Wednesday, 28 October 2009

HALLOWEEN AND THE CHRISTIAN


Halloween Origins and Customs

History traces Halloween back to the ancient religion of the Celtics in Ireland. The Celtic people were very conscious of the spiritual world and had their own ideas of how they could gain access to it - such as by helping their over 300 gods to defeat their enemies in battle, or by imitating the gods in showing cleverness and cunning.
Their two main feasts were Beltane at the beginning of summer (May 1), and Samhain (pronounced Sah-ween) at the end of summer (Nov. 1). They believed Samhain was a time when the division between the two worlds became very thin, when hostile supernatural forces were active and ghosts and spirits were free to wander as they wished.
"During this interval the normal order of the universe is suspended, the barriers between the natural and the supernatural are temporarily removed, the sidh lies open and all divine beings and the spirits of the dead move freely among men and interfere sometimes violently, in their affairs"
(Celtic Mythology, p. 127).

The Celtic priests who carried out the rituals in the open air were called Druids, members of pagan orders in Britain, Ireland and Gaul, who generally performed their rituals by offering sacrifices, usually of crops and animals, but sometimes of humans, in order to placate the gods; ensuring that the sun would return after the winter; and frightening away evil spirits.

To the Celtics, the bonfire represented the sun and was used to aid the Druid in his fight with dark powers. The term bonfire comes from the words "bone fire," literally meaning the bones of sacrificed animals, sometimes human, were piled in a field with timber and set ablaze. All fires except those of the Druids were extinguished on Samhain and householders were levied a fee to relight their holy fire which burned at their altars. During the Festival of Samhain, fires would be lit which would burn all through the winter and sacrifices would be offered to the gods on the fires. This practice of burning humans was stopped around 1600, and an effigy was sometimes burned instead.

This Jeremiah Project web site is my response to the situation in America today, a "famine in our land of hearing the words of the Lord" - Amos 8:11
Halloween Origins and Customs
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The Origins of Halloween
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History Of Halloween
The origin of Halloween is fascinating and anyone interested in finding out about the history of Halloween and where this American tradition was founded, will find the information in this article to be eye-opening.
An Ancient Celebration
October 31, Halloween, is one of the more popular holidays for children. What child wouldn't want to dress up as a monster or fairy and score a bag of candy in the process?

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Blending of Paganism with Christianity

When Christianity spread to parts of Europe, instead of trying to abolish these pagan customs, people tried to introduce ideas which reflected a more Christian world-view. Halloween has since become a confusing mixture of traditions and practices from pagan cultures and Christian tradition.

By A.D. 43, Romans had conquered the majority of Celtic territory. During their rule of the Celtic lands, Roman festivals were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain. The Romans observed the holiday of Feralia, intended to give rest and peace to the departed. Participants made sacrifices in honor of the dead, offered up prayers for them, and made oblations to them. Another festival was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple and the incorporation of this celebration into Samhain probably explains the tradition of "bobbing" for apples that is practiced today on Halloween.

As the influence of Christianity spread into Celtic lands, in the 7th century, Pope Boniface IV introduced All Saints' Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs, to replace the pagan festival of the dead. It was observed on May 13. In 834, Gregory III moved All Saint's Day from May 13 to Nov. 1 and for Christians, this became an opportunity for remembering before God all the saints who had died and all the dead in the Christian community. Oct. 31 thus became All Hallows' Eve ('hallow' means 'saint').

Sadly, though, many of the customs survived and were blended in with Christianity. Numerous folk customs connected with the pagan observances for the dead have survived to the present.

In 1517, a monk named Martin Luther honored the faithful saints of the past by choosing All Saints Day (November 1) as the day to publicly charge the Church heirarchy with abandoning biblical faith. This became known as "Reformation Day," a fitting celebration of the restoration the same biblical faith held by the saints throughout church history. [What about Halloween?]


Trick-or-Treat?
Some trace the origins of present day "trick-or-treat" to Samhain, which was the supreme night of demonic jubilation. Spirits of the dead would rise out of their graves and wander the countryside, trying to return to the homes where they formerly lived. Frightened villagers tried to appease these wandering spirits by offering them gifts of fruit and nuts. They began the tradition of placing plates of the finest food and bits of treats that the household had to offer on their doorsteps, as gifts, to appease the hunger of the ghostly wanderers. If not placated, villagers feared that the spirits would kill their flocks or destroy their property.

The problem was... if the souls of dead loved ones could return that night, so could anything else,human or not, nice or not-so-nice. The only thing the superstitious people knew to do to protect themselves on such an occasion was to masquerade as one of the demonic hoard, and hopefully blend in unnoticed among them. Wearing masks and other disguises and blackening the face with soot were originally ways of hiding oneself from the spirits of the dead who might be roaming around. This is the origin of Halloween masquerading as devils, imps, ogres, and other demonic creatures.
Others trace "trick-or-treat" to a European custom called "souling".

Beggars would go from village to village begging for "soul cakes" made out of square pieces of bread with currants. The more soul cakes the beggars would receive, the more prayers they would promise to say on behalf of the dead relatives of the donors. At the time, it was believed that the dead remained in limbo for a time after death, and that prayer, even by strangers could guarantee a soul's passage to heaven.

In many parts of Britain and Ireland this night used to be known as 'Mischief Night', which meant that people were free to go around the village playing pranks and getting up to any kind of mischief without fear of being punished. Many of the different customs were taken to the United States by Irish and Scottish immigrants in the nineteenth century, and they developed into 'trick or treat'.

Halloween Comes to America
Traditional Halloween symbols (witches, black cats, pumpkins, candles, masks, parties and pranks) appeared in the U.S. during the late 1800's. In 1848, millions of Irish emigrants poured into America as a result of the potato famine. With this sudden influx of people, the holiday of Druidism found its new home on alien shores. "Proudly Celtic, they called Halloween Oidche Shamhna (`Night of Samhain'), as their ancestors had, and kept the traditional observances" [Common Boundary, Sep./Oct. 1993, p. 31].

The Jack-o-lantern is the festival light for Halloween and is the ancient symbol of a damned soul. Originally the Irish would carve out turnips or beets as lanterns as representations of the souls of the dead or goblins freed from the dead.

When the Irish emigrated to America they could not find many turnips to carve into Jack O'Lanterns but they did find an abundance of pumpkins. Pumpkins seemed to be a suitable substitute for the turnips and pumpkins have been an essential part of Halloween celebrations ever since.

Pumpkins were cut with faces representing demons and was originally intended to frighten away evil spirits. It was said that if a demon or such were to encounter something as fiendish looking as themselves that they'd run away in terror,thus sparing the houses dwellers from the ravages of dark entities. They would have been carried around the village boundaries or left outside the home to burn through the night.

Bats, owls and other nocturanal animals, also popular symbols of Halloween, were originally feared because people believed that these creatures could communicate with the spirits of the dead.
Black cats have religious origins as well. Black cats were considered to be reincarnated beings with the ability to divine the future. During the Middle Ages it was believed that witches could turn themselves into black cats. Thus when such a cat was seen, it was considered to be a witch in disguise.

Witches and witchcraft are dominant themes of the holiday. Witches generally believe themselves to be followers of an ancient religion, which goes back far beyond Christianity, and which is properly called 'wicca'. Witches are really just one side of a modern revival of paganism - the following of pre-Christian nature religions, the attempt to return to worshipping ancient Norse, Greek or Celtic gods and goddesses.

To witches, Halloween is a festival of the dead, and represents the "end and the beginning of the witches year. It marks the beginning of the death and destruction associated with winter. At this time the power of the underworld is unleashed, and spirits are supposedly freed to roam about the earth; it is considered the best time to contact spirits" (Halloween and Satanism, P. Phillips and J.H. Robie, 1987, p. 146).

The apostle Paul said Witchcraft is one of the acts of the sinful nature and those who practice it will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:16-21; see also Revelation 22:15).
Divination
The various activities traditional to Halloween are mostly associated with the idea of obtaining good fortune and foretelling the future. Samhain was a time when it was customary for the pagans to use the occult practice of divination to determine the weather for the coming year, the crop expectations, and even who in the community would marry whom and in what order.

• The idea behind ducking, dooking or bobbing for apples seems to have been that snatching a bite from the apple enables the person to grasp good fortune. Unmarried people would attempt to take a bite out of an apple bobbing in a pail of water, or suspended on a string. The first person to do so was believed to be the next to marry.
• Samhain is a time for getting rid of weakness, as pagans once slaughtered weak animals which were unlikely to survive the winter. A common ritual calls for writing down weaknesses on a piece of paper or parchment, and tossing it into the fire.
• There used to be a custom of placing a stone in the hot ashes of the bonfire. If in the morning a person found that the stone had been removed or had cracked, it was a sign of bad fortune. Nuts have been used for divination: whether they burned quietly or exploded indicated good or bad luck.
• Peeling an apple and throwing the peel over one's shoulder was supposed to reveal the initial of one's future spouse.
• One way of looking for omens of death was for people to visit churchyards, because the spirits of those who were going to die during the coming year were thought to walk around the churchyard during this night.
Should Christians adopt such practices?
Can we borrow pagan customs and superstitions of ancient peoples and "Christianize" them?

As believers, we are called to "Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. [1 Thesalonians 5:21-22] Who can deny that virtually all of the symbols of Halloween are evil? Witches, monsters, ogres, vampires, ghosts, ghouls, goblins, devils and demons all portray evil. Christians are to "... have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." [Ephesians 5:11]

Is Halloween just another innocent holiday that doesn't harm anyone? Is it really just childish fun? Vandalism and wanton disregard for the property of others is common on Halloween night. Even normally well-behaved children are driven by unseen forces to destructive behavior. Police officials everywhere report a great increase in such activities on Halloween.

Worse yet are the horrifying accounts of poisoned candy and fruits booby-trapped with razor blades and needles. Such threats are so real that many hospitals offer free X-rays of Halloween treats in order to prevent children from being harmed. Who but Satan could inspire such monstrous actions?

Should the church be compromised by accommodating itself to the culture?
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." [Romans 12:2]
"For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?" [2 Corinthians 6:14, 15]

When America and the world celebrates the Festival of Samhain and the powers of darkness by masquerading as evil creatures or decorating our homes, schools, businesses and churches with occult symbols, Satanic power is glorified.

The sort of practices celebrated on Halloween are what defiled the ancient nations [see Leviticus 18:24-30]. The Israelites were warned against such practices when they entered the Promised Land, "When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations." [Deuteronomy 18:9]

Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the LORD your God. The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so. [Deuteronomy 18:10-14]

As an alternative to the celebration of evil and death, Christians should rather do what Christians are supposed to do every day and that is shine the light of Jesus Christ. We should emphasize the Christian influences and strive to make Hallow's Eve a celebration of the acts of God through his people the saints. We should make it a day when acts of charity instead of vandalism and hatred abound. A day that emphasizes the light of Christ instead of the darkness of evil. A day when people meditate on the acts of Godly people instead of ghosts and goblins.

While you may have participated "all in fun," be assured, Halloween is serious business for Satanists and witches. Those who oppose Christ are known to organize on Halloween to observe satanic rituals, to cast spells, to oppose churches and families, to perform sacrilegious acts, and to even offer blood sacrifices to Satan.

While some may say, "But we only do this in fun...we don't practice witchcraft," those things that represent Satan and his domain cannot be handled or emulated "for fun". Such participation places you in enemy and forbidden territory and that is dangerous ground.

Tom Sanguinet, former high priest in the Celtic tradition of Wicca (witchcraft) said "The modern holiday we call Halloween has its origins in the full moon closest to November 1, the witches’ New Year. It was a time when the "spirits" (demons) were supposed to be at their peak power and revisiting the earth planet." He went on to say, "Halloween is purely and absolutely evil, and there is nothing we ever have or will do that would make it acceptable to the Lord Jesus." [The Dark Side Of Halloween]

As evil prevails, Americans have embraced an evil day of Satan, with the pranks of 'would be' hoodlums, combined with 'demon faces' on pumpkins, clothing of 'death' being worn, and calling it fun. When Christians participate in Halloween, it sends a message to children that witchcraft, demonism, Satanism, and the occult are something fun, entertaining and harmless.

Many years ago, C.S. Lewis wrote that one of Satan's most deceptive tactics is to convince people that he doesn't exist. Apparently he has done a good job in his deception. Sadly, many people think of the devil as no more than a symbol of evil: like Santa Claus, he is just a fictional symbol. Many people today also do not think of witches as real people who practice magic, but simply as imaginary figures who represent the supernatural world and everything that is 'spooky.'

Recognizing this pagan holiday gives the false impression that what is actually lethal is innocuous. Some children develop a fascination with the supernatural which leads them later into more sinister occult practices. It's the spiritual equivalent of painting a loaded gun to look like a toy and giving it to child to play with.

It is the kind of celebration that encourages kids like the 16-year-old in Pearl, Mississippi who stabbed his mother to death in her sleep and then opened fire at his high school, killing two students and wounding seven. Authorities found this student along with at least six others involved in a small, avowedly satanic clique that calls itself "Kroth."

How some people can defend this kind of activity as just another innocent holiday that doesn't harm anyone is beyond me.
Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. (John 3:19-20)

Acceptance of the Supernatural
Central to Satan's goals is the widespread acceptance of the supernatural, including the occult, on the part of North Americans, accompanied by a great revival of spiritism all over the world.

Over the last 30 or so years, the occult has moved into the mainstream of America - in television, movies, magazines, business, and various aspects of daily life. Movies, books, magazines and encyclopedias of the supernatural have abounded. Turn on your TV and hear from the ever-present "Psychic Friends" hotline, or see lead characters in TV shows meet their "spirit guide." Entire bookstores devoted to the occult have become common. Universities regularly offer courses on witchcraft and magic - usually the so-called "white" variety. Myriads of mystical Eastern religions, bizarre and often demonic, have invaded North America and found in most cases an amazing responsiveness.

Indeed, Halloween has taken root in America. Americans spend $21 million on Halloween candies yearly second only to Christmas in total sales. Halloween is the Number 1 season for selling humorous greeting cards. In North America, some 25 million cards are sold annually. (Peter Smith, "By the Numbers," The Toronto Star, 2002-OCT-27.) Halloween is the third-largest party occasion next to Christmas and New Year's Eve.

Increasingly the curriculum in many public schools is becoming a primer in occultism.

Impressions, a curriculum used in many school districts instructs teachers and students in how to cast spells. One teacher's manual reads, "Tell the children that a magician has cast a spell on some children. Have them work in pairs to write the magic spell the magician used. Have each pair write another spell to reverse the first spell. Have them chant their spells."

About 16,000 school districts use the Pumsey the Dragon curriculum, by Jill Anderson. Many of the relaxation techniques used are identical to those used in hypnosis. Another curriculum called Duso the Dolphin employs relaxation techniques and sends hypnotized youngsters off on guided fantasies to a place called Aquatron.
Satanism has become a phenomena that crosses the city limit into the rural areas of our nation.

It is reported there are some 6000 witches, and approximately 10 million people are involved in the occult. However, it is very difficult to establish how many actually participate. These individuals are involved in a wide variety of activities from simply casting spells to human sacrifice. The news wires carry story after story about young children being kidnapped, only to be found later as victims of some bizarre ritualistic crime.

As satantic involvement among our youth increases, we begin to see the primary goal of such activity. According to Scripture (2 Cor. 4:4; Rev. 12:9), Satan's goal is to deceive man by blinding him to the truth of the gospel and to receive worship for himself (Matt. 4:9; Isa. 14:12-14).

It has become clear that the primary goal is to alter an individual's values and turn him against himself, his beliefs, family, God and society.
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8)
Young satanists believe the strong will rule with Satan. Once an individual becomes involved, they often make a pact with Satan. They commit themselves to a future date when they will take their own lives by suicide. They believe if they submit themselves to Satan in death, they will come back in another life as a stronger being and rule with him forever. According to recent statistics, fourteen young people a day take their own lives.

What's wrong with Halloween?
It does not have even one single redeeming virtue. It is custom born out of pagan superstition. It is a demon-inspired, devil-glorifying, occult festival. It is an evening holy unto evil, death, and divination. The Scriptures tells us to "Abstain from all appearance of evil." [1Thess. 5:22]
Wake up Christian! This is the night of evil and those who love the Lord Jesus Christ should have nothing to do with it.

We are all accountable for our choices and decisions. Ignorance is no excuse. The choice is up to you. Have you been involved in this satanic holiday? Do you struggle with giving it up because "it's just fun" and an innocent opportunity for children to dress up and collect candy? Don't take my word for it. Let God show you what he would have you do. You might begin by praying the following:

Father in heaven I come to you in the name of Jesus Christ to confess that I'm a sinner. I'm sorry! Please forgive me. I believe with all my heart that Jesus Christ is Your Son and that You raised him from the dead. I believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins and that I might be saved. Each and everyday Father I turn my will and my life over to Your care, and may Your Holy Spirit lead and guide me in all the things I think , do and say. I'm Yours and You are mine. Father, please use me that I might help others come to know and love Your Son Jesus Christ. Thank you for saving me. Amen

Sunday, 18 October 2009

Faith


I do not know how you view faith, to me faith is a very important part of my relationship with God.

Without faith in all the years gone by I am quite sure I would have been lost.

Let me share with you. I was an adopted child, adopted into a family where the mother never really wanted me but had me for the sake of her husband. Alas he died when I was 5 so since then I had to endure the ministrations of a woman saddled with a child she never ever really wanted. (Praise God she gave her life to Christ just before she died!)

I searched for my "real" family all over the world imagining 1 000 000 ways that our initial greeting would take place. Would we float into each others arms, weeping tears of reconciliation....or would I meet my mother and she would wrap her arms around me and tell me she was young and foolish and how much she has prayed for me all her life......etc etc etc. (MY mother and father were dead by the time I traced my family)

Well I found my 2 sisters the one was terribly embarrassed and made sure I understood there was no "inheritance " due to me, the other tried but....

I then found my brother after much searching. A big gentle giant of a man, but because I got a lift with someone else could only see him for half an hour.

After a while I tried to contact him again but he had moved to Cape Town and so...there I was again asking my heavely Father 100's of questions.

About 2 weeks or so ago the Lord I truly believe it was HIM, reminded me of my search so I got up, very, very early and emailed all the addresses I could find in a small village where I believed my brother to be.

Guess what friends I got a reply from a very special Christian Lady who passed my message to my brother and he sent one back saying he loved me and wanted contact.

Today I received an email from my brother, it began with:

My darling Charmaine
You were unfortunately the lost child of our family I have often thought of you in my life and as you know I have always been a fisherman.

Well I am still very overcome with emotion, friends today I want to share with you that for the second time SHE THAT WAS LOST NOW IS FOUND!

And not only that, but my brother is a fisherman, he loves the Lord and while he fishes for fish I fish for souls!!!!

I am totally overwhelmed at my Heavenly Fathers favour, He promises us the desires of our hearts and if we will only believe..........

Having stood in faith for many years I have a brother.!

If you have something that you are trusting God for NEVER EVER GIVE UP!!!!

God is faithful and if you will stand and let your faith touch Him, you my friends will be amazed at what will happen.

So on this special day, from my heart to yours

Sharmaine

Monday, 12 October 2009

Holy Alphabet


Hi Everyone
For those who are fighting their own personal battles.

whatever it may be. NEVER GIVE UP!

The Holy Alphabet... This is Beautiful

Whoever came up with this one must have had some

Divine Guidance!


Although things are not perfect

Because of trial or pain

Continue in thanksgiving

Do not begin to blame

Even when the times are hard

Fierce winds are bound to blow

God is forever able

Hold on to what you know

Imagine life without His love

Joy would cease to be

Keep thanking Him for all the things

Love imparts to thee

Move out of "Camp Complaining"

No weapon that is known

On earth can yield the power

Praise can do alone

Quit looking at the future

Redeem the time at hand

Start every day with worship

To "thank" is a command

Until we see Him coming

Victorious in the sky

We'll run the race with gratitude

X-alting God most high

Yes, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but...

Zion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!

Hugs always

Sharmaine

Wednesday, 7 October 2009

Seed Scatterers


Hi Everyone
You know how I continue to preach JESUS IS COMING SOON? Well I want to thank my friend Judith for forwarding this article by Ron Graham to me, it touched my heart in its simplicity and truth.

Seed Scatterers - Ron Graham
“Behold,
a sower went forth to sow;” Matthew 13:3b. Farmers are by definition
seed scatterers, and they usually have stacks and stacks of gunny sacks
practically bursting at the seams with seeds just before planting
season, all stored up nice and secure in their big old barns. Here’s a
“what if” scenario. What if farmers choose to keep their seeds in their
barns instead of planting their fields? I’ve seen fields in my area
where I can only assume some adverse situation happened to a family and
the fields didn’t get cultivated or planted; the fields just turned
into big weed patches. But a farmer who purposely neglects his field to
hold onto his seed is not only unwise, but deliberately neglectful. His
fields would remain barren. Come harvest time what would he have?
Seeds. That’s it; all he would have is a barn full of seeds.

Youand I read and study our Bibles, and some even do so faithfully every
day. As we study God’s word we grow in our knowledge of Him and His
word and over time we acquire a wealth of understanding. But what good
is all that knowledge if we keep it stored up in our personal little
barns? Just like the farmer, we too store up, but in our case it’s
knowledge. When our storage shelves are full of this extremely
important information, which determines the difference between eternal
life in Heaven or Hell, we should freely spread that knowledge around
to all with an appetite to learn.

Oncewe’ve stored up all that knowledge it’s time to ready ourselves for
getting it to the masses. What kind of believer would we be if we just
kept all that knowledge to ourselves? We would be like the farmer who
refused to plant his seeds, deliberately neglectful and very foolish.
You see, the knowledge we’ve received from studying God’s word doesn’t
actually belong to us, at least not to us alone. We can obtain a mass
of knowledge through studying His word but we must remember it’s His
word and it was meant to be shared. Simply put, God’s word is public
domain.

Untilthe farmer sows his seeds into the ground he can’t hope to reap any
kind of bountiful harvest. Once he sows the seeds they begin to grow
and the foliage of the plants begins to spread across his entire field.
Of course the farmer isn’t finished when he sows those seeds, not by
any means. That’s only the beginning. He waters and cultivates his
plants and applies pest and weed deterrent which results in healthy
crops. He cares for the plants while they grow and they thrive through
his diligence of care giving. When his field is ready he can harvest
the crop and reap the fruits of his labors and enjoy the rewards of
such diligence.

Believersare not so very different than farmers. We also spread seeds; it’s just
that our seeds are the word of God. As we learn more and more through
our careful study of His word we are then able to “water and cultivate”
those seeds. The folks we teach are then empowered by God to sow what
they’ve learned and as they grow in knowledge and discernment they pass
that knowledge on to others. At first as people pick up biblical
knowledge they pass it on slowly, almost timidly. In time, and as their
study habits get more involved and become a pleasure not a chore, they
are empowered to seed larger fields and do so with clarity and
frequency.

Whatwe’ve learned of God and His will for our lives is a benefit that we
can pass on to others, and like the farmer who plows and seeds his
fields and benefits from the result we to benefit from our due
diligence. People profit from the farmers efforts by taking advantage
of the end result. Likewise, many people can benefit through our seed
spreading efforts by absorbing the truth of God’s word. And really,
studying the word of God is all about knowledge, understanding, and
wisdom, storing up seeds for planting, and then proceeding with
planting them. God’s word was always meant to be shared and
distributed. Many use it to argue with other believers or to prove to
others how smart they are. This should never be our motivation in
spreading God’s word.

There’ssomething I’ve neglected to mention thus far. I’m not sure everyone
understands that there are rewards that will be distributed at the end
of our Christ-centered travels. When we are through here on earth God
will remove us from the world and there will be a point after that
removal when we will stand before the Bema Seat of Christ and He will
reward us with crowns that are specifically created for each type of
work we did for His Kingdom.

Oneof those crowns will be rewarded for our many efforts of advancing His
Kingdom here on earth. Similarly, little work will result in few
crowns. If we will travel about unabashedly standing up for Jesus and
spreading the good news of His Gospel, and teaching others the truth of
His word, then of course, our rewards will be great. “And he that
reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that
both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.” John
4:36. There’s an old adage that goes something like this “You can’t
take it with you”. But on the other side of that phrase is “You can
send it up ahead”. That’s what we are doing by teaching and preaching
and everything else we do for Gods Kingdom while we reside in these
bodies on this planet.

Itshould be understood that basically all believers are ministers and
teachers. We will all be confronted sooner or later with a question
about the Bible and if we answer that question “correctly” we’ve then
taught that person something from God’s word. All Bible teachers are
responsible for teaching God’s word correctly. What that means is we
aren’t to substitute our own ideas and precepts for the truth of God’s
word. That’s why studying God’s word is an ongoing process. We may
never fully grasp it all but we should strive to be correct in all the
interpretation we pass on to others. We believers, as teachers must
understand there will be severe consequences for passing along bad
seed. In other words if we’ve changed our Master’s seed, mixed it up
with some bad seeds, and then sowed it in place of the whole truth we
must be prepared for the consequences of our erroneous actions. There
will be a high cost to pay by those who teach a false Gospel.

It’sa given that Satan hates all people, but especially he hates those
believers who are out there spreading the seeds of truth, preaching and
teaching God’s word to those who are still lost. The lost belong to
Satan and he hates giving up even one soul to God. Satan will do
anything to keep the seed that we believers sow from ever taking root.
He’s subtle in his chicanery. His road blocks are not immediately
observed. Some people have very hard hearts and as such they thoroughly
reject the word of God, but others may have very willing hearts that
accept the word of God quite easily. But then those hearts may be so
fertile that they accept every teaching out there as truth. These last
folks are just as deceived as the previous because they just can’t
discern between the truth of God and the lies of Satan.

Clearlythere are challenges to spreading the Gospel, but if it were impossible
God would never have told us to do so. Sometimes the ground just needs
some extra tilling and fertilization mixed in to reactivate all the
nutrients in the soil. “For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and
Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.”
Jeremiah 4:3. Some hearts are like thorny ground and the thorns need to
be removed first. It might take a little work on our part and it might
even be painful.

“The religion that is born of mere excitement will die when the excitementis over” Charles Spurgeon.

People are all different and there are many approaches to reaching the lost. Now and then, as we meet and get acquainted with new friends or neighbors there may be a small time lapse between meeting them and getting to a point where we actually
feel the Holy Spirit leading us to speak to them about Jesus. Through
our study of the Bible we will become much more in tune with God’s Holy
Spirit. He will guide us to see the perfect time for witnessing. Even
just our daily living routines can be a witness and proof as to Whom we
follow.

The knowledge we possess after we’ve made learning God’s word a priority in
our lives is always to be shared.
It’s as though a light comes on the
more we study. It’s too bright of a light to merely place under a
basket somewhere. Instead we should be spreading that light around.
Jesus tells us that we believers are the light of the world. But if no
one can see your light what good is it? Those who are going astray
because of the darkness must be shown the light of Christ. “Let your
light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and
glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16.

God’s word is very powerful. If we don’t take His word seriously or if we try
to water His word down to keep from offending someone, then we’ve done
exactly what the enemy would have us do. If he can’t get us to abandon
God’s word altogether, then perhaps he can get us to see that in some
instances it will offend, and so we should be more feeling and caring
and keep the whole truth from being brought out. If we were to follow
the evil ones suggestions, sooner or later, the whole word of God would
become of non-effect.

This concept of watered down seed spreading is especially prevalent acrossAmerica. “What do you mean Ron?” Well, what would happen to the farmer’s crops if he sowed his seeds sparingly? He would have a pretty
sparse looking field which would be rather unhealthy because of all the
weeds that would take over. Many men have gone to great lengths to
study God’s word only to concentrate their preaching and teaching on a
small section of scriptures instead of teaching the full council of
God, which is contrary to God’s own word. “Whom shall he teach
knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are
weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be
upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line;
here a little, and there a little:” Isaiah 28:9-10.

God is very frank when it comes to training up His children. Many believe
that to be so blunt can be hurtful. They’ve perceived the Bible to be
outdated and in need of an overhaul. They are sure that God never meant
to chide those individuals who live a lifestyle that’s completely
contrary to His word; it just cannot be what God intended. They put
their own precepts over God’s. They may change His word, or instead of
teaching the whole council of God they ignore many parts as irrelevant,
even though those scriptures might mean the difference between life and
death.

Here’s an example, you’re watching a family out enjoying a Saturday picnic
together, joyfully singing songs and dancing and playing on the grass
and it gives you a warm feeling inside to witness such love. But you
realize they’ve set up their picnic table on a train track and they are
completely unaware of any approaching train, but you know that a train
will be coming down that track at precisely 12:00 noon. It’s now 11:55
and the family is sitting down at the picnic table as they begin to
enjoy their meal together. Are you helping them by keeping silent about
their approaching doom? Or have you just condemned them all to death by
keeping silent?

Sowing and feeding the flock are parables Jesus used as He taught the
disciples about His Kingdom. It’s interesting that Jesus never once
told His disciples that seeding those fields would be a bed of roses.
He never told them to avoid painful subject matter if they perceived it
might make someone uncomfortable. Plainly we see quite the opposite
when it comes to sharing the Gospel of Christ. Difficulties arise as we
go about spreading God’s word and sometimes we’re confronted with
uncomfortable situations that might make even our loved ones turn away
from us, but nothing should deter us from getting those fields sown.

Cultivating,seeding, watering, harvesting–Jesus tells us that the rewards for such
diligence done for the purpose of increasing the flock for His Kingdom
will bring awesome rewards. Have you prepared your fields? And if so,
have you scattered His seeds?


So friend let us scatter seeds,
Hugs always
Sharmaine

Unexpected Extraordinary Kindness

Thank you Claire Pienaar from the Whale Watchers Inn in Witsand South Africa. God sends special people like you across our paths everynow and again.
May God bless you and keep you and cause His face to shine upon you and may there always be peace in your home! Peace being the fulness of the Word, nothing missing, nothing broken, nothing lost!!!
This is Ministers appreciation month and what a gift you gave me, the gift of family!!

BetweenYou and Me

BetweenYou and Me