Supernatural is Real, Evil

Evil.

Today, I was going to talk about the fact that all three evil, hell, and the devil are supernatural and real. However, as I started to prepare the message today, I realized, pretty quickly, that we need to spend time on all three. These are three topics that are nearly forgotten to teach our youth. Some churches today will not even teach them. Society downplays them. If not completely teaches the opposite. So we will start today with evil.

Evil is real. Used to be,. in the world, along with our country, that it really did not matter who you were. It did not matter what you were. Catholic, Jew, even Atheist, we could all pretty much agree, if you call it "sin" or not, that evil is real and it is bad. We knew that murder was evil. We knew that committing adultery was evil and bad. We understood that stealing is evil and bad. We created laws, that were based on the Ten Commandments, by the way, for this purpose. To keep people from doing such things. To protect the innocent from people who do such things.

Now, as time went by, people started to soften on sin. First, we stopped calling it sin. Part of that whole nonexistent "Wall of Separation" in this country. "Sin" would represent God and the Bible and we cannot have that in our "secular society." But that is ok. We still agree on what evil is. Right?

Well, no. Evil is another word that would at least suggest we are talking about God and the Bible. Let's just call it bad. But wait, if it is not "sin," or "evil," why should we call it bad? Bad by who's standards? Just because you may not agree, doesn't mean it is bad. Who are you to judge? What bases do you have to tell me. or anyone else what is bad?

You believe in stealing? "If a family is hungry, and someone takes money from a millionaire and gives it to the poor, yeah, I'm good with that."

So you believe in adultery? "Hey, what two consenting adults do behind closed doors? Who cares. If they are not hurting anyone, who are you to say that they are wrong?"

Murder? We can at least agree on that one. "Uh, no. First, you call it murder for a woman to choose a medical procedure, because she does not want to be stuck with a child. Second, I'm not sure I have a problem with letting older people dye off, even if we need to assist them so that we can afford healthcare and resources for those of us that are still trying to live our lives. So it really depends on what you call "murder."

The sad truth is, this is all too real. But it is not just stealing, adultery, and murder, it is so much more than those. As a matter of fact, the Bible says this.

"So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." James 4:17

Wait. What does this mean? It means what it says. If you know something is the right thing to do, and you chose to not do it, for you, it is sin. Or evil. This is why the Bible tells us that we are blessed if our sins are covered.

"Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit." Psalm 32:1-2

But let's look at some of the things, that you may not think about as evil. How about that statue of Mary? That statue of Jesus Himself? The Cross? These are Idols. There is no life in them Exodus 20:4-6

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments."

What about astrology? Horoscopes and such? I have known people that will not leave their homes until they find out what their horoscopes say about their day. The sun, moon, and stars will not protect you, nor keep you safe. When you look at them, you are looking at a creation. They are to God, what the most beautiful building is to man. They are simply, created things. They have no life in them.

"And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven." Deuteronomy 4:19

Can you say, "Harry Potter?" Sabrina the Teenage Witch?" Wicca? Mediums ad such? Oh come on, these are not real. Stories and Hollywood. Right? No. Not right. First, think about this, why would God warn you about something that does not exist? I will not warn my kids about the giant purple bunny in the back yard. Why? because there is none back there. God is not going to warn us about something that does not exist.

"There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you. You shall be blameless before the Lord your God," Deuteronomy 18:10-13

God warns His people against divination {the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown by supernatural means.} "Observer of Times" {same as astrology or stargazing. It is another form of divination. This also includes horoscopes or anything that takes the place of God's direction in your life.} an "Enchanter" {A magician; or sorcerer. One who casts spells; or bewitches.} A witch {a person who practices magic. One who deals with demonic spirits. It does not matter if they practice "Black" or "White magic." There is no such thing as good magic.}

A charmer {To put a spell upon someone; to change things by the use of magic} A consulter with familiar spirits {A medium who believes, or wants you to believe, they are contacting the dead,} A wizard {A male witch, a sorcerer, or magician, conjurer; one who uses magic to have control over another person; also someone who uses magic to change nature} A necromancer {A person who claims they have spoken with those who have died already. Contact is made for magical and fortune-telling purposes}

"Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God." Leviticus 19:31

All these warnings are coming from the Book of the Law of Moses. The Old Testament. If you violate them, it does not matter the reason why you are in violation of the law.

"Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness." 1 John 3:4

Herein lays one of the main reasons these are nearly all but forgotten Laws of God.

"For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression." Romans 4:15

If there is no evil, then there is no good. If there is no Hell, then there is no Heaven. No God? No devil. Etc. We need to always be mindful of evil. Of sin.

"Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." Hebrews 3:12-13

Evil is real. It is supernatural and it can consume you. Anything against God is evil. Anything against His word is evil. To know to do good, and to do it not, is evil. Make no mistake about it. It is not just harmless fun.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will heal you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a Sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus and His Sacrifice for me. I believe that He raised from the Dead. I repent my Sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is just that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shalt confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen. {2 Corinthians 13}

Until next time, be Blessed, be a Blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

The Poisonous Fruit Of the Flesh, Drunkenness

Drunkenness

What soberness conceals, drunkenness reveals

A sober man keeps a guard on his tongue, holding back anything he wishes to hide. Strong drink unseals his lips and he tells everything.

Good advice. Makes sense. It's true. As is this...

Alcohol can ruin you life. IF you give into Alcohol to the point you become an Alcoholic, it can cost you your Licence, Job, even your Loved ones. It can tear Families apart. It can become a vicious cycle of abuse. If you abstain from it, you will not have to worry about all the negative effects..

However, what does the Bible say about Drinking? Is it inherently evil? Should we, as many Churches and many Religions teach, abstain from it at all costs. That we should "Abstain from all appearance of evil." so that...

"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." {1 Thessalonians 5:22-23}

I've been there. I've been in Churches that say, "If you want to be a member of this Church, you will sign a Covenant saying that you will not Smoke, Drink, or do anything that this Church disproves of. Oh you can come all you want, but you cannot be a member of the Church or Volunteer in anyway unless you sign this Covenant."

I remember asking, why is this? Where in the Word does it say it is a Sin to Smoke, or even to Drink for that matter? The response was along the lines of "It's not. But I {The Pastor} feel that we as Children of God, MUST adhere to a higher standard. We must even "abstain from all appearance of evil."

Over half the Church left. Overnight. Very few, even the Elders and Core members, would agree to sign this Covenant. People started calling the Pastor and his decision to go this route, Legalistic and Legalism. That it is not about that at all. It should be about Jesus. After all, remember, Jesus drank Wine. His first miracle was that of turning Water into Wine at the Wedding at Cana. It was not Grape Juice by the way. According to Jewish wedding tradition, fermented Wine was always served at Weddings. As a matter of fact, the Water Jesus turned to Wine was better than the Wine they originally served and ran out of..

"and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him" {John 2:10–11}

Wait, that doesn't mean that Jesus drank it. He just provided it. Now of course one could argue that He would not provide something He disapproved of, but He, Jesus, He even told us that He drank Wine..

"For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!” {Luke 7:33–34}

When we take Communion, remember, we are imitating Jesus. We are doing what He did. We are breaking Bread and Drinking Wine, as a symbol of His breaking His Body for us, and shedding His Blood for us. It was NOT Grape Juice served at the Last Supper.

You see, NOWHERE in the Word does it tell us we must abstain from Adult Beverages. Alcohol. Wine, Beer, Hard Liquor. Over and over again, the Word declares,, "Do not be Drunk."

"And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;" {Ephesians 5:18}

The apostle Paul warns repeatedly against Drunkenness. A Candidate for the Office of Deacon must not be addicted to much Wine.

"Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;" (1 Timothy 3:8).

He Admonished members of the Church at Corinth not to keep fellowship with a Member who is a Drunkard

"But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat." (1 Corinthians 5:11).

However, it was this very same Paul that told Timothy, and his Brothers and Sisters in Christ, to drink Wine for Medicinal Purposes..

"Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities." (1 Timothy 5:23).

Just like with all things, Science is catching up to The Word. Just like for years it was a Scientific Consensus that World was Flat. However, The Word declares...

"It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:"{Isaiah 40:22}

It took someone sailing a tall ship beyond the Horizon, for Science to catch up to The Word. Study after Study declare that Red Wine is GOOD for you. That a glass a day is REALLY good for you. Yet, we still have Churches that Teach ANY Alcohol is a Sin. This is simply not true.

Now do not get me wrong. Please do not misunderstand. If you cannot have just one. If you cannot control your Drinking, then for YOU, having just one MAY be a Sin. If you are an Alcoholic, then YES, having just one for you is WRONG because it will lead to two, three, etc. Just like me with Smoking. If I ever have one again, I know, that one will lead to two, three, then I will go buy a pack just like I never quit. How do I know? Been there and done that. For me, Smoking ONE is a Sin.

Drunkenness is a Sin. Drunkenness can destroy Relationships, Families, Careers, and even end Life. Drunkenness is a Poisonous Fruit Of the Flesh. Not a beer at a BBQ. Not a glass of Wine at a romantic Dinner with your Spouse. Not Drinking in general. But being DRUNK. Losing control of your senses. Having it come in and take over your life. This is Sin. This is what you should stay away from.. Have a Drink, don't be drunk..

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray..

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. {2 Corinthians 13}

Until next time, be Blessed, be a Blessing, and Jesus IS Lord..