Please watch this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW4LLwkgmqA
I was shocked late last week when I received an email regarding this video. I had so many emotions after watching it and was grateful that we ended up discussing it on Sunday in our Bible class.
According to John 14:6, "Jesus said, 'I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me.' " Yet, Oprah proclaimed in this segment from her show that there are many paths to God (note that others agreed with her) and stated, "There couldn't possibly be just one way." She later went on to proclaim that God is a feeling experience - not a believing experience (once again, others agreed with her).
Scripture identifies antichrists in 1 John 2:22, "Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichristhe denies the Father and the Son." Following these teachings promoted on this video, people will openly deny Jesus, and go on to believe that God is a feeling experience, not a believing experience. Scripture tells us in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Did you catch the key word? "Whoever believes...", not "Whoever feels..."
In this video, God is openly denied - scripture is openly refuted - and the video itself may encourage people to false beliefs. I am saddened by the fact that there is potential for people to be led away from Christ - and into new age beliefs where there is no room for Christ or His marvelous teachings.
I am also saddened that Deuteronomy 6:15 is misinterpreted by those who believe that God is jealous of them. Taken into concept, we gain better understanding of what was meant by the statement in question, "God is a jealous God." Deuteronomy 6:13 - 19 states, "Deeply respect God, your God. Serve and worship him exclusively. Back up your promises with his name only. Don't fool around with other gods, the gods of your neighbors, because God, your God, who is alive among you is a jealous God. Don't provoke him, igniting his hot anger that would burn you right off the face of the Earth. Don't push God, your God, to the wall as you did that day at Massah, the Testing-Place. Carefully keep the commands of God, your God, all the requirements and regulations he gave you. Do what is right; do what is good in God's sight so you'll live a good life and be able to march in and take this pleasant land that God so solemnly promised through your ancestors, throwing out your enemies left and rightexactly as God said." In this context, we see that God wants to be the ONLY God in our lives and that we should not worship other Gods - not that he is jealous of us, as individuals.
2 Timothy 2: 3-5 reminds us, "You're going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk foodcatchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They'll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. But youkeep your eye on what you're doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God's servant." We are also reminded in 1 John 2: 18 - 27, "Children, time is just about up. You heard that Antichrist is coming. Well, they're all over the place, antichrists everywhere you look. That's how we know that we're close to the end. They left us, but they were never really with us. If they had been, they would have stuck it out with us, loyal to the end. In leaving, they showed their true colors, showed they never did belong. But you belong. The Holy One anointed you, and you all know it. I haven't been writing this to tell you something you don't know, but to confirm the truth you do know, and to remind you that the truth doesn't breed lies. So who is lying here? It's the person who denies that Jesus is the Divine Christ, that's who. This is what makes an antichrist: denying the Father, denying the Son. No one who denies the Son has any part with the Father, but affirming the Son is an embrace of the Father as well. Stay with what you heard from the beginning, the original message. Let it sink into your life. If what you heard from the beginning lives deeply in you, you will live deeply in both Son and Father. This is exactly what Christ promised: eternal life, real life! I've written to warn you about those who are trying to deceive you. But they're no match for what is embedded deeply within youChrist's anointing, no less! You don't need any of their so-called teaching. Christ's anointing teaches you the truth on everything you need to know about yourself and him, uncontaminated by a single lie. Live deeply in what you were taught."
My wish as we discuss this together is that you gain insight on Satan's evil works from the false teachings of the antichrists in this world - and turn to the scriptures for guidance and strength, according to God's word. Avoid the "spiritual junk food" and "catchy opinions" and remember that "the truth doesn't breed lies"!
Finally, remember to draw strength from God, who tells us in Isaiah 41:10, "Don't panic. I'm with you. There's no need to fear for I'm your God. I'll give you strength. I'll help you. I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you."
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**Please remember that in this discussion, it is important that we do not label others as the antichrist or an antichrist. I posted this to generate discussion so that we can easily identify antichrists in our Christian walks - and so that all of us can gain insight on Satan's evil works and learn scripture and gain strength so that we can combat antichrists in our daily lives.