What Does the Bible Say About...

 

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Astrology?

 

Astrology is a divination art, which teaches that the relative positioning in the sky of the sun, moon and planets has an influence upon individuals and upon the course of human affairs. It claims to give guidance for life and information about the future based on the time when a person is born and the relative position in the sky of the sun, moon, and planets. The actual word for astrology in the Hebrew language literally means, ‘divining the heavens'. Divination is the act of foretelling future events, or of revealing secret knowledge, by means of signs and omens or other supernatural agencies.

God prohibits the practice of divination. It's in the Bible, Leviticus 19:26, NKJV. "You shall not eat anything with the blood, nor shall you practice divination or soothsaying."

What does God say about those who consult with astrologers and use astrology for guidance in their lives? It's in the Bible, Isaiah 47:13-15, NKJV. "You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels; let now the astrologers, the stargazers, and the monthly prognosticators stand up and save you from what shall come upon you. Behold, they shall be as stubble, the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame; it shall not be a coal to be warmed by, nor a fire to sit before!"

Note: Here, God is speaking to the people of ancient pagan Babylon. Middle East archaeology has confirmed that astrology did indeed originate in the nation of Babylon, now called the country of Iraq. Cuneiform tablets have been excavated depicting horoscope charts dating from the fifth century b.c. and earlier.

When the Israelites were about to enter the Promised Land of Canaan, God warned them not to practice it. It's in the Bible, Deuteronomy 18:9-11, 14, ESV. “When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead...for these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners. But as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do this."

Divination is actually regarded to be a grave sin. It's in the Bible, 1 Samuel 15:23, NIV. "Rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry."

In the book of Daniel, when King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream he couldn't remember, he summoned the magicians, sorcerers and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed. How did they respond? It's in the Bible, Daniel 2:10, NIV. "The astrologers answered the king, ‘There is not a man on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer.'"

The astrologers and sorcerers were part of the king’s circle of so-called “wise men,” but were unable to help the king with this troublesome dream. However, God had blessed his prayerful prophet Daniel with the true gifts of the Holy Spirit, and he was brought before the king to interpret the dream. It's in the Bible, Daniel 2:27-28, NKJV. "Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, ‘The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king. But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these…'" With God’s anointing, Daniel was able to describe and explain the king's prophetic dream.

For curiosity and amusement, millions of ordinary people today read the daily horoscopes published in mass-circulation newspapers. Is it okay to have this kind of casual “fun” interest in astrology? What counsel does the Bible give on this type of issue? It's in the Bible, 1 Thessalonians 5:22, KJV, “abstain from all appearance of evil.”

If we need to understand perplexing situations in our lives, we are wise to shun the error and evil of astrology and turn, instead, to the word of God. It's in the Bible, Isaiah 8:19-20, NKJV. "And when they say to you, “Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,” should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." 

(source: bibleinfo.org)

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Hello Friends.

I hope you are having a blessed day!

I am going to let the above commentary suffice for today's post.

My day started out a bit off. So I need to get on with my day.

Nothing serious, just aggravating.

Have a wonderful day!

What Does the Bible Say About..

 Ghosts?

What does the Bible say about ghosts/hauntings?

Is there such a thing as ghosts? The answer to this question depends on what precisely is meant by the term “ghosts.” If the term means “spirit beings,” the answer is a qualified “yes.” If the term means “spirits of people who have died,” the answer is “no.” The Bible makes it abundantly clear that there are spirit beings, both good and evil. But the Bible negates the idea that the spirits of deceased human beings can remain on earth and “haunt” the living

Hebrews 9:27 declares, “Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” That is what happens to a person’s soul-spirit after death—judgment. The result of this judgment is heaven for the believer (2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:23) and hell for the unbeliever (Matthew 25:46; Luke 16:22-24). There is no in-between. There is no possibility of remaining on earth in spirit form as a “ghost.” If there are such things as ghosts, according to the Bible, they absolutely cannot be the disembodied spirits of deceased human beings.

The Bible teaches that there are indeed spirit beings who can connect with and appear in our physical world. The holy angels are spirit beings who are faithful in serving God. Angels are righteous, good, and holy. We know it is possible for angels to appear in various forms to human beings (see Luke 2:9). Is it possible that demons—fallen angels—can do the same? Could a “ghost” be a demon impersonating a deceased human for deceptive purposes? It’s well within the realm of possibility.

The closest biblical example of a “haunting” is found in Mark 5:1-20. A legion of demons possessed a man and used the man to haunt a graveyard. There were no ghosts involved. It was a case of a normal person being controlled by demons to terrorize the people of that area. Demons only seek to “kill, steal, and destroy” (John 10:10). They will do anything within their power to deceive people, to lead people away from God. This is very likely the explanation of “ghostly” activity today. Whether it is called a ghost, a ghoul, or a poltergeist, if there is genuine evil spiritual activity occurring, it is the work of demons.

What about instances in which “ghosts” act in “positive” ways? What about psychics who claim to summon the deceased and gain true and useful information from them? Again, it is crucial to remember that the goal of demons is to deceive. If the result is that people trust in a psychic instead of God, a demon will be more than willing to reveal true information. Even good and true information, if from a source with evil motives, can be used to mislead, corrupt, and destroy.

Interest in the paranormal is becoming increasingly common. There are individuals and businesses that claim to be “ghost-hunters,” who for a price will rid your home of ghosts. Psychics, séances, tarot cards, and mediums are increasingly considered normal. Human beings are innately aware of the spiritual world. Sadly, instead of seeking the truth about the spirit world by communing with God and studying His Word, many people allow themselves to be led astray by the spirit world. The demons surely laugh at the spiritual mass-deception that exists in the world today.

(source: gotquestions.org)    

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I underlined the last couple of sentences because the problem with so many of the so-called physics and mediums is that not only are people delving into a dangerous game with demons, but these people are taking their money. 

We as believers should always seek after the truth.

From one source..

Not from games.

Not from those that want us to believe they can tell us the future.

Not from anyone that wants us to depart from our money for their gain.

From one source.

And of course, that source

is from God and His Word.

Also, if someone needs spiritual counseling about this type of thing,

they should go to their pastor or someone trustworthy that can help them through God's Word.

If you have ever gone to any other that Him,

please repent.

He does and will forgive you.

Thanks for coming by today, Friends.

Have a Blessed Day!

What Does the Bible Say About...

 Channeling?

Channeling is a modern name for what the Bible calls mediumship or spiritism. A channeler is a mystic who becomes a channel, or receptive agent, for intelligent communications coming from the spirit world. What does God say about mediumship? It's in the Bible, Leviticus 19:31 NIV. "Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them."

Mediumship was common among the pagan peoples of the Bible lands. God warned the Children of Israel about it just prior to their entry into the Promised Land of Canaan. It's in the Bible, Deuteronomy 18:9-12 NIV. "When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord."

People seek counsel from psychic mediums. What is the real source of the messages uttered by these spiritists? An event in the life of the Apostle Paul throws light upon their identity. It's in the Bible, Acts 16:16-18 NIV. "Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune telling. This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, 'These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved. ' She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, 'In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!' At that moment the spirit left her."

Wicked spirits, angels who at one time were living in heaven with God, rebelled with Satan and were cast down to planet earth. It's in the Bible, Revelation 12:7-9 NIV. "And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him."

Because the spirits of channeling are satanic, its activity is abhorrent to God. In fact, during the Israelites time, anyone practicing mediumship was put to death. It's in the Bible, Leviticus 20:27.NIV. "A man or woman who is a medium or a spiritist among you must be put to death." Isaiah 8:19 NKJ, "And when they say to you, 'Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,' should not a people seek their God?"

(source: bibleinfo.com)

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I don't know about you, but I want nothing to do with channeling. In fact I don't want to have anything to do with any of the occult.

These are evil ways that the enemy has used to turn the heads of people from God and on their journey to a place that they do not want to end up. 

It could start with a simple childish game in school

and end up leading us to a eternity called hell.

I am not willing to have anything to do with it. 

I am so thankful for my dad who prayed me 

through those years. And in fact, through many more as I grew older.

Be praying for your loved ones.

It does not take much to get them off course.

Thanks for coming today. 

May God bless you with His good things.

No weapon formed against us shall prosper

If we keep God close.

What Does the Bible Say about...

Fortune Telling?

Do you remember these from your childhood?

They were a fun way of trying to tell us of what would come.

Sadly they were the forunners for the modern day fortune tellers. 

Or were they?

Let's see what the Bible says about fortune tellers?

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The practice of fortune telling is forbidden by God. It's in the Bible, Deuteronomy 18:9-13, TLB. "When you arrive in the Promised Land you must be very careful lest you be corrupted by the horrible customs of the nations now living there. For example, an Israeli who presents his child to be burned to death as a sacrifice to heathen gods, must be killed. No one may practice black magic, or call on the evil spirits for aid, or be a fortune teller, or be a serpent charmer, medium, or wizard, or call forth the spirits of the dead. Anyone doing these things is an object of horror and disgust to the Lord, and it is because the nations do these things that the Lord your God will displace them. You must walk blamelessly before the Lord your God."

The future is known only by God. It's in the Bible, Isaiah 8:19, TLB. "So why are you trying to find out the future by consulting witches and mediums. Don't listen to their whisperings and mutterings. Can the living find out the future from the dead? Why not ask your God?"

(source: bibleinfo.com)

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No, fortune telling is certainly not new.

It existed long before the games we played in school to learn of our futures.

Long before we were born. 

Along with all the other kinds of the occult

this one is so dangerous.

And can be expensive for those willing to pay

for the services of a fortune teller. 

And one of the worst things about consulting a fortune teller

while sometimes they may get something right,

they also get a lot wrong,

And they have ways to find out information from people

to make them look legitimate.

But this kind of the occult, along with all others

are abonable to God.

For only He knows the future.

Thanks for coming by, Friends. 

Have a blessed day.

What Does the Bible Say About...

War

With the war going on in the middle east I am going to turn the tables to that subject for today. What does the Bible say about war?  It's a good question but perhaps misunderstood by Christians. And any of those who don't claim the name of Jesus, are really against our involvement there. So for this post, lets look to the Bible for answers to it. 

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Many people make the mistake of reading what the Bible says in Exodus 20:13, “You shall not kill,” and then seeking to apply this command to war. However, the Hebrew word literally means “the intentional, premeditated killing of another person with malice; murder.” God often ordered the Israelites to go to war with other nations (1 Samuel 15:3; Joshua 4:13). God ordered the death penalty for numerous crimes (Exodus 21:12, 15; 22:19; Leviticus 20:11). So, God is not against killing in all circumstances, but only murder. War is never a good thing, but sometimes it is a necessary thing. In a world filled with sinful people (Romans 3:10-18), war is inevitable. Sometimes the only way to keep sinful people from doing great harm to the innocent is by going to war.

In the Old Testament, God ordered the Israelites to “take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites” (Numbers 31:2). Deuteronomy 20:16-17 declares, “However, in the cities of the nations the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes. Completely destroy them…as the LORD your God has commanded you.” Also, 1 Samuel 15:18 says, “Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; make war on them until you have wiped them out.” Obviously God is not against all war. Jesus is always in perfect agreement with the Father (John 10:30), so we cannot argue that war was only God’s will in the Old Testament. God does not change (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17).

Jesus’ second coming will be exceedingly violent. Revelation 19:11-21 describes the ultimate war with Christ, the conquering commander who judges and makes war “with justice” (v. 11). It’s going to be bloody (v. 13) and gory. The birds will eat the flesh of all those who oppose Him (v. 17-18). He has no compassion upon His enemies, whom He will conquer completely and consign to a “fiery lake of burning sulfur” (v. 20).

It is an error to say that God never supports a war. Jesus is not a pacifist. In a world filled with evil people, sometimes war is necessary to prevent even greater evil. If Hitler had not been defeated by World War II, how many more millions would have been killed? If the American Civil War had not been fought, how much longer would African-Americans have had to suffer as slaves?

War is a terrible thing. Some wars are more “just” than others, but war is always the result of sin (Romans 3:10-18). At the same time, Ecclesiastes 3:8 declares, “There is…a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.” In a world filled with sin, hatred, and evil (Romans 3:10-18), war is inevitable. Christians should not desire war, but neither are Christians to oppose the government God has placed in authority over them (Romans 13:1-4; 1 Peter 2:17). The most important thing we can be doing in a time of war is to be praying for godly wisdom for our leaders, praying for the safety of our military, praying for quick resolution to conflicts, and praying for a minimum of casualties among civilians on both sides (Philippians 4:6-7).

(source: gotquestions.org)

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Why should America be willing to help defend Israel?

 For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.

Deuteronomy 7:6

I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:3l 

These 2 passages alone answers the question on why should American defend Israel. Iran is their enemy and it is ours. Now with their leader taken out, we should pray for the new one coming in and also for the people that they would turn to the God of Israel, our God also, for salvation.

And in the meantime....

Psalm 68:1 states: "Let God arise, let His enemies be scatterd; let those also who hate Him flee before Him.

Thanks for coming by today Friends. Have a blessed day!

Amen and Amen!!

For Fu

What Does the Bible Say About...

Magic

 Magic: Magic and the Christian faith are not compatible. It's in the Bible, Acts 19:18-19, TLB. "Many of the believers who had been practicing black magic confessed their deeds and brought their incantation books and charms and burned them at a public bonfire."

Any participation in occult magic practices is clearly forbidden by God. It's in the Bible, Deuteronomy 18:9-13. TLB. "When you arrive in the Promised Land you must be very careful lest you be corrupted by the horrible customs of the nations now living there. For example, an Israeli who presents his child to be burned to death as a sacrifice to heathen gods, must be killed. No one may practice black magic, or call on the evil spirits for aid, or be a fortune teller, or be a serpent charmer, medium, or wizard, or call forth the spirits of the dead. Anyone doing these things is an object of horror and disgust to the Lord, and it is because the nations do these things that the Lord your God will displace them. You must walk blamelessly before the Lord your God."

(source: bibleinfo.co )

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Occult Practices

9 When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. 13 You must be blameless before the Lord your God.  Deuteronomy 18: 9-13

Thanks for coming by today, Friends. Have a blessed day.  

What Does the Bible Say About...

Witchcraft

First let's define Witchcraft:

Simply put:

witchcraft (noun)

1. the practice of magic, especially for evil purposes; the use of spells:
   "children and goods were believed to be vulnerable to the witchcraft of jealous neighbours"

   Similar:

   sorcery
   black magic
   occultism
   wizardry
   witching
   necromancy
   voodooism
   voodoo
   hoodoo
   wonder-working
   divination
   Wicca
   white magic
   natural magic
   makutu
   thaumaturgy
   theurgy
   witchery
   diablerie
   sortilege
   • (in a modern context) religious practice involving magic and affinity with nature, usually within a pagan tradition.
   • bewitching or fascinating attraction or charm.

And so let's now look at what the Bible says about 

The practice of witchcraft is forbidden by God. It's in the Bible, Deuteronomy 18:9-13, NIV. "When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord, and because of these detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the Lord your God."

Those who practice witchcraft will not inherit the kingdom of God. It's in the Bible, Galatians 5:19-21, NIV. "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; …drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."

The future is known only by God, not witches. It's in the Bible, Isaiah 8:19, TLB. "So why are you trying to find out the future by consulting witches and mediums. Don't listen to their whisperings and mutterings. Can the living find out the future from the dead? Why not ask your God?"

(source: bibleinfo.com)

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Do you know that witchcraft can enter our lives in seemingly innocent and suttle ways without us even knowing?

When I was a kid, it came through one of those magic balls that you ask it a question then shake it and the answer yes or no will come up.

A bit older and we practiced levitation at my next-door neighbor's house.

Later as a young adult I purchased a record that was all about my birth month. 

And then there were those days of readying my horoscope in the daily newspaper.

And what about the tv shows, movies, music etc

that we watched or listened to?

Games we played.

Even now.

All seemingly innocent.

And yet participating in the kinds of things that God hates.

Thankfully, He protected me from getting into anything that would lead me to a bad ending. 

And when I realized what all that was, I repented from all of that and anything else that I might have done that I shouldn't have. Even the things that I didn't remember or wasn't sure about.

But don't take my word for it as much as God's Word.

Because He is the ultimate authority.

And His Word will lead us to Him.

Witchcraft in any form...

...may lead us where we do not want to go.

Thanks for coming by today, Friends.

Before I do go, I know that you are aware of the war going on in the middle east. Please pray for those traveling over there will be able to come home. Pray for our leaders to do what is necessary and for the peace of Jerusalen as Psalm 122:6 instructs us to.

God bless all of Israel, and America,

the World

and You!