During worship/singing last Sunday my Spirit was not at rest and the thought kept coming to me, "I need to pray". So, I quit trying to sing, put my thoughts on Jesus, and began to pray. Even that was difficult. I noticed the song lyrics, and they sounded good enough, and then it happened. A final line in the chorus of the song was "you are devoted to me", referrencing God's devotion to man. I looked below the lyrics on the screen at the front of the church and it said 'Bethel Music'. I was becoming sick to my stomach, and my heart burned within me.
Following the worship time in the service there was some testimony. One lady's testimony was how God makes us 'great' - giants - in overcoming fear. At the conclusion of testimony time the Pastor's wife held up the 'Jesus Calling' book before the congregation, sang it's praises, and encouraged everyone to get one and read it. Then the congregation was asked to go around and greet one another before the start of the sermon, as they do every Sunday. I told my husband that we needed to leave, and we departed post haste. Following that Sunday my heart burned within me, until I wrote the Pastor a lengthy explanation, and my husband and I had a sit down talk with him the following Wednesday.
In that letter I told the Pastor that it is opposite day in the church, and that the Holy Bible warns of 'doctrines of demons' deceiving many in the last days. I have just been delivered of New Age, and Occult, praise Jesus Christ! And, the Holy Spirit within me is wholly sensitive to these in the church, and is repulsed by them. I told the Pastor that the phrase, in the Bethel song, stating God is devoted to us was opposite the truth, because we are to be devoted to God. The Pastor challenged this idea, and I was not prepared for the challenge, so I have done some investigating in the Holy Bible to prove the Spirit within me - whether it be false, or true. I also explained to the Pastor the concerns I have regarding 'Jesus Calling', which I am not going into here. I only admonish the reader to investigate HOW that book came into being.
My study on devotion brought me to some scriptures that say we are to be wholly devoted to God, and that God is faithful - not only to us, but in His character.
(Our) Devotion:
"Let your heart therefore be perfect (devoted) with Yahweh our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day." 1 Kings:8:61
"This I say for your own profit; not that I may throw a snare on you, but for that which is appropriate, and that you may attend (be devoted) to the Lord without distraction." 1 Corinthians:7:35
(The word 'devoted' is found in the NIV version of the Holy Bible, and others.)
(God's) Faithfulness:
"God is faithful, through whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord." 1 Corinthians:1:9
"If we are faithless, he remains faithful -- he can't deny himself." 2 Timothy:2:13
These are just a few scriptures on how our heart should be toward God (devoted), and of His faithfulness to us. If one is so inclined, a further study can be taken on. I wholly promote the study of God's written Word! There is nothing like finding out for one's self
Now I want to address the idea that God's love is reckless. This is not Biblical. Not. At. All. Listen - just a smidge from the truth will eventually lead one miles away from the truth. We cannot take these things lightly. The Holy Bible calls what is false 'doctrines of demons'. "But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons," 1 Timothy:4:1
Here is what the Bible does say about God's love for us, and about His orderliness - God's love is steadfast:
"[It is of] Yahweh's lovingkindnesses (steadfast love) that we are not consumed, because his compassion doesn't fail." Lamentations:3:22
"Yahweh passed by before him, and proclaimed, "Yahweh! Yahweh, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness (steadfast love) and truth," Exodus:34:6
"Your lovingkindness (steadfast love), Yahweh, is in the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the skies." Psalm:36:5
(The words, 'steadfast love', in parentheses are found in the King James version of the Bible.)
Here is what the Holy Bible says about God's (orderly) plan in His love for us:
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says Yahweh, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope in your latter end." Jeremiah:29:11
"For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." Romans:8:29
"even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without blemish before him in love;" Ephesians:1:4
So, we see that God is faithful, and steadfast, in His character and love for His chosen children. We understand that, because of His love, we are to be wholly devoted to Him. And, we understand that God knew us before the foundations of the earth were created, and has had an orderly plan for us all along. Praise Him!
The scriptures the Pastor left my husband and I with were 1 Corinthians 8, and Romans 14. These are chapters on how to treat one another of our Brothers and Sisters in Christ. We are to be careful in not offending, or causing another in the Body of Christ to stumble. These are scriptures, also, of liberty in Christ. Our liberty is that of freedom from the body of sin! Not to do as we please in following the old sin nature, as we once did. Yet, if one's doctrine is not sound they have already stumbled, and need to be brought back to the truth, and repentance - if one would be willing to turn from these doctrines of demons. It is biblical to hold one another to account, and to be held to account. Here is just one scripture that encourages us in this practice (there are more): "Brothers, if any among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know, that he who converts a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins." James:5:19-20
So much of what is leading the congregation astray from the truth is the desire for comfort, at all costs. The desire to be special, and as gods - Satan's offering in the Garden of Eden. The Bible warns us that the desires of our heart will lead us astray, and that the heart of man is evil. Do not follow your heart! Look it up in the Bible, and see if it supports these claims I am making. Follow Jesus, and let Him transform your heart.
Some words in the Holy Bible are difficult! We must make friends with these. They assist us towards repentance, without which there is no salvation. God disciplines those who are His children - because of His faithfulness and steadfast love. Praise Him! He is a good, good, Father. And, God is Holy. He is faithful in His holiness. He is faithful, and cannot betray Himself, or His character. Please investigate if what I write here is true, according to the Holy Bible. Take my word for nothing. (I have been using the World English Version Bible, and cross reference with other versions. - mostly King James Version.)
The devil is clever. He has been at the work of deception and destruction since the beginning of mankind. Let us remain devoted to the God of all Creation, and His Word - both written, and Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Let us, daily, put on the whole armor of God - which is Christ Jesus, and our faith in Him. He is all our righteousness, and in Him - His love - the Law is fulfilled. Our faith in Him, and His Word, will protect us from the lies of the evil one. Amen.
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