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So, with that said, lets talk about the Kingdom!
Wed, Oct 30th - 5:02PM
More People Will Go To Hell Than Heaven? That's What Jesus Says.
More People Will Go To Hell Than Heaven? That's What Jesus Says.
October 30, 2013 at 4:56pm
Folks, I am convinced that most of the people, even those who profess Christ, still do not have a clue as to what is happening in our country and the world abroad. If they did, you would find every church house if not full to capacity, not far from it. Because if they realized that what Jesus said is true, they would want to be learning more about God, and even more importantly, building their relationship with Him.
Listen to what Jesus says in Matthew 7:13-14: "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. "Because narrow [contracted by pressure] is the gate and difficult [straightened and compressed] is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."
Did you grasp that? Jesus flatly says that most people, sadly, unfortunately, are going to hell, because most are going to follow the broad way that leads to destruction! Again, this is not popular teaching in a society where we like to think the opposite, that most people are going to heaven, because they were a kind, sweet, loving person. But, kind, sweet and loving is not gonna cut it. The question is, "DO YOU HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST?" Quite frankly, Jesus said that most do not.
What He is simply saying is that most of the people in your neighborhood, community, town, state, and yes, nation, are on the path to destruction. The way that leads to LIFE, God's life, eternal life, the abundant life that Jesus spoke of, is straight, narrow, not heavily traveled.
Folks, I didn't write the Book and I didn't speak these words. Christ, God incarnate, said this.
If you think because you are a good person, or your parents were good people, or your grandparents were good people and that is gonna cut you an entrance into the Kingdom, you need to think again.
The fact is that it is not your religion, but it is your relationship with God that is going to make the difference. If you claim to have a relationship with God, but you are not even living the basics of the Christian faith and tenants, what makes you think that if you stand before God tonight, you are going to be ready to meet Him. Don't let the enemy deceive you into thinking that it's okay with you and God because of your own righteousness, or good deeds, which are like filthy rags before God. Deep down, you really do know if your relationship with God is where and what it should be.
The Bible says in 1 Peter 4: 17-18 - "17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” ( The New King James Version)
If those who have a genuine relationship with God through Christ are "scarcely saved", where does that leave "the ungodly"?
If you desire to know more, you can contact me and I will be more than happy to help you in establishing and developing your relationship with God! "Let him who has an ear, hear what the Spirit says..."
Isaiah
5:20
- "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who
put darkness for light, and light for darkness;" (NKJV)
"How
terrible it will be for people who call good things bad and bad things good,
who
think darkness is light and light is darkness,..." Isaiah 5:20
(NCV)
Here's a question I
posted on Face Book recently:"Why is it that many professed Christians, who would
freak out at the thought of idol worship as opposed to the worship of God the
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, will by the thousands worship the god of this
world every October, and make lame excuses for it?
Then, why do they get angry with someone who
dares tell them the truth about it?I
thought Christians were desirous of and seekers of Truth."
Another October and the religious holiday known as
Halloween gets another year bigger.And
the gnawing question for me that gets bigger is; why?Again, I realize that I am not going to be
very popular with many who may read this article, and beside re-igniting the
anger in those whom I have crossed before about this, I may even make some new
enemies. And some are going to just
brush it off and say, "Well, there goes old Parnell, again." However, that comes along with the territory
in speaking forth truth now days in our society.Kind of like, in the days of Noah.But, I digress...
The picture below was taken from the Face Book page of
a local Halloween carnival in my area, known as Haunted Hills.There are more and more of these cropping up
every year and those that have been in existence for a number of years now, get
bigger and darker.
This pic is just one of many that are on the F.B. page
of this particular attraction. I know
that this may be offensive to some, as well it should be.My question is, why is it not offensive to
many, many more?
This photo (from the 2012 season) apparently
depicts a girl on a crucifix, which to Christians, should be offensive and
should strike us as sacrilegious.
It has now come to my
attention that this so called amusement, is now (2013 season) depicting the
offering of human sacrifice as practiced in satanic worship.Now, that is disgusting, to say the least.I am sure that this particular carnival is
probably not the only one indulging in this demonic "fun", but it is
the one I have some knowledge of.
When I shared this
and other information with people at our church, mouths dropped open and eyes
widened in shock and disgust.Parents
and grandparents who have been allowing their children and grandchildren to go
to these events, paying their way in, yet not having a clue as to what they
were going to, were awakened to the truth.
Now, let me say right
up front, I expect the world to be the world.I expect sinners, who do not know the Lord, to act like sinners.When I was a sinner without a relationship
with Christ, I acted like one, believe me.Jesus had the same problem during His earthly ministry (and actually
still has this problem):It was not the
worldly, professed lost sinners who worked against Him, but it was the
religious lost who were contrary and diametrically opposed to Him.It was those who professed to know God,
attended the temple worship, and indeed led the nation of Israel, religiously, who crucified Him.
Let me also say, I am
not trying to rain on anyone's parade, or be the proverbial "party
pooper", or any other diatribe that may be hurled my way by the
spiritually ignorant.My calling, as a
pastor and spiritual leader, which I take very seriously, comes along with
great responsibility to proclaim the truth from the Word of God.
Now,once you have received the truth, I have
delivered my soul and the blood will not be on my hands.What you do with the truth, once it has been
revealed to you, is your responsibility.God holds you accountable for what you do with it.Whether you make the appropriate changes
concerning yourself, personally, and also, whether you share that truth with
others who do not know, will be dealt with by the Lord.
Now, that being said,
my issue is, again, with those who profess Christianity and say they know the
Lord.How can any Christian not be
offended and grieved at pictures like this one or other such practices if they
have the Holy Spirit residing in them?What's even worse, there are preachers and church leaders who are not only
afraid to speak out against such wickedness, but actually encourage and support
it!And then we wonder what has happened
to our country?
One of many problems
is that the Church has very little spiritual discernment and in many cases has
joined hands with the world in the name of "tolerance" or "being
relative".Many of our pastors and
spiritual leaders now are actually afraid to speak the truth or tackle any
"controversial" issues for fear of losing their jobs.Why?Because many, if not most of their congregations are attending and/or
actively participating in these hideous celebrations.May I say dear minister friends of mine: Sin
is always controversial and preaching against it is going to always bring some
heated criticism, and that from within the church.If you cannot handle that, you may not
actually be called into pastoral or leadership ministry.
If there is no
spiritual discernment in the pulpit we don't need to wonder at the spiritual
condition of the Church.
Halloween is a satanic religious holiday.It
is the highest day of worship in the satanic church.When people are participating in these
celebrations they are actually participating in and encouraging worship of the
dark regions.A Christian should not need
very much spiritual discernment to figure that out.
And before you start
handing me that bunk about "it's all in good fun" or "it's for a
good cause", that is no excuse.You
can have "good fun" that does not involve demonic celebration and you
can donate to a "good cause" without promoting wickedness.
I have many friends
and family who participate in these demonic events.For those who have already heard the truth,
but still insist on rejecting it and excusing it, I still love you and pray for
you, but the blood is off my hands.For
those who may just now be discovering this truth, I pray you allow the Holy
Spirit to help you make a wise choice and denounce these things as the pure
evil they are.Let me clarify, many of
the people who put on these things are not essentially "wicked"
people, they are mostly just ignorant of the truth.
So many do not
realize or understand just what kind of spirit they may be taking home with
them from these worship sites.Then,
when all hell breaks loose in their life or their family, they want to scratch
their heads and wonder why God allowed these things to happen.You are inviting the powers of hell and
darkness to have access to your life and cannot see it.
How about God's sarcastic rebuke of
the Babylonians in Isaiah:"…For you have trusted in your wickedness… Therefore
evil shall come upon you… trouble shall fall upon you… Let now the astrologers,
the stargazers, And the monthly prognosticators stand up and save you from what
shall come upon you. Behold, they shall be as stubble, The fire shall burn
them; They shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame…"
- Isaiah 47:10-14a
I am not trying to
make enemies, I'm really trying to be a friend and warn people about the
spiritual ramifications of participating in this worship.If I did not have the love of Christ for
people, I would not care about telling them the truth.In fact, it would be much easier to simply
keep quiet and go along with the flow.But, God has called men and women to expound the truth and expose the
darkness for what it is.
Besides having the
Spiritual discernment to know better, there is scripture after scripture that
denounces and condemns the celebration of this "holiday".If you are a Christian, READ YOUR BIBLE!
Romans 13:12 - "12 The night is
far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of
darkness, and let us put on the armor of light."How can a Christian
say that these things are not the "works of darkness"?
Ephesians 5:8-14
- "8 For you were once darkness,
but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light9
(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and
truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11
And have no fellowship with the
unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are
done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed
are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14
Therefore He says:“Awake, you who
sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”
How can you
participate in these events and say you are walking as a child "of
light"?How can you say that you
are not having fellowship with the "unfruitful works of
darkness"?And if you are a child
of the Light, why are you, also not exposing them instead of excusing and
supporting them?
Ephesians 6:10-12 - "10
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the
wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh
and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the
rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of
wickedness in the heavenly places." Why do not more
Christians know about the "wiles [tricks] of the devil" and stand
against them instead of celebrate them?
1 Peter 2:9 - "9 But you are a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you
may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of kdarkness into His
marvelous light;"Is any
holiday that glorifies death and darkness (even in fun) a proper thing for a
Christian to do since we have been called out of darkness into His marvelous
light? If God has called you
"out of darkness", why do you insist on going back into it?If you are one of "His own special people"
then why are you not acting like it?
1 John 1:5-7- "5 Here is the message we have
heard from Christ and now announce to you: God is light, and in Him there
is no darkness at all. 6 So
if we say we have fellowship with God, but we continue living in darkness, we
are liars and do not follow the truth. 7 But if we live in
the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other.
Then the blood of Jesus, God’s Son, cleanses us from every sin."
Whether you want to face the truth or
not, you are participating in occult practices.Concerning occult practices, the Israelites were told:“When you come
into the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to
follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not
be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire [an ancient occult practice], or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a
medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things
are an abomination [detestable] to the LORD…”—Deuteronomy 18:9-12a
1
Corinthians 10:21"You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of
demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of
demons." (ESV)
2
Corinthians 6:14-18ESV "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what
partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light
with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion
does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living
God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and
I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their
midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing;
then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons
and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”
1
Timothy 4:1ESV "Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some
will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and
teachings of demons,..."
1
Thessalonians 5:21-22ESV "But test
everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil."
Hosea
4:6ESV "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you
have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you
have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children."
Philippians
4:8ESV "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is
honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise,
think about these things."
James
4:4ESV "You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship
with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the
world makes himself an enemy of God."
I could go on and give more references, but
these should suffice.The bottom
line:No Christian should partake in the
activities of this holiday, nor should they allow their children to do so.
What's "Right" With Halloween? (Repost from a 2006 CTL Newsletter)
What's "right" with Halloween?
- Pastor Michael Parnell
Philip. 4:8 - "Finally, brethren,
whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever
things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are
lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue,
and if there be any praise, think on these things."
It's that time of year again. You
know, the time for the crispness of fall to begin settling in, the time
when the days start getting shorter in our hemisphere, time for pumpkins
being harvested, hay being baled, and such. What
comes along with that are ghastly costumes, dark, ominous looking
masks, pictures of goblins, witches, monsters, demons, and on and on the
list goes.
Then, of course, comes along the
great debate surrounding the question, "What's wrong with Halloween?"
This debate takes place more commonly, and unfortunately, among
professing Christians.
I think this year, instead of the traditional "what's wrong with Halloween" question, I want to pose this question: What's right with Halloween?
Personally, I would think that this
subject would not even be an item of consideration among thinking
Christians with any degree of maturity. However, therein lies much of
the impetus for this division.
Why would anyone, especially a child of God, want to be a part of, or promote something that obviously exalts evil?
Right here in our community there is a
huge attraction to an annual event (one of only too many in our area)
during the month of October that draws hundreds of people in, done in
the name of a "worthy" cause to raise money. To worsen matters, there
are scores of "christians" that are involved in the so-called
"fun". Instead of the"Haunted Hills" why don't these "christians"
sponsor the "Holy Hills"?
Yet some of these same "christians"
(and I use that term reservedly) would condemn many churches that are
sponsoring an alternative through things such as "Judgment House".
My question is: Where is the
spiritual discernment? Why are many just willingly ignorant of the
devices of the devil? Why do we get such a kick out of instilling fear
in our children . Unless it is a reverential fear of God, the Bible
teaches that fear is a spirit, and that spirit comes from the devil.
The Word says in 2 Tim. 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."?
So, laying aside the excuse that so
many use, saying that its fun for the children, (although adults put
much more money into it for themselves to party that night) I would
like for some of you who profess to be a child of God, yet join in the
celebration to the father of evil, to answer me, once again, this
question:What is RIGHT with Halloween?
Name: Michael Parnell ChristiansUnite ID: pastoratctl Member Since: 2006-05-08 Location: Lamar, South Carolina, United States Denomination: International Pentecostal Holiness Church About Me: Hi! My name is Michael Parnell and I pastor CALL TO LIFE FAMILY WORSHIP CENTER, Lamar, S.C. I also, have a consuming passion for music. I sing, play guitar, bass and enjoy a variety of musical styles, especially Praise & Worship.
I have experience... more
Name: Michael Parnell
