You might want to read my previous posts, or not. But the stars are associated with the angelic host, and with Demons.
Thank you for sharing some of your testimony. We're close in age, but my mom was a devout Catholic, and she dedicated me from birth to the Lord. Apparently God took her seriously though it wouldn't have been my first choice. I fell in love with the words of Christ before I could read and the first "adult" book that I read as a child was a King James version of the Holy Bible. I was only around 10 or 11 years old at the time and didn't know the meaning of all the words, but my parents had an old Webster's dictionary and an old encyclopedia so I looked up the words that I didn't know. After getting to and reading the gospels I started applying the word hypocrite to the nuns who were in charge of the kids in catechism and children's mass, so mom took the bible away. Pop, who was more superstitious than religious gave me his old pocket new Testament and psalms from his military service, not because he valued it, but because he valued me. Pop was the refuge in the storm of my mother's rage and abuse, but pop travelled for work so childhood was tough. I don't recall how, but I got my hands on a Gideon's bible and read it as well while still young. I had no idea that there were different translations of scripture and I was actually disturbed when I found out that God's name (the European version) was Jehovah and not Lord. It actually made my simple child's mind doubtful of the veracity of scripture, but didn't stop my interest. While in college I purchased a copy of my first modern translation, a Jerusalem bible that my cousin showed me and that was used as a textbook for one of his classes. That RCC authorized version was again very different from the King James and Gideon's bible, but there were notes explaining how the translation was done and how the order of verses were altered and why, etc.
Having had an academic oriented pre college education and having read hundreds of books on science, religion, historical figures, classic fiction, horror, mysticism, witchcraft, etc., I was no longer troubled by the differences in various translations, but I didn't read through the NIV, the NKJ, the Tanaach, the complete Jewish Bible, the ESV, the NASB, or any literal translations until after I was born again at the age of 39. I was friends with God in my youth, but went through doubts about what seemed contradictory to my carnal mind in the biblical account. I've had pastors tell me that this wasn't possible before I'd received the gospel, but I've heard similar testimony from other saints, all trained in warfare, combat and martial arts.
I was actually convinced of spiritual reality by learning how to manipulate what the Chinese call Chi and which I now know to be of demonic origin, unclean deceiving entities. They bolted in an instant, the moment that I received the Holy Spirit, standing in an employee parking lot, holding hands and praying with my born again brother in the Lord, Jerome Oates, to receive His Spirit. Before being saved, I experienced real magic firsthand, had real "psychic " powers demonstrated by a town psychic I met in a bar, no parlor tricks, who claimed to be drawn to my energy and was excited to do a personal horoscope on my date of birth. As a youth I drew strangers to me with clear mental or behavioral aberrations. Homeless beggars on subway cars or the streets of Manhattan always zoomed in on me, approached me and began conversations of the most bizarre nature as if they new me. These things didn't stop when I received the Holy Spirit, but only intensified. I've had brief conversations with demonic entities in possession of people that gave twisted smiles and sneers at me, or backed off in fear. Apparently, discernment of spirits is one of the gifts God gave me for ministry, but as an adult, given the colorful past that I've lived, much of which flew in the face of God's laws, I found that there wasn't much within the church that I was biblically qualified for in the way of ministry other than teaching the word and preaching the gospel. I was willing to serve in ministry, committed to do whatever my little Baptist congregation asked of me, and I did everything from raking out stones in the parking lot, to teaching and preaching the word. I don't have a clue what my brethren in the congregation thought of me, but I got nothing but love from them and I was very fond of that congregation until outside influences were invited in, changed the worship style, ousted ministry leaders and replaced them, stirred up dissension and offense eventually leading to a church split.
The Lord directed me to a number of different churches, but each one was in distress of some sort (except a Calvary Chapel that was incredibly immature but showing promise). In each case I got to know the pastors and some of the elders and deacons and was able to offer sound biblical council to them. Where I was heard, the church prospered, where I was ignored, Pastors quit or were fired. The Avon baptist church had to close its doors permanently because a frivolous man, unable to receive council and not bolstered by any elder leadership, was an incompetent Pastor.
I dont fear God the way some do. I stand in awe of Him and all that He is, but He's loved and cared for me so long that I trust Him completely, in spite of those flaws in my personality that pop up with fleshly desires and impulses.
I've learned through experience what my calling in life is. When I've used the gifts, it was typically as a prophet, recognizing spiritual issues within the church and without, usually before any elders, offering biblical council which has been 100% effective to those willing to receive it.
In God's economy, I'm no more than a messenger boy who brings bad news to try to effect positive change. It's not a popular job and I don't know a single prophet who is consistently well received or particularly happy in his (or her) calling. The church at large, with few exceptions, has rejected the prophets that God set amongst them, labeling them as divisive, unloving, arrogant, even as tares and false prophets, accursed and destined for destruction. God will repay for all our anguish and suffering, our torment at the hands of professing brothers and sisters, and there is no calling in the body of Christ that is less pleasant and less damaging to one's psyche ( nearly complete rejection by the people you protect and care for can be emotionally devastating and spiritually draining.) If we didn't have an endless spiritual cup to drink from, none of us would go on and most tend to retreat into isolation or wither in bitterness.
I wouldn't want to be responsible for such grievous sin against a brother or sister in the Lord, but the hypocrisy of those who constantly attack us while pretending to love everyone, will only cost real brethren some rewards and some tears, not eternal condemnation. I'm okay with that because "they know not what they do."
I perceive wisdom and grace in your posts and I'm unashamed to call you a brother, even if you don't recognize that in me. Unfortunately, I find wisdom and grace frequently lacking in the supposed scholars and theologians, puffed up in knowledge, victims of their own vanity, that present unsound doctrines in opposition to 2000 years of sound theology from the scholars and saints of the past.
This community website calls itself Christian yet really represents a mixed multitude and it is a disservice to Christ and His church to tolerate unsound doctrine that confuses and causes dissension among those seeking Christ or simply immature in the faith. When some of the brethren reach the understanding that love includes judgement and correction, not just warm fuzzy feelings, they will have actually reached a level of some spiritual maturity. But until then, they haven't really understood Christ.
"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent." Revelation 3:19
Regardless of how you receive me, I was called, I was equipped, and I was sent. Whoever receives me, receives the One who sent me. He is called Lord, because He is Lord, and despite my sin, He has loved me from the foundation of the world and truly, truly, there is no fear in perfect love. Our love is not perfected in this lifetime or there would never be a need for reconciliation in the church, but His love is perfect, His character defined by it. Believe that and you will grow to do great things. I pray that the Lord increases your understanding, your wisdom, and makes you the elder that you were born to be. You don't suffer the vanity that many here do and you've already encouraged me with your testimony. Stand firm in the faith. Pay no heed to unsound doctrine and novel interpretations that diminish Christ. Make the word your daily meat and Christ your only refuge. In Him you will find eternal reward, instead of vain gratification and works burned up by the fire. May the Lord give you increase. He has already given you honor and nobility. Amen and Amen
