Are You Spiritually Grateful? Take The Contentment Test

No one is immune to temptation. Even committed Christians can become spiritually prideful, arrogant, and self assured, leading to discontentment. Often the more intimate our fellowship with the Lord, the quieter and more discreet the temptation is. Jesus knows perfectly how crafty and sly our enemy is. Our Savior is always in initiative mode as our Shepherd providing us with spiritual discernment. Discerning Christians know that a discontent believer is just one thought a way from backsliding (Learn more about the clues to backsliding: Click Here)

Are You Spiritually Grateful? Take The Contentment Test

Answer each question with a yes or no and keep a count of how many "no's" you have.

1. Do you fear that if you totally surrendered to God, you will have to give up a certain habit?

2. Do you hide your religion under pressure?

3. Is there anything you want to change about the way you look that originated with God's creation of you?

4. Are you inwardly jealous when someone you know gets something you cannot afford?

5. Do you often dream of having things you never expect to be able to get?

6. Have you complained about your means of transportation recently?

7. Have you complained about your clothes this week?

8. Do you complain about the weather occasionally?

9. Do you think that you could finally be happy if you had just a little more of...?

10. Do you worry about who will take care of your physical needs?

11. Have you complained about your income recently?

12. Have you bought anything on credit this month that you will not be able to pay when the bill comes in?

Give yourself one point for each question that you could honestly answer with a NO. 

1-6 points: You are very discontent and probably unhappy and un-spiritual. This Spells Trouble for you via decisions you are or will make.

7-9 points: You have much to learn about contentment.

10-11 points: You are fairly content but God has more for you.

12 points: What you have, you have by the grace of God; do not be proud.

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5

Sincerely Dr. Arthur Belanger

Under Pressure...When You Don't Know What To Do

It happens, Christians will make and follow through with decisions that leave them vulnerable to worldly influences.  It is during these times that God will apply pressure with the intent of bringing about repentance and a renewed confidence and contentment with His perfect will.

The only advantage a Christian can employ under pressure and overcome is an unveiled openness before God. The opposite of this is a self-willed, miss-guided heart that ultimately results in a sense of futility in all that we do and become. We impoverish and weaken ourselves all because we will not trust and obey God with ALL our heart.   It is for this reason that God applies pressure in our lives. Unless we experience the pressure of facing every deception about ourselves we will claw to the depths of our hearts before we give the Holy Spirit our consideration.

When a Believer Leans to their own understanding... they are certain to suffer disillusionment.   When we really see ourselves as the Lord sees us, it is not the terribly offensive sins of the flesh which shock us, but the awful nature of the pride of our own hearts opposing Jesus Christ.

If you are faced with the question of whether or not to open, and surrender your heart; then make a determination to go through whatever pressure God has permitted... surrendering all that you have and all that you are to Him. You will take great pleasure in knowing that you are not your alone. Amen.

Sincerely, Dr. Arthur Belanger

Are there present day prophets? How to know the difference between false and true prophets of God

A prophet is someone in whom God speaks to and through. They stand between God and man to proclaim to man God's Word. When the prophet spoke as the mouthpiece, they were inspired and without error. The prophet, though, is not a puppet or a mindless repeater of what they hear. Instead, they retain their own will, mind, and thoughts as they speak of and for God.

God would put His words in their hearts and mouths (Deut. 18:18; Jer. 1:9). A prophet was God's servant (Zech. 1:6) and messenger (2 Chron. 36:15). 

Prophecies fell into three categories: 1. concerning the destiny of Israel, 2. the messianic prophecies, and 3. eschatological prophecies. The term Law and Prophets refers to the canon or inspired writings of the OT which are divided into two categories: 1. The Law is the Pentateuch, known as Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. 2. The Prophets are all the rest of the OT books.

Are there prophets amongst us today? Yes! There are false prophets and God's prophets. False prophets consistently mix foretelling with forth telling. Discerning believers know the difference between the two. Since the completion of God's Word is a reality, there is no need for foretelling. Yet, God continues to call and equip believers toforth tell the Word of God (Acts 13:1,5; 2 Timothy 4:1,2) 

Sincerely, Dr. Arthur Belanger 

God's Plan For Your Life

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing. John 15:4-5

"I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in me, even if he dies, will live." - Jesus

Ground Zero For Humanity... Christ Crucified... Humanities Only Hope.

The Gospel is not the gospel of men, but the gospel of God. By it, the revealed truth of God's love is manifested and judgment on sin is sure and the certain defeat of death and the devil. There is nothing in time or eternity more certain than what Jesus Christ accomplished on the Cross. 

The cross is ground zero for humanity and eternity. God the Father made redemption through the blood of His only Begotten Son the foundation by which we stand reconciled unto HIM.  There is no hope for anyone apart from the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the pressing issue between God and humanity.

There is only one position in which we are right with God, and that is in Christ Jesus by virtue of is atoning work at the cross. He came to this world to destroy the work of Satan and the power of sin. Sin is a matter of reality that breads the lie that we are sufficient in ourselves. It is the very fact of sin that explains why Christ came to this world; and sin is the explicit cause of all sorrow and death.  Yet, it is in Jesus Christ only that death, sin and Satan are defeated. 

The heart of reality is the Cross of Jesus Christ. It is not the baptism of the Holy Spirit that changes people, but the power of the gospel of Christ. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not an experience separate from Christ; it is the evidence of Christ in you. We must be careful not to substitute the Cross of Christ for causes. Beware, lest your preferences persuades your doctrinal belief and shipwrecks your devotion to Christ and His Cross. Amen!

Sincerely, Dr. Arthur Belanger

A Prayer straight from the Heart

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights; hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory.

Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to possess all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive, that the valley is the place of vision.

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine; let me find Thy light in my darkness, Thy life in my death, Thy joy in my sorrow, Thy grace in my sin, Thy riches in my poverty, Thy glory in my valley.

Loving you always in Him, Aaron Tabor, MD

Is the theory of evolution Biblical?

The theory of evolution is a theory that all living things have arisen by a materialistic evolutionary process from a single source, which itself arose from a dead, inanimate world. This theory is also called the molecule-to-man theory.

The Creation model, on the other hand, demonstrates that all basic animal and plant types were brought into existence by acts of a supernatural Creator using special processes which are not in operation today.

The work of Creation By God is the absolute beginning of the temporal and material world.The biblical evidence declares that God created the original heaven and earth from nothing (Genesis 1:1,2), and specifically noted in verse 2 of Genesis. 1, that when it was conceived by God, the mass was without form and void, and without life. The remaining account of Genesis 1 simply explains the process of Creation in detail throughout six literal days. There is simply no implication in the Bible for the gap theory or any theory for that matter. Man and creation did not originate from something that was dead. We were created by the living God. 

The cult of Evolution/Gap theory evolved from the imagination of man and is in direct conflict with the Word of God. It is a manipulated and perpetual attack against the integrity of God's Word. Thank God we have the Bible.T

Sincerely, Dr. Arthur Belanger       

A Short Note...

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Mark 13:13 I've been dealing with the topic of persecution recently as it has come up a couple times recently in my life. It's been a huge lesson for me. As Christians, we are all persecuted in some way because the world truly does hate Jesus Christ and unfortunately not all will be with Him. My heart aches for them and I pray for them, but it is all in God's hands and His perfect Love. All we can do is trust in Him alone and do what He asks of us and never keep quiet in the face of darkness. We must not be afraid to share His Truth always! I thank God everyday for saving my life and all the lives of my brothers and sisters in Christ. We all must endure to the end and live for His Glory alone.

"The Great, Subtle Lie" of Contemplative Spirituality

http://www.christian-mommies.com/special-features/bible-studies/the-great-subtle-lie-of-contemplative-spirituality/

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

Making the Right Choice: The Battle of Wills

It is not unusual for Christians to resist God's known will over their own will.  The apostle Paul spoke very directly about this matter in his epistle to the Believers in Galatia (Galatians 5:17).  

Discerning and choosing to obey God's will begins with an understanding that  Bible is not a catalog of multiple options. The Bible is God's provision for direction that is moved by eternal values. Yet, so many believers feel very uncertain.  Many feel this way because they are nurtured by circumstances that leave them suspect of God's leading. The only  choice God demands of us is to trust Him. All other pursuits will rob us of a tenacious desire to obey God.

The clear evidence that a Believer is led by the Holy Spirit will be evidenced by a decisive act of trust characterized by pure obedience to the will of God based on sound knowledge of God's Word.

The highway of reality is the Bible. The Holy Spirit will never direct us contrary to the Word of God. Thus the fundamental concern for the believer is to understand the Word of God as the only means for direction. The Bible is the only resolve that instills a pure ambition for the glory of God. Hiding God's Word in our hearts is the only way to be discerning of God's direction and purpose.

Sincerely Dr. Arthur Belanger 

Fasting & Prayer...When, Why & How To Fast?

There are many who have seriously considered adding fasting to their prayer life; but were not quite sure how to go about it.

How you begin and conduct your fast will largely determine your success. By following these basic steps to fasting, you will make your time with the Lord more meaningful and spiritually rewarding.

#1: State Your Reason. 
Why are you fasting? Is it for spiritual renewal, for guidance... etc. Ask the Holy Spirit to clarify His leading and objectives for your prayer fast. He will enable you to pray more specifically and strategically.   Remember, through fasting and prayer we humble ourselves before God so that the Holy Spirit will stir our souls, awaken our churches.

#2: Start Reasonably 
A. Physical Preparation - Fasting requires reasonable precautions physically. If you take prescription medications or have a chronic ailment, you should consult your physician before engaging a fast. Physical preparation will make the drastic change in your eating routine easier to cope with so that you can turn your full attention to the Lord in prayer. If fasting is not a consistent routine for you... start slowly: Fasting a meal and eventually working up to a 48 hour fast. The ideal routine, is to maintain one 24 hour fast every week. Ideally, fasting should begin in the evening.

• Do not rush into your fast.
• Prepare your body. Eat lighter meals before starting your fast. Avoid high-fat and sugary foods.
• Eat raw fruit and vegetables and drink plenty of water (half your body weight in ounces each day) for two days before starting a fast.

B. Spiritual Preparation - The key to fasting and prayer is repentance.   Unconfessed sin will hinder your prayers. Here are several things you can do to prepare spiritually:

• Ask God to search your heart (Psalm 139:23)
• Confess every sin the Holy Spirit calls to your attention and accept God's forgiveness (1 John 1:9)
• Seek Forgiveness from all you have knowingly offended and forgive all who have hurt you.
• Make restitution as the Holy Spirit leads you.
• Ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit.
• Yield your mind and body and spirit to the Lordship and leadership of Christ (Romans 12:1,2)
• Meditate on the attributes of God: His love, sovereignty, power, wisdom, faithfulness, grace, and holiness.
• Begin your time of fasting and prayer with an expectant heart (Heb. 11:6). 9. Do not underestimate spiritual opposition (Galatians 5:16,17)

#3: Stay Resolved 
Jesus instructed that all of His followers should fast (Mt. 6:16-18; 9:14,15).  For Christ, it was a matter of when believers would fast, not if they would.

#4: Starting Your Fast
Your time of fasting and prayer has come. You are abstaining from all solid foods and have begun to seek the Lord.  Here are some helpful suggestions to consider:

• Avoid medication, even natural herbal drugs and homeopathic remedies.
  
• Limit your physical activities.
• Rest as much as your schedule will allow.
• Prepare yourself for temporary mental discomforts, such as impatience, crankiness, and anxiety. 
• Remember to ALWAYS keep your Bible open. An open Bible leads to an open and obedient heart. This is the sole purpose of fasting and prayer.

#5: Stopping Your Fast
When your designated time for fasting is finished, you will begin to eat again. But how you end your fast is extremely important for your physical and spiritual well-being. Begin eating gradually. Do not eat solid foods immediately. Try several smaller meals or snacks to start. If you end your fast gradually, the beneficial physical and spiritual effects will result in continued good health both physically and spiritually.

Finally, If you sincerely humble yourself before the Lord, repent, pray, and meditate on God's Word; you will experience a heightened awareness of His presence (John 14:21). You will find yourself to be mentally, physically, and spiritually renewed (Romans 12:1,2).
Ultimately, the key to prayer and fasting is a sound confidence in the Word of God. Making the study of God's Word a priority will enable you to pray effectively.     Begin  your  study  of  God's  Word   today  with College Of The Open Bible where the Bible is the only authority and the Holy Spirit is the ultimate Teacher. 

Sincerely, Dr. Arthur Belanger              

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity 1 Corinthians 13:13

Please help this ministry which takes care of orphaned children and widows in Pakistan. They provide food, shelter, clothing, medical care, education and more. Check out the website below to find out more and how you can help ♥ God Bless

http://chcpk.webs.com/

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. James 1:27

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee. Deuteronomy 16:17

For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Revelation 7:17 

Gambling and Christians...The Deception

In what way does the Bible portray gambling? Consider the following:

#1: Its Reputation is that of a thief. Proverbs 1:19 
#2: Its Association is with darkness/vanity - Proverbs 13:11 
#3: Its Contemplation is endless trouble - Proverbs 15:27

#4: Its Damnation is irreversible - Luke 9:25 

Gambling is not the risk that is familiar to all life; it is a determination of risk for profit at the expense of others.

Gambling is a tolerated risk with the desire for excessive gain that far out-weighs what the investment of time, money or talent would dignify. It is a transaction whereby one person's gain is someone else's loss.

Gambling is parasitic; producing no spiritual benefit, achieving no social good, and is always at someone else's expense. Gambling is self-centered and complicit with the root of all evil... the love of money. 

WHAT GAMBLING DOES IS A MATTER OF FACT.

At the root of gambling is the love of money... the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). Gambling and its influence affects all of us because it corrupts our society, increases crime and police and crime prevention costs, and perverts politicians. It is a constant temptation to the selfishly inclined and compulsive people that enslaves them to false hopes. It violates the principle that we should earn our bread by the sweat of our brow, and the commandment, "Thou shalt not covet."

The void of any threat against gambling has created a gamble with crime. Bank robberies on the Mississippi coast increased 400 percent in one year after casino gambling came. Tragically, gambling is tolerated by virtue of a seductive justification that it will produce revenue for essential causes that benefit society. The government that promotes and supplies gambling is gambling the future of the nation, it will always lose.

Sincerely, Dr. Arthur Belanger      

Psalm 24

Lord of Hosts

1 The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. 3 Who shall ascend into thehill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pureheart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive theblessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This is thegeneration of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah. 7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up , ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in . 8 Who is thisKing of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up , ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in . 10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

Jesus is knocking on the door of your heart...Won't you let Him in?

We all go through so many things in this life. Sometimes there is heartache and pain that seems beyond what we are able to handle. The good thing is, we don't have to go through it alone, we don't have to suffer by ourselves. Jesus is here for us and loves us so much! If we will be willing to put aside our pride and unbelief and the lies the world tells us and open our hearts to Him, He will come in and change everything. He makes us a new creation in Him, truly being spiritually reborn. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life ♥

Scales Falling From Our Eyes

The rulers of this world,
Who sit on thrones of gold,
Are not godly men at all,
But foolish ones with hearts of stone
Who serve the "gods", the serpent of old.


They all worship idols,
Whether made of paper, metal, earth or stone.
Their leader is the one who blinds us,
Secretly laying chains upon our souls.
With lies he speaks, with venomous tongue
And the world has believed him, hence the fall.


Better to trust in the One and only,
Creator of Heaven and Earth.
His Love is here for you and I
And precious are we in His sight.
He is the Lamb of God,
The King of Kings and Lord of Lords,
God the Son, He is Jesus Christ.


His love for us is endless
And finished on the cross.
He died and rose again.
He gave His life for all of us,
For we are sinners lost.
If only we'll believe in Him
And trust in Him alone
He'll save us from the darkness,
For He is the Light, alone.


We must repent and turn away from sin,
And in it's place, turn only to Him.
His Forgiveness is complete,
For His blood cleanses us and sets us free
For us to live with Him, for all eternity.
In Heaven He sits on His mighty Throne,
Beckoning ceaselessly for us to come Home.


Dying to ourselves daily
Being crucified on the cross with Him.
We are His sacred children
And ever belong only to Him.
Scales falling from our eyes, 
letting go of this world and letting Him in.


He knocks at the door of our hearts
And all who open it will receive of His loving Grace
Some day each one of us,
Will stand before Him face to face,
Bowing down in humble praise,
Giving thanks for His Heavenly Reign.


Copyright © 2012 Kristin Willruth