The Beginning...

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Gen. 1:1), and I just created this little blog. I am not really sure what I am going to write about today. I think that I just want to explain a little more about what I hope to do with this blog and what I hope comes out of this. For me, a big struggle is for me to be able to express myself and to focus my mind on the Lord. So, in many ways, this blog is not just for potential readers, but it is more for myself. In writing this blog, I am hoping that I am able to focus my attention daily on Christ. By writing down different thoughts and researching them, I hope that it will make me a stronger Christian and it might be able to answer questions for others.
Yesterday, while I was lying awake at 2AM, this isn't unusual since I work nights, I was flipping through the channels and I came across the Benny Hinn show. This channel that he is on also features the ministries of Joel Osteen. At this point in time, it caught my attention because it showed the massive crowds that were lining up outside of the church waiting to get in just to hear him speak. He was making a special trip to northern Africa. I guess that they don't normally get celebrities such as Hinn in this area. The preacher for that area was firing up the crowd and applause would erupt after every sentence that was spoken. Then, at the mere mention of the name of Hinn, the crowd erupted. He was about to lead thousands in a lesson, which is part of a series of Fire Conferences. I don't tell you these things because I want you to go and read all about it, but it is rather a lengthy introduction in to what I would like to share my thoughts on for the day.
I find myself wondering how is it that people are this drawn to a person. Is it the power of God? Is it the faith that these people have that this man is truly a prophet of God and that they would be able to be healed with just a touch of his hand, sometimes, by him not even touching them at all. The start of his lesson, he made mention that he did not want to do this, but he couldn't help it. He felt the Holy Spirit come down upon this place and that a lady to his left who was not able to walk without great pain was now healed. As usual, the woman came on stage and was able to jump around and looked like she was pain free.
After seeing this, I changed the channel. It sparked something in my head though. I began to wonder. How is it that God allows these people to be able to continue on like they are. How is it that if they are not teaching the truth, that God allows them to become so famous and for them to be able to pull so many souls along with them. Part of me wants God to intervene and to stop them in their tracks, and the other side of me realizes that this is exactly what makes our God so wonderful. It is the power of choice. It is also that our God has put the job on US to be the ones who need to intervene on the souls that so called preachers like Benny Hinn and Joel Osteen are putting at risk. (2 Peter 2:1-3) 1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. 2 Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; 3 and in I their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. Although these false teachers do not deny the Master who bought them, they are leading astray His flock. They do not preach that water Baptism is essential to salvation. (Mark 10:39) " And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. Jesus was referring to the baptism of water and of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 3:16-17) 16 After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, 17 and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased." Jesus set an example for us. It is right there in black and white. Other examples would be Mark 16:16 and Acts 2:38. These rally leaders still insist that all you have to do is place your hand on the television screen and say the same prayer that they say and send money to them, and then your soul will be saved.
It is amazing the choices that we are able to have thanks to God. My Fiance and I are currently making our way through the studies of the Old Testament. We are currently in the book of Exodus. Through the studies, I have learned that God has great patience for our disobedience. Many times God wanted to destroy the Israelites, and many times, Moses would plea to God for them, and God would turn his wrath away, but not every time. It is amazing to think that even with these false teachers leading astray so many, God is able to have patience with us. True, the real life of a Christian may not be as appealing to the masses as someone who promises the power of healing and of miracles now, but God has promised us a home in Heaven. The streets will be lined with gold. There will be no tears, no pain, and we will all be singing praises to Him.
(Matthew 6:19-20) 19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; When I think of the TV evangelists, I think of this passage. They promise us treasures now and a place for us in Heaven (For the right price), when our prize will come after death. I can't wait for that day. I can't say that I will be sad to leave those that I love here on Earth, when I know that I will be home with my Father. It will be a glorious day. To hear Him say, "Well done..."