it shall bruise thy head

Gen 3:14-15 - And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

unity

Unity can only come from submission of all parties to a common authority.

When we agree that scripture is the final authority for all matters of faith and practice, then we unify around the truth.

Emerging Church

This has been invading many churches of all types over the last several years and has been popping up more and more even among those who have been historically strong bible teachers.

We have a responsibility to prove all things and try the spirits as seen in these verses:

Ezekiel 33:6 - But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.

1 Thess 5:21 - Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

1 John 4:1 - Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Eph 5:10-11 - proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them


Following are notes I have collected so far concerning the Emerging Church.

Emerging Church

Sometimes known as the “Emergent” or “Emerging” church, it goes by many names and boasts being defined by a lack of definition and rules (a.k.a. CONFUSION)

Instead of a focus on belief and what they believe, they emphasize experience, mystical practices, spiritual disciplines, conversation, seeker sensitive, purpose driven, relational, hipster, and what they consider “being relevant and accessible”.

Emergents are characterized by not having a statement of faith or being nailed down to any one belief.

Emergents typically divert the "conversation" by saying they are protesting against regimentation, dress codes, formality, traditions, etc...

They also marginalize anyone critical of them as being “religious”, “legalistic”, "traditional", or “archaic”.

However, orders of service and what music is used for worship is not the real issue.

The issue is that they introduce liberal theology, corrupt doctrine, doubting of scriptural authority, and mystical/new-age practices.



Emergent leaders

Brian McLaren, Phyllis Tickle, Marcus Borg, Dallas Willard, Richard Foster, Leonard Sweet, Bob Buford, Brennon Manning, Eugene Peterson, Donald Miller, Rob Bell, Erwin McManus, Tony Jones, Doug Pagitt, Jim Willis, Tony Campolo, Richard Rhor, Andy Stanley, John Ortberg, Frank Viola, Laurie Beth Jones, Ruth Haley Barton, Shane Claiborn, Dan Kimball, Shane Hipps, Spencer Burke, Peter Rollins, Steve Chalke, Rick Warren, Nadia Bolz-Weber, Jay Bakker and many others
http://bereanresearch.org/emergent-church/


Emergent Practices

Since true biblical spirituality and order is done away with and labeled too “traditional”, it is replaced with ancient mystical ritualistic disciplines.

Mystical practices and disciplines are encouraged though each gathering of emergent church adherents employ a different mix of practices including: symbolic, multi-sensory worship; centering prayer; prayer beads; icons; spiritual direction; labyrinths; and lectio divina.  

They usually start with seemingly innocent “prayer” disciplines such as “praying the psalms” or repeating phrases over and over (vain repetitions Matt 6:7) and slowly introduce more and more practices.

Breath Prayers - Similar to the Catholic Church, the Emergent Church encourages the use of a mystic practice referred to as contemplative prayer or breath prayers.  A Breath prayer is a short phrase or sentence that is repeated throughout the day.  It’s like a mantra.  While the Catholic Church encourages it’s adherents to pray the rosary every day to increase their treasury of merit, the Emergent Church encourages it’s adherents to repeat breath prayers throughout the day to create an experience for the believer.   

“Many Christians use “Breath Prayers” throughout their day. You choose a brief sentence, or a simple phrase that can be repeated to Jesus in one breath.” - Rick Warren

Meditation – Unlike Biblical meditation which engages the mind and chews on and digests scripture -- the mystical meditation practiced by the Emergent Church is a form of transcendental meditation that is about disengaging the mind.   

“Get in touch with your lungs by closing your eyes. Visualize in your mind a tennis court” 8.“Hold your Bible and breathe meditatively. The breathtaking, nay, breathgiving truth of aliveness is more than Methuselean in its span: Part of your body right now was once actually, literally part of the body of Abraham, Sarah, Noah, Esther, David, Abigail, Moses, Ruth, Matthew, Mary, Like, Martha, John, Priscilla, Paul… and Jesus. 9. Keep breathing quietly while holding your Bible. You have within you not just the powers of goodness resident in the great spiritual leaders like Moses, Jesus, Muhammed, Lao Tzu You also have within you the forces of evil and destruction.” Resident in each breath you take is the body of angels like Joan of Arc and devils like Gilles de Rais, Genghis Khan, Judas Iscariot, Herod, Hitler, Stalin and all the other destructive spirits throughout history” - Leonard Sweet, Quantum Spirituality.

Lectio Divina - divine reading, a.k.a. spiritual formation, the silence, but is best known as contemplative prayer. This is a growing trend in evangelical churches. The prayer ritual stems from teaching associated with Catholic mystics such as Meister Eckhart, Ignatius of Loyola, St. John of the Cross, and St. Teresa of Avila. Contemplative prayer was reintroduced by Thomas Merton, Thomas Keating, Henri Nouwen, William Meninger, Basil Pennington and other mystics. The aim is to achieve an altered-state-of-consciousness.

Prayer Labyrinth - used to facilitate prayer, meditation, spiritual transformation, and/or global unity. A labyrinth is a path which leads, via a circuitous route, to the center of an intricate design and back out again. A labyrinth’s route is unicursal; that is, it has only a single path. Unlike a maze, a labyrinth is designed for ease of navigation

Ignatian Examen - One of the few rules of prayer that Ignatius Loyola made for the Jesuit order was the requirement that Jesuits practice the Examen twice daily—at noon and at the end of the day. It’s a habit of self-reflection that Jesuits, and many other Christians, practice to this day.


Bono and the Emerging Church
Bono and U2 are the poster children of the Emergent Church and many think that U2 is a Christian group.

More than once I’ve heard of people who experienced and "epiphany" (in reality an initiation) during a U2 concert and saying that they consider their experience during a U2 concert as demonstrating to them what “true” worship should be.

Watch this short trailer for a documentary about Bono and what he truly believes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAXhJKlUrok


If nothing else, we need to be prepared to recognize these false teachings (Matt 10:16) so that we 1) don't get trapped in them, and 2) can help others keep from being deceived by it.

Lead and guide me

For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me. Psalm 31:3

purified seven times

Psalm 12:6-7 - The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

Baptism

Part I

Jesus was baptised

Matthew 3:13-16 - Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?  And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Baptism is part of the Doctrine of Christ

Hebrews 6:1-2 - Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

John 3:1-5 - There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:  the same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Baptisms in the Old Testament

1Cor 10:1-4 - Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

In the old testament, an immersion in water (or mikveh) was a process of spiritual purification and cleansing.   Immersion was required as part of conversion to Judaism, cleansing after being "unclean", cleansing of utensils, and ritual immersion by for ceremonial purifications.  

The mikveh also represented the "womb" from which the one being immersed emerged in a new birth separating them from the world.

Baptism can seen in Noah passing through the flood leaving the world that then was behind.  Also in the Israelites coming up out of the land of slavery, passing through the Red Sea and leaving bondage behind.  Also in the Israelites passing through the river Jordan and entering the Promised Land.

Baptism is for Believers – follows belief and repentance

Matthew 28:19-20 - Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Mark 16:15-16 - And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned

Acts 2:38-41 - Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.  And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Acts 8:36-38 - See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?  And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

Part II

Philip and the Ethiopian’s Baptism

Acts 8:26-40 - And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.  Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.  And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: in his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?  Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.  And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?  And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.  And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.  But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Cæsarea.

Baptism is by Immersion

Mark 1:10 - And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens rent asunder, and the Spirit as a dove descending upon him

Acts 8:38b-39a - and he baptized him.  And when they were come up out of the water

The Greek word ‘baptizo’ means to immerse, plunge, dip, or bury in water and where we get the Bible word 'baptism'.

Baptism Does Not Save (or help to save) Us

Mark 1:8 - I baptized you in water; But he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit.

Titus 3:5 - Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewal of the Holy Spirit

Baptism does not wash or regenerate us, but it instead represents the washing and regeneration of the Holy Spirit.  It is the Holy Spirit that washes and regenerates us.

Baptism is an outward sign of an inward change

Matthew 10:32-33 - Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. (Luke 12:8-9)

We identify with Jesus

Acts 19:1-5 - And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper country came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples: and he said unto them, Did ye receive the Holy Spirit when ye believed? And they said unto him, Nay, we did not so much as hear whether the Holy Spirit was given. And he said, Into what then were ye baptized? And they said, Into John's baptism. And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people that they should believe on him that should come after him, that is, on Jesus. And when they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

Galatians 3:26-27 - For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Matthew 28:19 - Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 

Baptism represents the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus

Romans 6:3-5 - Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

I Peter 3:21 - The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Colossians 2:10-15 - And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:  in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:  buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.  And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;  blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Represents being made part of the Body of Christ
1 Corinthians 12:13 - For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit.

Ephesians 4:3-5 - endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Any believer can administer Baptism

Acts 8:38 - And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

The authority of baptism is in Jesus Christ, so any believer can baptise in His name.  It is not dependent upon a special person or priest.

Don’t put off baptism

2Cor 6:2 - For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation

Acts 8:36 - See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

Acts 22:16 - And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name.

Commentary
The wages of sin is death.  We are unable to satisfy payment for our sins.  When Jesus died on the cross, He, who had no sin, paid the death penalty for our sins. Through baptism we are united with Christ in paying the death penalty for sin. We are baptized into His death, into the death penalty for sin. 

We are unable to return from death on our own because of sin.  Because Jesus is sinless and victorious over death, we join Him in Resurrection through uniting with Him in Resurrection. 

We are saved by grace through faith.  Through the baptismal act of faith God gives us a way to act on our belief in our participation in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (an event which occurred 2000 years ago).

Baptism is about leaving our old sinful, worldly ways behind and taking on the yoke of Christ. It is about lifestyle change and dying to ourselves and doing God’s will instead of ours. Our reason and purpose for living changes after baptism. Afterward is a new way of life. Baptism is about faith, total commitment of the heart, surrender, self-denial, death, resurrection, repentance, and seeking God’s mercy through Jesus Christ and the work He completed on the cross.

Order of Service

Baptism is an expression of our faith that we share in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (Rom 6:4).  It is an outward sign of an inward change of heart and our opportunity to confess our faith in Jesus before men (Matt 10:32).

Q: Why are you here?

A: To be baptised

Q: What do you believe?

A: I believe that Jesus is the Son of God, He died for my sins, He rose again from the dead, and He is my Savior.

__(name)______, be baptized in the name of Jesus, in whom is the fullness of the Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38; Acts 8:16; Acts 19:5; Matt 29:19; Col 2:9)

shekinah

I hear this word used a lot.  You hear many people speak of the "shekinah glory", often in ignorant "parroting" of something they heard somewhere.

The word "shakan" which means abiding, dwelling, or habitation is in the hebrew text 128 times (Strong's 7931).

The hebrew word "shekinah" is not in the hebrew biblical text and is a "feminine" form.

It comes from the jewish mystical tradition, or kabbalah (a form of Babylonian mystery religion) and in this religion shekinah refers to the "divine feminine" or a feminine aspect of God.

Adam male and female?

Gen 1:26-28 - And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.  And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

In Genesis 1:26-28 we see a brief overview describing the creation of the first man and woman who were the parents of mankind.

God announces His plan that mankind (the first "them" in v26) have dominion over all the earth.

In manifesting this plan, first God creates man (Adam) -- "created He him" -- in His own image, emphasizing that God created man first and the man was in God's image.


Then scripture reveals that the plural "male and female created He them" emphasizes that God created the male and the female as individuals.
God first created the "him", female did not exists until the "him" (single individual) became a "them" (two individuals).

Genesis chapter 2 expands on the introductory summary of day six in chapter 1.

In verse 2:7 we see a more detailed account of how God created man:

Genesis 2:7 - And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Later in Genesis 2:21-24 we see a more detailed account of how the first woman, Eve, was created

Genesis 2:21-24 - And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.  And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh

The rib taken out of Man (Adam) consisted of bone and flesh and was used to make the first woman, Eve.  

Notice there is no indication or allusion to taking out a "feminine" nature or anything of the sort out of Adam -- unless you read into it from a source outside scripture...


God is not the author of confusion
There is a false teaching floating around that God first created Adam as both male and female.   Many people "parrot" and repeat this teaching because they do not know the Word of God and think it sounds very intellectual.

Consider that since Adam was created in God's image (Gen 1:27), then if Adam was a mixture of male/female it would mean that God was both male and female.

Jesus was the fulness of God (Col 1:19) and the second Adam (1 Cor 15:47).  Does this mean that Jesus was both male and female too?

According to God's own law (Deut 22:5), if Adam were a confusion of male and female he would be an abomination.

This confusion does not come from the Bible.  Instead it has to be "read into" the bible from an outside source...

The heresy of God having both a masculine and feminine nature comes from Jewish mysticism known as the "tradition" or Kabbalah  (note this is mystical kabbalah which differs from Judaism that follows the Tanakh).

In Kabbalah this gender confusion is known as the "divine feminine" and various other terms.

This is not how God has revealed Himself in scripture.  When we add to or take away from God's nature as He has revealed Himself, we create our own false god and idol out of our vain imaginations.

The false "gods" of these pagan religions often have both male and female parts.  If you look up "baphomet" you will see a depiction of this false god which is an abominable mixture of male/female, animal/mankind/angelic, mammal/reptile/bird/fish (Deut 4:16-18).

There is no Biblical support for this false doctrine.  One has to wrest the scriptures in Genesis to try and suggest any kind of legitimacy.  There are no supporting witnesses in the rest of scripture.  There is no dependency relationship with other biblical doctrines.

This teaching is in contradiction to other very clear scriptures.  This teaching also disparages, blasphemes, and confuses the nature of both God and Jesus in contradiction to how He has revealed Himself in scripture.

The teaching that Adam was created as male and female is not from the Bible.  It comes from the traditions of men.

Matt 15:3 - But he [Jesus] answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

Notes: 
- it can be said that the genetic information for all of mankind (both male and female) was in Adam
- the focus of this article is that there is no support for Adam being both masculine and feminine either in nature, gender, sexuality, etc...
- God is Spirit and not flesh and bone (Luke 24:39) if gender is solely an attribute of the flesh, then perhaps it could be said gender does not apply to God -- however, God has represented Himself in scripture as masculine in nature, presents Himself as Father and with masculine pronouns so to try and represent Him any other way is creating a false god
- when the Word took on flesh and bone, He, Jesus, took on the male gender and was the Son of God
- the role and importance of women is supported throughout scripture and is in no way diminished -- to the contrary the significance of the woman is magnified by a proper understanding of Genesis 1 and 2

doctrine

For something to be established as a doctrine it must be affirmed by:

1. Support of at least 2 to 3 clear scriptural witnesses (cannot "wrest" or twist the scriptures to try and conjure up a witness)

2. Being in harmony with all other scripture (not contradict any other scripture)

3. Being essential to and dependent on other scriptural doctrines

4. Glorifies God

praying in the Holy Ghost

John 4:24 - God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Acts 2:4 - And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Rom 8:26-27 - Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

1 Corinthians 14:2 - For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

1 Corinthians 14:4 - He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

1 Cor 14:14-15 - For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.  What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

Eph 6:18 - Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Jude 1:20 - But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing

Isaiah 10:27 - And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.

the kingdom

The Kingdom of God is not a democracy...

Top Bible Versions sold

Rank of top volume sales of English Bible versions over the last few years.

Popularity does not make right.  Keeping track of popularity of various versions for purpose of identifying which ones might typically encounter.

Conspiracy of the wicked

Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered

Proverbs 11:21

The Title "God" in Arabic

There is much confusion going about where people are being taught that the term "Allah" just refers to "God" in another language the same as Dios in Spanish, Gott in German, etc...

This misinformation is promoted by those ecumenists who want to syncretize religions with Islam or by Islamists who want to worm their way into positions of influence over others.

Moon worship has been practiced in Arabia since 2000 BC. The crescent moon is the most common symbol of this pagan moon worship as far back as 2000 BC.
In Mecca, there was a god named Hubal who was Lord of the Kabah.
This Hubal was a moon god.
One Muslim apologist confessed that the idol of moon god Hubal was placed upon the roof of the Kaba about 400 years before Muhammad. This may in fact be the origin of why the crescent moon is on top of every minaret at the Kaba today and the central symbol of Islam atop of every mosque throughout the world:

About four hundred years before the birth of Muhammad one Amr bin Lahyo ... a descendant of Qahtan and king of Hijaz, had put an idol called Hubal on the roof of the Kaba. This was one of the chief deities of the Quraish before Islam. (Muhammad The Holy Prophet, Hafiz Ghulam Sarwar (Pakistan), p 18-19, Muslim)

The moon god was also referred to as "al-ilah". This is not a proper name of a single specific god, but a generic reference meaning "the god". Each local pagan Arab tribe would refer to their own local tribal pagan god as "al-ilah".
"al-ilah" was later shortened to Allah before Muhammad began promoting his new religion in 610 AD.
There is evidence that Hubal was referred to as "Allah".
When Muhammad came along, he dropped all references to the name "Hubal" but retained the generic "Allah".
Muhammad retained almost all the pagan rituals of the Arabs at the Kaba and redefined them in monotheistic terms.
Regardless of the specifics of the facts, it is clear that Islam is derived from paganism that once worshiped a moon-god.
Although Islam is today a monotheist religion, its roots are in polytheistic paganism.

peace and safety

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

1 Thessalonians 5:3

fear of man bringeth a snare

Job 32:21 - Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man.

Prov 29:25 - The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

Acts 10:34 - Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:


John 7:13 - Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.

John 9:22 - These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

seasons

Reflections on Eccl 3:1-7

Seasons of seeming dormant putting down roots

Seasons of growth

Seasons of bearing much fruit

so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Heb 10:25

the Lord your God proveth you

Deuteronomy 13:1-4 - If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.

Judges 2:20-23 And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice;  I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died:  that through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the Lord to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.  Therefore the Lord left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.

Isaiah 48:10 - Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

God is looking for a faithful bride:

Rev 17:14 - These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Amos 3:3 - Can two walk together, except they be agreed