In 2009, a movie 2012 was produced showing how the world would end.  It was based on a prediction given 5,125 years ago by a Hopi prophecy and the end of the Mayan calendar since 3113 BC.  Supposedly, a solar flare will cause a polar shift on the magnetic poles.  There will be tsunamis around the world, massive earthquakes, all rivers will over flow, volcanoes will erupt and plunging asteroids will turn our cities into smoking ruins.  There will be an ultimate catastrophe and no place will be safe for humans and massive food shortages will occur if any should survive.  I recently watched CNBC showing the fear people world-wide were having and the millions of dollars being spent on mountain-top bunkers.  They were filled with food and water for long periods of time.  They also had weapons and enormous amounts of ammunition.

Remember Y2K when people were being told that all new technology equipment and software would be needed to replace what we had?  Therefore, on January 1, 2000 nothing technical would continue to work.  People were hoarding food and water expecting a disaster.  Nothing happened; January came and went without any problems.  However, there were thousands of people who became millionaires promoting the need to replace your equipment and supplying an adequate amount of food for storage.

Are you aware of the millions of dollars some have made from the man-made global warming or climate change belief?  Don’t allow false teachers or scam artists cause you to panic over the world ending.

If you are a Christian and believe in the authenticity of the Bible there is absolutely nothing to fear.

II Thessalonians 2:3 – 4 – Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.  He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” There is no anti-Christ on the scene and there is no Jewish temple in Jerusalem.   (Do you believe the Judeo/Christian Bible?)  What do you have to fear?

II Thessalonians 2:7 – 8 – “For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.  And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.”

I believe “the one” is the Holy Spirit.  It says: “but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.”  “Till he is taken out of the way.”  I believe “He” is the Holy Spirit who is withdrawn from earth at the time of the rapture.  Many believe Christians will be raptured or taken up to meet Christ in the air and the Holy Spirit will be withdrawn prior to the Antichrist being revealed. However, many disagree and some believe it is the government that is holding back Satan.

II Thessalonians 2:9 – 12 – “The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.  For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.”

How can this man become so powerful and attain such notoriety and loyalty from the masses?  He is a tool of Satan and will be given all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders in order to deceive all who will not accept what God, through Scripture, has said.

It will be his power and his miracles that will deceive and cause unbelievers to perish who refused to love the truth or gospel message and be saved.  Those who chose to follow the Antichrist, the Bible says God will send a powerful delusion so that they will believe his lies and thus be condemned for not accepting Christ as their Savior.  God uses Satan as part of His judgment for those rebelling.

We learned in Exodus 4:21 Pharaoh’s rejection of God, through Moses, caused his heart to be hardened.  Proverbs 29:1 explains that rejecting God’s gift makes our neck stiff and our heart hard.  As God hardened the heart of the Pharaoh He will also do the same to all who rebel against Him.  Their hearts will no longer respond to the truth.  After Pharaoh allowed the Jews to leave, he later sent his army to bring them back.  Regardless of the plagues and miracles he could not accept the truth.”  The world seems to be filled with those who will not accept the truth.  As more and more have hearts that become as hard as shoe leather, the world becomes more evil.  God will only accept so much and then the end will come.

Matthew 24:4 – 8 – “Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many.  And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately.  Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world.  But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.”

I hope you understand, it is not probable under any Scriptural reference that the world could end on December 21, 2012.  Don’t go out making huge purchases on your credit cards expecting you would not have to pay later as some did prior to Jan. 1, 2000.  That would be an indication of unbelief and that wouldn’t please God or the credit card companies!  We don’t need more Christians going into bankruptcy.

It is alarming what we are doing to the next generation.  I was born to parents having gone through the great depression of the 1930s.  They never had all of the conveniences that we enjoy today.  Most did not have radios, telephones, TVs or dependable cars.  A few still used horses as a means of transportation.  Living during that time people had become dependent upon God and most seemed to realize the importance of being loyal and honest.  Generally people were dependable, hard working and were willing to help each other when a need occurred.

What I see today is nothing like it was years ago.  Society’s principles and values have changed.  It was a rarity to hear about gang activity.  What young people do today was not even thought about years ago.  For a teenage to have a child out of wedlock was a disgrace.  Today 50% of all children born in America come from unmarried women.  Years ago, if a teen became pregnant the baby’s father was expected to marry her.  If he didn’t, the dad showed up at his door with a shotgun and they had a shotgun wedding.  Sometimes it was the boy’s father that carried the shotgun pointed at his son.

There was a time in history when people became so animalistic, cruel and immoral that God decided to start over again and we had the flood during Noah’s time.  Read history that occurred over 2000 years ago and the way people lived and treated each other was inhumane.  There was little law and practically no order in many parts of the world.  I realize that negative news attracts TV viewers and newspaper readers more than positive news.  However, I can’t pick up the paper or listen to local news and not hear about robberies, murders, rapes or muggings.  Are we gradually going back to an immoral society?

I did some research and learned that much of our problems come from homes without fathers.  The following is what I learned:

• 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes (US Dept. Of Health/Census) – 5 times the average.

• 90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes – 32 times the average.

• 85% of all children who show behavior disorders come from fatherless homes – 20 times the average.  (Center for Disease Control)

• 80% of rapists with anger problems come from fatherless homes –14 times the average.  (Justice & Behavior, Vol. 14, p. 403-26)

• 71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes – 9 times the average.  (National Principals Association Report)

Father Factor in Education – Fatherless children are twice as likely to drop out of school.

• Children with Fathers who are involved are 40% less likely to repeat a grade in school.

• Children with Fathers who are involved are 70% less likely to drop out of school.

• Children with Fathers who are involved are more likely to get A’s in school.

• Children with Fathers who are involved are more likely to enjoy school and engage in extracurricular activities.

• 75% of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers come from fatherless homes – 10 times the average.

Father Factor in Drug and Alcohol Abuse – Researchers at Columbia University found that children living in a two-parent household with a poor relationship with their father are 68% more likely to smoke, drink, or use drugs compared to all teens in two-parent households. Teens in single mother households are at a 30% higher risk than those in two-parent households.

• 70% of youths in state-operated institutions come from fatherless homes – 9 times the average.  (U.S. Dept. of Justice, Sept. 1988)

• 85% of all youths in prison come from fatherless homes – 20 times the average.  (Fulton Co. Georgia, Texas Dept. of Correction)

Father Factor in Incarceration – Even after controlling for income, youths in father-absent households still had significantly higher odds of incarceration than those in mother-father families. Youths who never had a father in the household experienced the highest odds. A 2002 Department of Justice survey of 7,000 inmates revealed that 39% of jail inmates lived in mother-only households. Approximately forty-six percent of jail inmates in 2002 had a previously incarcerated family member. One-fifth experienced a father in prison or jail.

There are more statistics but that should give you reason to understand why our society is becoming more immoral.  We no longer can teach children in our schools that there is a God because they want to teach evolution.  Our children are not learning respect, responsibility and being accountable for their actions. This has not happened by chance.  We have people in power who have deliberately planned this to occur.  Don’t ever forget there are millions of evil spirits that are continually influences the decisions of millions and millions.  And they seem to be winning over God’s people and their message of the gospel.  When our country fails, we can all know the reason we have let it.

Scripture says there will be signs when the end of the earth, as we know it, will come to an end.  At that time there will be a Day of Judgment.  God will separate the believers of Christ from those who are unbelievers.  One will go to paradise and the other to a place of torment.  If unbelievers realized that the end times were coming would they become believers?  Does Satan want unbelievers to believe in God and that there is a heaven?  Wouldn’t he try and deceive everyone to misinterpret the end-time signs?

In the past eighteen months record breaking floods occurred in the Mississippi forcing engineers to blow up parts of the river and flood farmlands.  Record breaking floods have happened in New Jersey and Arkansas.  Worldwide record flooding has been recorded.  April 2011 there were 600 recorded tornadoes setting a record.  Some of the largest and deadliest earthquakes have also been recorded.  Biggest earthquake in Japan’s history occurred plus a tsunami damaging many cities and a nuclear power plant.  Record breaking forest fires in Colorado and New Mexico.  Thousands of acres of farmland are unproductive because of floods and record draughts.  Less food will be produced around the world as a result.  There are wars and rumors of wars throughout the Middle East.

Matthew 24:3 – 8 – “Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?”  Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many.  And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately.  Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world.  But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.” (NLT)

“Most global-warming deniers are also conservative religious fundamentalists who believe in creationism. These are the people who ignore expertise of virtually every scientist on Earth about evolution, and they apparently have no trouble extending their ignorance to the environmental sciences.”  I came across an article that tells why many Christians don’t believe in man-made global warming.  They are absolutely right when they say: if you believe in evolution your chances of believing in global warming goes up exponentially.

II Corinthians 4:4 – “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.” (NLT)

We, as conservative religious fundamentalists who believe in creationism, believe in a God, who not only has the power to create the universe, He can stop whatever man does to the earth.  If God were concerned that man would destroy the earth by burning coal or oil, He would have told us in Scripture to not over use coal or oil.  Yet, He has given us enough of these fuels to last for hundreds of years.  Many of us doubt that we will need this much fuel prior to the second coming of Christ.  Many of us believe that God will create a new heaven and a new earth as He promises in Scripture.  We believe we would never run out.

Therefore, the many who are blinded by Satan believe there is no God and man can destroy the earth by what he uses for fuel.  God promises that if we will do His Will we will prosper.  Does Satan want believers to be prosperous?  Since He is anti God he will do whatever to disrupt the lives of people.  If he can get everyone to believe in evolution and man-made global warming it is possible to create financial chaos world-wide.  Once the world becomes financially broke he has a chance for his one-world government and one-world religion.  This religion will be against the God of the Judeo/Christian Bible.  Any who have been prosperous will have their money taken away to give to those who have not taken advantage of life’s possibilities, whether it is by choice or government rule and control.

Now for some facts: About 20 years ago there were a number of books published predicting environmental calamity caused by carbon dioxide emissions occurring and within a matter of a very few years the glaciers would melt and New York and Los Angeles would be partly under water.  During this time the temperatures have remained constant.

A leading scientist who had initiated and predicted a global warming disaster admits that he was probably wrong.  He now believes that it probably will not occur in the immediate future, if ever.  He had claimed that prior to the end of the century billions would die and only those living in the Arctic would survive.  He expected by now the heating of the earth would start to become unbearable.  But he noted there has been little change in the past 12 years and no evidence that CO2 emissions will heat the planet.  At least no one has been able to prove it.

What he believed just 20 years ago has not happened.  Therefore, they had to change the fear of global warming to climate change.  However, He stated that there are just too many things that are responsible for climate change or global warming and are not necessarily man-made.  My research did not allow me to determine how many evangelical Christian scientists believe in man-made climate change.  My interest is how many who have studied Revelations believe any of this is going to happen?  Could Christ come back to rule for 1000 years if the earth was too hot to survive?  Do we have a God Who when creating the earth believed that what He made, man could destroy?  Would He not have given us other means and told us, in order to provide power, if man could destroy what He created?  There is just too much evidence for those of us who believe in the Bible and have studied it believe, if there is any warming or cooling, it is because of the sun and not what man has done.  Granted most everyone wants clean water and clean air.  But there are many ways to obtain them not like our administration believes.

It’s like President Obama said: “So, if somebody wants to build a coal plant, they can, it’s just that it will bankrupt them because they are going to be charged a huge sum for all the greenhouse gas that will get emitted”.  Any wonder why our economy is struggling.

Christ said these signs are only the beginning.  We may have many years before the end occurs.  But as the end-time signs occur, Satan will try to make us think it is all the result of what people are doing.  Does he want more people to accept Christ as their Savior?  Therefore, if he can fool Adam and Eve he might just be able to fool you too.  He is described as the god of this world and the great deceiver.  And remember, before the end times come there will be a one-world government and a one-world religion.  There then will be seven years of Tribulation like the world has never seen previously.  It sounds like the end times are a few years away.  Satan’s deceiving will only increase.  Don’t accept the devil’s religion.

You may be aware of the two negative influences that continually test you.  You have a very self-centered, carnal nature tempting you and the devil is continuously trying to bring you down.  The demonic spirit’s purpose is to stop you from doing God’s Will.  It started in the Garden of Eden and the devil has never stopped pursing those who were God fearing or those having accepted Christ as their Savior.

We know that unbelievers are already under Satan’s control so there is no need to tempt them.  They are going to do whatever their desires lead them to do.  But a believer tries to do only those things they know are acceptable to God.  To please God we cannot let the two negatives, our self-centered nature and demonic influence, overcome our thinking and win.

Ephesians 6:12 – “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”  Our struggles are from the power of spiritual forces of evil.  Satan is our enemy and is constantly tempting us.  Satan is in opposition to God and wants to bring down our relationship with Him.  He does not want us to be a part of God’s family.  Christians realize they cannot stand up to him in their own power.  The Book of Daniel in chapter 10 tells us of the many fallen angels and evil spirits and how powerful they are.  Satan has millions of emissaries that gather information and inflict problems on the human race.  Their purpose is to also enslave people into all forms of idolatry, involvement in cults, deceptive philosophies, evolution and climate change.

Stop and think how immoral society has become.  The powers of darkness flame our lusts, our human passions and our self-centered natures suggesting that we yield to sin.  As we get closer to the end time, which we do not know when, it seems we are getting back to the pagan religions prior to Christ coming two thousand years ago.  At that time pagans had temples and temple prostitutes and sex was a part of their worship service.

Our self-centered and sinful nature is placing thoughts into our minds just as rapidly as the evil powers.  Out of our hearts come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, thefts, false witness and blasphemies.  Just seeing the world’s pleasures being offered can be enticing. Don’t let Satan corrupt your heart and mind by displaying ugly passion instead of love for Christ.  Then add instant gratification, a great temptation, and the need to have what everyone else has and have it now. And what must we do to get it: credit cards and installment payments that continually cause us to spend much more than we earn.  Thus, when we yield and give in, we can suffer anxiety, stress and possibly depression because we are unable to make our payments.

Romans 6:6 – 8 “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.  Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.”

We are told that we must die out to this self-centered nature that affects the evil that we may do.  We know it is impossible to get rid of this nature but it can be controlled.  However, it can only come under the control of the Holy Spirit if we give Him permission to do so.  For that to happen we must be willing to live by God’s commandments and His Will for our lives.  That requires a repentant heart.  We can have all of the head knowledge provided in Scripture but if our relationship with Christ is not in our hearts and only in our head, we will not be repentant.  We are told we will not be judged by our works but by our faith and our heart.  We now have two negatives influencing our mind and One positive that we received by accepting Christ into our heart.  The One positive, given control, is much more powerful than the two negative spirits.  We will never yield to temptation provided we allow the Holy Spirit to run interference for us.  But that will depend upon our relationship to the Holy Spirit.  Do we talk to the Holy Spirit regularly?  Do we ask the Holy Spirit to help us make decisions and choices in life?  Does the Holy Spirit know that we never want to yield to temptation?  Scripture says that the Holy Spirit will protect our thinking from demonic influence and suggestions.

Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”  (NLT)

We all have areas of weakness in our lives.  We must be honest with ourselves and determine what these weaknesses might be.  We then must deal with each and get rid of it before we will ever have joy and peace in our lives.    Here are some temptations that cause us to sin: unforgiveness, greed, pride, lies, lust, unbelief, anger, love of money and others.  Make a list and accept responsibility that it is a problem in your life.  Then believe that you can eliminate each temptation that leads to sin. Be aware that you will be attacked and influenced in these areas that are a problem. Then believe in the promise of Philippians 4:13 – “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” And I will!

I Peter 5:8 – “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

Spiritual warfare is serious and the enemy is real.  Evil influences seek to harm us and our family.  They want to destroy our witness and hinder the work of God.  If you think you can handle the two negative influences without God’s help you are in trouble; that is if your desire is to not yield to temptation.  The Apostle Paul, with all of his knowledge, found that he could not win without the Holy Spirit’s help.  So if we let our self-centered nature get out of control and ignore the Holy Spirit, we are on our own and we know what the result will be: Convicted of sinning and pronounced guilty—and Satan wins!   Don’t you want to be the winner?

I Corinthians 10:13 – “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”  Too many Christians are not looking for the way out.

There are personal problems that we have all had, that are absolutely unacceptable to God, and it can cause success or failure, make our lives miserable or happy and we must be willing to make change.  Otherwise, it can control us and make our life unsatisfactory.  If everyone could control two primary emotional problems it could change the world.

Having worked with thousands of people, many struggle with numerous problems, failing to find the rich and satisfying life that Christ promised in (John 10:10).  No doubt, we have all known Christians who strove toward being spiritual but failed so miserably and completely that after a time they simply gave up and told God they couldn’t go on.  Maybe this is your story.  If so, be encouraged by knowing the Apostle Paul experienced tremendous struggles and failures—probably more than any of us could complain about.  After a time, he too gave up the struggle: “I do not understand what I do.  For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.  And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.  As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.  I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out” (Rom. 7:15 – 18).

What Paul did and what all Christians must do is to stop struggling. After Paul described the agony of his internal conflict between his sin nature and spiritual nature, he expressed total despair:  “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” (Rom. 7:24). Paul surrendered, turning the matter over to the Holy Spirit, and gave up his self-serving nature. He won.

When we do this, we have the ultimate victory; however, we will still have some skirmishes to fight. Christians will face a daily onslaught of events that tempt them to take matters into their own hands and “do battle” with their antagonists. Christians need to be aware that no matter how successful they might be at turning the matter over to the Holy Spirit, thereby putting to death whatever belongs to their worldly natures (see Col. 3:5), they will be tempted to do one of two things: give in to it, or fight it. Either way they lose. But time and experience will teach us that we can indeed win the internal war, not by continuous struggle, but by a continuous surrendering to the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to win the war for us: “The Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death” (Rom. 8:2).

Over the years, I have seen people struggle with one problem that seems to cause more difficulties than most.  That is the sin of an unforgiving spirit.  “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.  But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”  (Matt. 6:14 – 15)

Let’s use marriage as an example.  If one person does something that hurts their spouse, how does that person handle it?  Do they have a forgiving heart or an unforgiving one?  If they are unwilling to forgive a battle could ensue.  Regardless what they may have done, God says we must forgive.  To do that requires a spirit that knows how to love.  However, that does not mean we are to allow a husband or a wife to take advantage of us.  But if both husband and wife have loving spirits and forgiving hearts they can have a beautiful relationship.  Perfect love never keeps score.  Marriage has never been a struggle for my wife and me.  It is because of our love for each other and both having spirits that never tried to get even and never kept score.

If in traffic someone cuts you off, what is your reaction?  You are not pleased but a forgiving spirit will not demand retaliation, which so often happens.  Fights, wars are results of having unforgiving spirits.  Presidents have enemy lists.  I have been told that it isn’t unusual for attorneys to have: “I’ll get even lists”. What about you, do you have a list? Do you realize how much trouble is caused by this one spirit, the spirit of unforgiveness?   This is why God said: If you don’t forgive others I will not forgive you.  If you are struggling spiritually or mentally it could be a result of your inability to forgive.  How can you have a personal relationship with Christ if God is not forgiving you for not being forgiving?

I suppose having been a store manager and having had to deal with some very rude customers has given me the experience to develop a forgiving spirit.  I was determined not to let anyone ruin my day.  It wasn’t my fault their dryer didn’t dry, their washer didn’t wash, their freezer didn’t freeze, their blouse shrunk or the white paint didn’t cover the black wall.  Yet, having a forgiving spirit and a heart of love does not mean you cannot be stern and you do not let people walk all over you.  Again, picture what Christ would do in any given situation.  He drove out the money changers yet, on the cross He said: “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)

So how do you overcome life’s struggles?  What two things has God, the Creator, commanded us to do?  We must love and we must forgive.  If everyone in the world could accomplish these two commands, what would society be like?  There would be no hate and Heaven would eventually be over flowing!

Christ promised a rich and satisfying life. (John 10:10) I want it! How do I get it? It normally is the result of making correct choices. However, if you think life is always going to be easy you are mistaken. But it doesn’t have to be as bad as some of us make it. If we make decisions without God’s help the consequence may not turn out with the best results. So if we want the life that Christ promised shouldn’t we ask God for help?

The first thing we must understand is that God created us with a purpose. Through His Word He promises that He will guide us throughout life to fulfill that purpose. But we have a real problem. We have been given a self-centered, sinful nature that wants to make decisions; we have a devil wanting to influence the choices we make and we are offered God’s Spirit to show us the path that God has prepared for us. If we accept Christ and receive the Holy Spirit we then have one positive and two negatives that want to guide us through life. Our life will depend upon who we listen to: the two negatives or hone in on the positive One? We must determine what we want the consequences to be. Do we allow one of the negatives to choose or the positive One?

An example would be in choosing a spouse. The two negative spirits look at the outer extremities or lust and the positive Spirit looks at the inner person. The Holy Spirit sees the person’s temperament, their morals, their heart and most everything we cannot see. What are your chances for a satisfying life if we allow the spirit of lust choose rather than the Holy Spirit? Won’t your life be the consequence of the choice you make? Do you see the advantage of asking God to help you make decisions? Or do you believe God will pick out the most unattractive person who will be no fun to live with? Would that give you the rich and satisfying life Christ promised?

Let’s give it a try. How do I get the Holy Spirit to help me make decisions? We must start each day asking God to allow the Holy Spirit to give us direction. We pray that we will be given energy to exercise. We ask for guidance in determining what we should be eating for health reasons. We must pray for wisdom and as we read our Bibles each day, we must ask for understanding. We need to pray that the Holy Spirit will block out all of the negative influences that will be given throughout the day. Ask God to help us select the correct relationships and meet the right people that will enhance and better our lives. Help us to be a proper witness for Christ in attracting the right friends. The Bible says we will always have an open line to God, for He never hangs up, and we are to pray without ceasing.

The amount of help we may expect from the Holy Spirit will depend on how seriously we spend time in Bible study and prayer. We must not throughout the day, continually ignore God’s Spirit if we want His help, because the two negative spirits will try to help us make every decision. The friends they pick out may not give us the life for which we are looking.

There will be times when God will allow you to make the wrong decision. There are some things we can learn only through experience. We should never ask: “God, why did you allow this to happen to me?” The correct response is: “God, what did you want me to learn from this negative experience?” When we make the wrong decisions we always know that if we repent God will forgive us. If we love ourselves more than we love God, we will be disobedient to God’s will. Selfishness finds it hard to repent but easy to ask for forgiveness.

When bad things happen that we have no control over, such as parents losing a child in death, there may be a tendency to blame God. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) When we were created God knew everything that would happen in our lives and you were chosen to be the parents of the one who died at an early age. We will only know the reason when we get to heaven. But there will be a reason. There may even be occasions when God uses sickness or other means to draw us closer to Him. We then have time to read our Bible and certainly we increase our prayer time.

There will be times when we pray and God will not answer our prayer. Yet, we know that God wants what is best for us. Most times I have found if a prayer does not get answered God has something different and better that He wants to give me. Then there may be times He does not answer because He is testing us. What will our reaction be to an unanswered prayer? We must trust God in all things, regardless. God’s ways are not always our ways.

I only wish I had learned all of this information fifty years ago. It would have made life’s valleys easier to navigate through. I too have made a number of bad decisions, mostly financial, but have had a rich (having enough) and satisfying life, thanks to God. The best decision was allowing the Holy Spirit to select my wife.   She didn’t!  Oh well!

Most people struggle with negative spirits: Have you heard of the spirit of unforgiveness?  Is it possible that our unforgiveness comes from a negative spirit?  The Bible tells us that God says if we will not forgive others, He will not forgive us.  Do you realize how many people may have a spirit that will not allow them to forgive someone who has done them wrong?  Watch TV news or read the newspaper.  Much crime is a result of someone getting even.  “They stole $50 dollars from me so I shot them.”  What about other negative spirits such as: the spirit of selfishness, jealousy, anger, anxiety, guilt, depression, a spirit of hopelessness, unworthiness and others.   It only takes one or two emotional problems to cause a life that is far from being satisfying.   What if these problems really are negative spirits caused by influences from a spirit world?  We realize that from birth these problems can exist.  Just how much influence does Satan and his millions of emissaries have over individuals?

During high school we had a neighbor that could foresee the future.  She stated that I was going to be asked to go to a skating party out of town.  She advised me not to go as something bad was going to happen.  When three of my friends asked, I said no.  They had a serious wreck and all three were injured.  It was weird the things she was able to foresee.  When I was seventeen she told me what my life would be like.  It seems like most of what I can remember came true. I do not believe her gift was from God but from the spirit world.   Since becoming a Christian the Bible says that is not something we should ever become involved in and I haven’t.

I read where one priest in the Catholic Church had participated in over 70,000 exorcisms.  There are more than a thousand priests who do exorcisms.  How many people are possessed to some degree?

This may sound far-fetched, but when I read the New Testament and the time Christ and the Apostles spent healing and driving out evil spirits, I wondered if it was possible that we could be possessed by negative spirits.  John 8:31b & 32 – ““If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

What was Christ going to free us from?  He says the bondage of sin so that we might have a rich and satisfying life.  How much of our problems are caused by negative spirits or spirits that influence how we live?  John 10:10 – “Jesus said: ‘The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.’”

Because of my neighbor, I have been well aware of the paranormal.  I believe in haunted houses and demonic presence.  I had heard stories of people being visited by dead relatives.   So I started wondering, just how much are we affected by the spirit world?  You know millions are demon possessed.  Go to certain posts online and there is anger boiling over.  Some people are overwhelmed with hate.  They are vicious and lash out at others. However, we know demons can influence a Christian without possessing them.   The Holy Spirit would not allow possession.

So what happens when a person becomes a believer in Christ and receives the Holy Spirit?  Do all of one’s emotional problems immediately disappear?  Or, is the Holy Spirit given to help us, one-by-one, rid ourselves of these negative spirits?  We are told to work out our salvation.  That means spiritual maturity is a continuous process.  Is entire sanctification the point when we overcome these negative spirits?  We can get to the point that negative spirits or emotional problems no longer have control over us. It may take time but I know it can happen!

I have known people who always seemed that their anger controlled them. That does not mean a time comes when you will never be angry again.  But you can get to a point that anger no longer controls you and rarely would you ever become angry and your anger does not have to last.

So what must I do to have a satisfying life guaranteed? Do you believe that Christ’s promise can give you a rich and satisfying life?  May I suggest you make a list of every problem or negative spirit that you are dealing with.  You may start with four or five, unless there are more.  Then each day pray that God will allow the Holy Spirit, within you, to help you overcome the control they have on you.  Then pick the one you are having the least problem with and throughout the day pray that the Holy Spirit will help you eliminate that particular problem from your life.  It may take days or weeks.  Do not stop praying daily until you feel it no longer controls you.  Then go to the next one on your list and do the same until you have become rid of each negative spirit that has had control over your life.

You can control the quality of life you want to live.  Or, you can let your problems control you.  You are totally responsible for your reaction regardless what occurs in your life.  You can be the victor or the victim.  God tells many, many times that He wants what is best for us and that is a rich and satisfying life.  So allow the Holy Spirit to make it happen.  Christ wants you to be free.  Are you?

Recent research suggests one’s attitude and disposition tremendously affects one’s health.  Studies indicate there is a relationship between depression and Alzheimer or memory loss.  Published journals conclude that depressive symptoms can raise the risk of dementia by 50%.  It is fairly factual that stress and depression alter the brain.  Therefore, we must find ways to alleviate stress and depression.  

Our bodies respond to what we put into them.  What we eat, drink, the amount of exercise and what we think can determine our health.  You talk to a person that lives to be 100 and you normally find they have an attitude that is different from most people you meet.  They don’t take life or themselves too seriously and they have a fairly positive attitude.  They are not usually angry, bitter or are they frustrated continually.    They don’t allow the normal worries of life to upset them. 

Would you like to improve your chances of living a more healthy life and adding a few years to your life?  The best way to do that is be a “doer” of Biblical teaching.  If you believe in God and that He created you, are you willing to live as He directs through His Word? 

John 8:31 – 32 – “Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.  And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

The question is: Have you been set free?  If not it could affect your health.  Let me give you an example.  Our carnal nature tells us when we have been wronged we must get even.  Read the newspaper or listen to the news on radio or TV.  People react to others who they believe have done them wrong.  You can’t count the number of people killed as a result of revenge and retaliation.  I often read: “They done me wrong and I took care of it.”  Their reaction was a result of anger, revengefulness and a person out-of-control.    They had an unforgiving spirit that controlled them. 

Ephesians 4:26 & 32 – “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. (32) Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

Luke 23:24a While on the cross Christ said: “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” We are told to forgive 70 times 7. 

Matthew 6:14 – 15 – “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Do you think an unforgiving spirit can affect your health?  Wouldn’t you want a God that is willing to forgive you?  Do you realize that if you do not forgive others you will not be forgiven?  Excessive guilt can cause depression and depression may cause Alzheimer or dementia.  Do you want God to set you free?  Do what His Word tells you to do!  Don’t allow an unforgiving spirit to control your life and affect your health. 

James 1:22 – “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.  NLT James 1:32, Matthew 7:21 – 23, Luke 6:46, John 14:21 -23 Scripture tells us to have a rich and satisfying life requires that we do the God’s will. 

John 10:10 – “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”  NLT

God promises a satisfying life or an abundant life.  If you have a rich and satisfying life you should not have stress or depression.  So what is wrong if you do?  You are focusing on your problems and not onto God to helping you solve.  Are you obeying God’s commands?  Are you living according to His ways?

Malachi 3:8 – 10 – “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me!  “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’  “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me.  You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me.  Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!”  Are you doing what He asks?  Have you tested God? 

Galatians 5:22 – 23 – “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”  It takes the gifts of the Holy Spirit to give us that rich and satisfying life.  Are we a “doer” of God’s Word?  What other Scriptural commands may you be ignoring? 

How serious do you consider having Alzheimer?  If you knew what caused it, how willing would you be to do whatever necessary to prevent it?  Is there any need to have negative stress or continuous frustration in your life?  Do you think God has adequately given, in His Word, what we should do to stop it?  Is it worth doing God’s will and being a “doer” of His Word?