Because I Say So!

Deuteronomy‬ ‭6:24-25‬ ‭- And the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day. Then it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to observe all these commandments before the LORD our God, as He has commanded us.

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The message Sunday was on familiar spirits. Familiar spirits refers to necromancy or evoking the spirits of the dead. Briefly, these familiar spirits take us away from God and His Holy Spirit. They are the deceiving thoughts or words that oppose God. Before we know Christ we are considered dead in spirit. These spirits control our lives, deceiving us into believing the things in the world are fine. They deceive us into believing the opposite of what God believes and that societal beliefs should be tolerated, not the things of God.

There is both an evil and a good spiritual realm. If you don't know the Lord that evil realm takes precedence. If we know the Lord, these familiar spirits work hard to draw us back to the evil one. Far fetched? Don't recognize it? It's there.

Anyway, as pastor was preaching he made a statement. When children are doing something they shouldn't, parents will say No! And if they ask why sometimes the answer is Because I say so!

Well, God does the same. He has given us commandments to live by. He has shown us that apart from Him we are nothing, that we operate in our own strength. We are independent of Him. We are disobedient to and rebellious toward Him. We, without our knowing it, are weak apart from God. And most of all, self-centered. 

The entire Bible is filled with God's words for us, His because I say so's! He has given us countless examples of right and wrong and what happens if we do right as opposed to if we do wrong. He has every right to impose these commands because He is God and because He knows what's best for us...and especially because He wants the for us.

So, Because I say so! 

Many think the Bible only contains a list of do's and don'ts. God's Because I say so's are for our own good, just like a parent who only has the good of their children in mind. If you've been a parent you can understand this. Now apply that understanding to a God who loves your children (and you) even more .

God knows everything. He knows the beginning from the end. He knew us before we were yet born...even from the before beginning of time. He knew our names. He knows 
what we need. He knows the state of the world's disobedience and what all we will have to go through in life. 

It's why we need a Savior. It's why He offered up His Son for us. If we are serious about Jesus, while we still will go through life's trials, they will be worth it if we just listen to God when He says, No and tacks on Because I say so!  

Because He says so. Because He knows. Because He loves us. Because He wants only the best for us. Because. Because He says so we will be able to get through life with Him beside us. Because He says so we will have everlasting life. But we must be willing to believe what He says is true, unconditionally, and come to Him with forgiveness in our hearts for our disobedience. It's what He requires. Just because...He says so! 

Sound one-sided? Parents listen to their kids putting up a fuss when reprimanded. Do you put up a fuss also and say No to Him? Stop putting up a fuss and put on Christ.

He wants none to perish in their sin. He wants to remove that sin. He sets boundaries but our rebelliousness rejects them. Why do we need to do what He requires? Because God knows. God rewards as well as punishes (like a parent). He is a good God and a just God. If we go on being rebellious, we will get what we deserve. Be born of God. Follow Him because He says so. Have life. Know truth. Be blessed with spiritual blessings. Have the God of all creation on your side and guiding you through trials. You will not be alone. 

People do not want to hear about sin or believe that they are sinners. And they do not want to hear Because He says so. You can change your thinking, confess your sins, because He says so isn't so bad. 

1John‬ ‭5:3-5‬ ‭- For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

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