God's Pure Love for You

First Timothy 4:1-16 begins: “But the Spirit explicitly says that in the later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.” The later (end) times are upon us, beginning after the ascension of Jesus into heaven, but the falling away seems more prevalent now.

The introduction of Silva Mind Control by José Silva  in the 1960s (See my 3-19-’12 blog.) is a real example of the doctrine of demons! Worse yet, even some people in the Church are being seduced by this program through “positive thinking”, visualization, transcendental meditation, self-hypnosis, spiritism, and demonic channeling, all forms of divination, ultimately leading to contact with spirits of the dead through mediums. Have nothing to do with these deceitful “New Age” methods of mind abuse.

First Timothy 4:2 says that people will pay attention to these deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron. That’s how the falling away is occurring right now! What should we do?

First Timothy 4:6-16 instructed Timothy, so we should also do these things to keep the faith:

1. Point out these things (that there will be a falling away to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons), and you will be a good servant  of Christ Jesus.

2. Constantly be nourished on the words of the faith and the sound doctrine which you have been following.

3. Have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. (Who do you usually picture as a fortune teller…an old woman? Don’t get me wrong; my kids consider me to be an old woman. The point is, the teachings of Silva Mind Control are all very much worldly fables and divination condemned by the LORD as an abomination to the Lord and detestable in Deuteronomy 18:9-14. —

Verse 9 “When you enter the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 12 For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD; and because of  these detestable things, the LORD your God will drive them out before you. 13 You shall be blameless before the LORD your God. 14 For those nations, which you shall dispossess, listen to those who practice witchcraft and to diviners, but as for you, the LORD your God has not allowed you to do so.”

No, the LORD our God has not allowed His bride, the Church, to do such things either! The remainder of what we are to do is:

4. Discipline ourselves for the purpose of godliness…since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

5. Fix our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.

6. Just as Paul told Timothy to do, we will also do well if we show ourselves as examples of those who believe - by our speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.

7. Give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, and teaching.

8. Do not neglect the spiritual gift within us.

9. Take pains with these things, be absorbed in them, so that our progress may be evident to all.

10. Pay close attention to your teaching (from God)*; persevere in these things.

* My words in parentheses.

Someone I know was involved in Silva Mind Control during the 1970s. I was a teen and shook it off. The topic was brought up again recently, so I did deeper research, now as a Christ-follower.

The Silva Method (Silva Mind Control) is an occult practice and should never be used by born-again Christians! Warning: everyone stay away from this Satanic practice, which allows evil spirits to enter and control your mind through demonic channeling, visualization, transcendental meditation, self-hypnosis, and spiritism (contacting spirits of the dead) –  all divination, which God’s word forbids in Deuteronomy 18:9-13 and says that those who practice it are an abomination and detestable to the LORD! (Please read on; there is hope!)

While alive, its founder encouraged priests and nuns to take the course. Others in the Christian Church are being deceived by visualization used in medicine, education, psychotherapy, sports, and human potential seminars, among others!

It was first developed by José Silva in the 1960s, after starting experiments with it in 1944. Silva believed it could improve IQ, develop clairvoyance, and use the mind to heal the body, but it pretends to give you Christ-consciousness, and is, in fact, a Satanic religion.  Participants are taught to repeat positive sentences to themselves before falling asleep at night, so that they will wake up the next morning with a positive attitude.

SMC puts attention on the power of the human being to supposedly perfect himself. Constantly repeating the positive sentences could work a person into a frenzy, in my opinion. Worst of all, SMC ultimately allows communication with evil spirits. Never have anything to do with this deceptive trickery of the devil!

The only wise option? If you trust in Christ as your Savior and Lord, you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Controlling your mind with the Silva Method puts much confidence in the flesh, and sometimes unknowingly in evil spirits that are allowed into your body! The apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:3, “… we who serve God by His Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh.”

Philippians 4:13 – ”I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” It’s wiser and easier to rest in Jesus by faith, than to repeat Silva’s positive-thinking mantras over and over! I choose to rest in Jesus who saved me, holds my hand, and fills me with His Holy Spirit! He will “never leave me nor forsake me.” – Hebrews 13:5. With His presence, you can have peace, joy, Christ-confidence, grace, power, and love filling your life, as you study the Bible and yield to His Holy Spirit.

No counterfeit, including Silva Mind Control, can give you real peace and eternal security. SMC will put you in touch with Satan, who wickedly approves! If you have tried the Silva deception, confess your sin, and give your life to Jesus, who will be your Lord and Savior. If you are a Christian already, run from SMC, the deception of Satan so cleverly disguised, confess your sin, and be cleansed. – 1 John 1:9.

Tim Tebow has written Phil 4:13 under his eyes with eye black. This made people ask who “Phil” was and what Phil 4:13 meant. Then he told them, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” This means that we can do all things that God wants us to do through Christ, who strengthens us. See your life changed after you give your life, body, soul, spirit, and mind to God, the only way to live, not by demonic power released in Silva Mind Control!

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard  your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6,7.

Romans 12:1,2  – ”Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is true worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Then go tell others about Jesus; fight Satan’s attack by being that “city set on a hill” as you let your light shine! Matthew 5:14-16

Have you heard of Silva Mind Control before? Please leave a comment, so I know you’re reading my blogs. Then please read my future blog: “Have the Mind of Christ!”

John 3:16 is for more than Easter (Resurrection Sunday) or Tim Tebow.

The most well-known Bible verse, the one most-searched-for online, is John 3:16, and explains God’s plan clearly:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” – NKJV

God knew that we needed Someone to save us, because we couldn’t save ourselves. Jesus would be the One!

“…by the name of Jesus Christ…And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” - Act 4:10,12, NASB

Hallelujah, He reached down to us in our need and sent a Savior! John 3:16 is not just for Denver Broncos’ outstanding quarterback, Tim Tebow, and his fans. It’s also for every man, woman, and child (of the age of accountability)! God’s promise is especially for you! You can replace the words “the world” with your name in the verse. Fill in the blank: “For God so loved _________ that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Jesus would have died on the cross for you, if you were the only person in the world!

He took all of the sin-guilt of mine, yours, and the entire world’s into His own body on the cross. Every sexual sin, lie, theft,  act of hatred and violence, blaspheme, foul word, abuse, disrespect, gossip, adultery, fornication, murder, evil thought and desire, envy, and every other sin of the world was put into the body of the only sinless Man ever to live. Jesus is the Son of Man and Son of God. He’s God Himself in the flesh and God the Son!

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” – John 1:1, 14. He left His Father in heaven to become one of us, yet without ever sinning!

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” – 2 Corinthians 5:21, NKJV.
“who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness – by whose stripes you were healed.” – 1 Peter 2:23-24, NKJV.

God’s in love with you, so much that He sent His Son to die for you. God’s love sent Him to be the only truly innocent baby, born of a virgin, to become a man who would be tortured and nailed to a cross to pay your sin debt against Him. All of Satan’s hate was allowed to be aimed at Jesus, and He was forsaken by His heavenly Father, so your sin could be judged. It’s your part to believe that Jesus paid the price for your sin, died, was buried, rose again, and lives to be your Redeemer. He’s waiting for you to pray and receive Him into your heart and life right now as your personal Lord and Savior!

Please tell me, if by God’s grace, you put your trust in Jesus today!

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” – Ephesians 2:8,9.

Here are two very opposite wives! Which one do you want to be?

1. Desperate Housewife: Waits for husband to make her feel special and loved; meets his needs if he keeps up the good behavior!

OR

Godly, Virtuous Woman: Spends thoughtful time planning to make  hubby feel special, then carries through.

2. Desperate: Sits around house, never exercising, expecting hubby to love her the way she is. After all, she already caught him!

Godly Woman: Exercises regularly to look great for hubby, not taking him for granted.

3. Desperate: Hobbies are soap-operas and phone-gossiping.

Godly: Creative hobbies become money-making ventures!

4. Desperate: Bathrobe or sweatsuit – her only home wardrobe.

Godly: Morning exercise, daily shower, then work clothes; but she changes into something cute and flirtatious before hubby gets home.

5. Desperate: Complains about her day as soon as husband gets home.

Godly: Kisses her man at the door under mistletoe (hung there year-round), then rubs his shoulders while he unwinds on the couch!

6. Desperate: Unloads pain/loneliness by talking to girlfriends about lousy husband.

Godly: Praises her husband to her friends, never criticizing.

7. Desperate: Nags and belittles  husband in front of  kids.

Godly: Talks sweetly to husband when kids are around, keeping private discussions private.

8. Desperate: Calls her husband “loser”; gets histerical if he looks at her wrong.

Godly: Encourages husband with words of praise and faith.

9. Desperate: Loves to shop all day for things she wants!

Godly: Stays on budget; manages household well; puts others first.

10. Desperate: Expects husband to earn all  family income; complains when he doesn’t earn enough.

Godly: Has paying job (if needed) in area that fulfills God’s call on her life.

11. Desperate: Stays up late doing housework; wonders why husband is so cranky and distant!

Godly: Gets ready for bed before hubby and is always there for him; does housework when he’s at work.

12. Desperate: Reads her Bible,  looking up from it to argue with family.

Godly: Reads Bible prayerfully, and shows her faith by her actions.

13. Desperate: Prays, “Change my husband into a good husband.”

Godly: Prays, “Lord, change me to be like You. Help me be a better wife as I  trust in you.”

14. Desperate: Calls hubby unromantic, but never does anything to look attractive or to please him.

Godly: Believes, “Our marriage will only be as good as I prayerfully make it.”

15. Desperate: Talks to kids about their lazy, mean father.

Godly: Respects husband, saying only positive words about him to the kids.

16. Desperate: Waits until last minute to scrounge up some scrimpy meal, leaving everyone still hungry and malnourished.

Godly: Plans/prepares in morning for dinner, making mealtime memorably delicious!

17. Desperate: Easily finds snack for herself, forgetting about husband and kids.

Godly: Includes family at snack-time.

18. Desperate: Wastes hours on Internet while husband works; rises to complete chores when he comes home.

Godly: Budgets her time, doing most important tasks first; gives all her attention to hubby on his arrival home!

19. Desperate: Takes things into her own hands; lives life to please herself!

Godly: Lives with Christ as her King; lets Him live in/through her.

20. Desperate: Love’s all about getting!

Godly: Love’s all about Christ loving in/through her.

21: Desperate: If she “falls out of love”, she cheats or gets a divorce.

Godly: Prayerfully lets Jesus fill her heart when she feels unable to love.

22. Desperate: Treats husband and children by her up-and-down emotions.

Godly: Loves others with Christ’s love, not by her own roller coaster emotions.

23: Desperate: Nice to hubby if he’s nice to her!

Godly: “…does him good and not evil all the days of her life.” – Proverbs 31:12

During prayer, God convicted me to repent of some things in my life including:

Giving up TV shows that aren’t absolutely pure, that other people insist on watching. These shows deceive us into thinking they are mostly harmless, but they include some foul language or sexual innuendo.

There are so many other productive things I could do with my time, i.e., prayer without ceasing, studying God’s word, spouse  and family time, writing, evangelizing, and helping the needy. Proverbs 23:7 says, “As he thinks in his heart, so is he…” What I put into my mind is what I will become, or “garbage in, garbage out”. There is some “garbage-collecting” that I need to repent of. A steady taste of rotten garbage from the compost pile of this world can make me spiritually sick!

Second Corinthians 10:5 says, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” If we obey this verse, many things in our lives as Christians would be removed or changed! My past TV viewing has brought about imaginations, speculations, proud obstacles, arguments, reasonings, and lofty things set up against the knowledge of God, reinforcing evil thoughts and words that were part of my old, sinful nature.

Everything I do/think must be brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. How can I say I am practicing a holy life, set apart unto God, if I don’t consciously bring into captivity every thought to Christ? Areas that fall into this category are many: how I dress or talk, entertainment I choose (television, movies, types of music), makeup, spending habits, and diet. You could probably think of others personally.

Above all, there’s only one completely pure Life, that of our triune God: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We can only be more like Him as we yield to His indwelling presence. We cannot be holier by just following a bunch of rules. We must be made holy by being washed in the blood of Christ shed on the cross. This is justification, or being made right with God, and occurs when you accept Jesus into your heart as Lord and Savior. He frees you from the penalty of sin and gives you His eternal life.

After justification, God begins a process of sanctification, or setting us free from the power of sin. Glorification is the last of the three; God frees us from the presence of sin. Justification has already occurred for every Christian, sanctification is both done and in process, and glorification has occurred, but will be completely fulfilled after we die.

Preparatory sanctification has already occurred in each Christian’s life when God chose and prepared us to trust in Him. Positional sanctification is what God did for us; He set us apart when we received Christ as Lord and Savior. Perfect sanctification is yet future or after the believer’s death, when “We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” – 1 John 3:2.

Practical sanctification is something we are responsible for with God’s help, but preparatory, positional, and perfect sanctification are only works of God done by Christ’s shed blood. We can set ourselves unto God more fully as we turn from sin and unto obedience. This is practical sanctification. It is living out the reality of our positional sanctification! It can be joyful, as we allow His Holy Spirit to fill us, and He can do mighty things through a life that is fully surrendered to His indwelling! Are you longing for this kind of life?