Burning Word
Recently, we heard a minister friend discussing how people are looking for hope these days, which is one reason that certain political candidates are striking a chord w/many Americans. The minister brought out the scripture in Proverbs 13 that says "hope deferred makes the heart sick," and pointed out that because we know that a relationship with Jesus is the only thing that brings true and lasting hope and that it doesn't come through political promises and plans, when this hope doesn't manifest, there will be a lot of heart sick people in the country.
Recently, a member of our group has been teaching from Jude and pointing out the similarities to what was happening when Jude wrote the letter and what is happening now.
A few days back, I opened USA Today to an article about Oprah Winfrey's new venture into spiritual awareness that began web casting this week and will be based on a book she has now subscribed to in every way, it seems. I have not read the book. I will not be an alarmist about it, either.
I can tell you that from what I've read, this is a wolf in sheep's clothing. We're dealing with doctrines of demons. How can we tell? Because they are a counterfeit of what Biblical truth really is. It's like learning God's instructions to live successfully, but without the necessary repentance and salvation, the Bible, or a relationship with Jesus. Trying to obtain all God desires for us, but with no heart transformation. The author of the book she is using says he drew input not only from Christianity, but Islam and Buddhism as well. It's a mixed bag of deception.
(Unfortunately, there are some teachers these days who call themselves Christian whose teaching is very similar to what Oprah is about to begin broadcasting, but hopefully they bring it back to the basic need for Jesus. If not, they need to be rejected as well.)
We would be remiss as leaders in the Body of Christ if we did not warn believers and non-believers alike to be "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" with things like this. This is yet another unarguable reason to study the Bible, know what it says, and know what you believe. Otherwise, you will be defenseless when the lies come, because they will be very cleverly masked in what appears to be good. It may appear to be good, but it is without God. Deception is a clever thing, like the story of the frog in the frying pan.
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We see coming to pass what has been prophesied to occur at the end of the age. People are hungry and thirsty for what they don't recognize as Jesus, so they try to get filled with something that will later turn out to disappoint them -- whether it's placing their trust in a politician or the beliefs of a TV celebrity. (Do you find it interesting that this particular celebrity is endorsing the candidate preaching hope??)
"Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour." I Peter 5:8 (AMP).
Don't let yourself be lion food!