Dune and the lie of traveling without moving

The real story of Kwisatz Haderach and other myths

It all fit together when I heard on of my favorite Chirstian rock singers Kevin Max use the words from Dune in his lyrics. The name for their Dune Messiah Paul as the Kwisatz Haderach. Only recently I found that the meaning of many of these words were Arabic, and semitic. The meaning of this word originated  a long long time ago and was a belief or myth from the Jewish religion. Let me explain.  The whole idea of space travel is an escape from reality and it a return to the Babylonian worship of space or the heavens.

    I was always a good candidate for Science fiction brainwashing. For example, I have seen 2001, a Space Odyssey over ten times in the sixties when I was a young and dumb. I did not know that I was being groomed to believe in this space religion and that the monolith really was to be my Iphone. Same dimensions, black and even Stanley Kubrik said it was ‘a talking picture devised to teach”  Like the Apes we have been taught.  Lies. We did not evolve but we devolved from where God wanted us to be.

   Now I still like to watch these science fiction films and see what myths they are promoting. Like the false hope of the heavens.  Space the final frontier.   But now, since I have become enamoured with the truth as it was shown to me in the Gospel, I realize that my hope is not in the stars or escaping the late great planet earth. Nope Space X and Musk are not selling this old believer any tickets to Mars. No, now this is my planet and it is my responsibility to take care of it until it is renovated by the Savior Jesus Christ! I want to  bring heaven to earth not leave earth to find some kind of answer to mans problems.

    But in spreading the Gospel we must be on guard and discern the lies that would be against it. We can prove all things according to the Truth and hold fast to Jesus not myths. We must defend the true faith with the truth.

We must keep the faith diligently and not be deceived by the deceiver. 

I had owned the original film Dune which was from the 1965 Novel Dune by Frank Herbet.

I don’t know exactly where he got his inspiration but I was always fascinated by Lynch’s rendition of the Film Dune.

   I loved the 1984 film Directed by David Lynch and the way that “space could be folded”  The imagery in this film captivated me.  Now years later I look at it in a different light.  This “folding of space” or Einsteinian relativity creating “worm holes” through “black holes” is an old Jewish myth.  So you say I am being an anti-Semite saying that. Of course, you would, that is to stop you from thinking about it. But I will show you that the Jews are proud to own it as I will show you Abrams comments.

     This is a recurrent myth or theme in science fiction.  The famous Star trek series and films had a way to overcome the limit of the speed of light, by “warp drive”.  A lot of science fiction advanced as the physicists like Einstein and Hawkings sold their fiction and impossible theories as science! Famous Satanists like Jack Parsons were founding the Pasadena Jet propulsion lab when they were not producing sex magic to bring the son of iniquity. That you will see is another red flag, if you look at the history of space and rockets. Also you will notice the strong Nazi influence in the creation of NASA and the space race.

    I had bought this David Lynch’s 1984 Dune not knowing how 1984ish it was.  I also watched the 2021 Dune directed by Denis Villeneuve in Flex. Then second was not as well done and acted as the first in my opinion. But I really was affected by the imagery of Lynch’s Dune. It stuck in my mind and I thought of the bizarre images, like the Navigators. Another myth implanted. Maybe we can just fold space to get around the nasty reality of astronomic distances?

After all, the story of Dune gave us the narrative that you can travel anywhere if you can fold space. You can jump through galaxies instantly if you can just bring it to you. All they needed was these creatures called Navigators who were also selling drugs. Yes they were. Because their abilities to flod space came from being addicted and immersed in a hallucinogenic drug called “Spice”  And that should tell you something.

     The idea of space travel is full of myths but to “boldly” visit other worlds “where no man has gone before” absolutely required a way that can get around the limits of God’s laws of Physics, the inconvenient knowledge of such the cosmic and solar radiation, Van Allen belts and those pesky astronomic distances measured in light years.  And we thought time might shrink for the astronut traveling 99.999% the speed of light. Another Nice myth!

    Obviously to give us the hope of space travel these problems needed to be obviated. One way to get around the little problem called “truth” is to lie or create myths.  We should be on guard as believers of Christ to discern truth from error in everything that enters our minds, especially the hidden agendas in mega enter-trainment of the media.

The apostle Paul warned Titus about myths.

Tit 1:14

and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the merely human commands of those who reject the truth.

There are plenty of myths for those who prefer to be entertained that face reality. Many would have to have their ears tickled rather than hear the hard truth. There are no short cuts around the way to God. Jesus know the way to God because He was the only way. He had to die first die to be seated in the heavens. I understand why people get sold on myths of alternate reality.

2Ti 4:4

They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

And these myths should be exposed to the Light of the truth if we are to fight the good fight for the Faith. Otherwise more will give up their eternity for a ride on a rocket to no where.

1Ti 1:4

or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith.

   Paul knew how toxic  these lies are that are designed to distract us from the truth and the hope that is in our Lord Jesus and His Gospel.

Those who had him crucified are still spreading their lies and are against Christ and reality.

   I had found it very interesting that the novel Dune used so many analogies and phrases that relate to the Semitic language of the Arabs, and  perhaps really the Jews.  The words in Arab are based on the same origin of the Hebrew language and both are descended from ancient semitic language.

   Here I noticed the name given to the Messiah of the film, Paul or Muad’Dib, was semitic or Arabic as are most of the names in Herbert’s novel.

    When I read this commentary from Nathan Abrams in the Jewish Forward magazine, I was not really surprised. The whole novel and film seem to be a means to teach the Jewish myths that would skip around the truth, who is Jesus and find other realities. They wrote into this film many motifs such as the wandering persecuted Jews as the Fremen race running from planet to planet. They too were waiting for a warrior Messiah like Muad’Dib who could ride and command the Shai-Hulud Sandworm. In Arabic meaning “eternal thing”. But they missed the true Messiah Jesus the Christ when He came if they did.

But there are no other ways to God or to the truth outside of Jesus. I believe what He said

Jhn 14:6

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Here is a comment that shows where the ideas in Dune come from.

https://forward.com/culture/film-tv/440962/the-secret-jewish-history-of-dune/

Abrams says the that Herbert the author of Dune has a lot to owe to Judaism, since they believe in a Messiah.  As Paul became as Mu’adib, which means “Teacher” in Semitic tongue by the way, he was their waited for Messiah, with a pedigree geneolgy created by “witches” called the sisiterhood of the Bene Gesserit. In Hebrew this resembled “Benot Gesserit” or “Sons of Jeshurun” meaning sons of the just”.

It is very unfortunate for the Jewish people that their religion,  Judaism,  rejects the real Messiah Jesus Christ and waits for a false one.

    Also, Mr Abrams noted “that this term, the Kwisatz Haderach resembles the Hebrew phrase kefitzat haderech. Literally meaning “the shortening of the way,” This must have been known by Herbert, I think.

      This is a myth and a teaching of the elders that got written down in the Talmud. The Talmud is the real basis for the Judaic religion not the Pentateuch or words of the prophet Moses.  Christians need to understand what is really taught in the religion of the Jews. Not the old testament but interpretations and extrapolations of it.  These myths and traditions are anti Christ and were confronted as lies by Christ. They were looking for “short cuts” because the way seem to hard.

Mat 15:3

But he answered and said unto them, why, do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

But after the religions of the Pharisees rejected and had Christ murdered, they placed their ideas that Jesus called “the tradition of the elders” into writing called the Babylonian Talmud. And since they were not going to take the Way as being Jesus, they were always looking for ways around the Way. But there are none.  This is similar to the idea of “Kefitzat haderech” the shortening of the way.  Or jumping through a secret way to get somewhere that is impossible to get to. This is fantasy and magic and it has been written into our theoretical physics which will always remain just that……Theoretical and fantasy. Not science.

1Ti 6:20

O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called;

    The shortening of the way. The way is Jesus and He is the only way to God. But their tradition taught there are many other ways. There are short cuts around reality and ways to be saved going around Jesus’ back.  Such foolishness! And there are tricks and magic formulas that can sent you into the heavenly places with Captain Kirk too, to boldly go where no man has gone before!

   Herbert’s term, the Kwisatz Haderach resembles the Hebrew phrase kefitzat haderech. Literally meaning “the shortening of the way,” Abrams

He added “The term is mentioned in the Talmud and Jewish folklore legends to refer to a magical or mystical transportation or teleportation between two places in a short amount of time.”

Abrams also notes that the story of Dune is about a suppressed people called the Fremen and they are examples of the Jews who wander from culture to culture as pioneers.

More on this belief that came from the myths of the Jewish religion is explained here

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kefitzat_Haderech

They read into the story of Abraham sending his man servant to Ur to find a wife for Isaac as a time jump or space jump. They only interpreted this from one phrase

“I came today” indicates that “Today I started on my journey and today I have arrived here. Hence, we may infer that the earth (the road) shrunk for him (i.e that the journey was shortened in a miraculous manner)” and uses the literal phrase קפיצת הדרך to reference this phenomenon.”

This is from

Gen 24:42

And I came this day unto the well, and said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go:

No matter how long the journey took from Canaan to Ur he arrived that day., I have no clue as to  why they would interpret it otherwise.

Rashi states that the usage of “I came today” indicates that “Today I started on my journey and today I have arrived here

     Where did Rashi get that? Did the servant say “today I started on my journey” or did Rashi just add that to Moses?  Moses simply said that the servant said “I came today” But then again, the Jewish Rabbin misinterpreted who the Messiah was and did not want to take the hard way through the real Way and the Truth and the Life. The were looking for short cuts. 

   That is all our problems we rather listen to the easy way. Or what we think is easier, But the only way to Eternity is not a space ship that can go around space, but through the Cross.  Most find that too much and rather have their ears tickled with myths.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natronai_ben_Hilai

transportation a dream to good to be true because it is not true.

https://ladderofjacob.com/2014/10/05/kefitzat/

    You see there is much even Christians have been fooled into believing. But the common origin of these ideas is not from the Scripture itself but the same Jesus rejecting Rabbin that wanted the Truth crucified.  The idea that there is a way to “jump the way” to me is not a miracle. The miracle for me was that Jesus entered death to overcome it and the great miracle that is forgotten is that Jesus was Risen from the grave! He overcame death, and that power is greater than any bending of space or super light warp speed travel.

Eph 1:19-23

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all”

   This power is the miracle that passes all miracles of power.  It is the power that took a dead body and raised Him out of death (as witnessed by his disciples) and ascended Him unto the right hand of God (again witnessed by them) , passing through all the created universe. That is a Miracle!  I know you will not like the  part about  Jesus dying on the cross or being told you have to die to your self to live. But that is the only real way to travel to the heavenlies.

     You cannot jump over “The Way” or any law that God has set. Nor can you go around reality to have it your way. Sorry my Jewish friends, it just doesn’t work.

    A lot of this thinking is based on the Babylonian Talmud.  One of the chief teachers of the Talmud at the Sura Academy in Babylon claimed he could use the “jumping of the way” or the Kefitzat HaDerekh. I tend to think he was an imposter and a liar and that Jesus was the only Truth. HE was the only way to God.

Because of the way the Rabbin of the Pharisee tradition reject the Truth, Jesus,  I  suspect any of their  interpretations

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natronai_ben_Hilai

    But now we have Einstein folding space as well.  Actually one of His mentors was named Max Talmud. Go figure.

    We have worm holes? Were did that come from. From what we must believe or what we want to believe?  What we believe does not change reality.

    And travel by bending space.  Travel without moving.  String theories of alternate universes inside alternate universes…Sure!

    IS this not the basis of todays thinking and science which is not at all science but the Jewish myths Paul warned Timothy about.  No longer real science but theories are taught by Hollywood and science fiction to the point that we need no proof. If we see it in a computer generated image we fall down and believe it as if it was proven fact. Is this not called delusion?

       Paul was a Pharisee of Pharisees and he knew how this Anti Jesus religion worked from the inside. He was once a son of the devil as Jesus accused the Pharisaic teachers of being. But Paul saw the light. He was proof in the flesh that no one is born evil but are taught evil and can simply change their opinions.

   These ideas like this K H idea is their way, and Satan’s way to offer an alternate way through alternative universes. Another universe outside of Gods rules. Another way around the truth, But there is only one God, One reality and One truth whose name is Jesus!

   He is the door, yet these false shepherds of the sheeple want to corral us all into death by bending our perception of reality. SO, they try to convince us to believe in anything except the one way to life and hope. 

Ways to go around the way. Ways to imagine how to go around Jesus and not take the door to life. There is no Kwisatz Haderach or short cuts to God.  Lies are the enemy not Jews.  A real Jew believes in Jesus. And I would change the litany that Dune taught me about fear by replacing “fear” with myths or lies.

“I must not believe myths
Lies are the mind killer

Lies are the little-death that brough total obliteration to man

I will face the lie with truth

I will allow the Truth to pass through me

And with my inner eye  I will see Him

The light dispel all the lies

And only we who believe the truth will remain.

The Truth is always Jesus!

The Test of Your Gospel

Posted on May 8, 2011 by Paul Ellis // 38 Comments

I once heard a preacher say that “80 to 90% of Christians are unacquainted with the gospel of grace.”

I guess this estimate is not far off the mark as evidenced by the large numbers of believers who are still trying to earn what God has freely given them.

If you were to ask these people about grace they would declare, “Yes, I am saved by grace! I thank God for his grace!”

But by their works they testify that God’s grace is not enough.

Grace may have got them started, but now it’s up to them to finish. Having begun with the Spirit they are now trying to attain their goal by human effort (Gal 3:3).

Instead of working out what it means to be saved, they are working hard to stay saved.

How does this happen?

Usually someone tells them that God won’t accept them or bless them or be pleased with them unless they perform for Jesus.

Dead religious works are sold with respectable labels like responsibility, good works, mission, sowing, and investing. I am not against these things. But I am strongly opposed to the lie that says God’s favor depends on you doing them.

Do you know that you are saved by grace and kept by grace?

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him. (Col 2:6)

How did you receive him? By faith. How should you continue to live in him? By faith. It’s faith in God’s grace from start to finish.

Are you living by the faith of the Son of God? Or have you taken out a little works insurance?

As Watchman Nee put it, you can try or you can trust but you can’t do both.

Let me give you a simple test to help you determine whether the gospel message you’re trusting in is the same gospel that Jesus revealed and Paul preached. Ask yourself these four questions. If your answers are all yes, then rejoice, for you are living on pure, undiluted grace!

1. DOES THIS GOSPEL CAUSE ME TO FIX MY EYES EXCLUSIVELY ON JESUS?

A true gospel preacher will always seek to reveal more and more of Jesus.

It took me years to realize this. When I began preaching in the 1990s, I used to preach on the kingdom. I loved the kingdom and I still do. But I now realize that my love for the kingdom was really a love for the King. Now I just preach of this Great King who loves me and gave himself for me.

Now I just preach Jesus.

Preachers, do you need a message on healing? Then preach Jesus!

Do you need a series on overcoming, giving, wisdom, holiness, faith, warfare, marriage, family life, outreach, helping the poor, deliverance, Leviticus, the Tabernacle, etc? Then preach Jesus!

Whatever your need, your answer is found in Jesus and his finished work. That’s why Paul resolved to know nothing but “Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor 2:2). Any message that doesn’t reveal Jesus will likely be powerless substitute, a flesh-trip, and a wasted opportunity.

Jesus is the supreme manifestation of the character and purpose of God. Any message that diminishes Jesus, insults the Spirit of grace. Jesus is peerless and nothing compares to him. He has become for us wisdom from God and I will boast of nothing else (1 Cor 1:30-31).

Here’s the test: A false gospel will emphasize what you’re doing (or not doing), while the true gospel will emphasize Christ’s finished work on the cross. A false gospel will make you introspective and anxious, while the true gospel will always make you Christ-conscious and grateful.

2. DOES THIS GOSPEL INCREASE MY DEPENDENCE ON JESUS?

Jesus said, “Apart from me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5). Sadly, much is done apart from Jesus and most of it will amount to nothing!

Instead of healing the sick, raising the dead and driving out demons – the very things Jesus said his followers would do – we’re doing other stuff. And because we’re so busy doing other stuff we’re worn out and missing opportunities to do the works and greater works of Jesus.

Let me put your mind at rest right now: I guarantee that in your own strength you cannot heal the sick and raise the dead. Don’t even try. But Christ in you can do these and greater things. Do you trust him?

Working out your salvation with fear and trembling describes the adventure of learning to do impossible things with Jesus.

Here’s the test: A false gospel promotes dead works done in your own name, but the true gospel will inspire you to take risks in his Name and help you bear fruit that lasts.

3. DOES THIS GOSPEL EMPOWER ME TO OVERCOME SIN?

There are two ways to deal with sin; (1) preach law or (2) reveal grace. The first approach will fail because the purpose of the law is to inflame sin (Rom 7:5). Any success with rule-keeping will only lead to bigger sins of pride and self-righteousness. The law is powerless to deal with sin because it leaves the heart untouched (Col 2:23).

Worse, it releases condemnation (which some mistake for conviction) and ministers death, just as it was designed to do (2 Cor 3:7,9).

In contrast, a grace preacher will deal practically with sin by revealing your true identity in Christ.

You are a new creation with a new nature. Your old sin software has been nailed to the cross and you are no longer sin’s slave (Rom 6:6,20). Appetites are dealt with by recognizing who you are in Christ and reckoning your old self as dead.

Here’s the test: A false gospel will keep you sin-conscious and bound, but the true gospel will empower you to sin no more.

4. DOES THIS GOSPEL RELEASE PEACE AND JOY?

The kingdom of heaven is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom 14:17). If the gospel you’re listening to doesn’t reveal Jesus and the gift of his righteousness, you will never experience the peace and joy that comes with it.

This test is actually about righteousness: Are you resting in his or are you trying to impress him with yours?

A false gospel will seek to manufacture righteousness through works and holy living. By prescribing a course of action, it will instantly fail the above three tests. It will burden you with loads you cannot carry and expectations you cannot meet. Before you know it, you will be as stressed and joyless as Martha.

If you stopped doing the things you are doing for Jesus, would you feel guilty?

What if you sinned, stopped giving, or skipped church?

I’m not encouraging you to do any of these things – sinning is stupid. But someone who knows they are clothed with his righteousness will rarely battle guilt and condemnation. Even when they sin they will sense the Holy Spirit convicting them of their righteousness in Christ (John 16:10).

Here’s the test: Someone who’s bought into a false gospel will never know lasting peace. Even when they’ve done what’s expected there will always be a sense of “have I done enough?” But the revelation of God’s undeserved favor that comes from the true gospel brings true peace.

Paul began every one of his letters with the phrase, “Grace and peace to you from God the Father.”

Worldly peace is temporary, but the peace of God – that sense that everything is coming together for good because you belong to Jesus and his favor rests on you – passes understanding (Php 4:7). It fortifies your heart and mind so that in all circumstances you find yourself overflowing with thankfulness (Col 2:7).

No matter how severe your trial, you will be able to find rest – indeed, even joy – in his mighty, loving arms (Php 4:4).

Mieux vaut prévenir que guérir

Posted on mai 8, 2011 by Paul Ellis // 38 Comments

J’ai un jour entendu un prédicateur dire que “80 à 90% des chrétiens ne connaissent pas l’évangile de la grâce.”

Je suppose que cette estimation n’est pas loin de la vérité, comme en témoigne le grand nombre de croyants qui essaient encore de gagner ce que Dieu leur a donné gratuitement.

Si vous interrogiez ces personnes sur la grâce, elles déclareraient : “Oui, je suis sauvé par la grâce ! Je remercie Dieu pour sa grâce !”

Mais par leurs œuvres, ils témoignent que la grâce de Dieu ne suffit pas.

La grâce les a peut-être fait commencer, mais maintenant c’est à eux de finir. Après avoir commencé par l’Esprit, ils essaient maintenant d’atteindre leur but par l’effort humain (Ga 3,3).

Au lieu de chercher à comprendre ce que signifie être sauvé, ils travaillent dur pour rester sauvés.

Comment cela se produit-il ?

En général, quelqu’un leur dit que Dieu ne les acceptera pas, ne les bénira pas et ne sera pas satisfait d’eux s’ils ne se produisent pas pour Jésus.

Les œuvres religieuses mortes sont vendues avec des étiquettes respectables comme responsabilité, bonnes œuvres, mission, semailles et investissement. Je ne suis pas contre ces choses. Mais je m’oppose fermement au mensonge qui dit que la faveur de Dieu dépend de ce que vous les fassiez.

Savez-vous que vous êtes sauvé par la grâce et gardé par la grâce ?

Ainsi donc, de même que vous avez reçu le Christ Jésus comme Seigneur, continuez à vivre en lui. (Col 2:6)

Comment l’avez-vous reçu ? Par la foi. Comment devez-vous continuer à vivre en lui ? Par la foi. C’est la foi en la grâce de Dieu du début à la fin.

Vivez-vous par la foi du Fils de Dieu ? Ou bien avez-vous souscrit une petite assurance des œuvres ?

Comme l’a dit Watchman Nee, vous pouvez essayer ou avoir confiance, mais vous ne pouvez pas faire les deux.

Laissez-moi vous donner un test simple pour vous aider à déterminer si le message de l’évangile auquel vous faites confiance est le même évangile que celui que Jésus a révélé et que Paul a prêché. Posez-vous ces quatre questions. Si vos réponses sont toutes positives, alors réjouissez-vous, car vous vivez de la grâce pure et non diluée !

1. Cet évangile me pousse-t-il à fixer mes yeux exclusivement sur Jésus ?

Un vrai prédicateur de l’évangile cherchera toujours à révéler de plus en plus de Jésus.

Il m’a fallu des années pour m’en rendre compte. Lorsque j’ai commencé à prêcher dans les années 1990, j’avais l’habitude de prêcher sur le royaume. J’aimais le royaume et je l’aime toujours. Mais je réalise aujourd’hui que mon amour pour le royaume était en réalité un amour pour le Roi. Maintenant, je prêche simplement ce Grand Roi qui m’aime et s’est donné pour moi.

Maintenant, je ne fais que prêcher Jésus.

Prêcheurs, avez-vous besoin d’un message sur la guérison ? Alors prêchez Jésus !

Avez-vous besoin d’une série sur le dépassement, le don, la sagesse, la sainteté, la foi, la guerre, le mariage, la vie de famille, l’aide aux pauvres, la délivrance, le Lévitique, le Tabernacle, etc ? Alors prêchez Jésus !

Quel que soit votre besoin, votre réponse se trouve en Jésus et dans son œuvre achevée. C’est pourquoi Paul a décidé de ne rien connaître d’autre que “le Christ et son crucifié” (1 Cor 2:2). Tout message qui ne révèle pas Jésus sera probablement un substitut impuissant, un voyage dans la chair, et une opportunité gâchée.

Jésus est la manifestation suprême du caractère et du dessein de Dieu. Tout message qui diminue Jésus, insulte l’Esprit de grâce. Jésus est sans égal et rien ne peut lui être comparé. Il est devenu pour nous la sagesse de Dieu et je ne me vanterai de rien d’autre (1 Cor 1:30-31).

Voici le test : Un faux évangile mettra l’accent sur ce que vous faites (ou ne faites pas), tandis que le vrai évangile mettra l’accent sur l’œuvre achevée de Christ sur la croix. Un faux évangile vous rendra introspectif et anxieux, alors que le vrai évangile vous rendra toujours conscient du Christ et reconnaissant.

2. Cet évangile augmente-t-il ma dépendance à l’égard de Jésus ?

Jésus a dit : “Sans moi, vous ne pouvez rien faire” (Jn 15.5). Malheureusement, beaucoup de choses sont faites sans Jésus et la plupart d’entre elles ne mènent à rien !

Au lieu de guérir les malades, de ressusciter les morts et de chasser les démons – les choses mêmes que Jésus a dit que ses disciples feraient – nous faisons d’autres choses. Et parce que nous sommes si occupés à faire d’autres choses, nous sommes épuisés et nous ratons des occasions de faire les œuvres et de plus grandes œuvres de Jésus.

Laissez-moi vous rassurer dès maintenant : Je vous garantis que vous ne pouvez pas guérir les malades et ressusciter les morts par vos propres forces. N’essayez même pas. Mais le Christ en vous peut faire ces choses et de plus grandes encore. Lui faites-vous confiance ?

Travailler à votre salut avec crainte et tremblement décrit l’aventure d’apprendre à faire des choses impossibles avec Jésus.

Voici le test : Un faux évangile encourage les œuvres mortes faites en votre propre nom, mais le véritable évangile vous incitera à prendre des risques en son nom et vous aidera à porter des fruits durables.

3. Cet évangile me donne-t-il les moyens de vaincre le péché ?

Il y a deux façons de traiter le péché : (1) prêcher la loi ou (2) révéler la grâce. La première approche est vouée à l’échec car le but de la loi est d’enflammer le péché (Rom 7:5). Tout succès dans le respect des règles ne fera qu’aggraver les péchés d’orgueil et d’autosatisfaction. La loi est impuissante face au péché car elle ne touche pas le cœur (Col 2:23).

Pire encore, elle libère la condamnation (que certains confondent avec la conviction) et annonce la mort, comme elle a été conçue pour le faire (2 Cor 3:7,9).

En revanche, un prédicateur de la grâce abordera le péché de manière pratique en révélant votre véritable identité en Christ.

Vous êtes une nouvelle création avec une nouvelle nature. Votre ancien logiciel de péché a été cloué à la croix et vous n’êtes plus l’esclave du péché (Rom 6:6,20). Les appétits sont traités en reconnaissant qui vous êtes en Christ et en considérant votre ancien moi comme mort.

Voici le test : Un faux évangile vous gardera conscient du péché et attaché, mais le véritable évangile vous donnera le pouvoir de ne plus pécher.

4. Cet évangile libère-t-il la paix et la joie ?

Le royaume des cieux est justice, paix et joie dans le Saint-Esprit (Rom 14:17). Si l’évangile que vous écoutez ne révèle pas Jésus et le don de sa justice, vous ne connaîtrez jamais la paix et la joie qui en découlent.

Ce test porte en fait sur la justice : Vous reposez-vous sur la sienne ou essayez-vous de l’impressionner avec la vôtre ?

Un faux évangile cherche à fabriquer la justice par les œuvres et une vie sainte. En prescrivant une ligne de conduite, il échouera instantanément aux trois tests ci-dessus. Il vous chargera de charges que vous ne pourrez pas porter et d’attentes auxquelles vous ne pourrez pas répondre. Avant que vous ne le sachiez, vous serez aussi stressé et sans joie que Marthe.

Si vous cessiez de faire ce que vous faites pour Jésus, vous sentiriez-vous coupable ?

Que se passerait-il si vous péchiez, si vous cessiez de donner, ou si vous séchiez l’église ?

Je ne vous encourage pas à faire l’une de ces choses – pécher est stupide. Mais quelqu’un qui sait qu’il est revêtu de sa justice se battra rarement contre la culpabilité et la condamnation. Même lorsqu’il pèche, il sentira le Saint-Esprit le convaincre de sa justice en Christ (Jean 16:10).

Voici le test : Une personne qui a adhéré à un faux évangile ne connaîtra jamais une paix durable. Même s’il a fait ce que l’on attendait de lui, il aura toujours le sentiment d’en avoir fait assez. Mais la révélation de la faveur imméritée de Dieu qui vient du véritable évangile apporte la vraie paix.

Paul a commencé chacune de ses lettres par la phrase : “Grâce et paix à vous de la part de Dieu le Père”.

La paix du monde est temporaire, mais la paix de Dieu – ce sentiment que tout va pour le mieux parce que vous appartenez à Jésus et que sa faveur repose sur vous – dépasse l’entendement (Php 4,7). Elle fortifie votre cœur et votre esprit, de sorte qu’en toutes circonstances, vous vous retrouvez débordant de reconnaissance (Col 2,7).

Quelle que soit la gravité de votre épreuve, vous pourrez trouver le repos – et même la joie – dans ses bras puissants et aimants (Php 4,4).

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