Number 18									  

"Prove yourselves doers of the Word, and not merely hearers."   James 1:22

                              SPREAD  THE  WORD

     Our desire for you is that you know Jesus and experience living in Christ.
"For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your
servants for Jesus sake" (2 Cor 4:5). While Americans may be the best fed people
in the world, most are starving spiritually . We marvel that people in India
starve as sacred cows wander about them, yet millions starve spiritually as
their Bibles sit on bookshelves as holy relics.  Feed on the Bread of Life which
is the Word of God.  Ask the Holy Spirit to help you read one chapter a day.
News of Jesus is more than a bible topic, it's the greatest news! Pass it on.

          THE  NEW  AGE  MOVEMENT  =  SAME  OLD  LIE  OF  THE  DECEIVER

The New Age, you may not have heard of it, but it is a cancer that is even
reaching into our churches. Terminology such as global communities, universal
consciousness and one world religion (theirs) fits in with their thinking.
New Age is a loosely arranged philosophy that is taking root in many areas of
our society. It has elements of secular humanism, but it does not deny the
spiritual side of man. A New Ager finds "good" in all religions. It is watered
down, negating what God's Word really says. They would even admire Jesus.
However, the Jesus they talk about is not the same one as in the Bible.

New Agers believe that we all have latent power within us. One needs to learn
how to tap into it and develop it. It is intellectual pride and Eastern
mysticism re-packaged. Many colleges and management training seminars are
advocating this stuff. It may seem harmless at first, but it is anti-God.
It will inevitably clash with traditional Christianity. Thank God, the gates
of hell can't prevail against His church (people).

New Age philosophy is dangerous because it fills the spiritual void that exists
in so many people. Those drawn to it can adhere to it with religious fervor.
The TV special, "Out on a Limb" is an example of the media's promotion of it.
New Age could be the form of religion which will usher in the anti-christ!
Various New Age groups have stated that they are looking for a holy man (guru)
who will rise as a world leader and bring about peace.

This introduction just touches on the surface of the New Age. Basically, it is
the same old deception of Satan cooked up with a new name. Ever since Satan
deceived Eve in the garden (Gen 3:5), he keeps using the same ingredients:
 1)  Intellectual Pride - I can be wise like God and control my destiny.
 2)  Rebellion - Denying and then Disobeying God and His Word.

The Spirit of Antichrist:  deceives people into believing false ideas.
" even now many antichrists have come ... who is the liar ... he who denies
  that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist - he denies
  the Father and the Son."                         1 John 2:18-22  &  1 John 4:3
"deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh."  2 Jn 7

                                      - 2 -

Deceivers Will Come:  to fleece the sheep and attempt to lead them astray.
"There will be false teachers among you. They'll secretly introduce destructive
  heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them."        2 Peter 2:1
"They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are wolves." Matt  7:15
"such people aren't serving our Lord, but their own appetites."        Rom 16:18
"such men are false apostles ... Satan masquerades as an angel of light ...
  his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness."          2 Cor 11:13-15
"There are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers."       Titus 1:10

Deceivers Become Blinded:  as they harden their hearts like Pharaoh did.
"Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged
 the glory of the immortal God for images."                             Rom 1:22
"Since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of
 God, He gave them over to a depraved mind."                            Rom 1:28
"Since they don't know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to
 establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness."      Rom 10:3
"They are darkened in their minds and separated from the life of God because of
 the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts."   Eph 4:18

Our Protection:  from deceivers is in Christ Jesus and knowing His Word & Will.
"Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge."              Prov 1:7  ,  9:10
"Don't be wise in your own eyes, fear the Lord and shun evil." Prov 3:7 Isa 5:21
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."  (of God)             Hosea 4:6
"examined the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul said was true."    Acts 18:24
  Some Suggested Bible reading:   Psa 22 & 23   a Proverb per day   Isa 53 & 55
  Matthew   John   Acts 2   Rom 8   Col 3   Hebrews 8 & 11   1 John    James 3

Our 1st Purpose:  in life is to bring glory to God, not to ourselves.   Rom 15:6
While we need knowledge, it can become a proud, useless idol.         1 Cor 6:20
"Pride comes before a fall."     Prov 16:18  , 11:2 & 29:23
Knowledge isn't life's goal, for  "Knowledge will pass away."         1 Cor 13:8
"Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up."                             1 Cor 8:1
"that they may know ... Christ in whom are hidden all the treasures of
  wisdom and (true) knowledge ."  (for all ages)                        Col 2:3
"turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is
  falsely called knowledge."      (trivia?)                           1 Tim 6:20

Summary:  The common link in false religions is the denial of the Trinity and
Jesus as true God and true man. Beware of religion that appeals to the intellect
of man (pride of life). Psychology and human good works can become idols too!

Mormonism, "The Plain Truth" magazine, Jehovah Witnesses, Unitarianism & Eastern
religions all deny the true identity of Jesus and have formed their own images.
Please note: many nice people are caught up in the New Age and other false
beliefs. They sincerely believe but are severely deceived. We need to love these
people, but reject the false ideas they're caught up in.  Remember, "We wrestle
not against flesh and blood, but against powers, principalities ..."  Eph 6:12.

Has New Age thought crept into your life? Have you set your ways above His ways?
Humble yourself today, repent and ask Him to forgive you. Offer your life to
Jesus. Ask the Spirit of Truth to make you an overcomer for the gospel of Jesus.

How will they know if they have not heard? How will they hear if no one is
sent? (Rom 10:13)  Will you speak out God's truth and save some from the fire?
Ask God for His protective armor (Eph 6) and the empowering of the Holy Spirit.