The Belief System Of Closed-Mindedness

                                                     When The Door Slams

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death (Proverbs 16:25). Then Jesus began by telling them: "Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He, and they will deceive many (Mark 13:6). These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, and entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity-for "people are slaves to whatever has mastered them"       (2 Peter 2:17-19 NIV).  

            First and foremost, the belief systems of the cults are characterized by closed-mindedness. They are not interested in a rational cognitive evaluation of the facts. Practically every cult has certain characteristics that can tell the careful observer that something is wrong.

            For instance, what does a group think about Jesus? Jesus Christ is God, LORD of all, the only source of salvation. Constantly, a cult will put something else on an equal footing with Christ...a ritual that is equal to Christ, or a doctrine equal to Christ, or a leader who is equal to Christ. In other words, even if it acknowledges Christ as Savior, it will say that you need something else before you can get into heaven....

            Second, cults frequently attempt to instill fear into their followers. The followers are taught constantly that salvation comes through the cult. "If you leave us, you will lose your salvation," they say. 

            The third area has to do with the exaltation of the leader of the cult. Cults often center around a man or woman who is trying to gain power, money, or influence from manipulating people....When someone says he has a unique insight from God or is the special one that God has anointed to reach the world, you are dealing with cultic behavior. 

            Think about this: The unwillingness of the leaders to let the people grow up. A true shepherd will do everything he can to bring Christian people to maturity as quickly as he can. He will not seek to avoid necessary teaching, nor will he try to keep people from maturity. Many religious leaders maintain spiritual dependence so that their followers lose the ability to make independent, rational decisions.  

            Thanksgiving: You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, I will exalt you. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever (Psalm 118:28-29). As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long-though I know not how to relate them all. I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone. Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds (Psalm 71:14-17 NIV). 

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness.  

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Real Leaders Expand Their Dreams

                                             When The Door Slams

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.                                                                                                 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 NIV

            Even as we become self-reliant and take responsibility for planting the seeds that will grow into the trees of our own success, we face an equal responsibility of planting shade trees for the benefit of others. One of God's great rules for the harvest of success is that the crops we sow and reap must be for the benefit of others, too--not crops grown and reaped at their expense. The harvest of seed of selfishness always results in personal and group famine, pestilence, and drought.

            Success does not mean standing victoriously over a fallen enemy. It is standing side by side with persons you have helped. Success is a matter of raising not only your own water level but the water level of all around you so that all the ships in the harbor can embark on prosperous voyages.

            You are truly successful when you can extend a strong hand to someone who is reaching, searching, or just trying to hang on. There is divine purpose in bringing out the best in one another. Selfish people have narrow thinking and live in a narrow world. Real leaders expand their dreams, goals, plans...and efforts...beyond themselves to say, "I live every moment, enjoying as much as I can, relating as much as I can, doing as much as I can--and giving as much as I can."  

            We live in a "me" world--facing the challenge of turning a "me" generation into a "we" generation. The elusive preoccupation we have in self-gratification and self-indulgence has too often been defined as personal success. Personal success, in my opinion, is only success if it also results in success for those with whom your life is intertwined. 

            Think about this: Giving changes us deep down, deep inside. It is more blessed to give than to receive. That is not just a truism stated by Jesus; it is a reality substantiated day in and day out by observing what happens to people when they give. 

Confession: The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? "I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve." (Jeremiah 17:9-10 NIV)  

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness.         

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We All Need Someone Who Understands

                                              When The Door Slams  

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity Proverbs 17:17. One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother Proverbs 18:24 NIV.

             A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising the pups and set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down into the eyes of a little boy.

"Mister," he said, "I want to buy one of your puppies." 

            "Well," said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, "these puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money." The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer. "I've got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?" 

            "Sure," said the farmer. And with that he let out a whistle. "Here, Dolly!" he called. Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur. The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence. His eyes danced with delight. 

            As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse. Slowly another little ball appeared; this one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then in a somewhat awkward manner the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing it best to catch up... "I want that one," the little boy said, pointing to the runt. 

            The farmer knelt down at the boy's side and said, "Son, you don't want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would." 

            With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers. In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe. Looking back up at the farmer, he said, "You see sir, I don't run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands."  

            Think about this: My friend, the world is full of people who need someone who understands. That is the ministry to which God has called each of us.

Affirmation: Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so through Christ our comfort also overflows. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is experienced in your endurance of the same sufferings that we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that as you share in the sufferings, so you will share in the comfort 2 Corinthians 1:3-6 HCSB.        

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness.

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Nothing Hurts Quite Like Betrayal

                                     When The Door Slams

Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil." "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch our your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face."                            Job 1:8-11 NIV 

            Nothing hurt quite like betrayal. It can come in many forms: lies, a withdrawal of loyalty, a lack of defense, or disfavor. The effect is devastating. It is a universal feeling; everyone who has been betrayed suffers immensely. And the loss of confidence can take a great amount of time and effort to restore.

            Demon are a fallen angel. When Satan, who was the very highest angel, rebelled against God, he took a large number of the angles with him in rebellion. When their rebellion failed, they were cast out of haven. Those angels are now demons. In the same way that angels can reach the very heights of spirituality, demons have the ability to reach down into great depths of hatred, bitterness, and perversion. Demons seem to be interested in tormenting people, possessing them, and leading them away from God and His truth.

            Although lust, homosexuality, drunkenness, gluttony, and witchcraft are expressions of sinful flesh, these things can also be expressions of demonic activity in the lives of people. I am persuaded that many grossly perverted sexual practices, such as sadomasochism and pedophilia, have demonic roots...

            Satan's ultimate goal in spiritual warfare is to make us lose confidence in God, to feel betrayed by God, to make God seem disloyal and dishonest. If Satan tries to hurt us or disrupt our life, it is so we will call upon God and conclude He is not listening. Satan wants to destroy our faith in the goodness and power of God. That was Satan's strategy with Job. Satan told God that Job was only faithful to God because God protected him. If God would allow Satan to make Job suffer, He would see that Job would give up on God. But Satan was surprised. When God allowed Satan to hurt Job twice, Job never faltered in his faith. "Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity? In all this Job did not sin with his lips" (Job 2:10).

            Think about this: If you find yourself feeling betrayed by God, even losing confidence in Him, you will know Satan is a work. So, Stop the downward spiral and restore your faith. Trust in the LORD God goodness. 

Petition: Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God (3 John:11 NIV). 

Intercession: You must obey my laws and be careful to follow my decrees. I am the LORD your God. Keep my decrees and laws, for the person who obeys them will live by them. I am the LORD (Leviticus 18:4-5 NIV). 

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness.              

                                              Never Rest Ministries