It was as if I heard Jesus speaking when I read John 8:31-34. In order to be Jesus’s disciples, he wants us to “abide” in His Word. He wants us to LIVE in His Word and if we do, the Truth we receive will make us FREE. However, if we allow other things to take priority over His Word [i.e., we are too busy, too tired, etc. or we would rather “pick and choose” from His Word what to make a part of our life OR NOT], we are no longer “living in freedom” but we are instead a slave, once again, to sin.
The Enemy is probably putting thoughts in your mind like: “I was set free from sin when I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, so this doesn’t apply to me.” It is 100% true that Jesus DID set us free . . . what about now? Brethren, If we willfully, continually sin (knowing it is sin and choosing to go ahead and sin anyway), we have fallen into SLAVERY TO SIN once again. A slave does not live in his master’s house, but the son has a home there forever because his “daddy” owns it.
Jesus came to set EVERY captive free. In contrast, the ONLY reason the Enemy comes is to steal, kill and destroy. The Enemy wants to ruin every believer and does not want any lost soul to come to redemption through Jesus. He wants us tired when it’s time to read the Bible and pray. He wants us to put off studying . . . every excuse comes from the Enemy. At this very moment, the Enemy sends the Spirit of Error to twist the black and white meaning of Scripture. He causes us to get all “puffed up” and angry when the TRUTH is shown to us that God’s Word is AGAINST celebrating Halloween, Christmas and Easter. All the tradition . . . gone.
Celebrating pagan holidays (mixing holy with profane and clean with unclean) brings judgment. Why then, do we fight hard AGAINST laying down these traditional celebrations? Do we realize that we are fighting against our Savior, who redeemed us from the pit, whom we promised to follow and gave our lives to? And yet, we take offense and fight against obedience to His Word just like little children balk and complain when parents say “no.”
The Enemy and the Spirit of Error wants us to believe “it’s okay to obey only part of God’s command or that none of them apply anymore. Why is it so hard for us to BELIEVE that GOD NEVER CHANGES? God never lies. If you believe that, what changed to change God’s commands? God didn’t change. And Jesus said:
Matthew 5:17-20 “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets:: I AM NOT COME TO DESTROY, BUT TO FULFILL.18 For verily I say unto you, TILL HEAVEN AND EARTH PASS (how long is that????), ONE JOT OR ONE TITTLE SHALL IN NO WISE PASS FROM THE LAW, TILL ALL BE FULFILLED.19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.20 For I say unto you, That EXCEPT YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL EXCEED THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES, YE SHALL IN NO CASE ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.”
If you want to believe what the Father of LIES whispers in your ear, I urge you to also remember how it will turn out. Jesus came to DESTROY the works of the Enemy and so that we can have life and have it MORE abundantly. He is the way, the truth and the life! Why is it so hard for us to believe that God gave us each and every command because He wants what is BEST for us?
Clearly Scripture does not even mention celebrating Jesus' birth. In fact, we don't even know THE DATE Jesus was born. The giving of gifts on December 25th is pagan (Sun Worship) practice/tradition, as is what we think is “our” tradition of decorating a Christmas tree. God says:
Jeremiah 10:2-4 “Thus saith the Lord, ‘Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For 3 the customs of the people ARE VAIN: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.’”
God's Word is clear about mixing the holy with the profane:
Colossians 2:8 “Beware lest any man spoil (to make rotten, putrid) you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the TRADITION OF MEN, after the RUDIMENTS [a first principle or element; that which is to be first learnt; as the rudiments of learning or science.] OF THE WORLD, and not after Christ.”
Ezekiel 22:26 “Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.”
1 John 2:15-17 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.”
1 Corinthians 10:21 “Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.”
In order to live in the freedom and abundance Christ offers, you must LIVE (breathe, eat, drink, sleep, work, etc.) His Word. You can’t have freedom if you CHOOSE (through sin) to go back under the bondage to any sin. God gives us all FREE WILL to CHOOSE to obey or disobey His Word. It is certainly up to you to decide. The Enemy has deceived most Christians on this and other matters.
God poses to each of us this question, “What is REALLY important?”
Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
Brothers and sisters, are moments, days, or even weeks lived in total disregard for God’s Word more important than Eternity or more important than being under demonic oppression?
How long will you waver between TWO OPINIONS (1 Kings 18:21)?
Father, I bind every principality, power, all rulers of the darkness of this world and all spiritual wickedness . . . especially the Spirit of Error. I bind them all with the Blood of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, as well as put His blood all of your mouths [so you are unable to speak further lies or all in help from other demons] from twisting the truth in God’s Word. Father may every one reading this post receive 100% of Your TRUTH. Amen.
Crying out in the wilderness:
Delann Conrad
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