Prepare for battle

Prepare for battle
2 TIM 2:4,22
No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
Flee also youthful lust; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord of a pure hear

Are you ready? Before you can do spiritual warfare, you must first deal with your life. You have no authority unless you first have your personal relationship with God. You also must have a deep understanding of GRACE (Rom 5:12 Rom 6:13) and who you are in Christ. If you do not know you are already perfected in Christ (Heb 10:14)and seated in the heavenlies with Christ (Eph 2:6) you will struggle with guilt, shame and condemnation. So understanding these concepts in very important.

We start by telling you to repent, of sin, over generational curses, bondages, unforgiveness, woundedness bitterness etc because these bind you, so that you cannot contend with the kingdom of the devil when these things still have a claim in your life. We have to break every chain through repentance and the blood of Jesus. There we are setting ourselves free so that the anointing for warfare may come and rest in our life.

Before Jesus could enter into ministry and spiritual warfare, He went to the wilderness. He did not take Himself. The Spirit of God led Him to the wilderness for 40 days and nights. Doing what? Creating that personal relationship with the Father before ministry and contending with the kingdom of darkness in the spiritual realm. On coming out of the wilderness, the first word that came from His mouth was “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me. Because He has anointed Me to preach the good news, set captives free, to open prison doors, to declare the year of God’s favor.” Why? He had legal ground to work from. He had prepared his heart. He had come as a son of man therefore He was showing us what to do first, before we can go on in ministry and spiritual warfare. Our personal devotion before God is very essential before God. Seek God. There are things in your life you will only begin to notice through fasting and prayer and humbling yourself before God to search you. Areas like generational bondages, personal character traits that may be so much a part of you that you don’t notice how they bind you. There may be habits, which you have conformed to because of the world system around you and you don’t realize it does not please God because it is so much a part of your life, etc. If you don’t deal with your life, when trying to engage in warfare, you will get the backlashes from the enemy. He will ask you “Where did you get legal ground to attack me when you have this and that covenant, or generational curse from me?” Then he strikes you. So the first step is to REPENT for yourself. Break all agreements you made with the enemy.

Who are you? You need to know who you are in Christ so that you can know what to do, when to do it, where to go, and how to do it. Who I am in Christ
The more you agree with God about your identity in Christ, the more your behaviour will reflect your God given identity.
Learn to see yourself as God sees you. Accept what God says about you and become the spiritual person you are. God's opinion is the one that counts. feelings are just the fruit of our thoughts and beliefs.
The best way to renew your mind and experience transformation is by knowing, thinking and speaking who you are in Christ
Train yourself to say the same things that God says in His word. Become who you are in Christ. God wants to do more in your life than you imagine.
Do you believe who you are in Christ? Do you look like Jesus? Are you doing greater works? If not there is one sure answer. The word of God.

Smith Wigglesworth said in hisbook Greater Works "the more of the word you have in you, the easlier it is to live a Holy life. Ps 119:11 Thy word have I laid up in my heart, That I might not sin against thee.

Time to get ready for battle.

Keys for the Battle, STAND!

Why do we keep going around the same old mountain again and again? I and other deliverance ministers I know are experiencing a season of people that are continuing to do another lap. We walk away from deliverance sessions experiencing the great power of God in meeting the persons need, breaking off the bondages and setting people free only to be met later with the same battle again. What is going on? Didn’t my deliverance work? It’s back again! HELP!

I am also finding that people are so desperate they are going from place to place searching for the right deliverance minister or word from God like maybe I missed it or the last deliverance minister missed it because it works for a minute then people are right back in the same position again. Stop the madness. Time to grow up! Galatians 5:1 says Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty with which Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

The first thing that needs to be addressed is responsibility. God is an awesome, powerful God who can not lie. He wants us to walk in the freedom that Christ died for and he withholds no good thing from his children who ask, believing in faith, that they have received. We have to make sure that the hedge is not breached. That the doors and cracks of doubt and unbelief remained sealed and closed or demons will come back to try and regain entrance.

Demons when they are cast out of a person will try to regain entry and if unsuccessful will go and get seven others more wicked than themselves to try and get back in. Many Christians think once they have had deliverance that the battle is over. Sorry, it is only just the beginning! The battle won will not be easy. When Christians find it is just starting, they get very discouraged, and even worse, are afflicted with guilt. Because of the battle they are experiencing, they feel they are doing something wrong or that the demons once outside will try to afflict them with the same physical symptoms or emotions as they did while they were inside them. Every time they will always lie and tell the person they are back in them when they are really not and are on the outside attacking. If the person accepts these thoughts from the demons then they open themselves up again and they WILL be back hence going around the mountain again!

When you are attack in dreams or awake and begin to ponder and question the lies, you accepted them back by believing the lie. You must stand and continue to rebuke them the instant you hear the negative voices. You must not believe the lie or the door will be open and the demons will come back. You must not agree with the lie that your deliverance didn't work, because of how you feel, because you feel pain or the heaviness again. That is when you must stand and put on the whole armor of God. Stand fast in the liberty in which Christ has made you free. Don't turn around and agree with the demons by saying I guess it didn't work and become entangled in the yoke of bondage again. It isn't that you didn’t get deliverance; it is that you don't keep the deliverance.

Stop focusing at all cost on the darkness. You don't eliminate the darkness by opening a window and door and pushing it out of the room. You eliminate the darkness by turning on the light! These are basic issues of standing in faith. Get into worship and God's presence stay there. Your life and deliverance depends on it. God does not want you to be in this bondage and torment. There where times in my life when I spent hours upon hours in worship and praising God. I mean hours! 3,5,8,10 all night sometimes! It broke off me every hindrance.

That is where your deliverance is. The bible says there is deliverance in praise, if you need to, shut down your whole life and get alone with God and worship him until you get delivered, do it. I can not do that part for you nor can anyone else! We can use our authority (the same authority you have) to set you free but it is up to you after that! I remember when I was so desperate for God to intervene in my life that I would shut down everything going on around me and I would not come out until I had my breakthrough or peace. What would you do if you didn't have access to any deliverance ministers?

Many receive deliverance many times then shortly after, begin for whatever reason to entertain that it didn't work because...The bible says if you believe a lie you are cursed! Focus on the light of the word as you have in the past and shut out all other voices! Excuse my language but get pissed at the devil. Turn into a raging fool for Jesus and pick up your sword and fight! I can only tell you what has worked for me. That is mainly praise & worship, focusing on how big my God is instead of how big the torment is, decreeing the word, rebuking the devils, binding and loosing, kicking them out. Doing everything in the bible that Jesus said I could do. Over and over and over and over again until the demons stopped harassing me and my family. It was me or him and my God told me that greater is HE that is in me than he that is in the world! You must take the victory by force. DO IT! TAKE IT, IT IS YOURS, GOD IS NOT WITH HOLDING FROM YOU!

If you want your life to change, then change it through allowing Christ to manifest in you and through you. He came to destroy the works of the devil if he is in you then CHANGE IT! WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? JESUS put you in charge, gave you authority and power through the HOLY GHOST! Yes there are times when he will use deliverance minister to break away the chains, then my friend, it’s up to you to stand being a doer of the word, casting down vain imaginations of it didn’t work.

Get out your promise book and march around the house decreeing and declaring God’s word over you and your family! That is the first key! Praise and worship, focusing on God’s greatness is another. Time to war.
Peace out.

Spirtual Authority

I found this wonderful article to repost here. It had no author to it and I take no credit for writing this, but acknowledge what is written herein:

I believe the most powerful offense we have against the devil's agenda is for Christians to manifest God's love, power and spiritual authority everywhere we go. We know that the best defense is an offense, but is Christianity today, known for it's love, power and authority? We need a strategy to overcome the fear factor in our own minds.

The devil's strongest weapon is to plant a fear factor in our imaginations. His strategy is to get us to believe a lie, a fear factor that he projects onto the screen of our minds. He only has power over us if we give it to him, entertaining this fear factor. If Jesus has all power and spiritual authority in Heaven and earth and He is inside of us, why do we hesitate to rise up and let Him demonstrate His love, power and spiritual authority through us, defeating the works of the devil?

Are you operating in your inherited power and authority as a believer? The devil offered Jesus more authority, but Jesus knew it was a lie. He responded, "It is written ... ." As we renounce our ungodly beliefs about authority, we can defeat the enemy, "It is written ... .".

If you had a performance evaluation today, how well would you do? Are you submitted to Biblical principles and spiritual authority? How many of these statements will you choose to believe for yourself? If you commit to pray these declarations, as a prayer strategy to over come your fear factor and to rise up in your God given power and spiritual authority, let us know.


Lining up with God's truth about me as a believer, I declare and decree:

I discern and judge myself first, so that I have no fear of condemnation. 1 Cor. 11:31-32
I receive the spiritual authority that Jesus has given to all of us as believers. Luke 4:6
I choose to be a good steward of the spiritual authority I have been given. James 3:1
I allow God's love to be perfected in me, casting out all my fear factors. 1 John 4:18
I renounce all fear of the devil, fear of evil and fear of his power to hurt me. Luke 10:19
One thing I desire - to dwell in the secret place of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1
I allow God to purify my heart of selfish, fleshly, power-hungry cravings. Matt. 5:8
My motivation is to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire of Him. Ps. 27:4
I rest in God's willingness to deliver me because He delights in me. Psalm 18:19
I take back dominion over the earth, the animal kingdom and the weather. Gen. 1:26
In Christ, I have spiritual authority to forgive and to command healing. Luke 5:20-24
I practice what I teach, submitting to the stricter judgment of God. James 3:1
My motivation is to know Jesus and to grow in His character and fruit. Phil. 3:10-15
My soul thirsts to be in right relationship with Jesus (and authorities.) Ps. 63:1
I have spiritual gifts so that I can lift Jesus up and express His heart. 2 Tim. 1:6
I am faithful to stir up the spiritual gifts that God has been given to me. 1 Tim. 4:14
I renounce false humility; I proudly serve a Kingdom that cannot be shaken. Heb. 12:28
True peacemakers confront evil vs. avoid it or settle for compromise. Matt. 5:9
The Word says the violent take the Kingdom by force and take action. Matt. 11:12
I contend earnestly for the faith - faithful to do all the Father says to do. Jude 3
I don't whine; I endure hardship as a good soldier in the Lord's army. 2 Tim. 2:3-4
I don't back down from false teaching; I overcome with the God's Truth. Rom. 12:21
I operate in my gifts in the fullness of the measure that was given to me. Eph. 4:7
I am faithful to the gift of grace for the effective working of His mighty power. Eph. 3:7
I preach the gospel in authority, without boasting, not touching His glory. 1 Cor. 9:16
"Fat sheep" are self-centered; I expend myself to feed His sheep. Eze. 34:18-22
When God speaks through me, I multiply the abilities that He gives to me. 1 Pet. 4:11
I honor all Christians equally, encouraging them in their spiritual gifts. 1 Cor. 12:23-24
By laying hands on other disciples in prayer, I help to spread the gospel. Acts 6:6-7
I renounce timidity or intimidation; I have love, power and a sound mind. 2 Tim. 1:7
I have power to be a witness because the Holy Ghost is inside me. Acts 1:8
The Lord is the strength of my life and I am not afraid. Psalm 27:1
God will resist the proud and give grace to me, when I am humble. James 4:6
I say what the Father says to say with great boldness of speech. 2 Cor. 3:11-12
The Lord is inside me, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Heb. 13-5-6
I don't try to control people or compete for position, prestige or power. Luke 22:24
Jesus has given me power over demonic spirits; they are subject to me. Luke 10:19-20
When I give God my shame, He will give me a double portion. Isaiah 61:1-7
I am holy, blameless and righteous, in Christ. Eph. 1:4, Romans 5:21
We overcome by the blood of the Lamb, the word of our testimony and because we do not love our lives unto to the death. Rev.12:20

Father I confess that I have been intimidated by the enemy and have hesitated to step out in obedience to enforce your authority in the earth. I choose to join with believers around the world in this prayer strategy. I covenant with you to declare these Scriptural truths.

Rant! RANT! REPENT!

Yesterday I was pondering during my day again about the people the Lord has brought across my path. Considering who I am in Christ and that the Lord is using me as a deliverance minister, I was wondering what is it that holds people in bondage. How come very few people get it enough to break free from the issues of life and truly allow the things of God to have free course in their lives.

Thinking I woke up on the wrong side of the bed with a bad attitude yesterday and this morning for the second day in a row, the Lord started showing me again that he was sending me to the house of Israel (the church). To speak his word, no matter what it is, and that the house of Israel is a rebellious house. Very Stubborn and stiff necked.Eze ch3. So I will speak.

What is it that keeps people in bondage to sin, unfruitfulness of 30,60 or 100 fold, lust, idolatry, laziness, addictions, drugs, porn, fear, worry, hopelessness, angry, bitterness, unbelief, and the list goes on...Generational curses. Demons that inflect curses. They bring judgement and bondage during an individuals life reducing the quality of life because people refuse to deal with sin issues. The body needs to deal with sin and repent. Stop. It can not have dominion over you.

Well I got my answer in prayer this morning. God showed me also in his word starting in the book of Ezekiel, that his book is not a book of the prophet from old but that it pertains to today and also future running a long side with the book of Revelation. It is time for the luke warm church to wake up and here the trumpet sounding in the land. The true prophets are not crying peace and safety but prepare, seek God, come out from among them and be ye Holy REPENT.

People in Israel ( the church) are still in bondage because of rebellion which is as the sin of witchcraft. Not only that, but because they refuse to repent and turn away from sin, they are under a curse in their life. They are stubborn and stiff necked wanting a happy, feel good word of prophecy but without dealing with sin. We are not walking upright and Holy lives using the word of God as our measuring stick and it stinks before God.

Where is all this happy go lucky stuff coming from? I was crying out to God because my spirit is grieved. It is a deception. A side track. To through you off. A tacktic of the enemy to not deal with the real issue of sin that keeps you in bondage and in the outer court. God wants you in the inner court. He rent the vail and you are standing out not coming in. WHY? WHY? WHY?

I see some things coming down the pike and the body of Christ for the most part is going to be blind sided. They are not prepared. All you hear in mainstream Christianity is a happy feel good words that hardly ever address sin, doctrines of demons, false revivals and false teachers and preachers. What is going on? We are to expose the deeds of darkness not sweep it under the rug, afraid of embarrassing people. I will not have anyone's blood on my hands. I will shout it from the roof tops and testify anywhere the Lord leads, even on my facebook page!

The bible says that history repeats itself. Esc 3:15 That which is hath been long ago; and that which is to be hath long ago been: and God seeketh again that which is passed away. So when I read my bible I see things happening again to us, to our country and concerning the future just on a greater scale to a bigger corporate church. There is nothing new under the sun.

I hate to inform you of this but you are not gonna fly away in some dream escape to meet Jesus in the air any minute. Christ has not manifested in you. He is coming back for a bride without spot and wrinkle Eph 5:27. Christ IN YOU, the hope of glory Col 1:27. How do I know, because I read it in the word, I see in in everyday lives. Are we doing the works of Jesus on a greater scale? He said we would do greater works. HA! I just want to scream. WAKE UP and GROW UP!

Really, I don't know where the church false prophets ever got off track with looking at how the office of prophet was worked in the bible. All the major prophets always came to pluck up, pull down, and rebuild, exposing sin before God brought his judgement. Now if God is the same yesterday today and forever, when did this change? If Jesus came not to abolish the law but to fulfill it, where did it change? Someone tell me. Oh, and don't use the grace card either because every man is without excuse and you cannot use grace as an excuse to keep on sinning. READ IT!

So back to the answer REBELLION! Every person needs to examine his/her life before God and measure it against the bible and REPENT. The curse/bondage will not be broken and the affliction lifted until true repentance and turning comes. The body of Christ for the most part is sick, lacking, lazy, not wanting to pay the price for the anointing of God which destroys the yoke!

If you are listening to the propaganda lies on news channels and the government telling you we are going to recover and that everything is going to be okay YOU are in trouble! My bible says that gross darkness is covering the earth and that all signs are leading up to a one world government with an anti-christ leader! The earth is shaking and you think it's global warming! God is closing the window, time is wrapping up and you better straighten up or you are going to not know what to do when hard times hit your life worse than they are now!

He has called us to be a light in darkness Isa 60:2. A city on a hill. Walking in power and love. Where is the power and love??? If your revival is so good, show me the power that is going to raise the dead, change a life forever, multiply the fishes and loaves. I really don't care about your gold filling. I won't believe every lying sign and wonder the floats down the isle. It's a lie straight from the pit of hell! REPENT and get back to the basics because you are going to have to have faith that will move a mountain, put food on the table, bust water out of the rock, move when God says move without doubt or you may just DIE! It it don't look like the book of acts you are in danger of being deceived!

I am so grieved for the body, please pray she wakes up and hears the heart of GOD!
Many are in the valley of decision even today!

More than one way to take out the trash

APRIL 1,2010 WARFARE
This morning as I was sitting with the Lord pondering on life’s issues I asked some Questions to My Lord. I said Lord, what is it going to take for your people to wake up and come out from among them? Come out of Egypt. Come out of bondage from the worry of life’s issues.

Every day I am called upon by my brothers and sisters in the Lord with overwhelming circumstances that they need delivered from. Always it is demonic and blown out of proportion because they don’t look at the circumstance from the view point of God but the devil, who is a master of magnification because he wants to be like God.

Oh, if we could just behold the one and only true Master, if we could step away and see Him who holds all things together by the power of his word. In all his majesty, and holiness. The one who truly sits on the throne. The King of kings and Lord of lords. The Lord of Host who goes before us in battle.

As I was pondering my question I heard the Spirit speak and he said When my people quit worshipping their problems and begin to worship the one over the problems they will walk out of Egypt, for there is no pharaoh that is keeping them there, I have already sent them a deliverer.

He said they are bound by unlocked chains, not realizing the chains have already been loosed from off their feet. Their eyes are stuck on another god, a false god, a little god named My Magnified Problems and they, buy their own choosing are beholding the god of their choice.

And I replied but Father, they are crying out for help, they are crying out for freedom, they are crying out for deliverance, why can’t they see they have been loosed? And he replied because they are looking upon themselves, another god called Little me, myself and i. They are not looking to the hills from where their help comes from, they are looking at the little I instead of the Great I am.

As the Lord spoke that word to me, I was taken back to one of my own situations years ago and I remembered that as bad as things where (and they were very bad), my only relief was when I would enter into the presence of the Lord through worship.

I remembered how when I first got saved I felt the supernatural presence of God and I wanted that more than anything. Looking back I see how that was the supernatural drawing of the Holy Spirit Through my problems and life issues I was being drawn to my knees to see HIM and not my issues. Jesus became my hide away. My shelter from the storm.

The only time I had peace was when I would go to my room, put on my worship music and begin to worship God and come into the shelter of the most High where He would hide me from my enemies. He would pour over me with his loving kindness and allow me to see him who sits on the throne.

Then I became addicted to my Father and all that he allowed me to experience. He began to teach me of his greatness and how he wanted me to manifest to His enemies that I am more than a conqueror. He began to empower me to stand in the face of the adversary and proclaim my righteousness through Christ Jesus and see the enemies be scattered.

I want to encourage you today to do the same thing. Your power and strength comes through seeing Jesus high and lifted up in worship. Use the weapon of worship God has given you. If you need delivered from anything, any problem, any demon, anything, God is able, as you worship him by taking your eyes off all the issues of life, all those little gods.

It reminds me of scripture in Romans 8:35 who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The garbage that would attract flies. The Beelzebubs will keep coming if you don’t take out the trash. Worship is the best way to take out the trash!

Blessing in Christ
Tammy

Easter vs Passover, Unholy vs Holy

I am not into re-inventing the wheel and I found an excellent article on Easter so I decided to post it here with proper credit given. We as Christians need to stop touching unclean things, get into reading and studying our bibles and learn God's ways. Again, I say as stated before in previous post, COME OUT FROM AMOUNG THEM~Tammy~

The celebration of Easter Sunday is hailed as the most important religious holiday of what claims to be Christianity, yet the holiday does not have its origin from the teachings of Christ and his apostles, or anywhere else in the Holy Bible. The word "Easter," the English word for "Ishtar," is found only once in the King James Version of the Bible, (Acts 12:4) and there, it was intentionally mistranslated from the Greek word pascha, which in reality should have been Passover. It was correctly translated Passover in 28 other locations in the KJV New Testament. Easter was not celebrated as a so called Christian holiday until after the "Catholic Nicene Council" was convened in 325 AD.
Prior to that time, and until today, the holiday by that name was and is a Pagan holiday. This holiday was celebrated for thousands of years before the birth of Jesus Christ. Easter was a religious celebration to the Pagan "Queen of Heaven," the Mother of life, the Goddess Ishtar, the Goddess of fertility.

Jesus Christ was crucified at the exact time the Passover lambs were being slaughtered for the "Passover" meal, on the day preceding the first day of the "Feast of Unleavened Bread," the fourth day of the week, before sundown. After sundown they ate the "Passover" meal. The next day was the first day of the "Feast of Unleavened Bread," a "high day," a special Holy Day Sabbath, the fifth day of the week. He resurrected on the third day of the "Feast of Unleavened Bread," on the seventh day Sabbath before sundown.

Thus, he was in the grave (the heart of the earth) three days and three nights, as he had predicted to his disciples. (See Matthew 12;40)

Christ and his followers kept the "Passover" and the "Feast of Unleavened Bread." They did not in any way keep the Pagan holiday of Easter. Christ's followers were forbidden to keep any Pagan customs or Pagan traditions. These customs and traditions were decreed to be abominations by God himself throughout the old testament.

The Pagan customs of Easter eggs and the Easter rabbit are associated with this holiday due to their life giving reproductive characteristics. The inference that the Easter rabbit laid the Easter eggs is an abominable lie and has no place in true Christian worship.

Easter sunrise service is an ancient pagan custom of worship to the Sun God "Tammuz" which at the time of the vernal equinox, was returning into the northern hemisphere from its journey to the south. The vernal equinox is the time of the year when the sun crosses the equator in its trek northward. To the pagan religious worshippers, it is a time to celebrate the return of life and reproduction to animal and plant life as well. This is why Ishtar, or Easter, was chosen to be celebrated at this time of the year.

Ezekiel wrote, "And he brought me into the inner court of the Lord's house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the East; and they worshiped the sun toward the East.

"Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose. Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them." Ezekiel 8:16-18

To compound this abominable "anti-Christian" falsehood of Easter, we are told to believe that Christ was crucified on Friday (Good Friday) and rose on Easter Sunday morning,. Thus making Jesus Christ a liar when he said he would be in the grave three days and three nights. Even a child can count and see there are not three days and three nights between Friday and Sunday morning.

The abominable lie is further compounded by saying that Christ resurrected on the morning of the first day of the week. The Bible in no way supports this claim. If we are to believe the scriptures, Christ was put in the grave on Wednesday evening before sunset. If Christ was not a liar as some of the teachings of Christianity depict, then He rose from the grave on Saturday evening before sunset. If the grave was found open and empty early Sunday morning, a reasonable person can only conclude he resurrected the evening before Sunday morning, before the end of the Seventh day Sabbath, or Saturday afternoon before sundown.

"True Christians," or "Followers Of Christ," which would like to follow the scriptures accurately, would do well to observe the God-ordained "Passover" and the "Feast of Unleavened Bread."

This is the holiday celebration which would correctly commemorate the "death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ." "Passover" this year begins March 29th at sunset, and ends evening, April 5th. "Passover" is the the first day of the seven day "Feast of Unleavened Bread."

To keep the "Passover" is the first commandment God gave to the children of Israel. He commanded that it be observed forever as a memorial, "that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life." Deuteronomy 16:3

"And the Lord spake unto Moses, and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, in the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an houseŠ And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same monthŠ And they shall eat the flesh in that nightŠ And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord's Passover." Exodus 12:1-11

Apostle Paul admonished the Church of Corinth with these words, "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness: but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." I Corinthians 5:7-8

Thus, by his crucifixion at the time of the "Passover," Christ, the "Passover Lamb" became the final sacrifice for sins of those who would deny themselves and follow him. "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." Hebrews 10:14

At the last supper, Jesus instituted a new way for his disciples to commemorate the "Passover." "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Matthew 26:26-28

According to the scriptures, this method of keeping the "Passover" in memory of his death once a year, was ordained by Jesus Christ himself. God almighty condemned the keeping of the customs of the pagan holiday "Easter."

The leaders of "False Christianity" have deceived their followers into worshipping at "Easter" instead of "Passover" and the "Feast of Unleavened Bread," to commemorate the "death, burial, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ."

For more detailed information on how to keep the "Passover," order your free copy of "The Passion and the Passover," a guide to correct communion. Order from: Five Star Publishing Co., Box 232, 1539 E. China Lake Blvd., Ridgecrest, CA. 93555.

Arnold Gordon may be contacted by email at: BibleQ&A@iwvisp.com

Should Christians Wear Tattoos

Should Christians Wear Tattoos?
By Lynette Schaefer

It is clear that we are living in the end times, right before the return of our Lord Jesus Christ to rapture home His blood-bought bride, the Church. It is also clear that these are perilous times (2 Tim 3:1). The current trend that more and more Christians seem to be picking up is tattooing. There are even "Christian" tattoo shops opening up, and deceived Christians are flocking to them more and more. They justify this activity by saying they are "tattooing for Jesus" and it's fun to sport their new, colorful images or statements. Therefore, tattooing is no more an activity that the Bible expressly forbids, but it's become the latest, cool, fun thing to do; and tattooing is popularly regarded as simply "body art". Well, let's explore what tattooing really is and what God has to say about it.

1. The Mark of Blood. The tattooing procedure involves cutting the flesh with a sharp needle or instrument in order to carve out or make designs. The result is something called "blood-letting". Blood-letting has both occultic and demonic origins as it is considered a power source that is supernaturally unleashed. Many pro-tattoo sources describe tattooing as having a magical, occultic connection with blood and blood-letting as being normal. Several pro-tattoo historians indicate the connection with scarification and blood-letting associated with religious practices. Another source indicates "the importance of licking the blood that was released during tattoo operations" (Steve Gilbert, "Tattoo History: A Source Book", pg. 181). We read in 1 Kings 18:25-28 the account of the prophets of Baal who met with Elijah to find out who was the true God. These were satanists who were attempting to unleash supernatural power by cutting themselves (vs. 28). In the New Testament, there was a man named Legion who was possessed by demons, as seen in Mark 5:1-9, who went about cutting himself with stones (vs. 5). Leviticus 19:28 says "Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD." (emphasis mine)

2. The Cup of Devils. Historically, the origin of the tattoo is associated with paganism, demonism, Baal worship, shamanism, mysticism, heathenism, cannibalism and many other pagan beliefs. The tattoo has NEVER been connected with Bible believing Christians. But today, in the 21st century, trends are reverting to paganistic practices to include the modern Christian and the new "Christian" tattoo shop. Satan is the god of this world and his agenda is to deceive many Christians, especially in the last days. But the fact remains that the tattoo has its roots in beliefs and practices that are demonic and pagan. Many pro-tattoo books indicate that tattooing is a magical rite and the tattooist is respected as a priest or shaman; it is connected to a religious ceremony and performed by priests or priestesses; it is intended to put the human soul in harmony with supernatural forces; at other times dancing accompanies the tattooing ritual to exorcise demons. In other words, it is connected with the spirit world and a tattoo is really much more than simply a body decoration. Today's popular tattooing craze is "tribal tattoos", which are pure paganism. These designs bear serious symbolic mystical and occult meanings. They are strongly connected with channels into spiritual and demonic possession. Many pro-tattoo artists and historians can attest to this by saying things like, "tattoos have a power and magic all their own", "there is in addition to the opening of numerous inlets for evil to enter", "allowing his clients' demons to help guide the needle". Ronald Scutt, in his exhaustive book, Art, Sex and Symbol, covers a lot about the history and culture of tattoos. He documents that most of the time tattoos are associated with spiritual, religious and mystical purposes; linking it to mystical significance, sun-worship, serpent worship, and the sun-god Baal. Author Steve Gilbert, of Tattoo History: A Source Book, p. 99, records, "The Spaniards, who had never heard of tattooing, recognized it at once as the work of Satan." Yet today's gullible Christians are out there in droves "marking themselves for Jesus"! Pagan tattooing is not just from the dark ages: many body artists perform ritual tattoos today as the quotes from tattoo authors above bear witness. Some will burn incense or light candles. 1 Cor. 10:21 says, "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."

3. The Mark of Death. Lev. 19:28 says, "Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD." Yet DEATH is the number one theme of tattoos! References from tattoo books again reveal this as a fact: "Death and darkness have always been a classic tattoo theme - skulls, snakes, demons" (The Body Art Book, pg. 56); Henry Ferguson in The Art of the Tattoo, states "probably the most popular tattooed image of today, the all-pervasive grinning skull!"; "Skulls imprinted on skin abound, and depictions of the Grim Reaper are commonly seen"; "Possibly, at the same time, to wear a death's figure on one's body may be an invocation of whatever indefinable forces of nature….in an attempt to protect the wearer from such a fate". Tattoo shops mostly display morbid scenes of death, demons, serpents, and hell. Grim reapers, flaming skulls, snakes crawling through skulls, demons, Satan, pornography, blasphemy, naked flames of hell - every satanic scene of hell is glorified. Who really is the Master Tattooist? Satan, of course (Rev. 6:8; Heb. 2:14)! He is the author of Death; and the representative of Hell (Rev. 6:8; Matt. 25:41); also of the Serpent (Gen. 3:1; Rev. 12:9; Rev. 20:1-2); whereas Jesus is Life (John 1:3; John 6:48; John 11:25; John 14:6; Acts 3:15; Ro. 6:23; 1 John 1:1-2; 1 John 5:12). Many tattoo artists embody satanic symbols of death and hell while they display demonic scenes in their shops, calling it "art". They are often people who demonstrate their allegiance to Satan with vile and filthy depictions of the underworld.

4. The Mark of Rebellion. The Bible condemns all rebellion throughout its pages and declares that rebellion is as bad as witchcraft (1 Sam. 15:23). It is clear that the tattoo has always been an indication of a spirit of rebellion and deviancy on its wearers. All the tattoo books make comments about tattooing being rebellious. In addition, the tattoo is considered a mark of disgrace or reproach by the same tattoo books. Throughout history, the tattoo was used to mark the criminal, adulterers, traitors, deserters, the deviant and outcast. Thirdly, it has been the mark of the sideshow freak throughout history. Also, it is the mark of indecency. They were associated with barbarians in barbaric, immoral Greece and Rome. One tattoo book, "Art, Sex and Symbol", 1974, by Ronald Scutt, pg. 179, says "In a society that considers nudity as dirty, indecent, and subversive or morality … - it is not surprising that decorations to the body are allocated to the same category." The tattoo is also considered the mark of depravity by many tattoo books. Studies have been done that indicate a high percentage of deviant behaviors and troubled persons that were tattooed. Studies have also been done that link tattoos to homosexuality, lesbianism, and gross sexual perversion. Statements made in many of the tattoo books bear this out. Recent studies on today's tattooed young people indicate 1) they are nearly four times more likely to engage in sexual intercourse; 2) Over two times more likely to experience alcohol related problems; 3) Nearly two times more likely to use illegal drugs; 4) Over two times more likely to express violent behavior; and 5) Over two times more likely to drop out of high school. What about Jesus? Wasn't He a rebel? NO WAY! To the contrary: Jesus was 100 percent OBEDIENT unto death - even the death of the Cross (Phil. 2:8)! In the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed, "not my will, but thine, be done" (Luke 22:42-44). If there was the slightest chance that Jesus was a rebel, then He would have sinned against God, and we would all be lost!

5. Tattoo's Deadly Little Secret. It is a well-known fact that tattooing runs a risk of acquiring any number of deadly diseases, including Hepatitis C and AIDS. The reason is because the needle that is used to tattoo punctures the skin 3,000 times a minute. In an hour, that would be 180,000 times that puncture wounds provide a potential path to a deadly disease. Not only that, but it is also well documented that tattoo shops are not regulated by the government to uphold medical standards. Also, many tattoo artists do not inform their clients of possible infection from the needle or the ink. The Mayo Clinic sounds a warning about commercial tattooing: "Few states have hygienic regulations to ensure safe tattooing practices in commercial tattoo parlors, and even fewer monitor and enforce standards". (Body Piercing and Tattoos: More than Skin Deep, Mayo Clinic, www.mayoclinic.com). Tattoos can cause many chronic skin disorders such as sarcoid, keloid scarring, allergic dermatitis, photosensitivity reactions, psoriasis, and tumors. Finally, the Bible gives a real warning about this sort of procedure (Psm.38: 5-8).

6. Tattoos and the Bible. We know already what Lev. 19:28 says. But people use that to say, "But that's in the OLD Testament! What about the New?" Well, do you know that Lev. 19:29 says not to prostitute your daughter; yet it says nothing in the New Testament about that, making it okay to prostitute your child? I think not! These moral laws are timeless and are as applicable now as then. Lev. 19:28 indicates that we are to not print ANY marks on us. Period. Lev. 19:26-28 is a condemnation of assorted pagan, witchcraft and heathen practices, of which tattooing is clearly one of them. Every commentary written on Lev. 19:28 says that tattooing comes from pagan origins. Isaiah 44:5 & Ezekiel 9:4 indicates "he will write with his hand to the Lord." Some go as far as to say that Jesus Christ is tattooed (Rev. 19:16)! If that is literally true, then Jesus is a sinner who disobeyed (Lev. 19:28). Finally, because our bodies are the Temple of the Living God (1Cor. 6:19-20), God wants them pure for His glory. He who defiles the temple of God, him will God destroy (1Cor. 3:16-17)! God meant what He said (Num. 23:19; Gal. 6:7-8)! 2 Cor. 6:16 says, in part, "And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God."

7. Tattoo: The Mark of Regret. Those who get tattoos while in a backslidden state will forever have to live with them. Even those who flock to get laser surgery in an attempt to remove the tattoos will have to go through a lot of expensive and painful procedures, and yet the tattoo will never be totally removed and will just look ugly. Many who are foolish enough to get tattoos later regret them and hate looking at them. There are many consequences of getting "marked": spiritual, health, social. Once a person has that mark put on them, they are then in a different category: one of the gang, cool, and spiritually defiled against God who shakes their fist at His law. Not to mention that after getting the tattoo, some serious medical problems could start to germinate. Getting a tattoo can also damage relationships with friends, family, teachers or employers. According to Bonnie B. Graves, Tattooing and Body Piercing, p. 43, many jobs are not available to those who have visible body art. So, then, is getting a tattoo really worth all the consequences?

If you are wearing tattoos and are still unconvinced that any of the above applies to you, then consider this: tattooing, in addition to being disobedient, is idolatrous because it displays an image. If you are "tattooing for Jesus" and think that's acceptable, it isn't because the "Jesus" (or any symbol) you are marking yourself with is an image. God says very clearly and explicitly that we are to have no other gods before Him, and that it is He and He alone who is supreme (Ex. 20:3; Is. 45:5).

The Bible expressly tells us to keep ourselves unspotted from the world (Jas. 1:27), to abstain from the appearance of evil (1Thess. 5:22), and that friendship with the world is enmity with God (Jas. 4:4). We are instructed to come out from among them and be separate from the world (2Cor. 6:17). Christians therefore have the responsibility to obey God's commands and abstain from worldly associations, pastimes, or habits; not just out of duty but because we love God and have a living relationship with Him (John 14:15). Please beware that ALL tattooing is wrong, not just the graphic stuff described above. It all has the same origin in paganism and is expressly commanded by the Lord that we are to avoid this practice at all costs!

If you received tattoos before conversion to Christ, then you have already been forgiven for that. On the other hand, if you have received tattoos after giving your life to Christ, you need to repent of this sin and not repeat it, under any circumstances, because it is considered abominable.

Yes, I Tammy, after much research, believe that tattoos should not be gotten by christians and I also believe it can be a entry point for demons to torment and harass.