Dear Christian, stop and think before you move forward.
I have wondered why followers of Jesus of Nazareth will cross over sunset to sunset, day in and day out, making decisions, but forget to stop, think, pray, and test the spirit in a situation.
“My loved ones, I warn you: do not trust (believe, agree with) every spirit (everyone, every person, everyone who claims to have something good for you, everyone who claims to follow God).
Instead, examine them carefully (pray, test them, weigh and examine what they tell you) to determine if they come from God (or come from something else, not everyone who talks about God actually comes from God),
because the world is (corrupt and) filled with the voices of many false prophets (people who lie, people who give false statements, false testimony, false teachers, lying preachers).” 1 John 4:1
Why are people more afraid of what other people think of them (at work, church, clubs, community, family) than they are concerned with what Father God thinks about a situation?
The devil is deceitful.
The devil will try every which way to deceive people into following him.
He lures them into opening a door or window in their life for his demons (and people filled with his demons), to enter.
The devil wants you to trust him (or trust someone or something he has set up) for something you need.
He is Santa (s a t a n) with a big red bag of tricks and lots of elves (demons, ‘hel’pers) at his beck and call. He knows all about you. He roams the universe. He roams back and forth through the heights of heaven to the earth looking for the people he can deceive.
“Keep your mind clear, and be alert (be watchful, be sober, be vigilant, self disciplined, temperate, on guard, spiritually awake). Your opponent (enemy) the devil (the accuser) is prowling around (walking about) like a roaring lion as he looks for someone to devour (trick, attack, surprise, deceive, defeat, catch, swallow, eat, trap).”1 Peter 5:8
Be careful what you wish (hope) for dear brothers and sisters.
It looks good. It looks innocent. It might smell and taste good. It might push you closer to achieving your goals. It might bring in money. It might result in people looking up to you. It might fill your every dream.
But understand this, everything the devil gives you has a price. Like credit, you get it now and he collects on it later.
The devil makes wishes come true for the price of tormenting and trapping your soul.
So what can you do?
One step you can take that will make a big difference is praying to Father God and asking him about a situation and whether or not you should participate.
Another step you can take is research. Look closer. Ask these questions:
Who is making the offer?
What is their character?
Who is their god?
What are the possible outcomes of agreeing to the task or working with them?
Is this a distraction or could it become a distraction?
The bible says that because of the pure sacrifice of Jesus of Nazareth who full-filled the law, all things are permissible (except blaspheming the holy spirit), but not all things are beneficial.
Jesus of Nazareth, Yahusha HaMeshiac, pointed out many things that are not beneficial:
trusting in other gods
having other loves or idols
money
following traditions of men
disobedience of the 10 commandments (He came to full-fill the law, but He did not do away with the law)
divorce
self preservation
self determination
lack of charity
and more
Test the spirit and ask the hard questions.
How will this situation benefit the kingdom of God?
How will this situation benefit your relationship with God?
If after taking time to pray and research a situation (a task or relationship), and you don’t see how it will be beneficial in your relationship with Father God, then it would be better to walk away than to proceed.
Take time to stop and think.
Pray and seek the Father, from sunset to sunset. Trust Him and allow Him to lead the way each and everyday.
Be wise and be blessed!