Banning Guns Won’t Solve the Problem :: By Nathele Graham

Published on: February 25, 2018March 19, 2018 by RR7

Gun Control

“Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13).

Once again the news is in a frenzy over a school shooting. It’s shocking and truly heartbreaking. One maladjusted person took 17 lives and ruined many others. Of course the blame is put on the gun. Did the gun walk into the school under its own power and open fire? No. This young killer had a gun, ammunition, hand grenades, and a gas mask…. he was ready for a fight. As you listen to the news and read through the headlines, be sure to sort through the political rhetoric and find facts.

Somehow he was able to buy all of this weaponry without any suspicions being raised. This 19-year-old killer had been expelled from school, yet he was able to easily enter the school. He was under psychiatric care and was taking mind-altering drugs, which are commonly prescribed to control behavior. These drugs are present in most, if not all, of the mass murderers whose crimes are so horrific.

This young murderer heard voices in his head that told him how to do this crime. Demons? Absolutely.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places“ (Ephesians 6:12).

These evil entities will take every opportunity to control a person, and drugs (prescription or illegal) open doors for them to enter. If a person is prescribed these drugs, they should be barred from possessing guns, ammo, knives, crossbows, and any other weapon that can be used to kill a human being.

By the way, more people are killed each year by abortion than with guns. Think about it.

The common factor in these mass killings is legally prescribed drugs. The Greek word pharmakeia is defined as “the use or the administering of drugs, poisoning, sorcery, magical arts, often found in connection with idolatry and fostered by it.” The English word “pharmacy” comes from this word, and we know that another name for a pharmacy is “drug store.” Pharmakeia appears three times in the New Testament and is translated as sorcery twice and witchcraft once; it’s never used in a positive sense.

Most of us would never go to a witchdoctor who uses hallucinogenic drugs (such as ayahuasca) to cure what ails us, but we trust medical doctors and psychiatrists to prescribe mind-altering “medication” because they have a PhD or MD after their names. My intent isn’t to slander these people who have studied long and hard to help people, but I do question their wisdom.

If you take any of these prescriptions, consider all side effects and make an educated decision for yourself. Guns get blamed for these murders, but we need to be aware of the drugs these killers are prescribed and stop those who take them from having weapons.

Christians need to hold God’s truth above the lies of the world. The Apostle Paul lists witchcraft (pharmakeia) among the works of the flesh.

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God“ (Galatians 5:19-21).

Sin tends to promote other sin. If you participate in any one of these works of the flesh, it’s almost certain that others will also be a part of your life. Sorcery (pharmakeia) and murder are just two.

Parents must take responsibility for their children. That means to monitor the movies they watch (do they promote violence and sin?), music they listen to (are the lyrics inspired by Satan?), and video games they play (filled with killing?). It also means to monitor what they are being taught in school, their diet, as well as the drugs they’re prescribed.

The fallen world around us will never believe the problem lies with anything but guns, but as Christians we must hold God’s word as the final authority. Christian parents have a responsibility to raise their children Biblically. Beginning in Genesis chapter 1, teach them the truth:

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth“ (Genesis 1:1).

God created everything. Period. Homeschooling is the best option for Christians, but if you have no other choice but to send your children to public school, don’t allow them to be taught evolutionary lies or explicit sex “education.” Evolution is a satanic lie that’s easily disproved. Genetics alone show that evolution is impossible, but logic tells you it’s a sick joke.

Responsible parents must also give their child proper food instead of fast food and TV dinners. God made our bodies to use the food He created, but people have decided to add hormones and preservatives to food. Today we also have genetically modified food, which is even worse for us than additives and preservatives. This isn’t the way God intended people to eat, and a person’s body will react adversely.

Could these hormones be the root of evil behind so many people claiming to be homosexual? Yes, homosexuality is a sin. God knows what’s best for humans, but man foolishly corrupts what God gives.

“Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men“ (1 Corinthians 1:25).

Paul wasn’t saying God is in any way foolish; but even if He were, He would be wiser than people.

When a child can’t sit still or concentrate, what’s the solution that foolish men have come up with? Drugs. Rather than using discipline and proper nutrition, just control the mind with drugs. Never mind that drugs aren’t healthy for anybody. As long as that little boy or girl sits quietly and listens to the voices in their heads, everything is fine—until that voice tells him to kill his classmates—then we blame the gun.

When God is rejected, wickedness abounds. By and large, society today rejects God.

The Apostle Paul summed it up in the first chapter of his letter to the Romans, where we read that the reality of God is evident in His creation. No matter how many millions or billions of years a non-living thing waits, it will never become a living thing. Chaos will never move to order. Creation didn’t just happen—God did it.

Satan has promoted the lie of evolution, and God is being systematically removed from schools, government, and even churches. Is it any wonder that wickedness abounds? Removing God is pure foolishness.

“Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen“ (Romans 1:22-25).

Rejection of God is the basis of all sin. Without His moral guidance, sin abounds.

Today it’s a crime to break a Condor egg, but when an unborn child is killed in the mother’s womb, it’s called “a woman’s right to choose;” and this murderous act is protected by law.

When God is rejected, He allows the consequences of sin to run its course. We reap what we sow, so to speak. God gives those who reject Him over to a reprobate mind and they embrace every sin imaginable.

“Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful“ (Romans 1:29-31).

That’s quite a list of evil that happens when God is rejected. Banning guns won’t solve the problem that’s caused by banning God.

Scripture tells us that things will get more perilous as we draw closer to the end of time.

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good. Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

As we approach Daniel’s 70th week, we can see that evil is overtaking every nation. Christians will be Raptured before that final week, but things will get much worse before then. The Rapture isn’t an escape from troubles, but rather a blessing from God that we escape His wrath, which will be poured out upon the earth and those left.

That final week is described in Revelation; and as plagues and judgments are poured out, the people who remain on the earth will harden their hearts. They refuse to repent.

“Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts“ (Revelation 9:21).

There’s that word “sorceries,” which is pharmakeia.

We can see that wickedness is growing stronger while Christians remain silent. We have the truth of God’s word and can see the wickedness all around, but still we don’t speak out.

“And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness” (1 John 5:19).

Before we ban guns and make secular judgments about the reasons behind all of these mass killings, I urge everyone to listen to the February 18, 2018, commentary by J.D. Farag, (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7Ut0LyUq6Y) and another very well thought out commentary by Anthony Brian Logan, (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkPrVbjXYE0).

Drugs, prescription or non-prescription, open our minds to demonic entry. Couple that with secular music, violent video games, movies that show killing after killing, and you have the devil’s playground. Turn from this evil right now.

If you’re a Christian, take a stand for Christ every day. Don’t compromise.

If you have never given your life to Christ, it isn’t too late. You are a sinner and you need salvation. Salvation only comes through faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Repent of sin right now and ask Jesus to forgive you and help you out of that sin. Repent means to change your mind and see sin as sin and turn away from it. Drugs, satanic music, and sinful lifestyles are all forgivable sins, but you have to earnestly repent and accept Jesus as your Saviour.

Banning guns won’t solve the problem.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

www.straitandnarrowministry.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Ron and Nathele Graham’s previous commentaries archived at https://www.raptureready.com/featured/graham/graham.html

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God breathed.

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How Has Christ Changed You? :: By Nathele Graham

Published on: February 18, 2018February 20, 2018 by RR7

Sin
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting“ (Psalm 139:23-24).

David loved God. He was known as a man after God’s own heart, not because he was perfect but because his desire was to please God. When David sinned he didn’t make excuses but he repented and asked God to forgive him. Two lessons that every Christian can learn from David are repentance and the desire for God to show us where we need to change our thoughts and attitudes.

David didn’t wait until he saw a problem in his own ways, but he asked God to search him and lead him away from sin. Our desire to please God should be stronger than our desire to please the world. Jesus will help us all change and become more like Him. He met many people when He walked among men and He changed many lives. Today, He still changes lives.

Peter and Andrew were the first ones called to follow Jesus. These men made their living as fishermen and probably weren’t very refined. “And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men“ (Matthew 4:18-19).

They left their nets and followed Jesus, and Jesus would drastically change their lives.

As they walked they came to a boat with two more brothers who were fishermen, and their father. James and John didn’t hesitate to follow Jesus when He called to them. Peter, Andrew, James, and John were young men who had a lot to learn about following Jesus, but our Lord would help them to grow strong in faith.

We might think that the disciples were unique men who were gentle and sat quietly at Jesus’ feet in order to learn all they could. This image is shattered when we learn the nickname that Jesus gave to James and John. “And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder“ (Mark 3:17).

They earned this nickname. It was James and John who asked if Jesus wanted them to get revenge on the Samaritans who would not receive Him. “…Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?“ (Luke 9:54b).

Jesus rebuked them for this, but it’s a little amusing that they were arrogant and presumptuous enough to think they could call down fire from heaven on behalf of Jesus.

When we first come to Jesus, we’re all a little rough around the edges. If we love Him and desire to please Him we will allow Him to search our hearts and help us to change into the Christian He wants us to be.

A person may take part in sin for many years. That sin may bring in much wealth, but the price of sin is steep. “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul“ (Matthew 16:26).

When Jesus walked among men, tax collectors weren’t known for their honesty. They had lots of money but were outcasts among the Jewish people because they worked for Rome. They also were known to collect money over and above the tax, and that money went into their own pockets. Matthew was a tax collector. Was he tired of the way his life was going and the burden of sin it created? Jesus saw Matthew and called him to leave his worldly way of life. Matthew didn’t hesitate.

“And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him“ (Matthew 9:9).

Just like that his life was changed. Matthew was a faithful follower of Jesus, and because he wrote the Gospel of Matthew, generations of Christians have been blessed.

Another tax collector who had his life changed was Zacchaeus. “And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich“ (Luke 19:2).

Zacchaeus knew that Jesus was going to pass by, so he climbed a tree in order to see Him. Was Zacchaeus just gawking at the celebrity who was passing, or was he hoping that Jesus would change him? Jesus called him down from the tree and said He would visit him at his house. This meeting with Jesus changed Zacchaeus’ life. His sin was made clear to him and he knew what he had to do.

“And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation I restore him fourfold“ (Luke 19:8).

Being in the presence of Jesus turned Zacchaeus around. Instead of greed he felt the need to restore all he had stolen. Jesus didn’t point a finger and condemn him, but His very presence brought conviction to Zacchaeus, and he found salvation.

“And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost“ (Luke 19:9-10).

Jesus still wants to change sinful people. If you’re burdened by a heavy load of sin, turn to Jesus. Turn your life over to Him and He will change you.

Sometimes Jesus went out of His way to bring someone out of their sin. One example took place by a well in Samaria. Jesus needed to travel from Jerusalem to Galilee and decided to travel through Samaria. This was the shorter route but not the preferred one. The Jewish people and the Samaritans avoided contact with each other as much as possible.

They came to a well where Jesus rested but He sent His disciples into the town. It was there that He met a woman who was living a very sinful life. After some small talk, Jesus led the conversation to the sin in her life. He told her to go call her husband.

“The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: for thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly“ (John 4:17-18).

If you think that God isn’t aware of the sin in your life or that your sinful lifestyle doesn’t matter, think again. Further conversation revealed that this woman knew the Messiah would come and reveal all things. It was then that Jesus told her who He was. The woman couldn’t control her joy and had to tell others. Right away she left her water pot and went into the town and told others that she had met the Messiah.

How many people have you shared the Good News of Jesus Christ with? Jesus didn’t condemn this woman, but made her aware of her sin.

Another time a woman was caught in the act of adultery, and the Scribes and Pharisees brought her to Jesus for Him to condemn her. These men knew the Law inside and out and they wanted Jesus to stone her as required by Law. Never mind that the Law also required the man who had been with her should have also been stoned. Jesus didn’t condemn her, but made those religious leaders aware of their own sin, and they left.

Jesus didn’t condemn this woman, but neither did He accept her sin and leave her in it. After her accusers left, He asked if any man had condemned her. “She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more“ (John 8:11).

Most of us like the part where Jesus doesn’t condemn us for our sin, but we don’t like the part about turning away from that sin. Jesus’ love will change us if we allow it.

Many people go to religious leaders to seek forgiveness for sin. Only Jesus can forgive sin and change lives. A priest is just a human and has no authority over sin. Go to Jesus and let Him change you then “…go, and sin no more.”

The hardest of hearts belonged to the religious leaders. They had head knowledge that the Messiah was prophesied to come, but they refused to let go of their religion and accept Him. A Pharisee named Nicodemus was an exception. Curiosity caused him to visit Jesus and ask questions. Jesus told him that he needed to be born of the spirit and not only of the flesh. This was something Nicodemus should have known from his study of Scripture, and he was willing to find the truth. This conversation led to one of the most beloved Scriptures.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life“ (John 3:16).

God’s love is perfect. We know that Nicodemus was a changed man because he went with Joseph of Arimathaea (another Pharisee) to care for Jesus’ body after the crucifixion.

While we live on this side of Heaven we will never fully understand God’s love. First we need to understand just how ugly sin is and that it separates us from God. We all sin and that sin condemns us to an eternity of separation from God. Only belief in Jesus Christ will allow you to spend eternity with God. Accept Him through faith, and then allow Him to change you.

The disciples left everything to follow Jesus. Most of the Pharisees had head knowledge of the coming Messiah, but Nicodemus allowed Him into his heart. The Samaritan woman also had head knowledge of the coming Messiah, but when she met Him at the well she was changed. The prostitute found forgiveness and mercy from Jesus. Many other people had demons cast out and others were healed of afflictions; their lives were changed forever.

God’s love is pure and perfect. He doesn’t want to condemn you, but to bring you to salvation and work change in you.

“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God“ (John 3:17-18).

We condemn ourselves.

How has Christ changed you? If you claim to be a Christian but your life hasn’t changed since you met Him, maybe you haven’t really met Him. Be like King David and ask Him to search your heart for wickedness. He will lead you “…in the way everlasting.”