ADDICTION to tradition

 

GOD was clear about His first commandment:

Exodus 20:3

King James Version

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Are we really aware the traditions we celebrate?

Such as Christmas?

Do we know the dangers we place ourselves in?

"Yeah, but we're celebrating the birth of Christ," you'd say.

Are we, really?

Was Christ born with pomp?

As born again, I can only look to JESUS, born in simplicity, even in poverty.

Luke 2:7

King James Version

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, 

and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, 

and laid him in a manger; 

because there was no room for them in the inn.

Look around you.

Aren't people going crazy about Christmas again?

Especially, materially?

People are going crazy buying gifts, putting up trees, decorating, planning parties, crowding stores, shops, and restaurants.

Children eager to receive gifts from Santa Claus.

Their fathers making sure they won't be detected on that day.

Children being taught Santa's going to ride his sleigh with reindeers, carrying a gift for each child.

ESPECIALLY if they're "nice", and not naughty.

Children expect that gift.

Everyone expects a gift.

And if no gift is given, from anyone, from anywhere, you turn sad.

All the while, we forget who Christmas is for.

As born again, I can only think CHRIST is in CHRISTmas.

That our LORD was born, in poverty.

Born in a manger, for the inn had no room for them.

One would think, even then, that the owner of the inn would take mercy upon a lady, about to have a child, in the midst of winter.

Why was Mary left out, in the cold, with Joseph by her side?

And the world knew not, that a SAVIOR would be born.

But that's all been prophesied:

Isaiah 9:6-7

King James Version

6 For unto us a child is born,

 unto us a son is given: 

and the government shall be upon his shoulder: 

and his name shall be called Wonderful, 

Counsellor, The mighty God,

 The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and peace 

there shall be no end, 

upon the throne of David, 

and upon his kingdom, 

to order it, 

and to establish it 

with judgment and with justice 

from henceforth even for ever. 

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

JESUS was sent to save us.

He is the CHRIST, the "Christ of God", the "Lord's Christ", the "Son of God", the "Messiah", the "Savior".

And we esteem Him not.

We are caught up in the ways of the world.

In the vain traditions of men.

Colossians 2:8

King James Version

8 Beware lest any man spoil you 

through philosophy and vain deceit, 

after the tradition of men, 

after the rudiments of the world, 

and not after Christ.

Mark 7:7-9

King James Version

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.

We celebrate European tradition of "Father Christmas", when there is only ONE FATHER -- the LORD GOD.

Isaiah 64:8

King James Version

8 But now, 

O Lord, 

thou art our father; 

we are the clay, 

and thou our potter; 

and we all are the work of thy hand.

On and on, GOD, sends us prophets to warn us of His wrath.

For man's sinfulness seems never-ending.

We are more attuned to the deceiver, than to JESUS.

This is what we have to overcome:

1 John 2:16

King James Version

16 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.

CHRISTmas is not just on the 25th of December.

JESUS taught us how to love GOD, and each other.

Let that SPIRIT of CHRIST in us, be an everyday opportunity to love, and to return to GOD.

Not just on holidays, or vain traditions of men.

But always, for GOD's GLORY.

And in a manner that pleases GOD.

In all of CHRIST's humility.

Related material:

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Bible DISCOVERY 15: The DESTINY of JESUS

The BATTLE

Idolatry

Video:

The Theology of Christmas (Philippians 2:5-11)

Image: Wallpaper Access

ADDICTION to youth

 Ecclesiastes 11:9-10

King James Version

9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; 

and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, 

and walk in the ways of thine heart, 

and in the sight of thine eyes: 

but know thou, that for all these things 

God will bring thee into judgment.

10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, 

and put away evil from thy flesh: 

for childhood and youth are vanity.

It's a botox world.

Everyone wants to be young.

Everyone wants to look good.

Everyone wants to be best-looking.

Is that at all possible?

Sure, for the moment.

Until someone outdoes you.

And you can't bear that.

So, you outdo them, too.

The medical world, and aesthetic world, have raked in the bucks, as people get  botoxed.

Or have plastic surgeries.

Nips, and tucks.

Augmentations.

The enemy knows man's weaknesses.

He's mapped it all out.

His influence is far, and wide.

Of course, surgeries, invasive and non-invasive, go wrong, too.

That's when corrections are made.

On, and on, these go.

Until such time the client is happy.

By then, he or she would have unrecognizable bodies, or faces.

One natural beauty influencer in England declared something to the effect that women who don't smile don't get wrinkles.

But where's the fun in not smiling?

Smiling causes wrinkles.

Frowning causes wrinkles.

Anger causes wrinkles.

Stress causes wrinkles

Illness causes wrinkles.

Sudden weight loss causes wrinkles.

Do wrinkles bother you?

Even new-born babies are called "wrinkly" people.

Why cover up wrinkles?

We all age.

We all grow old.

No one is above gravity.

EXCEPT for GOD.

Who created gravity, for a purpose.

You cannot fight gravity.

It's a given.

You cannot fight GOD.

He's the Creator.

You cannot be the most good-looking.

In a few minutes, another will be more beautiful.

I've noticed, especially in my own country, and city, that there are more beauty contests, after the initial covid crisis.

In certain cultures, older people go for very young people, that they may have youth.

Literally "feeding" upon the energy of the young.

How diabolic can that be?

There is that perpetual search for the fountain of youth.

The only fountain they don't search for is the FOUNTAIN of LIVING WATERS.

The enemy's having a heyday.

This preoccupation with self, is at an all-time high.

The methods vary.

But the neurosis doesn't.

We've all become beholden to vanity.

How pride rules this world.

Greed, too.

You want everything for yourself.

How idolatry has made this world fall.

You want to be idolized.

You want to be famous.

You want to be adored.

You want to be on top of the world.

Believers know there was someone like that, too.

Who fell hard, bringing a third of the angels with him.

The desires of man can never be satisfied.

The enemy makes sure it can never be.

And yet, when we grow old, the age shows.

It's inevitable.

The wrinkles show.

The body sags.

The body weakens.

And we look to the youth.

Jealousy steps in.

The enemy gloats.

Man is hooked.

Perpetually.

UNLESS GOD makes him born again.

All the foolishness stops.

Preserve not youth.

Preserve the soul, instead.

FOCUS on CHRIST.

He took on the humblest form.

Isaiah 53:2

King James Version

2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, 

and as a root out of a dry ground: 

he hath no form nor comeliness; 

and when we shall see him, 

there is no beauty that we should desire him.

All JESUS cared about is to save the lost.

Luke 19:10

King James Version

10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save 

that which was lost.

Many are lost.

The enemy feeds upon that.

It's time to return to JESUS now.

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WHY do people get addicted?

 

James 3:17

King James Version

17 But the wisdom that is from above 

is first pure, 

then peaceable, 

gentle, 

and easy to be intreated, 

full of mercy and good fruits, 

without partiality, 

and without hypocrisy.

What causes addiction?

As born again, I can only think of one thing.

For SPIRIT made things pretty clear.

I honestly feel people get addicted because they don't have real fellowship with CHRIST.

Not all people are born again.

Not all born agains are TRUE born agains.

A true born again has fellowship with CHRIST.

He has committed himself to CHRIST alone.

He feels the love GOD has for him.

He is able to love others as GOD wants him to love.

His source of peace, love, joy, and comfort is JESUS.

There is no gap in his life that needs to be filled by addiction.

There is no room for the enemy, who only seeks to corrupt us.

The body is the temple of the HOLY SPIRIT.

It is sacred.

You would not want to defile it.

Having true fellowship with CHRIST means you keep your mind, body, and spirit pure.

Waiting for the day GOD will have us meet JESUS up in the air, and be with the LORD forever!

Having true fellowship with CHRIST means you are in His service.

GOD keeps you busy, for there's much to do.

Matthew 9:37

King James Version

37 Then saith he unto his disciples, 

The harvest truly is plenteous, 

but the labourers are few;

Having fellowship with CHRIST means you feel loved.

Romans 8:38-39

King James Version

38 For I am persuaded, 

that neither death, 

nor life, 

nor angels, 

nor principalities, 

nor powers, 

nor things present, 

nor things to come,

39 Nor height, 

nor depth, 

nor any other creature, 

shall be able to separate us from the love of God, 

which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In turn, you want to love others, too.

There is joy in your relationships, for you are filled with SPIRIT.

Being born again is a true blessing.

For SPIRIT teaches you everything about JESUS.

There is no emptiness in your heart.

Only a fullness that JESUS brings.

When you have JESUS, you have everything.

What room would there be, for addiction?

In JESUS is peace.

John 14:27

King James Version

27 Peace I leave with you, 

my peace I give unto you: 

not as the world giveth, 

give I unto you. 

Let not your heart be troubled, 

neither let it be afraid.

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ADDICTION is idolatry

 

1 Corinthians 10:21

King James Version

21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, 

and the cup of devils: 

ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, 

and of the table of devils.

Do you believe the body is the temple of the HOLY SPIRIT?

If you do, then you will treat it well.

Would you defile that body, that houses SPIRIT?

Would you abuse it?

Would you allow others to abuse it?

Would you over-indulge?

Would you fill it excessively with food, wine, drink, and mind-altering substances?

Would you defile it, with perversions?

Would these be your gods, the ones you serve?

Even as you think you are being served?

The enemy's deception is complete, when humans think they are being served.

When in truth, we have been bound to his devices.

We have become enslaved.

2 Peter 2:19

King James Version

19 While they promise them liberty, 

they themselves are the servants of corruption: 

for of whom a man is overcome, 

of the same is he brought in bondage.

With addiction comes destruction, depravity, even depression.

You will rise to the highest highs, and sink to the lowest lows.

Such earthly pleasures are fleeting.

That's why you get addicted.

On to the next high.

On to the next fix.

When will it end?

Where will it end?

How will it end?

Will your god lift you up, when you are down?

Or is that god responsible for keeping you down?

The GOD of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob does no such thing.

He loves you SO much, that He gave up His ONLY SON.

John 3:16

King James Version

16 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.

He wants you to live.

He doesn't want you to perish.

2 Peter 3:9

King James Version

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, 

as some men count slackness; 

but is longsuffering to us-ward, 

not willing that any should perish, 

but that all should come to repentance.

Drown not your sorrows, with wine.

Stifle not your depression, with food.

Fulfill not your desires, with perversion.

That would be a sinking boat.

There would be no end to it.

Psalm 16:4

King James Version

4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied 

that hasten after another god: 

their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, 

nor take up their names into my lips.

It's got to be a really evil mind, to do such things to others -- knowingly.

Supplying them with their insatiable needs.

Making sure they're hooked, for always.

And so, the cycle goes.

Let's not put a stumbling block before our brothers, and sisters.

Let us be the FIRST to clear the way for them.

Let us put our FAITH in the LORD JESUS.

The faithful shepherd always rushes to the rescue of His lost sheep.

Luke 19:10

King James Version

10 For the Son of man is come to seek 

and to save that which was lost.

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God's HOLY temple

 

1 Corinthians 6:19

King James Version

19 What? 

know ye not that your body 

is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, 

which ye have of God, 

and ye are not your own?

How sacred are our bodies?

Why must we care for our souls?

Why must we have no form of addiction?

Why must we respect ourselves, and others?

These reasons will make sense.

The SPIRIT of GOD lives in us.

Our bodies are the temple of His HOLY SPIRIT.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17

King James Version

16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, 

and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

We were "bought with a price".

1 Corinthians 6:20

King James Version

20 For ye are bought with a price: 

therefore glorify God in your body, 

and in your spirit, 

which are God's.

It cost GOD His only beloved SON.

It cost JESUS, His LIFE.

John 3:16

King James Version

16 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.

1 John 2:2

King James Version

2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: 

and not for ours only, 

but also for the sins of the whole world.

That's how precious we are in God's eyes.

That's why GOD never gives up on us.

No matter how we abuse ourselves, and others.

He doesn't want anyone to perish.

2 Peter 3:9

King James Version

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, 

as some men count slackness; 

but is longsuffering to us-ward, 

not willing that any should perish, 

but that all should come to repentance.

Addictions definitely destroy the mind, body, and spirit.

How can we defile our temples so?

We need to be born again.

We need to believe in JESUS.

We need to love GOD.

We need to be taught by SPIRIT.

We need to read the Bible.

We need to live by the Bible.

We need to walk with SPIRIT.

Only then can we know how precious we all are.

And how sacred our bodies are.

Proper warning has been given, to those who DEFILE the TEMPLE of the HOLY SPIRIT:

1 Corinthians 3:17

King James Version

17 If any man defile the temple of God, 

him shall God destroy; 

for the temple of God is holy, 

which temple ye are.

Be aware what you do to self.

And others.

Have no form of addiction at all.

It's a real BATTLE we're up against.

Find STRENGTH, through JESUS.

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What GOD Looks For

Who Shall DWELL in GOD's Holy Hill?

CITIZENSHIP in HEAVEN

MEDITATING upon a VERSE

Our VILE bodies

BODY of CLEARNESS

We Shall ALL Be CHANGED

CONQUERING the flesh

FAULTS of the flesh

Works of the flesh

Sins of society

Can you DISCIPLINE yourself?

The WAY of HOLINESS

FINDING our WAY BACK to GOD

The TRUE BORN AGAIN

A NEW HEART in YOU

How GOD is GLORIFIED in us

GOD's POWER over EVERYTHING

WALKING in the SPIRIT

It's ALL preparation NOW

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GOD's territory

 

Romans 12:2

King James Version

2 And be not conformed to this world: 

but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, 

that ye may prove what is that good, 

and acceptable, 

and perfect, 

will of God.

The human mind, is an intricate creation of GOD.

Precisely why the enemy wishes to defile it so.

The enemy creates false desires, false imaginings.

He aims to enslave it for his purposes.

He aims to conquer GOD's territory.

The mind is GOD's territory.

2 Timothy 1:7

King James Version

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; 

but of power, 

and of love, 

and of a sound mind.

Only the LORD can instruct us, rightfully.

1 Corinthians 2:16

King James Version

16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, 

that he may instruct him? 

but we have the mind of Christ.

The true born again submits to GOD.

2 Corinthians 10:5

King James Version

5 Casting down imaginations, 

and every high thing that exalteth itself 

against the knowledge of God, 

and bringing into captivity every thought 

to the obedience of Christ;

Man is flesh, and subject to the enemy's influence.

Romans 7:23

King James Version

23 But I see another law in my members, 

warring against the law of my mind, 

and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin 

which is in my members.

UNLESS he is a TRUE born again.

Then no one can sway his mind from CHRIST.

His focus is on Scripture alone.

And the commands of CHRIST.

He is not double-minded.

James 1:8

King James Version

8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

There is only ONE WAY.

JESUS.

There is only ONE CURE.

JESUS.

Suffice it to say, the battle for the mind, is for the soul.

Who have you allowed to govern?

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SIMPLE cure

 

2 Corinthians 11:3

King James Version

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.

Only through the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD can we know what ails us.

Only through the LORD's SPIRIT, can we know the cure.

Only through SPIRIT, can we know where to begin.

We begin by praying to be born again.

Once we are, SPIRIT will start teaching us.

He will teach us about the nature of addiction, and the cure.

He will lead us to the TREASURES of SCRIPTURE.

In the simplest way, designed for each one of us.

The cure for addiction, is simple.

Pay close attention to the TWO commandments given by JESUS:

LOVE GOD.

Matthew 22:37-38

King James Version

37 Jesus said unto him, 

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, 

and with all thy soul, 

and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

LOVE others.

Matthew 22:39

King James Version

39 And the second is like unto it, 

Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

And He finishes it up with:

Matthew 22:40

King James Version

40 On these two commandments 

hang all the law and the prophets.

If you love GOD, you cannot hurt self.

If you love GOD, you cannot hurt others.

What is addiction, but hurting self, and others?

When the LIGHT of GOD shines brightly upon your soul, you will only want LIFE.

When the LOVE of GOD lives perfectly in your heart, you will only want to SERVE.

The devil's devices cannot take root upon you.

It goes against the grain of SPIRIT.

John 3:5-7

King James Version

5 Jesus answered, 

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 

Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, 

he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; 

and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, 

Ye must be born again.

Galatians 5:16-17

King James Version

16 This I say then, 

Walk in the Spirit, 

and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, 

and the Spirit against the flesh: 

and these are contrary the one to the other: 

so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Galatians 5:22-24

King James Version

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, 

longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: 

against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ's 

have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Approach everything from the purity of a child's heart.

EXACTLY, as JESUS prescribed.

He is the GREAT HEALER, after all.

Matthew 18:3

King James Version

3 And said, 

Verily I say unto you, 

Except ye be converted, 

and become as little children, 

ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Where there is trust in GOD, delight in His ways, and expectancy at His presence.

Getting into addiction, will be the FARTHEST thing from your mind.

PURITY belongs to the child-like mind.

The very thing the enemy wants to defile.

Thus, the many addictions.

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