean He deserves our loyalty?🤔 If we come to God the right way; with humble hearts, He will hear us:

James 4:6 HCSB “But He gives greater grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Want to be heard when you are in distress? Cry to God. He will amaze you with what He can do that no one else can! And when He rescues you from your troubles, simply say, “THANK YOU!”😊

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1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

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Who wouldn’t want to live a life free from fear? Fear of the bills not being paid on time, fear of what others think, fear of not having enough to eat, fear of losing loved ones, fear of losing a job, fear of not getting a job, fear of not having somewhere to live, fear of getting sick, fear of dying, and so on. People constantly seek to alleviate their fears. But are they willing to do what is truly necessary to live fear free?🤔

2 Timothy 1:7 KJV “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

As we see in the passage above, morbid fear does not come from God. God gives us the very opposite: Power, Love, and a Sound Mind. So where or who does fear come from? The Devil. Love destroys fear like light destroys darkness. God is love (1 John 4:8), and nothing is more powerful than God. A life filled with God’s love cannot live in fear. It is impossible. On the other hand a life full of fear is void of God’s love. That doesn’t mean God has no love for timid people. No, God loves the whole world in spite of all it’s character flaws. (John 3:16) But it’s a fact that a life filled with fear is evident that a person has not fully experienced or is walking in the love of God. Hence the remedy to a fear free life is accepting and living in God’s love.😊 (John 13:34-35 John 15:9-10)

DO YOU BELIEVE WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT YOU?

Do you believe what God says about you? That you are wonderfully made (Psalm 139:13-15), that you are created in God’s own image😊 (Genesis 1:26-27), that you are so special God sent His son into the world to die a humiliating death and save us from our sins, and give us ETERNAL LIFE? (John 3:16) People who refuse to believe what God says about them cannot enjoy intimacy with God. They do not experience His love. Many often make degrading comments about themselves. Hence they are incapable of showing true love to others. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) They will always be fearful, because only God’s perfect love drives out ALL FEAR.

THE WRONG DIAGNOSIS

Many who battle fears and are clinically diagnosed for it. By telling a person that ALL of their fears are due to having a disease cripples them. Once they believe that they have no choice but to live with fear unless they take medication they find it ridiculous to believe living a life of love can drive out all their fears. The creator of feelings; the heart, and the mind, Almighty God, should be consulted regarding this above men. But He is not. What a trick the Devil has played on us!

Fear is like a giant. God wants us to slay it just like David slayed Goliath. The little boy David looked helpless verse the giant Goliath. But that little boy loved God!😊 And his love for God drove out all of his fears.😊 This is how he was able to go up against someone (something) much stronger than himself (in the natural). We know how the story goes: the boy took down the giant with God’s help. That’s what God wants you and I to do to fear. The key, the secret weapon is loving God with our whole heart, our whole mind, our whole soul, and our whole strength, and loving our neighbor as ourselves.

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