OUT OF THE BOX

Areas Where Christians Should Beware    "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits and discern whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 1 John 4: 1     Dear Friends   I posted this article a  year ago. I repeat it now because of the assault that is occurring against the Bible and the person and work of Jesus Christ in many "so called" Christian institutions. The following post deals with two areas where the enemy of our souls is crafty and works subtly to deceive. The first section deals with “feel good” experiences that cause undiscerning Christians to accept error. The second section deals with deceptive approaches to scripture that are used to lead astray the unwary and gullible soul. My purpose is to help Christians to be aware of these potential snares and pitfalls that are prevalent in our culture today.   In Christ   Billy Long       “FEEL GOOD” EXPERIENCES THAT CAN ...

One of our objectives as Christians is to be a people of godly character. It is easy in our culture for churches to grow large with a lot of sensationalism and entertainment while remaining shallow, superficial, and short on character and spiritual depth. Intelligence, competence, special talents, and gifting are desirable, but they do not necessarily denote character. We desire spiritual gifts and the power of God at work among us, but it is important for us to know that miracles do not build or indicate good character. People from one end of the maturity spectrum to the other have moved in spiritual gifts. Moral excellence is not essential for a person to move in the supernatural for a while. You can be shallow and work miracles. You can be disobedient and still be spectacular like a meteor blazing across the sky. But only for a while… until the “bottom falls out.” Your character can destroy what your gift builds. The man and the work will be tested by fire. Godly character is nece...

  The Bible contains only apparent contradictions. They are not real; they only seem to be. The Bible portrays reality, and real life is complex. The Bible is not written like a novel. In a novel every detail in every part of the book must harmonize with every detail in every other part of the book. For example, if Jane is walking down the path with Joe on page 50, she will also be strolling along with him on page 52. But if she is now walking with Frank, page 51 will have explained the switch. Reality is more complex than a novel, and the Bible does not try to explain every detail and switch. For example, Let’s say I told you in a letter that I went to Florence to visit a pastor friend of mine, and then in another letter I told my sister that I went to Columbia to visit our cousin. If someone who is not my friend should find these two letters, he might think I was lying to you or to my sister, when in reality both are true. I went to Florence to visit my pastor friend and then dro...

In our religious walk we are guilty of “legalism” when we make laws in areas where the Bible is silent, where the Bible gives no explicit command. We cannot be dogmatic where the Bible is silent. We must reverence its silence like we reverence its commands. We can have firm convictions where the Bible is explicit, where it makes commands or instructions that are clear and plain leaving no room for doubt. We can also have firm convictions for ourselves in those areas where we infer a principle where the Bible is implicit and the word is not plainly expressed. However, we cannot impose our convictions on others in these areas where the Bible is not explicit. In areas where the Bible is clear and its meaning is clear and obvious, we can speak dogmatically and firmly. But in areas where the Bible is vague or silent, we must allow others to follow their own conscience in the matter. One of my friends was addicted to surfing, and so he said, “I will not go surfing again.” This makes him boun...

  The Fierce Society By laying aside God, the Bible, and Judeo-Christian values our society is deliberately or unwittingly destroying the under-girding foundation necessary for a peaceful, stable, and prosperous society, and in turn is laying the grounds for an intellectually inferior, undisciplined, morally depraved, lawless, and fierce society. 2 Timothy 3: 1-3, and Romans 1: 28-32 describe the ultimate characteristics of a culture that rejects God and which is "given over" to itself and its sin. Paul says that the times will be “perilous.”   The Greek word is also translated “fierce” and is the same word used to describe the demoniac (Matthew 8:28) out of whom Jesus cast a legion of demons. This man was exceedingly “fierce,” living among the tombs, naked, cutting himself, breaking chains used to bind him, and producing fear in all who came near. It is quite disturbing that the word used to describe this man is also used to describe times and the people that “will ...

MY BOOK Spiritual Power for Everyday Living defines and explains spiritual gifts and the supernatural manifestations of the Holy Spirit. it gives many personal examples of miraculous testimonies and gives the reader a clear understanding of the prophetic ministry as practiced in the lives of the first Christians. It also gives a clear teaching on praying in tongues and its role in aiding the believer in a deeper experience of intercessory prayer and praise. A careful reading of this book will bring clarity and remove misconceptions relating to the role of spiritual gifts, prophesying, and tongues in the New Testament Church. This book will challenge new and mature Christians alike as it gives a clear exposition of the work of the Holy Spirit for our everyday life. The book is filled with testimonials of real life experiences given in the context of a balanced and practical application of the work of the Spirit. One reader stated, “I have thoroughly enjoyed your book, and have recommen...

  To all my dear friends from around the world who visit my blog. I want to thank you for reading my posts. I also want to encourage you to leave comments in the comment section at the end of each post. I would love to hear from many of you, and learn how my posts have encouraged or blessed you.  You can post a comment at the end of each post, or you can send me an email at  broblong@gmail.com Blessings to you all, Billy Long

  [The following article is longer than usual. But the reader will find an interesting story of how the Lord spoke and provided "manna" as Laurel and I took a wonderful trip of faith. --Billy Long] “LET ME NOT BE ASHAMED.” During the latter part of 1972 Laurel and I were living in South Carolina. We were preparing to drive to California to attend her sister’s wedding but had only enough money for one-way. We sought the Lord and felt very strongly that the He wanted us to make the trip. However, I did not want to be irresponsible and embarrass myself by being stranded in California and having to call on family or friends for finances to return home. So we prayed and began our journey with peace and faith knowing we had heard from God. The Lord would provide for the trip back, and we were excited to see how He would do it. We agreed that we would not tell anyone of our need, but would simply pray and trust the Lord. This would give greater proof that God was leading us. As we d...

  A TESTIMONY: MEETING, MARRIAGE, AND MIRACLES WHEN LAUREL AND I MET I met my wife Laurel in 1970 at ORU at the beginning of my senior year. She had transferred from a college in Southern California and was beginning her sophomore year at ORU. The Lord brought us together from opposite sides of the country. Her family lived about eight miles from the Pacific Ocean and my family lived about eight miles from the Atlantic Ocean. I had been praying for about 4 years for the Lord to bring to me the one of His choosing; and He did. A special meeting, a “mixer,” was planned for the new students. I was asked to do a little humor as part of the entertainment. As I waited to be called to the stage, I spotted this beautiful girl sitting in the crowd. She was definitely “out of my league,” but after the meeting I went over to her and said, “A few of us kids are going out for pizza; would you like to go with us.” Her response was, “Well, I don’t really know you, so I can’t go with you this time...

Awake and Asleep At the Same Time When I was about 12 or 13 years old, one night during my sleep I woke up in the air, shocked to realize I had just jumped off the bed. When my dad was a child he walked in his sleep one night and threw his bed mattress and sheets out the upstairs window shouting “Fire, fire!” while his younger brother, my uncle Norwood, watched and laughed at him. It’s difficult to explain somnambulism to someone who has never experienced it. Sleepwalking is an unusual state in which a person is sound asleep and acting out his dream, sometimes getting out of bed and walking around. He is awake enough to navigate through his environment but still asleep and interacting with the imaginary delusions of his dream. I did this many times in my younger days. Running From the Wrecking Ball A few years ago I attended a conference with a group of pastors. We rented motel rooms with double beds in order to reduce each man’s cost. My friend Ron was across the room fast asleep on h...

When you're young, the moments and the time you're in seem to last long, and you subconsciously think "this is the way life will always be." But one of the salient features of growing older is you become more aware of change. You see more and more of the old folks leaving, while you see the "babies" and children becoming adults. The culture and landscape that you thought were permanent segue into new and often surprising territory. You young folk should look up two words in the dictionary: "change" and "surprise." For you will not be a stranger to these. One other concept that will become real to you is the term "Short." You will realize more and more how short life is and that it goes by fast. In a flash, we all will face eternity. For myself I might add the words of Solomon, "Remember now your creator in the days of your youth." Take hold of something that will not change, something that will endure eternally. God ha...

There was a popular song a few years ago that said, “Through it all I’ve learned to trust in Jesus, I’ve learned to trust in God.” It speaks of standing in faith and obedience in good times and in bad times. We must love Jesus Christ and hold to Him during the good times of blessing and prosperity and in the hard times of adversity and perplexity.   To be fully trained as God’s servants we need to walk in faithful obedience in the full range of experience from “pit” to “peak” and everywhere in between. Like the disciples we want to see God’s miraculous presence and glory on the mount of transfiguration. But we also need to be tempered and seasoned by the fires, testing, and disciplines of obedience. There is a depth and substance in those who have endured and continued faithful to the Lord in the full range of experience on the mountain, through the valley, and on the plateaus and level places in between. We gain spiritual substance and depth as we walk with Jesus through desert ...

Below is a wonderful testimony of deliverance and healing. My friend Autumn sent this to me. I think you will be blessed and encouraged by reading it. It will renew your faith in the power of God over evil spirits. Billy Long Mr. Long, I wanted to update you on what has been happening to my family during covid season. Attached is a copy of a letter I composed to send to My husband’s family and to anyone who is interested in what has happened to me. We are super excited here and want to see God glorified Love you, Autumn     Dear Family, Joel and I have some very exciting news we would like to share with you. You all know I have suffered from celiac disease for some time and I've also been dealing with some other health issues on and off for the past few years. July and August hit us particularly hard because I got a mystery infection that required several rounds of antibiotics and a lot of rest. After we left my childhood home church in early January the Lord met me...