HALLOWEEN OR HALLELUJAH? (English and Spanish)

 

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

HALLOWEEN OR HALLELUJAH?

(1 Thes 5:5) You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.

Many Christians have questions regarding Halloween. Should Christians decorate their houses in this theme? Should we send our kids out trick-or-treating? Wow, what a loaded question! But let me give you some things to think about:

- Each Christian must make their own decision on how to celebrate any festive day whether it be Halloween, Christmas, Easter, etc. And we shouldn’t judge each other on this decision. Listen to the apostle Paul on this: One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. (Rom 14:5)

- We must ask ourselves, “Does it glorify God?” Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Cor 10:31)

- In regards to Halloween, we must keep in mind the scriptural prohibition of any kind of practice (and I might add symbolism) of witchcraft. (Deuteronomy 18:9-14)

- The Bible says we are sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Jesus is the Light and we are to shine His glory. We are to cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of the light. (Romans 13:12)

- Remember we have the Holy Spirit, not the unholy spirit represented in symbols of a devil, a witch, or a ghost. True power is from the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8) and we don’t need to be tapping into or even flirting with the power of darkness.

- Christians are into the theme of life, not death. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 6:23)

I hope this helps you to think along the lines of a transformed mind (Romans 12:2). Be led by His Spirit in all you do for yourself and for your children. Ask God for wisdom in all your decisions in regards to your family celebrations and plans. And remember, you are a child of the light!

Louie 

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Del Pastor a Las Ovejas

(1 Tess 5:5) porque todos vosotros sois hijos de luz e hijos del día. No somos de la noche ni de las tinieblas.

Muchos cristianos tienen dudas con relación al Halloween. ¿Pueden los cristianos decorar sus casas en esta época? ¿Pueden mandar a sus hijos a pedir dulces? Wow, ¡son preguntas difíciles! Pero dejame darte algunas cosas para meditar: 

- Cada cristiano debe tomar sus propias decisiones sobre como celebrar cualquier día festivo, ya sea halloween, Navidad, Pascua, etc. Y no debemos juzgarnos unos a otros en esta decisión. Escucha lo que el apóstol Pablo dijo sobre esto: "Uno juzga que un día es superior a otro, otro juzga iguales todos los días. Cada cual esté plenamente convencido según su propio sentir." (Romanos 14:5)

- Debemos preguntarnos, “¿Glorifica esto a Dios?” Entonces, ya sea que comáis, que bebáis, o que hagáis cualquiera otra cosa, hacedlo todo para la gloria de Dios. (1 Corintios 10:31)

- En cuanto al Halloween, debemos tener en mente las prohibiciones bíblicas en la práctica de (y debo agregar símbolos) de la brujería. (Deuteronomio 18:9-14)

- La Biblia dice que somos hijos de la luz y del día. No somos de las tinieblas o de la noche. Jesús es la Luz y nosotros debemos brillar con Su gloria. Debemos dejar las obras de las tinieblas y ponernos la armadura de la luz. (Romanos 13:12)

- Recuerda tque tenemos al Espíritu Santo, no el espíritu impío representado en los símbolos del diablo, una bruja, o un fantasma. El verdadero poder viene del Espíritu Santo (Hechos 1:8) y no necesitamos estar jugando ni coqueteando con el poder de las tinieblas.

-Los cristianos representan la vida, no la muerte. "Porque la paga del pecado es muerte, pero la dádiva de Dios es vida eterna en Cristo Jesús Señor Nuestro" (Romanos 6:23)

Espero que esto te ayude a pensar como debe hacerlo una mente transformada (Romanos 12:2). Se guiado por Su Espíritu, por bien tuyo y el de tus hijos. Pide sabiduría a Dios en todas tus decisiones en cuanto a las celebraciones y planes de familia. y recuerda, ¡eres un hijo de a luz!

Luis 

(Translation by Maura Cathey)

 

 

THE ANGEL OF THE LORD

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

THE ANGEL OF THE LORD

In the Old Testament the term Angel of the Lord appears many times.  Here’s a partial list: 

THE ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARS TO HAGAR:  (Gen 16:7) Now the Angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur.

THE ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARS TO ABRAHAM:  (Gen 22:11) But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” So he said, “Here I am.”

THE ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARS TO MOSES:  (Exo 3:2) And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush…

THE ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARS TO BALAAM:  (Num 22:32) And the Angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to stand against you, because your way is perverse before Me. 

THE ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARS TO ISRAEL: (Judg 2:1) Then the Angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said: “I led you up from Egypt and brought you to the land…

THE ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARS TO GIDEON:  (Judg 6:12) And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!”

THE ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARS TO MANOAH AND HIS WIFE:  (Judg 13:17) Then Manoah said to the Angel of the Lord, “What is Your name, that when Your words come to pass we may honor You?” 18 And the Angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful?”

The Angel of the Lord is an Old Testament preincarnate appearance of Christ (Christophany).  Since no one has ever seen God the Father (John 1:18; 1 Tim 6:16) and since the Holy Spirit never takes on bodily form, this suggests that this expression refers to the second member of the Trinity.  Also consider that after Christ’s incarnation there never is any reference to the Angel of the Lord.  As we study concerning the Angel of the Lord, we can see how God through progressive revelation provided hints in the Old Testament for the doctrine of the Trinity that is more completely expounded upon in the New Testament.

Jesus is seen in many types and portrayals in the Old Testament.  (Heb 10:7) Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come— In the volume of the book it is written of Me… He appeared in a preincarnate form in the Old Testament.  He is the incarnate Son of God in the New Testament dying on the cross for the sins of all.  Accept Him today and you will see Him yourself in heaven!  

Louie

RAPTURE THEORIES

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

RAPTURE THEORIES

In the Christian community there are different theories on when the Lord will return.  And it so often has to do with at what point of the Tribulation will Jesus come for His own?  Here are some of more popular theories:

PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE:  The Rapture happens just before the seven year Tribulation, so that believers will not have to experience the wrath of God being poured out on the ungodly.    

MID-TRIBULATION RAPTURE: The Rapture happens half-way through the Tribulation.  Up to that time, the Antichrist brings peace to the world. At the midpoint events take a sudden turn for the worse. 

POST-TRIBULATION RAPTURE: The faithful experience the full spectrum of the entire Tribulation judgments and are taken up only at the end of the seven years.  

PRE-WRATH RAPTURE: This is a newer theory, promoted by Marvin Rosenthal. Pre-wrath Tribulationists believe the Rapture will occur during the Tribulation, halfway through or after, but certainly before the seven bowls of the wrath of God. 

PARTIAL RAPTURE: This theory teaches that only those who are faithful in their relationship with Christ will be raptured.  The rest will have to prove their faith during the Tribulation.  

Wow, so which one should you believe?  I believe the weight of the evidence is for the Pre-Tribulation Rapture.  Here’s some things to consider:  Jesus will come in the sky for His own (1 Thes 4:16-17) and then the Tribulation will follow (2 Thes 2:1-12).  The Church is not mentioned during the Tribulation (Rev 6-18).  The Bible declares that the Church will not suffer God’s wrath (Rom 5:9; 1 Thes 5:9).  Jesus’ coming is imminent and unpredictable (1 Thes 5:2).  

But you know, I’d like to put out another supporting reason for the Rapture.  I believe it fits the grace of God.  By this I mean we believe we are saved by grace (Eph 2:8-9).  We also believe we continue by grace (Acts 13:43).  So why not believe that we will be taken up by grace?  It just fits that the Lord will rescue His Bride.  He loves her.  He gave His life for her.  He provides for her and nurtures her (Eph 5:25-27).  It just doesn’t make sense that He would let her go through the Tribulation and not rescue His damsel in distress.

Some Christians make the Christian life so hard.  They know they are saved by grace but they are trying so hard to please God by the law (Gal 3:1-14).  I believe that these also feel they have to suffer to prove their worthiness during the end times. But God’s amazing grace says:  “'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home.”   

Louie