Believe and Prosper??? No!!!

Shining the light on the unBiblical message from Joel Osteen and why he and the likes of him (prosperity godpel teachers) is fatal to Christianity.

Our faith in Christ does NOT guarantee any improvement in our physical situation, people. In fact, quite the opposite!!! God said we will be persecuted and we can expect trials and tribulations.

What a let down for new and old Christians who joined the faith because Prosperity teachings told them God "will change their situation!" and then He does not and they start or continue to experience hardship and then they become bitter towards God, because how can a loving God allow this or that to happen to them!

The TRUE BIBLICAL message is: "We are sinners and deserve only death and eternal damnation from Holy God.  Be happy and at peace despite (and for) your bad physical situation, because Jesus died on the cross for our sins, our debt is paid in full, our souls are saved!"

Once we repented of our sins and put our faith for our eternal salvation in Christ Jesus, we then live in obedience to him out of joyful thankfulness.

God never said He WILL change our physical earthly situation, and definitely not for the better, because we are now saved Christians! No!!!! He DID SAY HE sent Jesus to change and save our soul's eternal condition: from totally lost to eternally saved thereby HE completed HIS PERFECT WORK OF OUR ETERNAL SALVATION.

Every time you share a "feel-good" message from Joel Osteen and others like him, YOU are perpetuating a lie and spreading a false gospel. Prosperity Gospel IS NOT BIBLICAL.

Images taken from Joel Osteen facebook page 2015-01-17 to illistrate his teachings. No copyright infringement.

On Racism & Discrimination

With everything about this topic in the news lately, and keeping our own South African apartheid history in mind, I wanted to share a view on here that as a Christian I ascribe and aspire to.

Question: "What does the Bible say about racism, prejudice, and discrimination?"

Answer: The first thing to understand in this discussion is that there is only one race—the human race. Caucasians, Africans, Asians, Indians, Arabs, and Jews are not different races. Rather, they are different ethnicities of the human race. All human beings have the same physical characteristics (with minor variations, of course). More importantly, all human beings are equally created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27). God loved the world so much that He sent Jesus to lay down His life for us (John 3:16). The “world” obviously includes all ethnic groups.

God does not show partiality or favoritism (Deuteronomy 10:17; Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; Ephesians 6:9), and neither should we. James 2:4 describes those who discriminate as “judges with evil thoughts.” Instead, we are to love our neighbors as ourselves (James 2:8). In the Old Testament, God divided humanity into two “racial” groups: Jews and Gentiles. God’s intent was for the Jews to be a kingdom of priests, ministering to the Gentile nations. Instead, for the most part, the Jews became proud of their status and despised the Gentiles. Jesus Christ put an end to this, destroying the dividing wall of hostility (Ephesians 2:14). All forms of racism, prejudice, and discrimination are affronts to the work of Christ on the cross.

Jesus commands us to love one another as He loves us (John 13:34). If God is impartial and loves us with impartiality, then we need to love others with that same high standard. Jesus teaches in Matthew 25 that whatever we do to the least of His brothers, we do to Him. If we treat a person with contempt, we are mistreating a person created in God’s image; we are hurting somebody whom God loves and for whom Jesus died.

Racism, in varying forms and to various degrees, has been a plague on humanity for thousands of years. Brothers and sisters of all ethnicities, this should not be. Victims of racism, prejudice, and discrimination need to forgive. Ephesians 4:32 declares, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Racists may not deserve your forgiveness, but we deserved God’s forgiveness far less. Those who practice racism, prejudice, and discrimination need to repent. “Present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God” (Romans 6:13). May Galatians 3:28 be completely realized, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Recommended Resources: Bloodlines: Race, Cross, and the Christian by John Piper and Logos Bible Software.

From GotQuestions.org.

I have a Christian religion group named: "Future Vision News" on Facebook where I also share my faith related content to if you want to join in the discussion.

Lizette De Klerk.

© 2014. All rights reserved worldwide.

Compassion from/for Unsupportive Lovedones

Dealing with and coping with careless lovedones is very very hard. How do you trust someone that have hurt you with your pain and let them back into your heart?

Recently a very sick person got an invitation to visit with family that have hereto showed absolutely no support and only contempt for the sickness and this person, and really do not know the extent of the person's suffering and degree of illness. To go or not was the issue?

My reply:

Q: do you want to prove you were RIGHT or do you want to WIN (something / anything from them)???

Ask yourself exactly WHAT you want from your family: aknowledgement/love/support/??? And can they give that? Do they know what you need? Do you? 

Personally, I would think of your visit as an opportunity to educate "strangers" factually about the reality of [your problem/illness]. 

People cannot be sympathetic / understand something they don't have any experience with. I say go, but don't fake / tweak anything. Be YOURSELF. If u puke, so be it. If u don't that's great too. Be true to yourself.

Also sometimes we need to show people what we need from them and that we need them. It is hard to do, letting uncaring folk into your heartstrust. Do try though and show them forgiveness and compassion first, by going, and you might be surprized. They might need you too. Show them what it means to really CARE about family and DON'T EVER give up on people. We are all flawed and need reminding of how to be better people.

Just don't be too emotially invested in any of them or set yourself up by expecting anything from them. That way, if they do come through for you, it will be a happy surprize.

You are worthy of respect and love, from yourself and others. 

May honesty and kindness be your armour and love your sword. Best wishes for a win on this battlefield.

💚💚💚

© 2014. Lizette De Klerk.

Opinion Review Noah (2014)

NOAH (2014). For those who asked for a review and those who want to know more, but don't want to go see the movie, here's a short opinion piece and some images relating to the movie.

I watched Noah (2014) on 2 April 2014. There were parts that I found very moving and beautiful - the animals moving to the arc, the utter obedience of Noah (much like Abraham).

There were, however, much (more) that I found very disturbing and even evil. So many topsy turvy symbolism that runs contrary to true Christianity are upfront in every aspect of the movie. 

NOT a movie to watch without God's spiritual armour on, I would caution!

If you know your Bible, you will understand and recognize the flaws, the contradictions, the occultish, the non-canonical influences and symbolisms. 

The biggest issue is that the film is NOT all fiction and the directors blurred the fiction with the facts (yes, not vice versa), so one can't just discount it as "all fiction."

The opposite is true too: facts are discredited by the creative license (the fiction), and sometimes that can be overlooked, but NOT when the ultimate message is in DIRECT CONTRAST to fundamental Biblical truths. 

I will give an example: in the movie, Adam's lineage bless their offspring by wrapping a snakeskin around their blessinghand and arm. The Bible teach us that YHWH's heirs should want and have nothing to do with "the old snake," "satan." Instead, God instructs His children to annoint with oil & water. 

Also, the Watchers are FALLEN angels, demons - 2/3 were cast out of heaven with Lucifer (when they rebelled against God); God sent them away from Him FOREVER - they can't return to Him as in the movie, for God is Holy.

God would surely not use demons to help His children to build an arc; He would send His Son or His ANGELS to help and protect them - like He did in the Bible.

The movie invites way too many satanic power into ones soul for my liking; I WOULD STRONGLY CAUTION FOLKS to BE VERY CAREFUL watching it; do it prayerfully and under God's protection.

One thing I know: God is all powerful and can use even our worst and evil works to increase His Glory and Kingdom. The World now knows of "a Noah" and "a Creator." It is up to each individual to find out for themselves the TRUTH.

About the Russell Crowe "Noah" movie, Brian Mattson writes the following:

"The world of Aronofsky’s Noah is a thoroughly Gnostic one: a graded universe of “higher” and “lower.”"

"Aronofsky hasn’t “taken liberties” with anything.

The Bible is not his text...."

"...Darren Aronofsky’s first feature film was: Pi. Want to know its subject matter?...

Kabbalah."

Mattson's full article is a must read:

The Secret Gnostic Key to Aronofsky's "Noah" that Everyone Missed - Aleteia

http://www.aleteia.org/en/arts-entertainment/aggregated-content/the-secret-gnostic-key-to-aronofskys-noah-that-everyone-missed-5237320601042944

READ MATTSON's FULL ARTICLE HERE:

http://www.aleteia.org/en/arts-entertainment/aggregated-content/the-secret-gnostic-key-to-aronofskys-noah-that-everyone-missed-5237320601042944

Note I do not hold copyright to the images displayed here.

Article: © 2014. Lizette De Klerk. All rights reserved worldwide.

Feel free to share review in its entirety with credit to authors & originators included.

BUT WHO IS NOAH AND WHY SHOULD WE CARE ABOUT HIM AND HIS WORLD???

HERE IS ANOTHER MOVIE ABOUT NOAH that might give you some insight:

"Noah Movie HD: Noah—And the Last Days

More here: http://www.NoahTheMovie.com
Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/OfficialRayComfort
Twitter: https://www.Twitter.com/RayComfort

...In the time of Noah, people were going about their daily lives, not mindful of the impending destruction. Like them, are we ignoring warnings of God's coming judgment? The Bible gives us clear signs of the last days. Did you know the Scriptures say we will see:

• Flippant use of God's name
• Money-hungry preachers and rampant hypocrisy in the church
• Wars and rumors of wars
• Denial of a global flood

But surely no educated person could believe that Noah and his ark ever really existed. Wouldn't it be impossible to fit millions of species of animals into one boat? And what evidence is there (if any) for a worldwide catastrophic flood? However...what if it did all happen exactly as the Bible says? What would that mean? Who was Noah, and why is the amazing account of his life so relevant to you in the 21st century? Don't be caught unaware. Time may be very short. Will you be ready?

A movie by Ray Comfort. This is not the Russell Crowe film." - Living Waters / The Way of the Master

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7bPCYizcFM&sns=em

37But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,39And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.40Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. - Matthew 24:37-40 (KJV)

4...God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 5And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly...and [they, the ungodly] shall utterly perish in their own corruption..." 2 Peter 2:4-12 (KJV).

With thanks to original contributors.

The anti-evolutionist (pro-creationist) view

1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters....

31And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day

- Gen.1:1-2, 31

1Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. 4¶These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens...

- Gen.2:1-4

He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 7Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.... 15Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.18Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 19They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. 20But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 21I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.22Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. 24Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 25And this is the promise that he hath promised us,even eternal life. 26These thingshave I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. 27But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. 28And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 29If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. 

- 1 John 2:4-29

I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together: 20That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.21Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strongreasons, saith the King of Jacob.22Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. 23Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together. 24Behold, yeare of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he thatchooseth you. 25I have raised upone from the north, and he shall come: from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name: and he shall come upon princes as uponmorter, and as the potter treadeth clay. 26Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that sheweth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words. 27The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings. 28For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there wasno counsellor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word.29Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.

- Isa.41:20-29

3We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, 5For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel.... 8Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit. 9For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;12Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven... 26Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:29Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily

- Col.1:4-29

1Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.3Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.5Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.8And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 13But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:14Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.15Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. 16Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given useverlasting consolation and good hope through grace, 17Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

2 The.2:1-17.

Scritpure: KJV.

Photo: © 2011. Lizette De Klerk.

What We Can Learn From Elephants

THE ELEPHANTS' JOURNEY

TO PAY THEIR RESPECTS.

BUT HOW DID THEY KNOW?

Some will say there is no God. 

Tell that to elephants.

Lawrence Anthony, a legend in South Africa and author of 3 books including the bestseller "The Elephant Whisperer," bravely rescued wildlife and rehabilitated elephants all over

the globe from human atrocities, including the courageous rescue of Baghdad Zoo animals during the US invasion in 2003.

On March 7, 2012, Lawrence Anthony died.

He is remembered and missed by his wife, 2 sons, 2 grandsons & numerous elephants.

Two days after his passing, the wild elephants showed up at his home, led by two large matriarchs. Separate wild herds arrived in droves to say goodbye to their beloved man-friend. A total of 31 elephants had patiently walked over 12 miles to get to his South African House.

Witnessing this spectacle, humans were obviously in awe, not only

because of the supreme intelligence and precise timing that these elephants sensed about Lawrence's passing, but also because of

the profound memory and emotion the beloved animals evoked

in such an organized way.

Walking slowly - for days - making their way in a solemn

one-by-one queue from their habitat to his house.

Lawrence's wife, Francoise, was especially touched, knowing that the elephants had not been to his house prior to that day for some years! Yet, they knew where they were going.

The elephants obviously wanted to pay their deep respects,

honouring their friend who'd saved their lives - so much respect

that they stayed for 2 days 2 nights without eating anything. 

Then one morning, they left, making their long journey back home.

SOMETHING IN THE UNIVERSE IS GREATER

AND DEEPER THAN HUMAN INTELLIGENCE!

Click on the links below to learn more about this remarkable man, these amazing animals, and their omnipotent Creator:

• Wild Elephants gather inexplicably, mourn death of “Elephant Whisperer”
• Lawrence Anthony - Bio
• Lawrence Anthony Foundation
• Lawrence Anthony's Rehabilitation of Elephants
• Elephants Mourn Loss of "Elephant Whisperer" Lawrence Anthony
• "Who is God?"
• "Does God exist? Is there evidence for the existence of God?"
• "What are the attributes of God?"
• Who Is Jesus, Anyway?
• Popular Questions About Jesus Christ
• Who Is Jesus, Anyway? #1 of 3 (John MacArthur)