The Hard Ones Need your Help

So I was complaining-praying to God-
I was sad.  It seems the only people I can help do not want my help, or piss me off so I do  not want to give my help to them... it feels like nothing I do is worth anywhile- I am not feeding hungry, helping the homeless, how can I be pleasing to GOD because I am making no headway, no one seems better.....

and I cried like a failure- feeling sorry for myself for my allotment of souls to serve.

but then, I understood HIM as if HE said:
I send you the hard ones because the easy ones have already accepted my help, they don't need you- they have ME.  These I have given to you do not block your effectiveness elsewhere- you are where you need to be, serving those whom I have placed in your company.  I have given you those who have rejected ME because I am a loving GOD who remains merciful even unto those who reject me and you are their help from me.  They may, in foolishness, reject all the kindness THE LORD has to offer, directly or through your work on my behalf.  But do not measure your success, that's MY JOB- yours is to walk in MY ways, be patient.  Do MY work, there is great reward not from those around you- FROM ME. 

Being a helper to GOD is going to suck sometimes because we are the last ditch effort HE sends to those who rejected HIM already.... and for sure if people hate themselves enough to reject GOD, they aren't going to be very pleased or even kind with me.
:)

Christmas and the Narrow Gate of TRUTH

Assessing Apparitions: a Catholic's Guide pt 1

There has been an increased frequency of marion apparitions the last few years. It may seem quite reasonable to Christians to let their denominational affiliation serve as a filter of concern about matters occurring within the boundaries of Roman Catholicism.  When the concerns pertain to prophecy, signs, and wonder, however there is quite a strong biblical argument for why such concerns must not be sorted among groups of Catholics, Christians, or any other group of people.  Regardless of the legitimacy one is willing to assign to any prophetic marker, frequency and magnitude of influence are worthy of consideration.  This guide is assembled, especially for my fellow Catholics as well as my sisters and brothers of the Church, to highlight the tools of discernment we Christians have been given by the Grace and Mercy of God the Father to discern His message from any potential deception of the apparitions and apocolyptic messages.

First,it by the authority of Paul, Peter, and Jesus Christ Himself, we instructed to be on guard and we are forewarned of the final deception preceding the return of Our Lord and false prophecies, teachings and signs that will precipitate the fall of man.

Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Matthew 24:11
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

Matthew 24:24
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Mark 13:22
For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

Luke 6:26
Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

2 Peter 2:1
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

1 John 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

When the apostles ask Jesus about the end times, Jesus responds:

Luke 21:8
And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

Deception has been our trouble since the beginning and is central to the fall of man:

  Genesis 3:13
And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

Obviously when God says to not eat fruit: don't eat it, but deception is not always so black and white.

God's warns us we risk making an abominable offense unto HIM by not guarding our 2 greatest vulnerabilities to deception:

1. within our heart:

 Deuteronomy 11:16
Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;  

and as Paul warns the new church we can become deceived in
2. our minds

 2 Corinthians 11:3
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

God's Word can not be rendered untrue, even by the works of satan... so how do people get deceived in their heart or mind?

The vanity of the Imagination and the lust of the heart

Lamentations 2:14
Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment.

Acts 4:25
Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

Romans 1:21
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Obadiah 1:3
The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee

Jeremiah 13:10
This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing. it is wise to ask: Are the apparitions valid messages from God?

Mark 7:21-23
²¹ For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
²² Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
²³ All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

What guards against the vulnerability to deception?

 the armor of God, which is HIS WORD:

 Ephesians 6:10
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God

Which means we have KNOW HIS WORD:

Romans 16:17
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

Especially during the last days, being well versed in the word of God is the only way to tell who is telling the truth and not fall 

1 Timothy 1:10
For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; ¹¹ According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

 2 Timothy 4:1
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
² Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
³ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

There are many words spoken about the Word of God, so how do we know what is a fable and what is true?

First, identify the TRUTH:

^{Deuteronomy 32:4
 3} Because I will publish the name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.
⁴ He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Proverbs 30:4
Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

Second, determine your source of final authority:

Galatians 1:10
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ ¹¹ But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
¹² For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 3:14
But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

Third, trust in that authority above all else for your protection and salvation:

  1 Chronicles 29:11
Thine, O LORD is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.

Psalm 138:2
I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

^{Ephesians 1: 20-22 
20} Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
²¹ Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
²² And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

Using the Standard of Gospel and Scripture, we can search the word of God for what He has told us about.. 

The Enemy:

In thwarting 2 major snares, Jesus Christ gives us a great view into the toolbox of satan's deception:

1. satan can give power over kingdoms and their glory to the worshiper of his choice:

Luke 4:5-7
⁵ And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
⁶ And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
⁷ If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.

2. and satan is well-versed in the Word of God

^{Luke 4: 9-12
9} And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
¹⁰ For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
¹¹ And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
¹² And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

 So satin can give men power and glory, even over a kingdom, imagined by men a built in fables and wives tales such a the lordship built of traditions by the Pharisees and Saducees:

Mark 7: 6
He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
⁷ Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
⁸ For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
⁹ And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

The risk:

misplacing the authority of men over the TRUTH of God:

Deuteronomy 32:18,29
Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.

²⁹ O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!
³⁰ How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the Lord had shut them up?
³¹ For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.
³⁷ And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted,
³⁸ Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? let them rise up and help you, and be your protection.

end- part 1- to be continued