Fitting In

                We live in a world that is much more technologically advanced then it was about 10 years ago. Yet fitting in is still a major goal and many use technology to reach it. But the truth is, majority of them reach their goal through lies and use social media as its major tool. They show this glamorous life online and everything seems to be perfect. Yet they are empty inside and depressed. Depression, drug use and alcoholism are on the rise. There is a void that can never be filled with this world. We see celebrities, actors, politicians and religious leaders use social media to spread their views, messages and show off their lavish life. Yet we see humans continue to fail when it comes to God’s word and commandments. The world of social media is a world of lies. Filters to change the way you look, snapshots of what seems to be a perfect life yet behind the scenes your life is falling apart, showing wealth when you are barely avoiding bankruptcy and seeking treasures of this world, rather than the treasures awaiting us in heaven. 

When we try to fit in, we look in all the wrong places. The world can never satisfy us like Jesus Christ.  There is so much pressure for young adults to fit into this world. Believers at that age are fragile and are few in numbers. The world scoffs at our beliefs and ridicules our faith. As young adults, now more than ever need encouragement, knowledge of the word, prayer and support to help them resist Lucifer. His time for judgement is coming swiftly and he is attacking our basic need to fit in with this world. Yet Jesus lived a life that fits no one’s frame but His Heavenly Fathers. We all know the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32. There were two sons and the younger asked his father to give him his share. The father gave him his share and the son traveled to a distant country and spent all his money living lavishly. He lost all his money and a famine struck the country. He was so desperate he worked with pigs and fed them. As a Jew this is even lower than low having to work with unclean animals. He was so hungry he almost ate the food the pigs were given. He decides then to go back to his father and ask for forgiveness.             

His father saw him from afar and ran to him, threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. The son asks for forgiveness and states he is not worthy to be even called his son any more. The father forgives him and got the best robe for him, put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. They had a feast for the return of his lost son. As we read on we see his older brother is angry that his father accepted his sibling back and is having a feast for him. His father is just happy that his lost son who was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found. We all know the classic meaning of this parable. God wants us to know he loves us and wants us to return to him. The younger son wanted to indulge in the world and fit in with the world. He indulged in all the pleasures of the world and felt like he fit in. Yet what he learned and what some may never learn is that fitting in with the world does not end well. The people around you may just be using you, peer pressuring you into sin and being popular usually means you are a citizen of this world. But never fear or doubt that God is waiting for your return and even praying for your soul. The son had literally everything his heart desired living in his father’s house. He had security, health, wealth and love from his father. Yet the son wanted to go into the world and felt he needed to fit in. He wanted to see how the world lived and became wreck less with his decisions. There was no one that loved him like his father or to guide him and show him the correct path. His own selfish decisions to fit in and be part of the world lost him paradise. Many now choose to fit in with the world and will lose heaven as their paradise. 

We as true believers will never fit in this world. That is something that must be stressed to a young generation because they will face more persecution and ridicule than most adults. Young adults and children can be cruel/heartless and without support the young generation can fall into Lucifer’s trap. It is much harder for the youth to grow up as a believer in this world when so many things can throw you off your path. The internet can be damning to the soul and Lucifer can use it to attack your mind, self-esteem, cause anxiety, addiction and even depression. This is a whole new type of weapon at his disposal. We must remember again that our citizenship is in heaven and we are foreigners on earth. We can’t be friends with the world and it will hate us. James 4:4, Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the friend of the world becomes the enemy of God. John 15:18-19, If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you. The world hated Jesus and still does. The company you keep does matter and it makes a big difference in your life. I Corinthians 15:33, Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” As you get older you will learn the ones that really care about your development and growth as a believer will not cause you to sin. We do not need Fake Friends in our lives. Jesus kept close friendships all with one goal, to glorify His Father. He lost his life, many were beaten and hated for their belief. Don’t let fitting in, deter you from the love of God and He can only fill any void. Jesus is living water and will never let us thirst again and fills us with the Holy Spirit that will give us boldness to combat temptation. 

We must not fit in, because if we do how are we any different than the non-believers? 2 Corinthians 6:14-15, Don’t become partners with those who do not believe. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? What agreement does Christ have with Belial (another name for Lucifer)? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? We are to preach, guide, rebuke, teach and pray for those unbelievers. Do you know who the first politician was? Lucifer himself, convinced a third of the angels to rebel against God. Giving false promises about becoming greater than God and because of their rebellion, were all kicked out of heaven. If we follow other non-believers to fit in we will be tempted and do sinful actions. Proverbs 13:20-21, The one who walks with the wise will become wise, but a companion of fools will suffer harm. Disaster pursues sinners, but good rewards the righteous. I Corinthians 10:31, So, whatever you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. There is a cost to following Jesus and it is worth the price. Luke 14:27, Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Jesus who was sinless came to break the bonds of sin and death by giving his perfect self for our unworthy souls. Without this sacrifice we would not have the gift of Grace and would not be able to enter into His Kingdom. 

Why must we not fit in? If we fit in we will lose the taste of salt and we will lose the light inside us. In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus explains we are to be like salt full of flavor and taste. Once we lose this taste, salt is useless. It is describing the inside of our souls should be pure and love abounding in our heart. “Don’t you realize, that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is eliminated? But whatever comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this defiles a person. From the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slander. These are the things that defile a person (Matthew 15:17-20).” Salt also preserves food from going bad. In the Old Testament offerings to God was seasoned with salt (Leviticus 2:13). Part of the temple offerings included salt and it was used as a symbol and sacred sign in ancient Israel (Numbers 18:19, 2 Chronicles 15:5) and as well for a covenant of friendship. Salt is spread all over things and like that we as believers should spread our love and knowledge of God to all the corners of the earth. If we becoming sinful by fitting in we lose the power of the salt. We are to be a light to the world. No one lights a lamp to put it under a basket and hide it. No, light is used to show the way for all who are in the house. To prevent them from stumbling and falling. We are to shine before others, so that they see the image of Jesus in you and we imitate Him. It does matter who you hang out with, what you read, what you listen too, what you say and how you act. Fitting in with this world is the exact opposite of Jesus’s way. I continue to say it is not easy to do that, and that is the truth. That is why prayer, faith, church and other followers are important in our lives. We can’t do this alone! Jesus’s disciples had each other to lean on when they faced persecution and had the Son of God himself with them and yet they stumbled. We will never live a perfect life but we can imitate Jesus and have other believers to lean on when we falter. 

One of the hardest part growing up in this world is not fitting in. Jeremiah 29:11, For I know the plans I have for you-this is the Lord’s declaration-plans for your well being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Romans 8:28, We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. God has a plan and purpose for us. This journey was never meant to be easy but with the Holy Spirit guiding us, nothing can defeat us. I Peter 3:14-15, But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do no fear what they fear or be intimidated, but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. Internet or real life bullying or trolling from this world will happen, but you don’t see their emptiness inside them like God does. You see their false, made-up perfect life and see people who seem happy commit suicide. It is all lies and deception created by Lucifer. Matthew 10:22, You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. Matthew 16:25, For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it. 2 Timothy 3:10-15 speaks about the struggles in the Christian life. But you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience love and endurance, along with the persecution and sufferings that came to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra. What persecutions I endured-and yet the Lord rescued me from them all. In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Evil people and imposters will become worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. It is so important to start our children early about God and give them the knowledge and strength to protect them when they don’t fit in. So many get lost because of lack of teaching, understanding, lack of discussion and worrying about being condemned rather than being rebuked and supported. Every generation faces new evils and temptations from Lucifer and we as believers must focus on the next generation and keep on open dialogue to help them journey this Christian life. Fitting in may not feel good for a moment, but knowing God’s paradise is awaiting us gives us the comfort and acceptance of our sufferings/persecutions in this world.

 

Romans 2:6-8, He will repay each one according to his works: eternal life to those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality; but wrath and anger to those who are self-seeking and disobey the truth while obeying unrighteousness. 

Prayer Dilemma

                I would suggest many people if they have the time, to watch Social Dilemma on Netflix. It shows the new way Lucifer is leading the world into destruction. Many of the people who were part of creating FB, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Tik Tok etc. who are mostly non-believers see the evil it can do. It causes the person to engage their mind and time into worthless matters. It will create a bubble around you and feed only things that you want and has nothing to do with the truth. It unconsciously controls you and the artificial intelligence runs algorithms to keep you engaged and send you things you will like by predicting your choices. The computer itself cannot decipher truth and only wants to keep you engaged. Facts and truth are no longer relevant and only opinions. Do you see how easily Lucifer connects the world and can influence it without resistance. He has made humanity into a product and is controlling free will by influencing it, giving you what you want to see, whether true or false. It has become the new drug and can cause heavy damage on many young minds who are already fragile. We have a prayer dilemma in this country and all over the world. Count the useless hours you were looking at your phone and engaging in social media. Many could not last a week without starting to feel with-drawls and anxiety. 

Now more than ever evil can communicate with each other and spread their poison to all the four corners of the earth. The Christian life is not complex, but will be a difficult and we see that Jesus’s foundation was prayer. It has more power than we understand and we underutilize it in our lives. We see in Luke 18:9-14, two people go to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee (world sees him as religious) the other a Tax Collector (world sees as sinner). The Pharisee stood and prayed “God I thank You that I am not like other men – extortioners, unjust, adulterers or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess” The Tax Collector, standing afar off, would not so much raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast saying, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” Prayer makes you humble and Jesus says that the Tax Collector is justified in his prayer. Prayer is not to lift yourself up in front of God or compare yourself to others. Prayer is to ask God to give strength to a sinful body/mind to overcome sin, protect us from the evil one and let God work us. We are weak no matter what status we have in society when it comes to the presence of God. We cannot be in the presence of God if we have pride (this caused Lucifer’s downfall) and our prayers will not be heard. 

We must imitate Christ (previous post) and the devil has many weapons at his disposal. Luke 15:16, states Jesus often withdrew himself into the wilderness and prayed. When He was exhausted, burdened, in agony or needed to be filled with the spirit He knew it can only be found in God’s presence and he went off to pray. It is with the power of prayer and fasting he was able to defeat the temptations of Lucifer. In Matthew 26 (Mark 14:32, 14:38, Luke 22:40, 22:46), Jesus is in Gethsemane and took Peter, James and John and He himself went a little further to pray to His Father. He told the three to stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. Three times Jesus returned from prayer and found them sleeping. In Luke 22:31-34, Jesus tells Simon Peter that Satan has asked to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers. Peter denies Jesus three times as he predicted and the rooster crowed after. Luke 9:28-36 again he took the three and as he was praying, the appearance of His face changed and his clothes became dazzling white (Jesus Transfigured). Suddenly Moses and Elijah were talking to him and they were speaking of his departure. Peter and the others woke up and saw His glory and the two men who were standing with Jesus. Peter asks Jesus if he should build tabernacles for the other two and while he was saying it a cloud appeared and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. A voice came out of the cloud saying, “This is my Beloved Son. Hear Him! Jesus was then found alone. The point of this was to show that we are only to pray to God/Jesus and not to any other figures or mortals/idols. He is the only connection we have to God and no other one can claim that truthfully. The Bible does not tells us to pray to Mary or any Saints. Jesus himself prayed only to God, His Heavenly Father. John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 

Prayer has POWER! We see it in all the miracles Jesus and his disciples did in the Bible. There is no way to live a Christian life without prayer and fasting. It gives us confidence, I John 5:14-15, This is the confidence we have before Him, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked of Him. God only wants to give us good things in our lives. Mark 11:24, Therefore I tell you, everything you pray and ask for – believe that you have received it and it will be yours. It shows faith and the confidence that there is nothing God will not give us. He gives us what we need, not always what we want in life. Prayer gives us boldness and allows us to be in the Spirit, Ephesians 6:18-19, Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel. It gave the disciples boldness (Acts 4:13) against the Jewish leadership to preach the truth no matter the consequences. There is so much power that is available to us when we take our authority in prayer. It takes away anxiety, fear, doubt, brings healing and putting on his armor to fight the darkness. Elijah with the power of prayer, had God answer by shutting the heavens and prevented rain for three years. Jesus cast out demons, healed the sick and blind, raised the dead with the power of prayer. God doesn’t ask us to understand, comprehend or figure it out, He only asks us to pray and seek his trust (Isaiah 55:8). 

Prayer is talking to God and having a private conversation with him. Prayer should be private and pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly (Matthew 6:5-15). When we speak to our parents about something important we want or need, we do it privately. It is the relationship that is important and God our Heavenly Father knows what we need. That private time of prayer builds a relationship between God and yourself. It gives you strength and faith to know and face any obstacles the devil places in front of you. Jesus prayed to His Father out of love, faith and obedience. Jesus is actually praying for His children. John 17:9, I pray for them. I am not praying for the world but for those you have given me, because they are yours. Jesus the Son of God is praying for our souls and asking in verse 11, Holy Father protect them by your name that you have given me, so that they may be one as we are one. He is literally praying for us in Heaven to be part of the Body of Christ and wants us to join him in his Heavenly kingdom. Does that not tell you itself the importance of prayer! If even the Son of God is praying to his Father, having a conversation and asking to protect us from this world so we may all receive the joy of salvation, we must focus on prayer. Do not worry about what to pray and just begin to speak to your Heavenly Father. Romans 8:26 In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings. God already knows what we need, so open your heart and the Spirit can do the rest. Prayer can change your heart and your mind. 

The dilemma is that we are taking prayer our most valuable and powerful weapon for granted and choosing distractions hurt our relationship with God.  We are not trusting in the power of prayer and our God to protect us and give us guidance. When most people wake up in America or even the world the first thing they do is grab their phone or turn on the TV to see what is happening in the world. The world does not care what happens to you. Don’t ever say, you don’t have time to pray. The Lord’s Prayer itself is only a minute if even that long. When you wake up, pray! When you get dressed and about to eat breakfast, pray! When you get into your car to drive to work, pray! When you sit at your desk, pray! When you are about to eat, pray! When you get stressed at work, pray! When you get home safely, pray! When you are about to eat dinner, pray. When you get bad news, pray! When you get good news, pray! Have family prayer every evening. When you are about to go to sleep, pray! There is no time during the day you can’t be in the Spirit of Prayer. If Jesus can pray even during his crucifixion we have no excuse. Put the phone down, social media, television and any distraction and do not let it not rob you of your relationship with God. I see people buying all these self-help books, get rich books, prosperity gospel books, yet they neglect the one true book, The Holy Bible. You could read the Bible a 1,000 times yet every time find something new and something guided by the Holy Spirit for you to witness to the world. The world looks at other places for answers, when the real answer is literally in their face. Take your problems, anxiety, sickness, stress, and your fears all to God. The solution is God and Prayer! 

 

 

Anti-Trinity

          What is Lucifer’s ultimate goal in the fight against God his creator. In Ezekiel 28:12-15 God describes the beauty of Lucifer, You were the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz and diamond, beryl, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship off your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created. You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you.” Isaiah 14:12-14, How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations.! For you have said in your heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation, On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High. Lucifer was prideful and jealous and wants to be even greater than his creator. Sin is rebellion against God and Lucifer was the first. He wants to be worshipped and anyone he can take away from God is a victory for him. God gave him dominion over the earth until the return of Jesus. Jesus proclaimed his kingdom is not of the earth in the Gospels. Jesus was offered the kingdoms of the world by Satan when he was tempted in Matthew 4. Lucifer currently is the God of this world. 2 Corinthians 4:4, In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the lift of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (CSB version).

         In Revelation 13, Lucifer gives power, his throne and great authority to the antichrist. The Holy Spirit is holding back from this occurring, but will one day will allow these events to happen to fulfill the prophecy and the 2^nd coming of Christ. The antichrist is pretty much what Jesus is to believers. Lucifer tempted Jesus to become his antichrist but we all know that did not happen. The world will worship this false Messiah, and the dragon (Lucifer) gave authority to the beast (antichrist). He will be allowed to do great things and blasphemies for three and a half years (Jesus ministry was three and a half years). He will make war with the saints and win for a time and will the leader of the unbelievers. Who ever does not have the name written in the Book of Life will worship him. 1 John 2:22, Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. The spirit of the antichrist is already in this world and is spreading the message of his father (Lucifer) to the world. It seems this beast will be mortally wounded but this wound would be healed and the world would marvel. The antichrist is Jesus in this unholy Trinity. In 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in God’s temple, proclaiming that he himself is God. 

         In Revelation 13:11 we see another beast coming up out of the earth. He seems to be the prophet of Lucifer. He is given the same authority of the first beast and performs greats signs to the world. He deceives those on the earth, forces everyone to worship the first beast and tells those on earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. This person will even reign down fire from heaven. The prophet is given power to bring this idol to life and whoever does not worship it will be killed. He forces everyone who believes in the beast to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead. We as believers have nothing to fear about this seal. This seal is for those who believe in the antichrist and forsake the One True God. 2 Corinthians 2:21-22, Now it is God who strengthens us together with you in Christ, and who has anointed us. He has also put his seal on us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment. Ephesians 1:13, In him you also. Were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of. Truth, the gospel of your salvation and when you believed. We as believers will already have the seal from God and “No weapon formed against shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgement you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me, says the Lord (Isaiah 54:17).” 

         Lucifer wants to make us rebel and war with the children of God. He hates believers more than anyone else, because unbelievers don’t need his attention. But believers have a direct relationship with God through prayer/fasting/obedience. Lucifer does not want you to believe or read Genesis (specifically Chapter 3) or Revelation. He hates these two books probably the most in the Bible. It shows in Genesis how Lucifer tries to convince Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. It shows even then how he wants to try and convince you that you will be like God. Lucifer things he should be greater than God himself. It is even ironic because he literally copies God’s plan. From him wanting to be God, his antichrist (Lucifer’s version of Jesus) and the prophet (Lucifer’s version of John the Baptist/Or Holy Spirit). I John 3:8-9, He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose of the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. Lucifer hates Revelation because it gives away his plan and end and the true believers will not be deceived. Revelation 20:10, The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 

“Your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (I Peter 5:8).” We can not take the devil lightly, he and his demons will continue to test our faith and obedience. The huge difference is that the devil is not omnipresent-everywhere, omnipotence-all powerful, omniscience-all knowing, only our God is! Lucifer will use his Anti-Trinity to cause many souls to fall into the lake of fire. God, Jesus, Holy Spirit and the True Gospel Church are his adversaries. We can not be neutral in this fight. Matthew 12:30, Jesus says it clearly, “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.” Prayer is a powerful weapon against Lucifer (Prayer Dilemma on the next blog). Our prayers go into the air and then to the heavens to our Fathers’ ears. The devil is the prince of the air (Ephesians 2:2) and it probably passes his domain which infuriates him. Our God will never fail us and he knows what we need even before we ask. In Jesus’s sample prayer in Matthew 6, “He prays Deliver Us from the Evil one.” The devil is real and we need to pray to God to deliver us from Lucifer. He will tempt us everyday of our lives and it is the love and blood of Jesus and the Holy Spirit that protects us. We forget that Lucifer/antichrist/prophet and the fallen angels have no chance of Repentance like the rest of us and their fate has already been written. The Anti-Trinity will fail and will be defeated by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ upon his return! We must endure and continue to have faith in the one true Trinity!