(this post is an update of one that previous appeared on our blog "Bible Prophecy-A Beginner's Guide")
One of the most fascinating and least understood phenomena of the human brain is the Placebo Effect.
According to the American Cancer Society, a placebo (pluh-SEE-bo) is a substance or other kind of treatment that looks just like a regular treatment or medicine, but is not. It's actually an inactive "look-alike" treatment or substance.
Author and scientist Dr. Joe Dispenza discusses practical applications of the so-called Placebo Effect and how the "expectation of a particular outcome" can be harnessed. In other words, we can essentially cure ourselves of maladies simply because we believe we are being cured of them, claims Dispenza in his new book titled--you guessed it--The Placebo Effect.
That's right gang, apparently, we can trick ourselves healthy!
And while the Placebo Effect may come in handy for making our body feel better, it can be deadly when applied to our spirit.
"There is a faith that has the appearance of genuine faith, but does not save," says Bible scholar John MacArthur.
Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3).
2Corinthians 13:5 says: "Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is in you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.
Romans 8:9 says: "But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to Him at all."
Sometimes religion is like a placebo. It can be an inactive look-alike that actually inoculates us against the transforming power of the Holy Spirit (see 2Timothy 3:5).
Authentic Christianity is not a religion, but a real and dynamic relationship with the living God.
If His Spirit is not in you, you've been tricked with an inactive and powerless but spiritually-deadly placebo.
A wise man once said: "A Christian is so much more than someone who simply at one point in time believed the truth. A true believer has an ongoing love for God that holds fast even in trials. Love for God shows itself through obedience to His Word, the Bible" (1John 2:5-6; 5:1-3). -- John MacArthur, author
"I will give you a new heart and put a new Spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh" -- (Ezekiel 36:26).
God has promised the priceless gift of eternal life for all those who receive His Son. "Seek Him and you will find Him when you seek Him with all your heart."
News:
-CBN: Franklin Graham Defends President Trump, Slams Satan For Charlottesville Chaos
-MSN: Officials confirm 13 dead and scores injured in Barcelona terror attack
-DEBKAfile: Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff: Peace with N. Korea possible, but so is military option: "What's unimaginable to me is not (using) a military option. North Korea nukes must be stopped."