Home Thinking it Over!

T. Austin Sparks - Messages.

Thinking It Over.


And a big welcome to these pages that present with great excitement, the wonderful

Click on the Dino carpet picture to go to the Website welcome, and introduction Video.

>> "I will be with you" << [Exodus 4:15.]

The following is an article  by Dave Hunt (of "the Berean call") clarifying the murkey waters of psychotherapies and psychology impacting the Church and evangelical ministries today.

"Try the spirits whether they are of God" [1 John 4:1.]

Please note comments on the more subtle and widely used 4 temperaments at the end of the article highlighted in orange. Such focus, juggling, and mixture of the Spirit and the self life is common in evangelical circles with variations and expansions to the extents of 16 and possibly more!

Dictionary:- (Middle Ages) one of the four fluids in the body whose balance was believed to determine your emotional and physical state.

"the humours are blood and phlegm and yellow and black bile".

Consider, and the Lord give understanding in these needy days of misconceptions, heresies and deceptions.

Grant Hayman.

 Article. (Dave Hunt.)

A variety of psychotherapies masquerading under Christian terminology are devastating the church by turning Christians from God to self. Among the most deadly are regressive therapies designed to probe the unconscious for buried memories which are allegedly causing everything from depression to fits of anger and sexual misconduct and must be uncovered and "healed." These offshoots of Freudian and Jungian theories rooted in the occult and which have destructively impacted society for decades are taking their toll within the church.

One popular variety of regression therapy is called "inner healing" and was brought into the church by occultist Agnes Sanford (see The Seduction of Christianity). It was carried on after her death by those she influenced, such as lay therapists Ruth Carter Stapleton, Rosalind Rinker, John and Paula Sandford, William Vaswig, Rita Bennett and others. At first most prevalent among charismatics and liberal churches, inner healing has spread widely in evangelical circles. There it is practiced in a more sophisticated form by psychologists such as David Seamands, H. Norman Wright and James G. Friesen as well as a number of lay therapists like Fred and Florence Littauer. The Littauers' extreme insistence that rare is the person "who can say he truly had a happy childhood" would seem to condition their counselees to recover unhappy and traumatic memories.

Even if it were safely and accurately possible, should one probe into the past in order to dredge up forgotten memories? Memory is notoriously deceitful and self-serving. One is easily talked into "remembering" something which may never have happened. Inner healing, like other forms of psychotherapy, creates, by its very nature, false memories. Furthermore, why must one uncover memories of past abuse in order to have a right relationship with God? Where does the Bible say so? And if parts of the past must be "remembered," why not every detail? That task would be hopeless. Yet once the theory is accepted one can never be certain that some trauma is not still hidden in the unconscious—a trauma holding the key to emotional and spiritual well-being!

In contrast, Paul forgot the past and pressed on toward the prize (Philippians:3:13-14) promised to all those who love Christ's appearing (2 Tim:4:7-8). The past is of little consequence if Christians truly are new creations for whom "old things are passed away [and] all things are become new" (2 Cor:5:17). Searching the past in order to find an "explanation" for one's present behavior conflicts with the entire teaching of Scripture. Though it may seem to help for a time, it actually robs one of the biblical solution through Christ. What matters is not the past, but one's personal relationship to Christ now.

Yet many people claim to have been helped by regressive therapy. Finding the "reason" in a past trauma (whether real or a "memory" implanted by suggestion in the therapy process) can bring a change in attitude and behavior for a time. Sooner or later, however, depression or anger or frustration or temptation returns, leaving one to renew the search into the past to find that "key" trauma, the memory of which has not yet been uncovered. And so it goes.

In keeping with the Freudian foundation of all "inner healing," Fred and Florence Littauer's book, Freeing Your Mind from Memories that Bind, presents the thesis that uncovering hidden memories is the key to emotional and spiritual well-being. They suggest that any "memory gaps" from childhood indicate one has probably been abused (and very likely, sexually). By that definition we've all been abused. Most of us can't remember each house we've lived in, each school attended, every teacher and classmate, every family vacation when we were children. To teach, as the Littauers do, that these "memory gaps" indicate periods of abuse that have been covered up by the mind is contrary to common sense and is without scientific verification or biblical support.

The Littauers, like so many others in this field, base their approach upon the so-called four temperaments. This long-discredited personality theory evolved from the ancient Greek belief that the physical realm was composed of four elements: earth, air, fire and water. Empedocles related these to four pagan deities, while Hippocrates tied them to what were considered at that time to be the four bodily humors: blood (sanguine), phlegm (phlegmatic), yellow bile (choleric) and black bile (melancholy). These characteristics were connected to the signs of the zodiac.

There never was any scientific basis for the four temperaments. Yet many Christian psychologists and lay "healers" swear by them today, making them the basis of "personality classification" and the key to behavioral insights. As the Bobgans point out, however, in their excellent latest book,"Four Temperaments, Astrology & Personality Testing":

God Bless.

 
Climate Change! | Print |
Written by Grant Hayman   

And a big welcome to these pages that present with great excitement, the wonderful

Click on the Dino carpet picture to go to the Website welcome, and introduction Video.

>> IMPORTANT <<

It appears, that there could be some folks that visit the site, unaware, that all the menu list of 'titles' on both sides are actual ARTICLES.

Every listed item is a 'link' to that article title.

For a simple tour and explanation of the site, click on the Dino on the carpet above for site tour video.

There are approximately 600 articles and short devotional meditations found on the site; a few of which are listed in the menus located on either side of each page.

The Search engine at top right is effective in finding comments on subjects of interest.

There are still plans to upgrade the site as soon as possible.

God Bless. Grant. 

Seriously, there is a person that is Responsible for climate change and it certainly isn't in the hand of man any more than he can "make one hair black or white" unless he fakes it of course! [Matthew 5:36.] Man wasn't able to do anything about climate change in the time of Noah. God was in charge. God initiated that climate change and he wound it up! Jesus said - "As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it also be in the days of the son of man" [Luke 17:26] As God was in charge of the climate in the days of Noah (and the world didn't realise it) so now, and up until the "days of the son of man" in like manner God is the one, as then, will, and is, in charge of climate.

It is HIS Earth! "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the World and they that dwell therein" [Psalm 24:1.] As in Noah's time of God's judgment and the flood, man couldn't do anything to change it, so is man's dilemma today, for we are in the last days of world defiance against God and the duplication of the days of Noah has arrived! Man could not stop God's climate judgment then and the next climate judgment coming soon, will make the flood judgment look like a flea bite!

Until the time of "the days of the son of man," God has promised that climate will not change and will be under His Control! "While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." [Genesis 8:22.] All that we are considering here is the reality that Jesus is Lord of Heaven and Earth: Is he Lord of your life?

>> Look out! <<

There is a coming climate change that will make the "Earth reel to and fro like a drunked"! [Isaiah 24:20.]

>> Days now identical to that of Noah and Lot! <<

In Luke 17:26-30 Jesus very clearly says, the wickedness in Sodom and Gomorrah was identical to that in the days of Noah and the flood judgment. - "Until the day that Noah entered into the Ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise, as it was in the days of Lot .."

>> Both The catastrophic physical climate change with Noah's flood and the fireball storm of Sodom and Gomorrah followed the DESTRUCTIVE Moral and Spiritual Climate Change in the Human Heart! <<

There is a stealth Moral climate change that is happening today and it is deadly to the eternal soul of man, and there is no trumpet warning at all but rather in many quarters a sadistic Hooray!

The conditions of Noah's and Lot's time and NOW:-

* "Violence filled the earth" [Genesis 6:11.]

Violence in every form, even horrendous religious violence!

* Violence on the tennis court, cricket field, on planes.

* Road rage

* Bullying in schools

* Cyber bullying

* The ascendency of violent sports and video games

* Hidden violent attitudes that burst into flames "The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence." [Proverbs 10:11. HCSB] Violence is a product of self-centeredness and is covered by the mouth with smiles and "fair speeches".

The Bible says the tongue is a "fire, a World of iniquity" [James 3:6.]

* Homosexuality Lifestyle Forced Upon Society!

* In Sodom young boys (and children) educated and participating in homosexual events.

* The young, as in "safe schools programs" were taught and subjected in Sodom to the forceful education of homosexual orientation and lifestyle.

"Before they went to bed, the men of the city of Sodom, both young and old, the whole population, surrounded the house. They called out to Lot and said, where are the men who came to you tonight? Send them out to us so we can have sex with them!* [Genesis 19:4-5. HCSB]

There is much more of the traits of Noah and Lot in their day that depicts our worldwide sunken sinfulness, ripe for judgment today!

* Mockery and distrust of any sincerity. [Genesis 19:14.]

The above point is one of subtle importance. When Lot's son's in law were warned of the coming doom upon Sodom and Gommorah the Bible says they thought he was "mocking" them!

Genesis 19:14 (KJV)
"And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law."

Lot had a reputation in Sodom of being a "righteous" man, but sodom was a city of mockery. Everyone considered each other a joke, just as there is much entertainment today focused on mockery of anyone and everyone. No one in public life or media is exempt from being made fun of and being treated as a joke.

Being made a laughing ridicule is the cause of much more suicide, than we think.

* Obsession with the Physical. Body, flesh life. [Genesis 6: 3.] * Excusing unrighteousness. [2 Peter 2:5.]

>> The Serious Spiritual Stealth Climate Change Affecting the Church Today! <<

The climate change of apostasy has not abated since the Lord Jesus spoke directly to the Churches by messages through John on the Isle of Patmos AD 96.

The book of Revelation is of vital importance to every believer because every word is the last word of the Lord to the Church! All applies to every Church in every corridor of time though there is a real chronological reference which sharpens focus on what the Spirit is saying to the Churches.

The last Church state to be dealt with is the church of Laodicea. The Lord's final remedy and most wonderful appeal is "If any man hear my voice". [Revelation 3:20.] Oh! how wonderful it is to hear the voice of the Lord! It is a "glorious voice". [Isaiah 30:30.]

The book of Deuteronomy is Moses warnings and encouragments to Israel in the conquest of their inheritance in the promised land and mentions "the voice of the Lord" 14 times. In no other book of the Bible is the phrase so highlighted!

No voice of the Lord, means we wander, no direction, no depth, no heat of excitement and miss the glorious inheritance the Lord has for every child of God! The answer to a dull, lifeless Christian walk is to hear the loving "voice of the Lord". How then to hear "the voice of the Lord"?

The vital need for us to so "hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches" is found in the wonderful invitation and words of the Lord -

" ..... I will come into him and sup with him ..." [Revelation 3:20.]

Note Jesus is standing at the door and knocking, and offers if "any" one hears and opens the door he will come in and not draw us into a listening of him spreading it out to us, BUT he will receive our lowly spreading it out to him, laying all bare before him! he will take ALL on board and then settle us with his peace and THEN we will "sup with Him" in his banqueting house with his "banner over us of his great Love"!

When the woman at the well spread out to the Lord her real self of need, she soon dropped her water jug, and with great joy raced off to the city of argument over correct worship, to tell of the beautiful one to worship, who gives life abundant Living Water, which satisfied her empty heart while trying to be satisfied at the well of natural life!

It is so beautiful that the Lord receives us and loves for us to open up to him with whatever the hurt, sin, fear or problem that has caused the "Climate change" of going from "hot" to "Lukewarm" or even "cold".

Praise the Lord for how loving and gracious he is! Exactly as God was in the garden of Eden at the beginning of man's monumental fall out of fellowship, plunging the whole human race into estrangement. "And they heard the voice of the LORD God" [Genesis 3:8.] Tell him all. Jesus Loves You!

Grant hayman.

 It's going to be a good day! (Carroll Roberson)

God Bless. 

 
Climate Change! | Print |
Written by Grant Hayman   

Seriously, there is a person that is Responsible for climate change and it certainly isn't in the hand of man any more than he can "make one hair black or white" unless he fakes it of course! [Matthew 5:36.] Man wasn't able to do anything about climate change in the time of Noah. God was in charge. God initiated that climate change and he wound it up! Jesus said - "As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it also be in the days of the son of man" [Luke 17:26] As God was in charge of the climate in the days of Noah (and the world didn't realise it) so now, and up until the "days of the son of man" in like manner God is the one, as then, will, and is, in charge of climate.

It is HIS Earth! "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the World and they that dwell therein" [Psalm 24:1.] As in Noah's time of God's judgment and the flood, man couldn't do anything to change it, so is man's dilemma today, for we are in the last days of world defiance against God and the duplication of the days of Noah has arrived! Man could not stop God's climate judgment then and the next climate judgment coming soon, will make the flood judgment look like a flea bite!

Until the time of "the days of the son of man," God has promised that climate will not change and will be under His Control! "While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." [Genesis 8:22.] All that we are considering here is the reality that Jesus is Lord of Heaven and Earth: Is he Lord of your life?

>> Look out! <<

There is a coming climate change that will make the "Earth reel to and fro like a drunked"! [Isaiah 24:20.]

>> Days now identical to that of Noah and Lot! <<

In Luke 17:26-30 Jesus very clearly says, the wickedness in Sodom and Gomorrah was identical to that in the days of Noah and the flood judgment. - "Until the day that Noah entered into the Ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise, as it was in the days of Lot .."

>> Both The catastrophic physical climate change with Noah's flood and the fireball storm of Sodom and Gomorrah followed the DESTRUCTIVE Moral and Spiritual Climate Change in the Human Heart! <<

There is a stealth Moral climate change that is happening today and it is deadly to the eternal soul of man, and there is no trumpet warning at all but rather in many quarters a sadistic Hooray!

The conditions of Noah's and Lot's time and NOW:-

* "Violence filled the earth" [Genesis 6:11.]

Violence in every form, even horrendous religious violence!

* Violence on the tennis court, cricket field, on planes.

* Road rage

* Bullying in schools

* Cyber bullying

* The ascendency of violent sports and video games

* Hidden violent attitudes that burst into flames "The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence." [Proverbs 10:11. HCSB] Violence is a product of self-centeredness and is covered by the mouth with smiles and "fair speeches".

The Bible says the tongue is a "fire, a World of iniquity" [James 3:6.]

* Homosexuality Lifestyle Forced Upon Society!

* In Sodom young boys (and children) educated and participating in homosexual events.

* The young, as in "safe schools programs" were taught and subjected in Sodom to the forceful education of homosexual orientation and lifestyle.

"Before they went to bed, the men of the city of Sodom, both young and old, the whole population, surrounded the house. They called out to Lot and said, where are the men who came to you tonight? Send them out to us so we can have sex with them!* [Genesis 19:4-5. HCSB]

There is much more of the traits of Noah and Lot in their day that depicts our worldwide sunken sinfulness, ripe for judgment today!

* Mockery and distrust of any sincerity. [Genesis 19:14.]

The above point is one of subtle importance. When Lot's son's in law were warned of the coming doom upon Sodom and Gommorah the Bible says they thought he was "mocking" them!

Genesis 19:14 (KJV)
"And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law."

Lot had a reputation in Sodom of being a "righteous" man, but sodom was a city of mockery. Everyone considered each other a joke, just as there is much entertainment today focused on mockery of anyone and everyone. No one in public life or media is exempt from being made fun of and being treated as a joke.

Being made a laughing ridicule is the cause of much more suicide, than we think.

* Obsession with the Physical. Body, flesh life. [Genesis 6: 3.] * Excusing unrighteousness. [2 Peter 2:5.]

>> The Serious Spiritual Stealth Climate Change Affecting the Church Today! <<

The climate change of apostasy has not abated since the Lord Jesus spoke directly to the Churches by messages through John on the Isle of Patmos AD 96.

The book of Revelation is of vital importance to every believer because every word is the last word of the Lord to the Church! All applies to every Church in every corridor of time though there is a real chronological reference which sharpens focus on what the Spirit is saying to the Churches.

The last Church state to be dealt with is the church of Laodicea. The Lord's final remedy and most wonderful appeal is "If any man hear my voice". [Revelation 3:20.] Oh! how wonderful it is to hear the voice of the Lord! It is a "glorious voice". [Isaiah 30:30.]

The book of Deuteronomy is Moses warnings and encouragments to Israel in the conquest of their inheritance in the promised land and mentions "the voice of the Lord" 14 times. In no other book of the Bible is the phrase so highlighted!

No voice of the Lord, means we wander, no direction, no depth, no heat of excitement and miss the glorious inheritance the Lord has for every child of God! The answer to a dull, lifeless Christian walk is to hear the loving "voice of the Lord". How then to hear "the voice of the Lord"?

The vital need for us to so "hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches" is found in the wonderful invitation and words of the Lord -

" ..... I will come into him and sup with him ..." [Revelation 3:20.]

Note Jesus is standing at the door and knocking, and offers if "any" one hears and opens the door he will come in and not draw us into a listening of him spreading it out to us, BUT he will receive our lowly spreading it out to him, laying all bare before him! he will take ALL on board and then settle us with his peace and THEN we will "sup with Him" in his banqueting house with his "banner over us of his great Love"!

When the woman at the well spread out to the Lord her real self of need, she soon dropped her water jug, and with great joy raced off to the city of argument over correct worship, to tell of the beautiful one to worship, who gives life abundant Living Water, which satisfied her empty heart while trying to be satisfied at the well of natural life!

It is so beautiful that the Lord receives us and loves for us to open up to him with whatever the hurt, sin, fear or problem that has caused the "Climate change" of going from "hot" to "Lukewarm" or even "cold".

Praise the Lord for how loving and gracious he is! Exactly as God was in the garden of Eden at the beginning of man's monumental fall out of fellowship, plunging the whole human race into estrangement. "And they heard the voice of the LORD God" [Genesis 3:8.] Tell him all. Jesus Loves You!

Grant hayman.

 It's going to be a good day! (Carroll Roberson)

God Bless. 

 

 


 


 

 

** Bible Difficulties? **

.......

>> The Controversy About God's Love. <<

Question:

How can God be a "God of love" and allow such horrors and tragedy that exists in the world today?

Answer:

The above question is an old complaint that generates a very simple answer.

God gave to man a free will, with which man turned against him, rejecting his love, authority and blessing.

Mankind quickly became godless!

The Bible conveys very clearly that the Earth and Universe are all God's wonderful and fantastic provision for man. [Psalm 8.] 

But because Adam and Eve rejected the Lord God and struck up an allegiance with the Devil, man's Earth joys were diminished and the ground was cursed for man's sake. [Genesis 3:17.]

In the face of such dire straights of man's reckless fall from oneness with God, man forfeited God's full blessing, but never was then, or now to eternity, without God's love and grace

  ............ World Dilema of Uncontrollable Man! .........

Now we have faulty humanity living in a faulty Earth suffering because of his self centered sin, and the potential wiles of unpredictable Earth catastrophes.

Man's world of dishonesty, violence, murder and along with the many tragedys associated with his developed world cannot be blamed upon God.

Rather mankind should be thankful for the times (when man cries out) and God does intervene in times of trouble and blesses the Earth with the blessings he retained upon Earth at the beginning of man's fault and in the face of his stubborn rejection!

Man was thrown out of the World of perfection in the Garden of Eden lest he should partake of the "tree of life and live forever" in his awfully fallen state, of having come short of the glory of God. [See Genesis 3:22-24.]

Romans 3:23 (KJV)
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" 

    ...... Jesus stated clearly the baseline of all humanity .....

.... John 8:44 (KJV)
"Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."

Also the Word of God reveals ..... 1 John 2:16 (KJV)
"For 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."

Such a description is a heavy deal and one could argue that there is a lot of goodness in "human nature". The only reason that there is goodness coming from humanity is because man has a conscience, and upon man's conscience is written the commandments of God and with such restraint he generally performs within reasonable boundries. Also given the laws of the land governing every decent civilisation (which are all based upon the 10 commandments), there remains reasonable lawfulness among the nations. Not withstanding the scurge of deplorable violence, terrorism, and the evil vexing of the whole world today only proves the obvious Bible description of the plagues of sin upon the fallen human heart of man.

1 Kings 8:38 (KJV)
" ..........  which shall know every man the plague of his own heart ........."

O no, not a leg to stand on, if one should point the finger of blame toward God.

Even given the developing spite of man, the following verse from the Bible shines out the unfailing love of God!

Romans 5:8 (HCSB)
"But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us"!

John 3:16 (KJV)
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life".

We have now covered the sad state of things with mankind. He suffers the results of his own will and wrong choice of sin against God which is death and lives on the surface of a faulty altered and volatile Earth with benefit due, only by "the sweat of his face" [Genesis 3:19.]

Adam chose his own world without God to live his own life taking no heed to the warning that such choices lead to death!

>> The baseline Problem of All Humanity. <<

It must be kept firmly in mind that from the outset of the human race, the first man born of a woman murdered the second man born into the world!

Adam and Eve's first child born onto planet Earth was "Cain" and the second child born into the world was "Abel". The total then of humanity upon Earth was 4 until the serious fallen nature of man was manifest with the murder of Abel by his own brother Cain! 

Genesis 4:8 (KJV)
"And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him."

All of humanity has a murderous baseline! hence God's cammandment - "Thou shalt not kill" [Exodus 20:13.] which is the second commandment on the horizontal plane of man's relationship to fellow man.

The first on that plane is -

Exodus 20:12 (KJV)
"Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee."

Today we are seeying more and more the horror of relatives murdering each other. The best of human nature is flawed by this baseline potential, and that is why Jesus said to Nicodemus (who came in all his robes, signifing the best of human inward refinement), "Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God, you must be born again" [John 3:3-7.]

There is a wonderful remedy on offer! The most fantastic good news that though man has to ride out the faulty physical existance till death upon his body and also navigate his way upon Earth with it's now unpredictable nature; yet for his soul and spirit and eventually his body, remains a glorious redemption and turn around for it all by the great grace of God! 
"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." [1 Corinthians 15:24.]

"And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven."
[1 Corinthians 15:45-47.]

Jesus speaking ..... "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." [John 5:24.] 

>> The Sweeping Judgments of God. <<
The question has been put:

What sort of God orders the killing of entire people groups as we read in the Bible: As in the following example:-

Deuteronomy 20:16-17 (KJV)
But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:
But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee:

Deuteronomy 2:32-34 (KJV)
Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to fight at Jahaz.
And the LORD our God delivered him before us; and we smote him, and his sons, and all his people.
And we took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed the men, and the women, and the little ones, of every city, we left none to remain.

 
«StartPrev123456789NextEnd»

Page 1 of 9