The importance of apologetics

Apologetics is the defense of the Christian faith.  Although it is required of every believer, very few consider it important enough to study - and most of those that do only do so on an incomplete level.  There are some apologetic "ministries" that are just as apostate as those they (correctly) point out as apostate!  Christians need to study for their selves and make sure what they are listening to is what scripture says.

1 Peter 3
13  And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
14  But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
16  Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
17  For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

When one knows the bible and what Yahweh says, it is extremely easy to pick out the obvious apostates and those that are christian cults such as catholics, mormons, and Jehovah's witnesses.  Yet even so, the apostate and heretical teachers still have extremely huge followings by those who claim to be Christian that have no idea what the bible really says.

Messiah Yeshua said there would be many imposters in the last days claiming to be teachers of truth but are wolves that are just pretending to be Christians to deceive and fleece the flock.  This is why it is extremely important to not take anyone's word what the bible says but be like the Bereans and verify it with scripture - and if it contradicts the old testament, their interpretation of the new testament is wrong.  Yahweh hs not changed and Messiah Yeshua never taught against Yahweh.  The apostle Paul was shown to not contradict the old testament by the Bereans.

Some "apologetic ministries" have it right in some areas although they miss the mark on other issues.  Examples of this are those who right about the heresies of Hillsong, Bethel-Redding, ihop, Joel Osteen, Rick Warren, etc. yet see nothing wrong with celebrating pagan holidays such as easter and christmas, see nothing wrong with calling sunday "the Christian Sabbath" and claim "Christians do not have to observe the dietay laws ("because Jesus cleansed it") or the Sabbath ("the Sabbath is for the Jews"), etc.

I became interested in apologetics right after my fiance died and I was going through some extremely tough times emotionally.  I moved back to Seattle and got cable television and discovered "Christian Television".  This was several years before the internet use by the public.    A few days watching and seeing Kenneth Hagin and Kenneth Copeland "dueling in tongues" and seeing Benny Hinn blowing demons on people, I told Yahweh "If this is Christianity, I want no part of it" and He opened my eyes to the great apostasy that was leading the church astray.  I found a great church and attended regularly.  A couple of years later, I moved an hour away from there.  I visited several churches over the next few months and found several corrupt ones.  I decided to drive back to the church I had attended where Yahweh's spirit was.  I went in and it was different - and Yahweh's spirit was no longer there.  I found out a short time later the pastor had gone to Pensacola (IE "Pensacola Outpouring") and brought the kundalini spirit back with him which had infiltrated and corrupted the church.  By that time, I was buying books and studying apologetics (still before the internet) and finding out about the kundalini infestation that was spreading throughout the churches.  I also studied the Kansas City Prophets (forerunner of ihop) and the serpent seed doctrine and other heresies (including kingdom now and Joel's army, and the rivers, etc.)  of those that were the fathers of that movement (starting with William Branham)   Homosexuality was a huge part of word faith both then and now - they are given over to a reprobate mind and fall into that sin which is what Romans 1 says would happen.  Paul Cain who was part of the Kansas City Prophets is a major part of ihop and he is a professing homosexual.  I showed this and the history of KCP / ihop and their connection in an earlier post.

Romans 1
21  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23  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.
24  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25  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.
26  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27  And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30  Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31  Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

There are many false 'Jesus', many false churches, and many false pastors - and the closer we get to Messiah Yeshua's return, the deceived will be deceiving others into following them into apostasy.  This is why it is critical for true Christians ton study scripture for their selves and show they are approved onto God:

2 Timothy 2
15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16  But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
17  And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
18  Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
19  Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

The only way to make sure you stay in the faith is to study scripture FOR YOURSELF and verify WITH SCRIPTURE what teachers are saying - even the popular teachers (or especially - if they are popular, then they are likely tickling itchy ears with sooth lies and not speaking the truth)

All of us need to make very sure we remain in the faith and are not deceived into following those who are after our souls.  It is so easy to be misled especially when the smooth sounding serpent twists scripture and makes it sound so nice - just as easily as the serpent deceived Eve into eating the fruit and just as easy as the demon that whispered into King David's ear to hold a census that Yahweh said to not do.  Even believers can be deceived by satan and his minions!

1 Chronicles 21
1  And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
2  And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it.
3  And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?
4  Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.
5  And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword.
6  But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them: for the king's word was abominable to Joab.
7  And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel.
8  And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

Pray that Yahweh show you anything you need to repent of - and REPENT of it!  Time is so very short, there is no time to be fooling around.  Many will be left behind to face the antichrist because they refuse to repent for what they have done.  Do not be fooled into believing you will be raptured if you refuse to repent and refuse to obey Messiah Yeshua (the Living Torah) and follow Him.  Follow means OBEY.

1 John 3:4  Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Matthew 23:28  Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.^G458

Matthew 7
21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. ^G458

Strong's number G458 iniquity (transliterated as anomia)   :
anomia
1) the condition of without law
     a) because ignorant of it
     b) because of violating it
2) contempt and violation of law, iniquity, wickedness

John14:15  If ye love me, keep my commandments.

John14:23  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

John15:10  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

1 John 2
3  And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

1 John 5
2  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
3  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

Revelation 14:12  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
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