A Christian Viewpoint

The Spirit of God on some level witnesses to a person’s spirit that the Word of God is true. The person then makes a decision based on that “revelation”. This is a form of mysticism. There are greater degrees of revelation that can be given to people. Sometimes it comes as an intuition and can at other times be a full blown vision. Whatever the degree, it is the Spirit witnessing to the person’s spirit.

Then there are the counterfeits put forward by the enemy. How to tell the difference? Anyone who is accustom to the “taste” of the Spirit will know when that which is before them “tastes” of God or not. Then sadly of course there are many Christians who have never learned to discern what is of the Spirit, a spirit or their own spirit-soul-mind. Another group of “Christians” are those who have been raised in the church without ever meeting their God. Some of these Christians follow another spirit not from God.

Is mysticism good or evil? Depends on what Spirit/spirit/spirit-soul-mind is at work in the experience.

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The idea of the “Gap” theory is just one of the many interpretations of scripture put forward by the spiritually minded attempting to see the physical universe in God’s terms.

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I listened to today’s 700 club program. They reported that the proposed constitution of Iraq has a legal clause that can send back jurisprudence to the dark ages. Roughly, that the law of the land will be Islamic and that any law (national or international) that contradicts the Islamic law will be of no effect. It is a statement that Sharia law could very well be the law of the land. Depending on the judge who hears the complaint, women could loose the right to vote, a muslim accepting Jesus as Lord can be executed, and religious minority rights could be greatly curtailed. The list goes on. It is one thing for a nation to pass various laws from time to time. To have any proposals that go against Islamic tradition be redendered of no standing constrains the will of the people. A nation is only as great as it protects the rights of the minority in their society. If this clause remains religious intolerance will be the way of the land.

I find it funny that there are so many countries in the world who are signatories to the United Nations and yet their laws and government are directly opposed to the charter. This tower of Babel doesn’t even have the integrity of being honest to its principles.

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Too many people think of Christianity as a philosophy. The church is where the club meets and expresses itself in various activities. Too many people do not realize that there are eternal consequences for sin. Too many do not understand the nature of man. Too many think that there are many paths to the truth. Too many are going to be lost. The gospel is a witness to people about these truths. It is not whether they all will accept it. Nor is it that few will believe. It is the call to the world to repent. It is the prophetic message. And few there be that find it.

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Racism is a fact of life. It is part of the natural condition of man today… (remember the tower of Babel and what God did). Various religions have stepped up to the plate to bring an equality of man. Christianity in general and individual Christians specifically have been at the forefront of change.

Have there been abuses? Of course there were. Have things been getting better in Christian nations? Of course they are. If you were to look at world history it would be noticed that the US is more of a shinning example of a nation doing good than most of the rest of the nations of the world.

How can I say this? Look to Darfur… to other nations which have commited the mass murder of millions. The tyranny in Afghanistan by the Taliban and others. The racism and religious intolerance in the middle east. etc… All this in this century alone.

There is a problem, a lack of forgiveness. Yet even in this the US is a shinning example. Look to the world. Look to history. Some need the plank to be removed from their eyes. Still, Christ needs to be living in the hearts of more Americans to continue the process of spiritual renewal. Specially at this time when the spirit of Babylon is trying to exert an ever increasing influence over the nations of the west.

What about the spirit of Babylon, the tower of Babel? This statement refers to the initial Babylon, where mankind conspired to build a tower to heaven and to keep the world united as one. It is to this spirit that the Lord descended to confuse the language of the people so that they would fulfill the directive of God. (a side affect of this action may be the racism that has resulted in the world.)

When I refer to the spirit of Babylon it is this same motivation to bring the world together as one. The United Nations is the current incarnation of this thought. It is in the nations of the west that this ideal has been the strongest. It has nothing to do with terrorism, war or enslavement. It does have everything to do with mankind, through its own “goodness”, to bring peace, harmony, and oneness to the world. It is an anti-Christian philosophy. This is a more recent development in the world.

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There hasn’t been any posting over the last two weeks. I have been busy at home as well as getting out and doing some biking about the city. I am doing well enough. I hope that I will be getting back to posting soon.

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A few weeks ago I attended a meeting of Christian men. There was a guest prophet who came to speak out words of encouragement to those who would attend. There was a rather lengthy word given to me. It started with receiving joy, went through dreams and visions, evangelism minsitry, profitable income enhancement, and healing. It was a good word and reflected many things that the Lord has revealed to me that he wishes to do in me and through me. Recently I began to open my mouth and speak on a few occasions as the Spirit led. A word of encouragement for a church and their pastor. A word of knowledge confirming a word that a person had just received. The gate is opened and water is beginning to flow from my well to others. Pray that the Lord will have his complete work to be manifested in my life. Thank You.

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The book of Hebrews was certainly meant for a target audience (perhaps the messianic church). But, like all the letters of the new testament it is of educational use to the whole church. There are truths found there that are not easily seen or included in other letters. There is a covenant with the physical Israel and there is a covenant with the spiritual Israel. Each will have their fulfillment at different times. Hebrews is trying to deal with the cross over effect between the two.

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In these answers there is an essential piece of the puzzle missing. Foreknowledge. Those whom he foreknew… he predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ. It is the Father seeing the bride of Christ from the beginning. It is the bride of Christ that God has predestined to be conformed and made fit for his Son as a helpmate.

There were ten virgins waiting for the groom… five went in, five did not… yet I believe all ten are saved, but all ten were not the bride, just five… the predestined.

Others heard the gospel as well and some fell on the path, the stony ground, the ground choked with weeds and the fertile ground. Those on the fertile ground are the bride, the predestined. The others? Some or all are saved but like the five foolish virgins not part of the bride.

How about Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses? The guests of the groom and the bride, they are saved but not the bride.

It is not a matter of salvation but making the bride ready for Christ.

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In the beginning God knew who would be the ones to accept him. (foreknowledge)
Because in the beginning God chose them to be in Christ. (elected by grace)
God intervened at points in history, according to his plan, for his purposes.
His message went out. People made a choice.(the parable of the sower)
Many are called, few are chosen. (the predestined)
Those chosen few (the ordained) have/are being conformed to the likeness in mind and spirit to that of Christ.
These are the faithful who will be resurrected and have the same body as the risen Christ. (our destination)
These are the fruitful in the sower parable.
These are the five wise virgins that went in with the Lord.
These are Christ’s at his coming.

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