TATTOOS AND PIERCINGS...

Just read something on tattoos and piercings...so, there is a Bible verse in Old Testament says this: ''Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD'' (Leviticus 19:28)


There are many stuff related to tattoos:


1) Its a pagan ritual: Tattoo does not came from Australia, New Zealand or Samoa...it came from Egypt where Egyptians believe that it is to sacrifice themselves to the gods...


2) Self-glory: To show that they are stronger than anything if they have it...


3) Witchcraft roots: To show the mourn for the dead and used to cast out spells...


In Deuteronomy 14:1 says: ''You are the children of the LORD your God. Do not cut yourselves or shave the front of your heads for the dead''


Therefore tattooing, cutting one's body and shaving one's head in defiance have their origin in witchcraft practices.  Tattoos have their "roots" in witchcraft. Many young people today are doing these very things because of some evil witchcraft influences in their lives that they are unaware of.   They do not realize that partaking of these can open the door to wrong and defiling influences in their lives. Evil videos, depraved rock music albums, wicked Internet games and violent movies are displaying evil trends in order to destroy our youth. Satanic tattoos, skin heads and other cultic rites are opening many of our children to demonization.


Some people object to using Old Testament scripture as a reference to tattoos since the New Testament doesn't speak of these things.  However, in the New Testament we are even called to a higher law.  We are to have God's laws written in our hearts.   When we remain close to the Lord and obey Him, He can direct us in things that are not good for us.  For example although the Bible does not say, "Thou shalt not smoke" or "Drug addiction is bad for you;" we know that these things are destructive to the human body.  In the New Testament, we are told to glorify God in our bodies.  This would include not marring our bodies with tattoos, as the principles in the Bible clearly tell us it is wrong to defile our bodies.


In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says: ''Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body''


Some Christians argue that they have the name Jesus or some Biblical word or sign tattooed on their body so they can witness by the tattoo. However, God is more concerned how we are living our lives than by displaying a religious mark on our body. That is not the highest way He would have us witness. The Lord would rather us witness to others by the character of Christ being demonstrated in our lives than display Christian slogans that many times are not matched by the life of Christ. Certainly, the Lord can use a tattoo of a cross or other religious symbol when a Christian has one of these as God knows the heart of the one who truly wants to share Christ with others.  However, it is not necessary to use any worldly thing to attract sinners.  It is the Holy Spirit who draws people to Christ through any yielded vessel of the Lord.  When we pray and witness to others the Lord will cause them to listen.


That's all for now...


God bless,
Ezra

HYMNS AND WORSHIP...

There are some churches that still continue with traditional ways and my parents usually sing hymns and they said its their favourite worship songs...somehow there's some of us who didn't really know the meaning of hymns and worship...

So what's with the hymns and worship...??

I believe that many Anglicans, Roman Catholics and Pentecostals listen to famous hymns such as Awesome God, Change My Heart O God, Surrender, Stand Up For Jesus, Come Holy Spirit, Be Thou My Vision and lots more but my favourite would be Surrender...

The definition of worship is doing something that please God in many kinds of ways and people are easily oppressed and ask this question: Why do you have to play hymns during youth service...??

My dad told me that most of the hymns are taken from the book of Psalms and Songs of Solomon and its really meaningful than other songs...in John 4:23-24 says this:

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. 

Somehow in worship, we suppose to check the roots of the music and songs rather than we listen and we love it...Look at the roots of Hardcore Music: there are many bands claiming that they are Christian band but can we called that music as Christian music...?? Hardcore music started in 1980s where group of rebellious punks rebelled against the government and some of the issues during that time (can check Wikipedia for more info)...imagine there's an angry mother and a child go to church and p & w team are playing Hardcore, Deathcore, Heavy Metal, etc. etc. and what would happen during that time...?? That angry mother is going to whack that child, right...??

Music can effects emotion of that person...James 3:13-17 says this:

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

Do hard music brings the wisdom that comes from heaven...?? The answer is NO...and do aggressive lyrics brings the wisdom that comes from heaven...?? The answer is also NO...

So to those of you who play Hardcore, Deathcore, Heavy Metal, Un-black Metal or music belongs to the family, please think again...ask God for help...ONE MUST BE A CHRISTIAN TO BE SAVED...!!

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

Even though Jesus was God's Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. (Hebrews 5:8-9)

That's all for now...

God bless,
Ezra

SING IT OUT...!! FREEDOM IS HERE...!!!

Another song from Hillsong-Freedom Is Here (from their album Tear Down The Walls)

VERSE 1:
The future comes alive
You speak Your word and I
Im running into Your hope
Because Ive seen Your light
You bring my world to life
Im coming after Your love

PRE CHORUS:
Im not shaken
Im not letting go

CHORUS:
And everything comes alive
In my life as we lift You higher
Let Your freedom arise
In our lives as we lift You up
Sing it out
Sing it out
Your freedom is here

VERSE 2:
So take the limits off
No matter what the cost
Im running after Your call
And I will run this race
See You face to face
So let Your power overflow

BRIDGE:
I will not fear
I will not hide Your love
Your love
All of my life
I cannot deny Your love
Your love

THE ONLY TRUE WAY...

If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, 'Let us go after other gods,' which you have not known, 'and let us serve them,' you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. 


''For the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul'' (Deuteronomy 13:1-3)

Right now in this world, there are 2 different sections:


1) Major section (Roman Catholic and Protestant)
2) Cults


Let’s start today by examining what defines a cult:

The dictionary defines cult as "a system of religious worship or ritual"; "devoted attachment to, or extravagant admiration for, a person, principle, etc." Generally, a cult is a group that is unorthodox in its beliefs and teachings, and calls for devotion to a person, object, or a set of new ideas. The term cult can range from any group of worshippers of any God who pay no attention to the Bible, to a small, highly paranoid, apocalyptic people who gather around a charismatic leader that uses the Bible to control them.
Characteristics:

1.They all claim special revelation and privilege.
2. Those that use the Bible invariably interpret it in disharmony with standard biblical understanding.
3. They distort the true biblical doctrines that effect salvation sufficiently to void salvation.
4. If it doesn’t use the Bible, it is a non-Christian religion and does not participate in the benefit of divine revelation.
5. Some cult groups add to the Bible.
6. All cults add to the finished work of Jesus on the cross.
7. Cults add works of righteousness to the finished work of salvation accomplished by Jesus on the cross.
8. The twisting of Scripture.


''But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!'' (Galatians 1:8)

The cults of today are Mormonism, Catholicism, Jehovah’s Witness, Moonies, Seventh Day Adventism, Islam, Hinduism, Confucianism, Scientology, Buddhism. Everyday a new leader crops up to spread his message and leads innocent followers to self-destruction. The easiest way to discern whether or not a “faith” is a cult is to look at the root source. Any religion started by one person claiming to have exclusive knowledge into God, is always a cult. No exemptions. One human being started all the listed religions listed above. Jesus was both God and man and whose life was prophesied long before He came to earth. That’s the difference.

''You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me'' (Exodus 20:4-5)

The only WAY for us is to seek God and to read His WORD...pray for guidance, wisdom and help...not by following what people says and not by those so-called ''holy books''...

''Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere'' (James 3:13-17)

"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven'' (Matthew 10:33)

That's all for now...

God bless,

Ezra

Are we really following Christ...??

Those who follow Him must offer up their own lives, deny themselves, leave everything aside and follow Him...

ARE WE READY TO FOLLOW HIM...??

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. (Mark 8:34-35)

Seventh Day Slumber - Surrender

This is a song from a new worship band Seventh Day Slumber...its called Surrender...

Lyrics:

I'm giving You my heart
And all that is within
I lay it all down
For the sake of You my King
I'm giving You my dreams
I'm laying down my rights
I'm giving up my pride
For the promisse of new life

And I surrender all to You
All to You
And I surrender all to You
All to You

I'm singing You this song
I'm waiting at the cross
And all the world holds dear
I count it all as loss
For the sake of knowing You
For the glory of Your name
To know the lasting joy
Even sharing in Your pain

(Repeat Chorus)

WHY CHRISTIANS GO TO CHURCH EVERY SUNDAY...??

Many Christians go to church on Sunday and every time they meet new people who are Christians, they'll ask this question:-

1) What denomination are you...??

Sometimes they'll ask this question: Which church are you from...?? But to me this question is a common question that is been ask by everyone (even among the Evangelical Christians and pastors)...

But most of Christians will give this kind of answer: ''If I go to church, I'll be a Christian'' or ''If I baptize, I'll be a Christian''...

Actually, the word Christian means ''A follower of Christ''...Apostle Peter and the other disciples were preaching about the Gospel among the Jews and Gentiles and most of them accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior...this lead to an anger among the Jewish leaders and started to identify this people as ''Christians''...

The word ''church''  its not a building...the Bible says about it:

19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." 20 The Jews then said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?" 21 But he spoke of the temple of his body.  (John 2:19-21)

The purpose of we coming to church is because its a Sabbath day...

10 But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns.

11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and consecrated it. (Exodus 20:10-11)

So...think of it...to be a Christian, you must read God's word and pray...

''Jesus answered: I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me'' (John 14:6)

"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven'' (Matthew 10:32-33)

'''Jesus answered; "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.''' (Matthew 4:4)


That's all for now...


God bless,
Ezra