Less formalism, more Christianity

    EBC

Luis Alberto Alves

Today, evangelical churches are rare that are not tied to formalism, that is, tied to rules, precepts, methods and rigor. In some, the pastor-president is treated like a king, with the right to sit in a higher chair, making it clear that he is someone important in that place. When it should be Jesus Christ who deserves such reverence.

In some cases, this pastor-president enters through a separate door, the access of which is forbidden to other “mortals”. To talk to him, in certain denominations, it is necessary to make an appointment, even when the situation requires urgency. If you are a member who tithes less than R$1,000.00; interest is reduced.

The first row of chairs or benches, depending on the location, is reserved for people of relevance to that location. The faithful with less money in their checking account have to settle for other places, perhaps close to the exit door. That place is intended for those who, in the eyes of this type of pastor-president, deserve perks, when in the Kingdom of God, the smallest is considered the greatest.

Holy Spirit

The pulpit, in many denominations, is reserved for PHDs in Christianity, preferably with theological degrees from the best colleges or universities in this segment. No giving way to the Holy Spirit. What counts is the theoretical knowledge obtained on university benches. Not that it is a sin to study, on the contrary it is good. However, study should never leave Jesus Christ in the background.

To preach the Word of the Lord, in this type of denomination, the pastor needs to go to the good clothing stores and buy nice suits, nice ties and shoes, preferably German chrome. Luxury must prevail over the Word of God. Big hair ever. No beard. I imagine that John the Baptist, the cousin of Jesus Christ, would never be called to preach in this type of denomination.

The doors of this type of denomination are always open to good citizens. To those without any suffering at the hands of the devil and his demons. If a prostitute, a street dweller (preferably with dirty clothes and smelling bad due to lack of bath), adept at works of sorcery, criminal, or pervert, even speaking disconnected words; they will hardly be able to attend the service.

expelled

The workers' shock troops will remove that person from the room so as not to disturb the preaching and leave a bad impression on the rest of the brothers and sisters. If by chance a spiritual manifestation occurs, the demons will not be expelled, but that person possessed by darkness will soon have many workers around him to remove him from that place and take him to some small room.

In this type of church full of formalism, demons will not be cast out, as Jesus Christ did when he preached his Word in Israel. What counts is to bring sermons with a self-help hue. It is not worth confronting the kingdom of darkness, but just talking that the devil can destroy lives, but without touching the heart of the matter, resisting in prayer against him.

In the great ministries, whose founders or their children, it is impossible to get close to them. If you're a millionaire or a football player, an artist or a famous singer, it's a different story. When it comes to simple members, who earn up to 2 minimum wages, it is the worker who will assist you. After all, the founder or heir of that ministry has more important missions than listening to a desperate mother with her son on drugs.

Faces

They are very spiritual people, in their view of course, to waste time on a question considered banal. What counts is the liturgy. With cults or meetings, as some of these enlightened, similar to shows prefer to speak. The ancient and beautiful praises of the Christian harp are stamped with faces. What matters is the distorted guitar solo, the loud bass and the drums playing at a frantic pace.

The lyrics, full of sweet choruses, are repeated several times like a mantra. Praise groups in some of these denominations do not differ from secular bands, even in dress. What counts is showing up, leaving Jesus Christ aside. Even the most spiritual praises are ignored. What counts is lyrics with several biblical errors.

How to say that "whoever has a promise does not die". Moses had the promise of taking the people to the Promised Land and God took him to the top of Mount Nebo, in Jordan, and from there God showed the long-awaited Promised Land from afar and there he died. But this detail does not matter in this type of evangelical church. Vale is the full house.

battles

No matter the location, whether luxurious or not, that has a plastic chair, wooden benches, cement or marble floors, with a fan or air conditioning; the pastor speaking with several mistakes in Portuguese, wearing the old jacket worn from so many spiritual battles. It is necessary, my brothers and sisters, to let Jesus Christ speak, through the Holy Spirit, with his sheep.

The Good News message needs to be conveyed. No one can be treated differently because of the value of offerings and tithes. What counts is a sincere heart and faith in Christ. Follow what determines your Gospel. Cults where the Holy Spirit has freedom to work freeing captives, cheering hearts, restoring families, curing infirmities.

More Christianity means commitment to the Gospel. No stardom. Everyone, from the homeless person to the businessman, from someone living in a simple house to the brother who owns a penthouse apartment, are equal before God. You need to put vanity aside. Ask forgiveness for mistakes and depend on Jesus Christ in making any decision. Bury the ego and live in the Lord.

Luís Alberto Alves is a pastor.

Are you sure you're free?

Luis Alberto Alves

Spiritual deliverance is a very serious thing. It cannot be treated as something unimportant in the Gospel. God's Word says that "If Christ sets us free, we shall be free indeed." The problem is that many brothers and sisters have not yet known this liberation.

The same patient with a serious illness, who only received an injection of dipyrone in a vein and returned home, without discovering the illness that had afflicted him. The most curious thing about this sad story is that some pastors resist talking about this subject. For them, just deliver a sermon and everything, in their view, is solved.

Unfortunately, this is not how such a serious problem should be treated, responsible for the removal of people from the Gospel and even the incidence of suicide, due to strong oppression. There are few evangelical churches that hold liberation services. From touching the wound, removing the pus and cleaning the wound.

Darkness

The big problem is that when we know Jesus Christ we try to get away from the devil and his traps. However, Satan and his demons are on our trail. They don't give up. They continue offering their lentil dishes so that the newly converted or converted for many years give up the Gospel and return to the world of darkness.

But how can a person know that he is still a hostage of the devil? For the Glory of God, satan leaves a trace on everything he does to us. He cannot hide. It is up to the Christian to identify these signs and seek help. This is when the process of total deliverance really begins, when done by true servants of Jesus.

Dark spirits bother. They can't get close to someone without causing discomfort. Just as angels sent by God provide us with peace, demons do the opposite, taking away our peace. It is not possible to be well anywhere, no matter how peaceful it may be.

Signals

Pay attention to the signs that you are still not freed from darkness: 1) Seeing figures at your side, inside your house, your car, your office. 2) When walking down the street, you have the impression that someone is following you. When he is in the backyard or hallway of the building where he lives, he realizes that he is being watched. 3) Hears voices. Usually asking to do something bad, like killing someone, committing suicide, committing adultery, using drugs, trying to solve problems using violence. 4) The praises and preaching of the Word of God bother you. You can't get comfortable around people who talk about Jesus.

5) In the case of men, when walking through the streets or inside the company, they cannot look at women without the desire to have a sexual relationship with them. Even within the church, he nurtures adultery desires with the servants who are working in that ministry. 6) When you access the internet, you end up wasting time on pornography websites and blogs. Get addicted to this filthy practice. Even on the road, he uses his cell phone to look at this type of content.

Love

7) Another sign is to use the practices of the world to succeed, such as corrupting yourself, stealing, lying, betraying your wife or husband. 8) Whether men or women, they masturbate for pleasure. This can happen to someone who is married or married, as they cannot find satisfaction in making love with their husband or wife.

8) Nervousness is another sign that there is no deliverance. For whatever reason, the evangelical or evangelical loses patience. Hits the children frequently. He treats them with violence. Aggresses with words and physically those around you. Depending on the situation, it even clashes. 9) Some Christians justify themselves by saying they are evangelicals, but not fools. 10) If you are a church leader, you treat workers like slaves. Charge commitments from them, which are impossible to fulfill. He does this in plain sight, during the services.

11) Is envious of the success of the wicked. When he prays to God, he begins to criticize the Lord for blessing someone he doesn't know, and he, who supposedly serves Jesus Christ, never has access to any blessing. 12) During the preaching of the Word, he cannot disconnect from the world. He remains plugged into the internet, sometimes interested in the result of his team's soccer game or some entertainment program.

Prostitutes

12) Does not find time to study the Word of Jesus. When he gets home from work, he goes straight to shower, have dinner and plug into social media. 13) When sleeping, you forget to give thanks for the day of life given by God. In fact, he prays very little. 14) When you meet the wicked, you never make a difference. On the contrary, he behaves just like them.

15) In the case of women, he throws more and more fuel on the bonfire of sensuality. Abuses clothes of great sexual appeal, as prostitutes do. She wears very short skirts, low-cut T-shirts, leaving part of her breasts on display, wears dresses that are very close to her body, sometimes preventing her from sitting down easily. 16) Whether wife, fiancée or girlfriend nurtures sexual desire for other people. 17) It starts to consider all kinds of perversion normal, even the most terrible ones, like having sex with animals (zoophilia).

18) Everything that is sin before God is what attracts the undelivered evangelical. He begins to use the argument that Jesus is a dictator, that there is nothing wrong with consulting a fortune teller, reading a horoscope, participating in white table seances, making a pact with demons.

Heat

19) Can't sleep well. Has constant nightmares. He feels that someone is suffocating him. The nightmares are so terrible that sometimes the person wakes up with a sweaty face. Even in intense heat, those suffering from spiritual oppression feel very cold. Because of this, wear cold clothes in the heat.

20) Is careless with personal cleanliness. Goes to the bathroom and doesn't do the right hygiene. In the case of women, some in the menstrual cycle, daily hygiene is forgotten during this period. The person himself does not realize that he is filthy. For her, everything is considered normal.

21) Depression is another visible sign of spiritual attack. For whatever reason, the person becomes sad. It cannot separate the normal criticism that we all suffer, as something natural. A look or comment is enough to take the peace and let the sadness prevail. It is common at this stage for the person to want to use drugs or drink or become a prostitute.

22) Lack of liberation makes one become nostalgic. It's common for people to miss you a lot. She forgets about the present and focuses too much on the past. He even values everything he accomplished during that period. Remember the love relationships of that time. Satan takes advantage of this gap and puts thoughts of adultery in that person's mind.

Resignation

23) All the projects that this person tries to put into practice fail. From the simplest, like selling sweets and food on the streets, to the sophisticated of creating brilliant business strategies in the business environment. Can't keep a good job. Most of the time, he resigns, deluded by something that satan offered him, such as opening his own business with the money from workers' compensation.

24) The sentimental life is a failure. If single, the devil does not allow that person to have a great love relationship. He only gets involved with bad people. It is very common, in this type of situation, for women to get involved with criminals or drug addicts. At this stage, if they are teenagers or young people, they do not accept any type of advice. The person is literally blinded. They lose track of what they are doing.

25) If married or married, marriage loses pleasure. One does not feel happiness with one's husband or wife. The devil starts sending demons to that person to consider that he should return to the arms of his ex-boyfriend (a), ex-fiancé (a) to try to find happiness again. Comparisons arise between the current husband or wife with the ex.

Wife

26) Another spiritual attack is on the couple's sex life. The devil causes husband and wife to lose interest in making love. And when they try to relate sexually, there is no pleasure. It is something mechanical, without any involvement. It is common, in this type of spiritual attack, for the woman to feel disgust for her husband and vice versa.

27) In the case of the evangelical man, not yet freed, sometimes he smells menstrual blood without being next to any woman. That is, he is the target of a spell to affect his sex life. With that, the devil tries to make that person feel disgusted with women and even his wife, if he is married.

28) The evangelical woman, not yet freed, is also attacked by the devil and his demons. If she is a girlfriend, engaged or married, the darkness puts it in her head that that person does not deserve to be by her side. She feels disgust for her partner. Everything he does is up for debate. Even his voice, his style of speaking, serves as a trigger for discussion.

Regime

29) Lack of liberation stirs up gluttony. The person eats non-stop. Can't quench. It's not hunger. She stuffs herself with food trying to fill a void in her soul. Then she doesn't even know why she's eating so much. The devil messes with self esteem too. In the case of women, they become hostages of the mirror. They think they are overweight. At this stage, the devil plunges them into a crazy diet, when they stop eating everything.

30) Lack of release reflects on financial life. The person cannot tithe, nor offer in the church where he congregates. When he gets paid, he disappears like hot water. It makes unnecessary debt. The devil holds the unreleased evangelical in default. At this stage, the demons put it in this person's head that before he belonged to Jesus, his life was better.

31) The lack of deep liberation makes people go into abysses. Some become hostages to loan sharks. In desperation to get money, they enter the world of crime and sink deeper into this process. Women often resort to prostitution to get money more easily. When it reaches this stage, the person has already moved away from the Gospel.

Type

These signs that I listed above do not have a chronological order to happen in the life of someone not yet freed. It may happen that some happen, and others don't give any sign. Even so, it's a reason to look for the pastor of your church and explain the situation. It is also necessary to analyze in which type of denomination the person congregates.

The Word of God is very clear, as written in 1 John, chapter 3, verse 8. “He who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. For this the Son of God was manifested: to destroy the works of the devil. Those who are not spiritually liberated urgently need Jesus. The problem is that there are many false pastors who don't like to be used in spiritual deliverance.

The business of this minority is a spotlight. It's appearing in the media. Being idolized and even winning political office. Unfortunately, within many evangelical churches there are several members in need of deliverance. People held hostage by the devil for years or decades. Who never really knew the delicious taste of happiness. My solution? Look for a serious church, which doesn't put its hands on the head of demons, but casts them out to hell. Then you will be free.

Luís Alberto Alves is a pastor.

Are you in the world or is the world in you?

 Where HAVING is valued and not BEING

   Pixabay

Luis Alberto Alves

“I am in the world, but I am not of the world”, John 17:14. Every day the siege is tightened on the evangelical who decides to serve Jesus Christ, obeying his words. It's not as easy as many imagine. Contaminated with the Gospel of Results, tailored to please and never to confront.

The current system seeks, through various resources, to disqualify the Word of God, trying to place it as something despicable, without any value. It criticizes the commandments of Christ, as something straight, contrary to the rules of the current world.

Right is seen as wrong and wrong as right. From the worldly perspective, the evangelical should not continue following the commandments of Jesus Christ, as they keep people away from what is best in this society, where HAVING is valued and not BEING.

World

To make this broth thicker, some evangelical denominations had the sad idea of putting the world inside the church. Chapters and verses condemning wrong are suppressed from preaching. The pulpit is used for amenities only. Just like the doctor who, instead of using all the mechanisms to cure the patient, prescribes drugs that are ineffective.

Prayer is left out. There are rare denominations where, before the beginning of the service, people pray. To make matters worse, some pastors enter the Word without asking Jesus Christ for direction. Instead of the “Peace of the Lord”, they prefer to say hello and move on to the festival of nonsense. They are preaching similar to self-help videos.

In some denominations around this planet Earth, the pulpit is not a holy place. It is just a space to read something written in the Bible, aiming to please the hearts of hopeless people, who perhaps entered there as the last lifeline, before suicide. But none of that matters to the wolves in sheep's clothing.

Bad

The world is seductive. Mind anyone who says otherwise. Sin is sweet at first, then bitter at the end. Lucifer knows how to sell his spoiled fish in a pretty package. Testimonials from drug addicts reveal that the pleasure of using them is what holds the person in that sad ritual of using something that is bad, but with the appearance of good.

This is why many drug addicts find it difficult to give up addiction, because of the pleasure they feel when they are intoxicated with this type of substance. Drugs are presented in a variety of ways, some of them with the “sociable” label, as is the case with alcoholic beverages.

Prostitutes are usually beautiful. They wear beautiful and sensual clothes, to make an impact on the eyes of future customers. They don't scream, but whisper in their ears, words they like to hear, even if they are someone devoid of any beauty. It is the fowler's snare, as described in Psalm 91. Otherwise, they would not be able to attract anyone.

Cash

Making money by stealing, stealing or even through corruption is another trap used by Lucifer to seduce the weak in faith or those who have not yet had a true encounter with Jesus Christ. In the current financial crisis in which several countries are going through, who wouldn't want to see the current account with a lot of money? All earned easily, without breaking a single drop of sweat?

The first few months as a thief and corrupt are good. Luxury becomes routine at home. As well as lunches and dinners in elite restaurants, trips to cities, which were previously seen as dreams to come true, soon come true. High limit credit cards, quality clothes and shoes, top of the line cars.

The simple house in the distant neighborhood on the outskirts is replaced by mansions in luxury condominiums or penthouse apartments, with high quality furniture. At this time, misery will not be present in the life of this person who started to eat the delicacy offered by the devil and his demons. In proverbs it is written that abyss calls to an abyss, and that victim will sink into this mire.

Eternity

What person wouldn't want to see their checking account filled with money? Riding in luxury cars, wearing designer clothes, living in a beautiful property, enjoying the good and the best? All without making any effort. It's a dream world, especially for young people, achieving something without straining, as in the magical world of social networks.

However, the Gospel of Jesus Christ does not guarantee that our life will be like this while we are passing through this world. Our Master warned that we would have afflictions, we would conquer the Heavens by making a lot of effort, to cross the narrow gate that is the path towards eternity.

But the human being does not like to push. He likes to receive everything with a kissed hand. He imagines that life must be like the movies, where ease always gets in the way of making everything okay. Some go to evangelical churches dreaming that the life promised by Christ is something magical. It arrived on the first day, on the second everything is already transformed.

Good

Today much of the Lord's flock is contaminated with anxiety. He is immensely thirsty to put the water of sin in his mouth, most often in beautiful bottles, offered by false shepherds, wolves in sheep's clothing. These people meet inside the churches, not to seek salvation in Jesus Christ, but something good that He can offer.

There is no effort to please the Lord. They come from the world, but they refuse to leave it. They intend to remain hostages of prostitution, vices, idolatries, lies, disbelief, beliefs (how many false evangelicals do not consult horoscopes, fortune tellers, play games of chance, etc.), of pacts made with darkness.

They find it difficult to leave the world where they have lived for many years. They are used to the garbage of sin. They classify the commandments of Jesus as something terrible. “What harm is there in making a “fezinha” in the animal”, say some. “My lover gives me the best and the best, I can't let go of him”, retort some women.

Corrupt

“In this Brazil, everyone steals, especially the rulers. I will not be the one to become holy. If I can get that money, I will”, say the corrupt ones. “Mom and Dad, what a sin is there in having sex with my boyfriend. It is proof of the love that exists between us”, justify some teenagers. “I am a believer, but my revolver has not yet been converted”, assume people who are still hateful.

It is not easy to leave the world. It's like certain stains on clothes. Need to soak, wash with plenty of water, after long period. The impression that remains is that we are against the grain of this society contaminated by sin, where wrong is seen as right. It takes a lot of commitment and faith in the Lord.

For many years I was in the carnival world. It was my habitat. The songs, the frantic drumming of more than 300 percussionists on the drums, the chords of my cavaquinho, the bass sound of the seven-string guitar, the women dancing samba before my eyes, dressed in clothes that only hid their genitals; filled my eyes.

Carnival

It was something that made me ecstatic. He criticized those who didn't like carnival. He classified them as grimaces. When back home, I would meet some brothers, on Carnival Sunday, on the way to church, I would make jokes. In my opinion, the right world was mine, not the one that led to eternity with Jesus Christ.

He forgot that the carnival party lasted only three days, and then he would have to go back to work, sometimes having difficulty paying the day-to-day bills, because the money had been spent on the party. I tried not to see that the beautiful women who paraded beside me were people held hostage by spirits of prostitution, vices and illnesses.

Many of them worked in nightclubs selling their bodies to pay the rent for a tenement room rented in some corner of the city. Others had their husbands serving time and she was forced to support the rest of the family. But the devil, in those days of revelry, blinded all of us, who liked to eat the crumbs he threw from his dirty table.

Sad

It was not easy to get out of this rotten world, just as it is not easy to get out of drugs, prostitution, theft, drug trafficking, corruption, idolatry, sorcery, enchantments. We need to embrace Jesus Christ with all our strength. Ask Him for help. To find support and ways to get out of this vicious circle that is the delicacy offered by the world.

Time waits for no one. It is recommended that you look into your heart and see if there is anything that still holds you to the world. What provokes, even after being converted, longing for something that is not good, because it made him sad after the seconds of pleasure. Does the devil still rule your life?

Don't make the mistake of trying to please both God and the devil. Nobody can do this. Tap your feet on the ground and cry out to Jesus Christ that you need to get out of the world forever. While you're here, may the Lord give you strength to resist the dishes that the devil will continue to offer you. It was difficult for me, but Jesus rescued me from the mud where I had been for many years. I'm no better than you. It will be the same with you.

Luís Alberto Alves is a pastor.

Inside your soul have you changed?

    Hourpress

Luis Alberto Alves

Another year is coming to an end. Thank you for reading my articles that I always post in this space. I have reached different countries, bringing the Word of God through texts inspired by the Holy Spirit.

I changed the format, putting it in a short text, always an impactful message. But have you in your soul really changed? Or do you keep repeating the same actions that have been with you for several years?

If you are married, have you been a great father or mother? Are you affectionate or affectionate, sweet or sweet, do you make your home an altar to the Lord? How is your relationship with money? Do you boss him or is it the other way around?

Do you consult God in all the decisions you are going to make, especially the simplest ones, or even, in your assessment, without any impact on your routine? Do you prefer to close the bedroom door and talk secretly with Jesus or do you lean on anyone's shoulder?

Days

Do you spend more time on social media than meditating on the Word of the Lord? As you look back on this year that is coming to an end, how many times have you pleased Jesus Christ and made the devil nervous or the opposite?

Never forget that everything that exists in this world, where we are passing through, is futile. Even the feasts of the world, which at most last three days, soon come to an end. Even the quick pleasure provided by drugs is a very quick thing.

Only the Word of the Lord is eternal. It is always fulfilled, regardless of our will, our ugly face, our bad mood or even annoyance. Contrary to what many pastors say, God doesn't need any of us.

Before the universe existed, He was God and will remain God eternally. Without Jesus Christ we cannot even dodge the arrows and darts launched by darkness to overthrow us. So before this New Year's Eve, take time to talk to God.

Years

Turn off your cell phone, TV or anything else that distracts you. If you prefer, go out for a walk in the streets or look for a quiet park and have a quality dialogue with Jesus Christ. Ask the Lord to change you forever. Do not repeat the same behavior that has been with you for many years.

Excellent 2023 to you and your whole family. Keep letting the light of Jesus Christ shine brightly in your face. May your life always be a source of joy for God, never of shame or humiliation. Be happy always in the Lord.

Luís Alberto Alves is a pastor.

God does not forget his promises

   Pixabay

Luis Alberto Alves

Sometimes, in a moment of great struggle, we think for a few seconds that Jesus has forgotten his promises. The realization of our dreams. That's when sadness and despair knock on the door of our heart. Corrupt and deceitful, he stacks and increases the affliction, throwing adrenaline into sinful desires.

When the problem is sentimental, we imagine that happiness will never enter through the door of the soul. Right now, the weak Christian looks at the people on the street and thinks they are happy. He observes that coworker, beautiful in face and body, or in the case of women, that charming man with an athletic body.

Through the mind, thoughts of greed and desires emerge and images arise of what life would be like next to that person, who in this terrible desert is before our eyes. The devil, cleverly, adds fuel to the fire and suggests that this proposal cannot be ignored, but strongly embraced.

Illusion

Sentimental crises hurt, especially when our faith is shaken. They quickly remove the feet of the Christian, still inexperienced with the move of the Lord. Young people think that they will not find the so dreamed soul mate. That Jesus Christ forgot to keep his promises. Everything is in the past.

In the spirit world, demons are working to turn this reality into a nightmare. They open the way for the spirits of vices, prostitution, lasciviousness, sensuality, deceit and lies. That's when the phrase "nothing to do" becomes frequent vocabulary on the lips of someone who is far from Christ.

Note that someone sad for the loss of a boyfriend or girlfriend, fiancé or bride or even just out of a divorce will seek refuge in drink, drugs, prostitution or even in the arms of false gods, who are nothing more than demons with the appearance of goodness. . The excuse is to cool your head, forget the sadness.

Sadness

Note that someone at this stage starts listening to sad songs, whose lyrics describe the routine of people who have lost great loves. They surrender their lives, imagining that these depressing lyrics will serve as a consolation. They don't know what demons are working on emotions for this stage to get worse, until that someone takes their own life.

Jesus Christ never forgets his promises. He has the right time to fulfill what he has in store for us. It is up to the Christian to wait. It is not new that we have the impression that everything has fallen into oblivion. However, the Lord's chronology is spiritual, different from ours, attached to the earthly world, where we are passing through.

The Lord said that “heaven passes away and the earth passes away, but his words shall not pass away”, Matthew 24:35. Why does the Christian forget what Jesus Christ said? Why in moments of affliction, people prefer to look at the damage caused by the devil, instead of standing firm in the ways of Christ. Is it a lack of faith, is it a lack of fellowship, or did they simply stop believing in the Lord?

Future

If people imagined how much beauty the future announced by God will have, they would never open their mouths to utter words of curse and sadness. The devil knows that these days of wonder will come in the life of the Christian who takes quality time for the Lord. He will try to prevent the realization of this dream.

It's like the football coach who knows how that promise from the youth team will shine. Because of the experience, he also recognizes that all that could go up in smoke if this young athlete does not follow the sporting precepts to the letter. Satan does this. Sowing stones, with the appearance of beautiful flowers, to confuse the person towards the blessing.

But which strategy to adopt when anxiety knocks hard on our heart's door? Leave the Lord aside and dive once and for all into the world of deceit? When we are anxious, it is a sign that our trust in Jesus Christ is weak. We imagine that the Lord is unable to fulfill what he has promised us.

Prophecy

To complicate the situation, false prophets appear on the scene, sowing words that look good but have evil content. They say that walking alongside Jesus will be filled with joy, without any kind of war. That we will never set foot in the desert. In the view of these false prophets, that place is reserved for Christians weak in the faith.

False prophecy is not fulfilled. Because it's a lie. Smoke fills a room, but soon disappears and vanishes into thin air. The truth, which is the Word of God, is eternal. It remains forever. In the Lord's time, it will come to fruition. At the moment when the servant of God is discouraged and even forgot what God had told him.

So if you are struggling, facing the heat and cold of the desert, don't let the lie of the dark deceive you. Jesus Christ will fulfill what he promised you. In the Lord's time everything will come true, to cheer your heart and revive your soul. It's up to you to persevere in prayer and not let your guard down to the devil.

Luís Alberto Alves is pastor

Demons Keep Seducing Evangelicals

Pixabay

Luis Alberto Alves

The devil never rests. He works directly to remove the evangelical from the presence of Jesus Christ and take him to hell. He sells the garbage of darkness wrapped in a pretty package to seduce the Christian weak in faith. People who imagine they can please two masters: God and Satan.

Unfortunately, many brothers in faith cannot resist the beckoning of the demons and dive into the dirty pool of the abyss with a beautiful appearance. To make matters worse, around the world, several Christian denominations preach the Gospel of ease, where everything is allowed. They use the word Grace, as a safe conduct to do what is bad.

An example of this happens on the last day of October, when the satanic party of Halloween is celebrated, whose name is an abbreviation of the expression All Hallows'eve by the junction of the words hallow, which means holy and eve, eve, as it occurs the day before. to the celebration of All Saints' Day (November 1).

abominations

Many evangelicals forget what is written in the book of Deuteronomy, 18 verses 10/13, where the Lord makes it very clear. “There shall not be found among you anyone who causes his son or daughter to pass through the fire, nor a soothsayer, nor a soothsayer, nor a soothsayer, nor a sorcerer, nor a sorcerer, nor one who consults a soothsayer, nor a sorcerer, nor one who consults dead, for everyone who does these things is an abomination to the Lord, and it is because of these abominations that the Lord your God drives them out from before you..."

It is not me, a pastor who lacks the mercy of the Lord to continue on the path of preaching the Holy Word of God, but our God who warns us not to get involved with this filthy practice, which causes disgust in the Lord, something reprehensible and repugnant. to him. But like goats, millions of evangelicals don't take this Word seriously.

To make matters worse, some pseudo Christian denominations have adopted the gospel Halloween party, as if it were possible to take the garbage of darkness and turn it into something sacred to Jesus Christ. The devil will never appear displaying his ugliness, but presenting the false light of holiness to deceive those who were once rescued from hell.

 Attraction

This theme is so profound that the evangelical committed to God should never be attracted to anything connected with Halloween. In parallel with this dish of the devil, the satanic feast of the Sabbath takes place from November 30th to 1st, when devil worshipers in the southern hemisphere gather to offer animal and child sacrifices to Satan in search of wealth and power. .

In Satanism, November 1st is called All Demons Day, when the countless legions of evil spirits participating in the Shabbat feast are thrown into the spiritual atmosphere. Halloween (October 31) is used as bait, making light, which is evil, used to destroy and kill people.

This satanic party is so terrible, that in the week before Shabbat, it is common for children under the age of 7 to disappear and are never found again. Unfortunately, they will be offered on satanic altars so that people who have a pact with satan can gain more money, fame and power.

Disguise

To deceive the evangelical weak in faith, Halloween is sold as something naive, without any malice, but revealing all the cunning of darkness. The first lie is that the story of idolatry that people die and become saints, invented by Roman Catholicism, is not well regarded by God. God does not share His Glory with anyone, as described in Isaiah 42/8.

The second is that Halloween has been practiced for over 3,000 years, when it emerged with the Celts, a polytheistic people who believed in various gods related to animals and the forces of nature. At that time, they celebrated the festival of Samhain, lasting 3 days, starting in the period equivalent to the 31st of October today, as the Gregorian calendar, as it is known today, did not yet exist.

 In addition to celebrating the end of summer, the passage of the Celtic year was celebrated, which began on November 1st. These people believed that on this day, the dead rose and took possession of the bodies of the living. That is, as in witchcraft, when an evil spirit embodies someone, imitating the gestures and voice of someone who is deceased.

Judgment

But in Hebrews 9/27 it is written, "In the same way, with man it is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment." A feast where they invoke the spirit of the dead is an affront to God, as the Lord makes clear in Deuteronomy 18, verses 10/13, where He condemns those who consult people who call the spirit of those who have died to return to this world.

To increase the rebellion against God, as at the time when the Hebrews left Egypt, the Celts wore costumes and the party was full of dark artifacts, according to them to defend themselves from evil spirits, as if there was a good demon. In the Middle Ages, at the time of the Inquisition, the Catholic Church began to condemn this festival, hence Halloween.

      At that time, Catholicism considered healers to be witches. But for lack of commitment to God, the Catholic Church decided to promote changes in the garbage of darkness, changing All Saints' Day, which was previously celebrated on May 13, to November 1. The proposal was to remove the pagan character of this evil festival.

Tradition

This devil's practice crossed the centuries and the seas and arrived in the United States at the time of its colonization. A country that had great communion with God, but gradually surrendered to the charms of darkness, moving away from the Lord's commandments. As with satanic practices, traditions of devil exaltation are not recorded in books, but are passed on from generation to generation orally. So it was with Halloween.

 The oppression of darkness has become so strong that in the United States this party has been a tradition since the 19th century, when Irish immigrants took this garbage to the North Americans. As in witchcraft cults, when demons imitate children's gestures and voices, children wear costumes and knock on house doors saying the traditional phrase: "trick or treat?"

They ask for sweets, threatening mischief to anyone who refuses the treats. It is something that feeds the spirit of rebellion. Gradually, this dirt spread across the Americas, until it reached Brazil, to the point that shopping malls and street stores sell masks with evil designs.

Holy

It is something with an innocent appearance, as the devil tries to sell his proposal, aiming to seduce and drive the evangelical away from the ways of the Lord. God has no connection with anything that is of darkness. He is Holy. The famous phrase “nothing to do” can never be applied to something condemned by the Lord. So it is with the Halloween party, something of great connection with demons.

Nowhere in the Bible, whether in the Old or New Testaments, do the prophets of God appear invoking the presence of the spirits of the dead. Not even Jesus Christ did this. He raised the dead, never prayed for a spirit of someone who had died to return to speak to Him. But today, in the rampant pursuit of money, some denominations have brought into their temples this satanic practice of Halloween.

The saddest part of it all is that we see evangelicals participating in this wheel of scoffers. Placing satanic symbols on the body, especially on the face, wearing clothes, imitating shrouds, to get in the Halloween mood. They are unaware that they are opening a huge door for demons to enter their lives.

Satanic

Because it is not a gift, the devil needs something to invade someone's life. That's when he uses satanic symbology to achieve his goals. In sorcery each symbol has a specific function. It serves to accelerate the exit of a certain demon from the celestial sphere to take possession of a person's life. This phenomenon is called incorporation in witchcraft, when a demon occupies, for minutes or hours, someone's body.

It is as if the person was asleep during this process, as he does not remember anything that happened during the time he was in the trance. These symbols appear in the form of drawings on the floor, on the wall, on clothes used for invoking evil spirits, on rings, bracelets, wrist chains, necklaces, ribbons tied around the head. They also appear in the form of odors, with intoxicating perfumes, acting as a toxic substance.

At the Halloween party, the devil makes use of this strategy, with the excuse that it is something insignificant. Just a joke, nothing offensive. Spiritually, Satan is opening doors and roads in the heavenly realms, where angels and demons fight daily. Gradually he discourages the evangelical who was once pure fire, but without leaving visible signs to avoid asking for help and returning to his first love.

Praise

The devil will never bring someone down quickly. The process takes a long time. He sends his demons to observe the person who gets in the way of his projects, when that person prays a lot, fasts, hears a lot of praise, reads the Bible daily, does the will of the Lord. He uses strategies, apparently childish, but of an evil nature to destroy the life that was in the House of the Lord.

Therefore, stay away from everything that looks evil. Have no communion or interest in knowing how it works. Don't arouse your curiosity about the workings of the dark world. Avoid using devil symbols inside your house, your car, on the table where he works. All of this is kind of used by the devil to get into someone's life and try to get him out of the presence of the Lord.

Escape the seduction of darkness. Don't want to taste the sweet taste of sin which in the end turns bitter. Increase your commitment to the Lord. Anything connected with demons, keep away from you. Protect your ears from songs of exaltation to evil spirits. Without realizing it, you may be reciting verses and mantras of demonic attraction into your home, and throwing fuel to destroy your life.

Luís Alberto Alves is a pastor.

Have you been struggling to get to Heaven?

 

Luis Alberto Alves

Because of the strong seductions that the devil offers daily, people have forgotten that the Christian's home is not here on Earth, but in Heaven. There is a very beautiful praise recorded in 1991, “John Saw”, whose verses say the following: “John saw... Thousands and thousands of angels, which flew around the throne

That flew around the throne, that flew around the throne of God... John saw... The seven golden candlesticks, and in the midst of the seven candlesticks One like the son of man Who was this man? it was Jesus of Nazareth It wasn't a dream, it was reality

John saw the Holy City, for the believers being prepared John saw... And he can no longer bear all these wonders Prepared for his children He will inherit all these blessings whoever overcomes John saw..

. I also hope to see, what was killed and revived And death He conquered And with this eternal life granted us It wasn't a dream, it was reality John saw the holy city, for the believers being prepared Whoever has an ear, hear what the Spirit says to the churches Jesus Christ is coming Get ready for you to see him”

Jesus

It is a profound letter that every Christian should meditate on. Let go of the bullshit of deluding yourself with the seemingly beautiful garbage that satan pushes onto the weak of faith. As much beauty as there is in this world, nothing compares to eternity. Where it will be possible we see before us the beauty of Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, the number of evangelical denominations uncommitted to the Word of the Lord has multiplied. They sell the world instead of proclaiming the Word of Christ. They preach that people should be happy here on Earth, leaving eternity in the background, where those who kept the commandments will live forever.

It is the famous Gospel of results. False pastors invest in prosperity theology, emphasizing that money is the root of happiness. He can satisfy all the hunger of those who are without hope. Through word games, they distort the Gospel and create images that only a current account with a positive balance is the key to solving all problems. wonders I wish people had the notion of how the beauty of the Heavens is something fascinating, without the possibility of describing. So fascinating that the human mind is not capable of creating images that can approach the wonders created by God. The devil cleverly works day and night to lead the Christian away from Heaven.

Everything in this world is fleeting. Nothing is eternal. Even human beauty is ephemeral. Something that ends quickly. Take the case of beautiful women, who have seduced millions of people. When they lost their lives and were embraced by death, soon the beautiful became ugly.

An example of this is the movie actress Marilyn Monroe, the blonde who in the 1950s was the dream of men to be hugged by her for a night of sex. How many movie industry executives in the United States rooted for Marilyn to go to their beds.

Loneliness

The night she died, after taking an overdose of medication, to ward off loneliness and sadness, she declined the invitation to hear the Word of God. Hours later she was found dead. It is famous the photograph of her lying on the cold stone of the Los Angeles morgue, without any makeup, showing the horror of death on a lifeless face.

In the case of Marilyn Monroe, the devil sold seduction and vanity as a calling card to live well here on Earth. She hugged this duo tightly. She knew success and fame, to the point of becoming the lover of brothers John and Robert Kennedy, the first then President of the United States and the second Minister of Justice.

But the dark's change came quickly, taking with both hands what he'd borrowed, as she entered the Hollywood star gallery. That's how the devil works. He is a master at offering illusions that look like the real thing. Smoke makes great volume, but soon dissolves in air. trifles

What have you been doing with your life my brother and sister? Is your concern only with the things of this world? How long do you stay in the presence of the Lord? The hours of day and night do you spend only in trifles? How long do you pray, talk to Jesus Christ? If you died right now, at the moment you read this article, would you be sure that you would enter Heaven?

Take a look back at your life. In fact, do you please Jesus Christ or are you hostage to satan and you still don't realize it? Where you work or study, do people know that the light of Christ shines on your face, or in those places are you a secret agent of the Gospel? Waste time in the circle of scoffers, share the nonsense that the disturbed like to talk?

What is your attitude as a servant of God? Does it really make a difference in this world where the devil keeps swimming in a stroke? Are you sure the Holy Spirit lives inside your heart? Or do you only feel the flash of the Lord's anointing and remain hostage to darkness? Meditate on the lyrics of this praise that I put together with this text and reflect. There is still time. Do not exchange the Heavens for the illusion of beauties offered by the devil, which are fleeting. Including him.

Luís Alberto Alves is a pastor.

João Viu ano 1991 Andréa Fontes

João Viu ano 1991 Andréa Fontes - YouTube

João Viu ano 1991 Andréa Fontes - YouTube