Wise As Serpents....

This verse in Matthew is one that I think of often...Matthew Chapter 10 verse 16.. Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. KJV.

In this day and age of confusion and deception I think it is important as a Christian to heed that warning. Folks there is a lot of bad stuff out there that poses as "Christian" from books to music to movies, organizations that are just not right. Just because they sell it in the "Christian" book store doesn't mean it is good fruit. I am not slamming Christian book stores. I love book stores. I adore books..I love to read. But I have to say that the last time I visited my favorite Christian book store I was shocked at the top 10 best seller display. A wise women once told me, " if it is popular you better be careful." And you know what she was right.

So what is our guide for knowing if something is of God are not? First, does it line up with the word of God? 1st John tells us to do this..1st John Chapter four verses 1 through 3, Beloved believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many fasle prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is the spirit of anti-christ, whereof ye have heard that it should come;and even now is in the world.

There are many popular books out there that are written by Christians that do not line up with scripture. The jesus they speak of is not the Jesus of the Bible but a worldly jesus...one that lines up with what they want him to be,Not who He is. They want him to be a loving jesus. One that just loves us all and lets us do our own thing out of this love, but yet will still welcome us to commune at His table and give us stuff. The true Jesus is love. He loves us so much that Gave His life for us. He bled and He suffered and He died a horrible death so that anyone that calls upon His name could have eternal life...but there is a catch. We have to repent, reject, abhor the sin in our life. We have to humble ourselves and ask to be forgiven. We have to turn our lives over to Him. We cannot serve two masters. We cannot serve sin and the flesh and serve the Lord. We can't just go on living anyway we want. We have a standard set before us and we must to do best to follow that standard. Yes we all fall. Yes we all sin. We make bad choices. But the ultimate test for being a true Christian is this...when these things happen are we comfortable in our sin. Or does our spirit grieve? Do we make excuses? Or do we fall on our face and cry out for forgiveness? Jesus will always meet us when we are on our knees. No matter what you have done, He will always honor and restore a broken heart. Broken over sin in our life. That is a God of love.

Another jesus that is a popular one today is a "mystical spirit jesus", A jesus that just kinda of "is". He doesn't have a lot of power other then to "whisper" sweet nothings in our ears. Tell us what we want to hear basically. At times he may appear as magical lights that fall all around or glitter that falls from the heavens. His focus is on our "consciousness", on our achieving a "higher spiritual level". And to reach this level we can do all kinds of different things..like emptying our minds in meditation, or walking a labyrinth, or practicing breath prayers, using candles and certain rituals. "Practicing" all these things,,and there are many more out there, are all supposed to bring you into fellowship with him, And in reality they are bringing you into fellowship with not the True and living Jesus of the Bible, but a fake counterfeit jesus. A jesus that looks good and sounds good and may even use scripture but is really an impostor. This jesus desires to stir confusion in our minds and in leading us "to the light" is actually leading us down into the darkness. Beware of this jesus. He appears as an angel of light.and the reality is that he is demon of darkness.

The jesus of mixture. The jesus of mixture is dangerous as well. When God lead his people out of Egypt he warned them time and time again do not mix with the people of the lands where they had to go. And time and time again they did. All through the old testament the people of God compromised. They married into the pagan people. They fell into the pagan ways. Even to the point of child sacrifice on the pagan alters. They wanted to keep their God, but they ran after other gods as well. This didn't work so well for them. God warned them over and over, they would repent for a season and then be back to there old ways and finally one day God had enough and let them be conquered and they were sent away in exile for many years.You cannot mix Christianity with the other religions of the world. It won't work. It is not Gods plan. The number one commandment is.."you shall have no other gods before me."Be sold out to Him. All the other gods are dead. Ours is not! All the other gods were vengeful, vindictive gods that have to be appeased in some way. Many by the shedding of blood, and doing awful things in his, or her name. Our God only asks for us to Love, honor, respect and repent of our sins. We can't earn His love. We only have to believe He is who He says He is. Faith, not sacrifice.

Another way that I have found that is helpful to me as a gauge to see if something is of God or not is...did Jesus do it. If Jesus did it then we can too. We can pray for the sick. We can spend time in prayer, we can talk of the Lord , we can sing praises. We can spread the gospel. In the books we read and the music we listen to or the people we follow as teachers are they doing the same things that Jesus did? Are they teaching Jesus..born a man, died for our sins, risen on the third day, ascended onto heaven where He sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for us, and coming back one day? If that isn't being taught. If that is not the focus. If there are "add on's".  Then run from it. Throw that book away. Quit listening to that music. Don't follow that preacher/teacher anymore.

When in doubt..check it out. First against the Word of God..always always first. In the days of Internet and information available at our fingertips there are some good discernment websites. As with anything opinions will vary. But there is some very useful and insightful information as well. Lighthouse Trails in my opinion is a good one, but there are quite a few out there. Hosea 3 verse 6 says.."My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..." Educate yourself, pray for the gift of discernment..it is critical in this day and time.

Be as wise as serpents and as gentle as doves.

God Bless and Happy Trails
Ranchwife