False Christian teachings, trends….
This issue of Agenda Weekly provides briefs on the following topics: COMMUNISTS STEAL ANOTHER ELECTION IN VENEZUELA; PAGANISM ON FULL DISPLAY AT PARIS OLYMPICS; WHY THE PERVERSE DISPLAY? WHY KAMALA IS THE PERFECT STANDARD-BEARER FOR THE ANTI-FAMILY LEFT; KAMALA HARRIS IS A RADICAL COMMUNIST; NEW BOOK EXPOSES COMPROMISED LEADERS IN EVANGELICAL CHURCH; IS MIDDLE EAST HEADING FOR LARGER WAR? JOE BIDEN ANNOUNCES “COURT-PACKING” PLAN; and much more
The 4-minute video of this post explains “How God Tests Us.” In the initial two minutes the metal refining process is explained; then that information is applied to the Christian by explaining the manner and purpose of God’s “testing” process. Highlight points are below the video. A few relevant scriptures are used in closing, to show that God’s testing process is like that used in refining metal.
This post contains the lyrics of John Newton’s hymn, I Asked the Lord That I Might Grow, to emphasize two things: 1- that his perspective is on the level of human experience; and, 2- he wrongly views God’s work in seeing it as something to be escaped (this hymn is so relevant because that is how humans typically view affliction, testing from God’s hand). Afterwards, scripture verses are used to convey God’s purposes in the work of refining. Then two versions of the song are provided, the first is a Country / pop version; the second, traditional hymnal version.
Parts 1 and 2 of this three-part series treated the deceitful imaginations of the heart; this part consists of the ‘Reflections’ of Alexander as he closed the chapter. The text from his book is directly under the video so that readers might follow along with the video reader if they desire to do so. I think that is a good way to consider the weighty material Alexander covers in his study of Jeremiah 17:9.
This post contains a 4-minute devotional from the letters of John Newton. Therein, I think that, Newton describes a biblical Christian walk. Newton’s conception of his Christian walk is very different than the conceptions of modern Christians. It seems to me that the major difference is that moderns remain more in their own strength than in the Lord’s.
The topic of this post is part 2 of chapter 12 from Archibald Alexander’s book: Practical Sermons to be read in Families and Social Meetings. His topic derives from, Jermiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I think is it important to understand this foundational biblical concept from Jeremiah’s writings because it is how the whole of scripture speaks of mankind. But you may not realize that if you attend a mainline Christian church, unless, of course, you are a student of the Bible.
This post contains a video reading of chapter 12 of Archibald Alexander’s book; it also contains a portion of the book which covers and introductory discussion of the deceitfulness of the heart and two DECEPTIONS OF THE IMAGINATION that occur in the deceitful heart. You will certainly recognize them both and might also gain some useful insight to help you undermine such operations via journaling, strategizing, prayer….
Christian meditation apps, such as Dwell, contain unbiblical and potentially spiritually dangerous methods such as Lectio Divina, breathwork, ecumenism, and monastic mysticism. Doreen Virtue compares audio clips of her pre-salvation new age meditations to the meditations on Dwell, so you can hear the similar hypnotic induction techniques.
This post contains another review by Vince Wright of a song that most Christians are likely quite familiar with, He Will Hold Me Fast. Since he linked the Keith and Krystyn Getty version of the song, I uploaded it. Wright revealed the great spiritual significance of the simple lyrics of this Ada R. Habershon hymn. There is a link to the song for those who would like to quickly read all the scripture references. Check his site to see if your favorite Christian music has been reviewed.
“What is the Jezebel Spirit? We hear the Jezebel Spirit blamed for infidelity and spiritual warfare. But what does the Bible say?” Pastors Jim Osman and Jacob Tanner along with Doreen Virtue and Dawn Hill discuss the unbiblical nature of “Deliverance Ministries.” “Jezebel Spirit” is the concept they unpack as they show that those who claim to be ministers of deliverance are not speaking as representatives of God and His word. In the process, some valuable information for daily Christian life in this world are communicated. This 18-minute excerpt was posted by Doreen Virtue from a 90-minute interview.