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March 2007

It is such a joy to share my experience of God's unconditional love each month. As a child, I memorized John 3:16 but the words were without understanding, until I heard them spoke by a visitor in prison. It was as if a light came on in my heart when I heard, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Jesus shall not perish but have everlasting life. " 1 I pray for God to enlighten your heart as he did mine over thirty years ago. You will never be the same!

That Spirit of AntiChrist

The News this month from the Discovery Channel concerns the tombs of Jesus and His family found in the Holy Lands. I do not get the Discovery Channel, but whatever credibility this company may have will suffer loss an a result of this deception. Also, there is a New Age book named "The Secret" getting lots of hype. On the surface, this book offers philosophical truths, but the author does not confess Jesus as the Christ--God in the flesh. The Holy Scriptures refers to him as an antichrist.

"Dear children, the last hour is here. You heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the end of the world has come. These people left our churches because they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left us, it proved they they do not belong with us. But you are not like that, for the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and all of you know the truth.

So I am writing to you not because you don't know the truth but you know the truth because you know the difference between truth and falsehood. And who is the liar? The one who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Such people are antichrists, for they have denied the Father and the Son. Anyone who denies the Son, doesn't have the Father either. But anyone who confesses the Son has the Father also. You must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will continue to love in fellowship what the Son and with the Father. And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life He promised us." 2

Discerning False Prophets

The author of "The Secret" rightfully teaches the progression of thoughts, feelings and actions. He teaches on believing and receiving, but with erroneous belief. Scriptures teach "...this is God's commandments: We must believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another...Those who obey God's commandments live in fellowship with Him, and He with them. And we know He lives in us because the Holy Spirit lives in us." 3

"Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. This is the way to fine out if they have the Spirit of God: If a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ [God, the Son] became a human being, that person has not the Spirit of God. If a prophet does not acknowledge Jesus [as God] that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist. You have heard that he is going to come into the world, and he is already here.

But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won your fight with these false prophets, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater then the spirit who lives in the world. These people belong to the world, so they speak from the world's viewpoint, and the world listens to them. But we belong to God; that is why those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception." 4

Experience God's Love

The philosophy presented in "The Secret" teaches the experience of love that liberates a person to emit love to others. This is not the Christian experience of God's divine love [ GK: agape], which flows from heaven as a result of the Holy Spirit regenerating our hearts. 5 God's divine love is missing from the new ager's experience of brotherly love [ Gk: phileo] , because they have not been born of God's nature. 6

The secret of God's love is not found in the new age movement, but in the person of Jesus Christ. He loved us when He gave His life on Calvary's cross to cleanse our hearts of sin by His blood. God raised Him from the dead, providing righteousness and life to all who believe and receive His love by faith. Jesus Christ sent the Holy Spirit, as promised, to live in our hearts so we can experience His unconditional love.

This Is God's secret for His children from the foundation of the world. 7 This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 8 We love God, because He first loved us. 9 As we discover and experience God's love and forgiveness, we love much. 10 Only the Holy can reveal this secret to you as you meditate the Scriptures. 11

What About Exercise

Did you know the Bible says that, ”...bodily exercises profits little...?" 12 But if you read this passage in context, it does not give us an excuse to not exercise, but says that "...godliness is profitable [more than a little] unto all things." It Is of utmost importance to walk Godly In this life, but at the same time, we need physical exercise.

I do a lot of walking outside around the track and in the building where I live. I walk several miles a day. It is often a time to share with someone my faith in Christ. I enjoy walking around being friendly, meeting people and learning about their background, while at the time getting my exercise.

It has been important for me to keep my body in shape, but not over doing it. I do lot of stretching exercises so I have remained very limber after all these years. I do one exercise where I work out my upper and lower body at the same. I do push ups and other push and pull exercises that help me keep fit. I think I can honestly say that I get a little exercise according to Scripture, smile!

Here's a Prayer for you...

I pray that your love for God and others will overflow more and more. That you will keep on growing in your knowledge and understanding. I want you to understand what really matters so that you may live pure and blameless lives until Christ returns . May you always be filled with the fruit of righteousness -- those good things that are produced in your life by Jesus Christ -- for this will bring much glory and praise to God Amen! 13

Scripture References

1. John 3:16
2. 1 John 2:18-25
3. 1 John 3:23,24
4. 1 John 4:1-6
5. 1 John 4:7,8
6. 2 Peter 1:4
7. Matt. 13:35 
8. 1 John 4:10
9. 1 John 4:19
10. Luke 7:36-50
11. 1 Cor 2:9-12
12. 1 Tim 4: 8a
13. Phil. 1:9-11