MYTH #25

WATCHING FROM UP ABOVE-THE WORLD TRIES TO MAKE OTHERS THINK THE DEPARTED CAN WATCH US FROM HEAVEN. SOME THINK THE DEPARTED ARE SITTING UP IN HEAVEN WITH JESUS AT THE MOMENT THEY DIE.  NOT TRUE!  WHEN PEOPLE DIE, THEIR SPIRIT DOESN'T GO TO HEAVEN.  THE DEAD WAIT FOR THE RAPTURE UNTIL THEIR SPIRIT CAN ASCEND UP INTO HEAVEN. ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE, FIRST THE LIVING WILL ASCEND UP INTO HEAVEN AND THEN THE DEAD. (REV. 20:12-13, ) IT IS TRUE EVERYONES' SPIRIT GOES UP TO HEAVEN. CHRISTIANS WILL GO UP IN A RAPTURE, NON-CHRISTIANS WILL BE SEEN ON JUDGMENT DAY.

　

WHEN SOMEONE DIES, THEIR SPIRIT STAYS WITH THEM UNTIL THE RAPTURE. A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THIS TRUTH IS WHEN JESUS WAS RESURRECTED. THE BIBLE SAYS MANY WHO HAD GONE TO SLEEP (DEAD) CAME BACK TO LIFE AT THAT SAME TIME. (MATT. 27:52) IF THE SPIRIT HAD LEFT THEIR BODIES, THIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE. PAUL HAD A VISION AND WAS "LIKE" A DEAD MAN, HE WAS "NOT" A DEAD MAN. (IICOR. 12:1-6) SOME PEOPLE TAKE THIS SCRIPTURE OUT OF CONTEXT IN REGARDS TO DEFINING WHAT HAPPENS TO A PERSONS SPIRIT UPON DEATH. THERE ARE MANY WHO SAY THEY'VE DIED AND CAME BACK TO LIFE. THIS DISPLAYS THE SPIRIT NOT LEAVING THE BODY UPON DEATH THEORY. THE SPIRIT IS NEAR THE BODY, MAKING IT EASILY ACCESSIBLE FOR "WAKING" UP AGAIN.

DID YOU REALIZE THERE ARE TWO RESURRECTIONS? (REV. 20:5) THAT'S ANOTHER TOPIC. IT'S NOT A MYTH, BUT A THEOLOGICAL ISSUE. SOME BELIEVE IN PRE-TRIBULATION OTHERS BELIEVE IN POST-TRIBULATION. SOME THINK A) NO RAPTURE HAS OCCURED B) OTHERS THINK THE FIRST RAPTURE HAS OCCURED. THAT'S ALL FOR YOU TO DECIDE ON YOUR OWN.

MYTH #24

ALL CHRISTIANS ARE GOING TO WALK THE STREETS OF GOLD-NOT TRUE!  
CHRISTIAN, DON'T LET SATAN FOOL YOU. NOT EVERYONE WHO SAYS THEY'RE A CHRISTIAN IS GOING TO HEAVEN AND STAYING UP THERE. ALL WHO BELIEVE IN JESUS BEING THE SON OF GOD WILL HAVE THE RAPTURE. THE FINAL DETERMINATION FOR REMAINING IN HEAVEN IS ON JUDGMENT DAY. ON THAT SPECIAL DAY JESUS WILL DECIDE WHETHER A CHRISTIANS' LIFESTYLE ON EARTH MERITS ETERNAL LIFE OR HADES. (REV. 20:12-13)   A GOOD PARABLE IS THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS. (MATT. 25:31-46)

MYTH #23

A GOOD CHRISTIAN BELIEVES EVERYTHING THEY HEAR

IT'S NOT SIN TO DISBELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU HEAR. A CHRISTIAN ISN'T CALLING A PERSON A LIAR, THEY ARE ONLY EXERCISING WISDOM. THE BIBLE SAYS A CHRISTIAN IS TO BE "WISE AS A SERPENT, BUT AS HARMLESS AS A DOVE." A CHRISTIAN IS TO TRUST GOD DURING A TIME FOR WISDOM, WALKING IN LOVE WITHOUT ACCUSING THE OTHER PERSON. WHEN A CHRISTIAN STARTS TO ACCUSE A PERSON, THEY HAVE BECOME SATANS' TOOL. (REV. 12:10) A CHRISTIAN HAS TO MAINTAIN SELF-CONTROL AND AVOID ANY NEGATIVE COMMENTS OR THOUGHTS. UPON PRAYER THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL EXPOSE THE TRUTH. AT THAT TIME, THE CHRISTIAN CAN MAKE A DECISION BASED UPON GODS' TRUTH.

FOR EXAMPLE: GOD TOLD ME WHEN I WENT TO ISRAEL, TO BE CAUTIOUS OVER THE TOUR GUIDES. HE SAID "DON'T LISTEN TO EVERYTHING THEY SAY." DOING AN EXEGESIS ON THE WORD "LISTEN" FROM THE HEBREW WORD MEANS: TO TAKE INTO HEART (EMBED INTO YOUR INNER BEING AS TRUTH) WITH FULL COMPREHENSION. I UNDERSTOOD WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT SAID WHEN I VISITED THE COUNTRY. THE BIBLE SAYS MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL. THE INCOME FROM TOURISM HAD CAUSED VARIOUS FORMS OF DECEPTION ABOUT JESUS IN ISRAEL.

　

WHILE VISITING THE PHILIPPINES SOMEONE TOLD ME AN APOSTLE HAD BEEN THERE, AND NAMED THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS AFTER THEM. THIS PERSON SAID THEY GOT THE INFORMATION FROM SOMEONE IN THE PULPIT. THIS IS NOT TRUE. I DIDN'T CALL THE PERSON A LIAR TO THEIR FACE. I ANSWERED WITH A LOVING TONE, AND SUGGESTED FOR THEM TO READ THE INTRODUCTION IN THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS.  THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHY I SAY IT'S WISE FOR CHRISTIANS TO DO AN EXEGESIS. CHRISTIANS ARE SMART TO LOOK UP EVERYTHING THEY HEAR AND DO THEIR OWN BIBLE STUDY REGARDING THE TEACHING.

 

MYTH #22

　

WEAR BLACK-MOST PEOPLE THINK THEY SHOW RESPECT BY CRYING OVER THE DEPARTED.  THE WORLD TEACHES PEOPLE ARE TO WEAR BLACK AND CRY WHEN SOMEONE DIES. THIS IS A FORM OF LEGALISM. THEY DID THIS WHEN JESUS WALKED THE EARTH. IN THOSE TIMES, THE RICH WOULD PAY PEOPLE TO COME MOURN OVER THEIR DEAD. SCRIPTURES SAY THE DEATH OF A CHRISTIAN IS PERCIOUS IN GODS' SIGHT. (PS. 116:15) THE WORD OF GOD TEACHES YOU CRY FOR A BIRTH AND REJOICE IN A DEATH. (ECCL. 7:1) KING DAVID CRIED FOR HIS SON DURING THE CHILDS' SICKNESS. UPON THE CHILDS' DEATH, KING DAVID REJOICED AND ATE. (IISAM. 12:21)

IN MODERN CHRISTIAN CIRCLES, EVERYONE GRIEVES FOR THE CHILD BORN INTO A WORLD OF SIN AND OFFER UP PRAYERS. A CHRISTIAN IS TO CELEBRATE A PERSONS' DEATH FOR THEY'VE LEFT THE WAYS OF SIN ON EARTH. MANY MODERN CHRISTIANS HAVE A PARTY NOT A WAKE. CHRISTIANS WEAR FESTIVES COLOR AND HAVE MUSIC AT THE PARTY OF THE DECEASED. THEY REJOICE THEIR LOVED ONE HAS LEFT THE BATTLEFIELD AND HAS GONE TO REST IN THE LORD. THESE PEOPLE KNOW DEATH IS NOT A GOODBYE FOR THEIR LOVED ONE. THESE CHRISTIANS REALIZE THEY'LL SEE THEIR LOVED ONE UP IN HEAVEN FOR A REUNION.

MYTH #21

MANANA! MANANA!-THE WORLD SAYS IT'S OK TO DO EVERYTHING "MANANA."  PEOPLE LIKE TO PUT THINGS OFF UNTIL TOMORROW, OR THE NEXT DAY, OR THE NEXT...  THE BIBLE TEACHES IT IS SIN TO PROCRASTINATE. DO NOT PUT OFF TOMORROW, WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY. (PROV. 3:27-28) A LITTLE FOLDING OF THE HANDS...LEADS TO POVERTY. (PROV. 6:10-11&24:33-34) DO THE ANGELS SIT AROUND AND DISCUSS WHAT GOD HAS COMMISSIONED THEM TO DO BEFORE THEY DO THEIR TASK?

MYTH #20

IT'S ONLY A JOKE-THE WORLD IS KNOWN FOR GIVING A ROAST TO A PERSON OF HONOR. WHEN SOMEONE RETIRES, THE PLACE OF BUSINESS WILL GIVE THEM A WATCH, A ROAST LUNCHEON AND A RETIREMENT CHECK. THE ROAST IS FILLED WITH SARCASTIC REMARKS ABOUT THE PERSON, REFLECTING ON SPECIFIC EVENTS IN THEIR LIFE. THE WORLDS' "APRIL FOOLS" HOLIDAY IS CONSISTENT WITH THE SARCASM THEME. THE HOLIDAY IS ROOTED IN TRICKERY AND DECEIT AND IS NOT OF GOD. (PHILI. 4:8) SOME CHRISTIANS SPEAK WITH SARCASM AS A JOKE. SARCASM IS NOT A FORM OF HUMOR. SARCASM IS A FORM OF HATRED AND IS CONSIDERED A SIN.

　
JESUS SPOKE TO HATE SOMEONE IS LIKE COMMITTING MURDER. (MATT. 5:21-22, IJOHN 3:15) THE BIBLE TEACHES TO GIVE RESPECT TO A PERSON BEING ACKNOWLEDGED FOR A POSITION OF HONOR. A GOOD EXAMPLE IS THE WEDDING FEAST PARABLE IN LUKE 14:7-11. IN CERTAIN SECULAR CIRCLES SEATING POSITIONS INDICATE A PLACE OF HONOR. THUS THE PHRASE "THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE." ANOTHER ONE IS THE PRODIGAL SON IN MATT. 15:11-24. EVERYTHING WAS DONE IN A PROPER WAY TO SHOW RESPECT FOR THE RETURNING HEIR.

　
THE FOLLOWING IS AN ARTICLE, LAUGHTER, INCLUDED IN MINI SERMONS VOLUME I REGARDING HUMOR.

LAUGHTER

God has commanded us to be joyful "Count it all joy that your name is written in the Lambs' book of life." We are to find a joy in our salvation. When you understand what has happened, you rejoice with all your heart. God is pleased at you being His vessel, as you give a sacrificed life to Him. You find a pleasure in making Adonai happy. When you know how special you are to God, there is a joy in everything you do. You are free of meeting societies standards. God wants you to find joy and gladness in all the bad. If you "love God and live according to His purpose" you can't help but get good out of any bad situation. God promises what satan has planned for evil, He will use for good. All a christian has to do is praise God for His will to be done. We are commanded to not be fretful, anxious, or worry over anything. Research shows it causes high blood pressure and heart problems. If you make yourself rejoice, offering a praise and petition to God in all things, you lose stress. The blood flows better to your brain cells and brings a healthier viewpoint. You are a light to the world, keep your joy at all times. You may win a soul for Christ with a joyful countenance. When the Israelites returned from Babylon, they were filled with laughter and their tongues with singing. Make yourself happy to keep your deliverance in a situation. Or to keep the first love you had for Jesus in your life. When someone yells at you - laugh or make a joke of it. The person will realize how ridiculous they are for getting angry; and that you are not afraid of them. Some Christians speak with sarcasm as a joke. Sarcasm is not a form of humor, it is a form of hatred. April Fools and magic is not of God, it is rooted in trickery and deceit. If God wants to create something, He performs a miracle and does the real thing. Please realize Abrahams' chosen seed was named Isaac, which means Laughter. Isaac was appropriate because there is nothing too hard or wonderful for the Lord. Isaac brought joy to Abraham and Sarah, for their son was a miracle. Make yourself joyful 'cause you have a God who does the impossible.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

MAY YOU FOLLOW THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR - JESUS - EVERYDAY!