HARRY POTTER TO CHRISTIANS: IT'S NOT GOOD TO HEAR VOICES

Written by Mark B. Replogle


That isrepparttar popular and, thank God (if you'll pardonrepparttar 126740 use ofrepparttar 126741 G name)repparttar 126742 politically correct feeling among most Christians today. You will recall that inrepparttar 126743 second book ofrepparttar 126744 Potter series, The Chamber Of Secrets, Harry Potter alone heardrepparttar 126745 voice ofrepparttar 126746 basilisk. When he confided in his two friends about it, one told him that even inrepparttar 126747 wizarding world, hearing voices is not a good thing. Like art imitating reality, can't we say that even in our non-wizarding world, it's not a good thing to be hearing voices. Whether those voices be God's or someone else's voice.

Most of us would agree that hearing voices in your head, voices that aren't there, this is indeed a bad thing. In fact it used to be a sign of being crazy. But what ifrepparttar 126748 person claims to be hearing God's voice? How can we know if God is speaking to this guy such that we can't immediately lock him up inrepparttar 126749 looney bin?

The obvious answer is that we,repparttar 126750 non-Harry Potter-hearing-voices-people, have to recallrepparttar 126751 eleven different ways that God speaks to mankind. Some of those ways are observable and objectively verifiable. Others are not observable but they can be verified. Examples inrepparttar 126752 first category arerepparttar 126753 times that God spoke to Moses out loud and allrepparttar 126754 other Israelites could hear their conversation. Or when Godrepparttar 126755 Father spoke to Jesus during his baptism, andrepparttar 126756 others gathered around heard that talk. Or whenrepparttar 126757 wayward prophet Balaam had a talking to by his donkey. Makes you wonder whorepparttar 126758 dumb animal was at that time, doesn't it?

Only daring men and women choose to hear God's voice today. Many christians don't hear God because they don't know what exercises to do that would enable them to hear his voice. While other christians choose not to hear God out of fear of what their friends will say about them. They will likely be considered to be crazy, religious fanatics, and attempting to glorify themselves. Worst yet, those christians will be imposing their morality onrepparttar 126759 rest of us because they claim to have heard God. Right?

THE WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS

Written by Irvin L. Rozier


The Wonderful Christmas

Genesis 33:5: “And he lifted up his eyes, and sawrepparttar woman and children, and said, who are those with thee? And he said,repparttar 126739 children which God has graciously given thy servant.”

Children are a gift from God. He had blessed me to have two wonderful daughters and a good son. When their mother left in 1986 I became a single parent to six, eight, and eleven year old children. My heart grieved for them as they missed their mother. Afterrepparttar 126740 Lord saved me, I began to pray for them. One of my prayers that December 1989 was that they would be blessed to have a wonderful Christmas, including spending some precious time with their mother. Shortly thereafter, my children’s mother called and asked if she could haverepparttar 126741 children a few days. She would get them about four or five days before Christmas and bring them back Christmas day. I readily agreed. She asked if I would drive them halfway. She lived in Atlanta so Dublin wasrepparttar 126742 agreed meeting point. The children were all excited about this rare visit with their mother. They had not spent much time with her since our separation. I scraped together a few dollars to give to them to spend, we loaded up and headed out. Well, you should of seenrepparttar 126743 look of happiness on their faces as they hugged and greeted their mom. She had been such a wonderful mom to our children before. She always made sure they were well fed, clothed, clean, and hugged and loved. She roller-skated with them, read to them..they were her life. Tragically,repparttar 126744 Devil can destroy and take away a mother’s concern and love for her children–whether it’s drugs or other methods. As they drove away, I sat inrepparttar 126745 car and cried. My tears were a mixture of joy for their happiness of being with their mom and sadness and grief forrepparttar 126746 losses they had experienced. I loved these children that God had given me and when they hurt, I did too. What I didn’t tellrepparttar 126747 children was that I had given them allrepparttar 126748 money I had. My car’s gas needle showed empty and it was 110 miles back home. It was Sunday morning about 10:30 a.m. as I began to drive back home. I said, “Lord, I guess I’ll run out of gas within a few miles but I’m trusting you in this situation.” About three miles downrepparttar 126749 road, I saw a small sign displaying an arrow pointing left to a small country church. The Lord suddenly spoke to me and said, “Go to that church.” I said, “Okay, but I’m not dressed very well (I had on old blue jeans, a tee-shirt and tennis shoes).” The Lord replied, “Go just like you are and don’t even concern yourself about what others may think about your clothing. I know what is in your heart.” I drove up to that church, got out of my beat up old Toyota and went inside. Services had already started and several heads turned to stare as a badly dressed stranger entered. I sat down on a seat and after a few songs,repparttar 126750 preacher preached onrepparttar 126751 famous faith chapter inrepparttar 126752 Bible, Hebrews, Chapter 11. The Lord anointed this pastor as he preached. It seemed as if most ofrepparttar 126753 words he spoke were directed at me. I needed that encouragement at that particular moment! Thank you Jesus! After service,repparttar 126754 preacher was led to ask for testimonies. A few dear saints stood up and testified. Their testimonies were very uplifting. Suddenlyrepparttar 126755 Lord spoke and said, “Irvin, get up and testify.” As I stood, I wiped some ofrepparttar 126756 wrinkles from my blue jeans and began to speak. Asrepparttar 126757 Spirit ofrepparttar 126758 Lord anointed me, every eye inrepparttar 126759 congregation was on me and every ear was attentive. I told howrepparttar 126760 Lord has directed my footsteps to that church, howrepparttar 126761 sermon and testimonies had encouraged me, and how happy I was that my children would be spending a few days with their mom. I asked for prayer. At this request,repparttar 126762 Godly pastor asked his little flock to gather aroundrepparttar 126763 altar and especially pray that not only my children but other children from broken homes would have a happy Christmas. Afterrepparttar 126764 service, I slowly walked to my Toyota. An elderly woman came up to me, shook my hand, and told me my testimony had touched her heart in a special way. After I withdrew my hand, I looked in my palm and sawrepparttar 126765 folded five dollar bill she had given me. Gas money to get home! God will provide! When I got home that Sunday evening, a friend of mine called and asked if I would drive him to a city about 50 miles away. His truck had quit and it was too cold to drive his motorcycle. I said, “Okay, I’ve got to pick up a few pecans to sell to get a few dollars. My children aren’t here so I’m free to go.” He was a nurse and was going to work two 16 hour shifts during Christmas. He said he was renting a hotel room and I could stay there while he was working.

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