This is the product of my fertile thoughts. I am recreating them here and am sharing them with you, dear bloggers, for whatever benefits, if any, you could derive from them. I wish you could be more open and share with me your comments and suggestions so that I can improve on my blog. Thank you, God bless and have a nice day. Mel Avila Alarilla
How do we distinguish between the spirit of truth and the spirit of deception? How do we know whether a person is truthful or not? How do we protect ourselves against wolves in sheep's clothing? Many are deceived by flowery words, by sham display of noble intentions and they are left holding an empty bag of broken promises and shattered dreams. There is an antidote against these deceivers and charlatans. This is the Spirit of discernment. It is a particular gift from the Holy Spirit and protects God's children against the wiles and deception of the enemy. We can only get this if we are born again and have surrendered our lives to Jesus Christ. This is the promise of Jesus Christ before he left the earth, that He will send the Spirit of truth to reveal all things to those who will accept Him as their Lord and savior. Like Jesus Christ, who came to earth to glorify the Father, the Holy Spirit, who proceeded from both the Father and the Son, came to earth to glorify Jesus Christ. Like all gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of discernment can be possessed through earnest prayers and petitions to the Holy Spirit. Those who are given this particular power can discern and identify the spirit of darkness and evil and can counteract them by the power of God's words. The only requisite is to have an unwavering faith in the power of God and His promises. One such promise is contained in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Seek the Spirit of discernment to protect yourself and your loved ones against the deceiving spirits of the enemy.
Tags: God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Spirit of Discernment, Spirit of Truth, Spirit of Deception, Wolves in Sheep's Clothing, Empty Bag of Broken Promises and Shattered Dreams, Antidote, God's Children, Born Again, Lord and Savior, Earnest Prayers and Petitions, Spirit of Darkness and Evil, Power of God's Words, Unwavering Faith, Philippians 4:13, Gospel, Word of God, Holy Bible
I read an article by Dr. Bruce Baker of Faith and Facts before entitled "Is Haiti Cursed?" Just like Haiti, the Philippines was the recipient of so many calamities before that if we will closely examine the Bible, we can also conclude that yes indeed, the Philippines is cursed. Why? Just like Haiti which is steeped in voodooism, witchcraft, superstition and idolatry, the Philippines also willfully violated many commandments of God. Foremost of these is the second commandment: "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on earth beneath or in the water below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments" (Exodus 20:4-6). The problem is, this particular commandment was stricken off from the list of the Ten Commandments by the Catholic church in all her cathechetical literatures and split the tenth commandment to compensate for the omitted 2nd commandment. Thus the ninth commandment of the church reads, "Thou shalt not covet they neighbor's wife" and the tenth - "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods" whereas both of these are combined in the original 10th commandment. In the Old Testament, the Lord punished the Israelites every time they worshiped man made idols until their punishment became so severe that they suffered exiles to Assyria for Israel and to Babylon for Judah. Just like Haiti, religion and folklore or pagan practices co-exist side by side in the Philippines where people, especially those living in the provinces, still believe in folklore like dwarfs, elves, gnomes, witches, witchcraft, ogres and other folk and pagan beliefs. They try to make their own ways to salvation like crucifying themselves, self flagellation or attending the procession of the miraculous Black Nazarene. John 4:23-24 says, "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is Spirit and His worshipers must worship in Spirit and in truth." Is the Philippines cursed? Read the Bible to know the answer.
Tags: God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Philippines, Haiti, Curse, Dr. Bruce Baker, Faith and Facts, Calamities, Voodooism, Witchcraft, Bible, Commandments, Idol, Old Testament, Assyria, Babylon, Gospel, Word of God
"Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts" (Hebrews 4:7b)
DO YOU NEED HELP? ARE YOU IN THE DARK? CAN'T FIND YOUR WAY AROUND? NEED A FRIEND WHO WILL STICK WITH YOU THROUGH THICK OR THIN OR WHEN EVERYBDOY ELSE HAS DESERTED YOU?
