Man's wisdom says that an unborn child is a fetus and not human, is part of a woman's body like an arm, that the woman has a right over her body and the fetus has no right to life.
Yahweh calls it murder and it is a sin.
Man's wisdom says that a child with a poor quality of life really has no life at all and has no value to our society so it is okay to kill the child.
Yahweh calls it murder and it is a sin.
Man's wisdom says that all things are equal and so marriage must include men with men, women with women.
Yahweh calls it an abomination and it is sin.
Man's wisdom says that all things are equal so he is starting to lean toward one man many wives and one woman many husbands.
Yahweh says marriage is between one man and one woman and anything different is a sin.
Man's wisdom says that it is healthy for thirteen year olds to experiment with sex.
Yahweh calls it fornication and it is sin.
Man's wisdom says it is healthy to have a sexual affair, that it improves your marriage.
Yahweh calls it adultery and it is sin.
I could go on with a much longer list of how our society and governments are turning its back on the statutes of Yahweh and setting up the wisdom of man. This is perfectly understandable in a world that is fallen, controlled by sin and is not seeking the face of Yahweh, but how many things on this simple list are accepted and practiced in different parts of the Church?
We are in a huge battle right now, not so much against the world, but for holding up the truth of Yahweh in the Body. Many are beginning to deny the authority of the Holy Scriptures. Many are developing their own theology. They still hold to the name Christian but Christ has no part in it. Once again we are making our own household gods and worshiping at the temples of our making. It is going to get very rough from here on in.
There are going to be days when you feel discouraged and alone. As you watch family and friends fall under the pressure of acceptability and conformity to the thinking of our environment, you yourself will face doubts. But the ones who will fall are the ones who have not developed a personal relationship with Jesus; the ones who knew about Jesus but did not know him. When you meet with him, speak with him, are encouraged and strengthened by him and dine on his Word every day, it is impossible to deny him or his truth. But others will fall and it is then that you will have to trust like you have never trusted before. As the world sneers at us, calls us names and works to isolate us, it will take courage and trust to stand on the Lord's side. Before there was little cost to following Jesus; now it will cost us everything.
I have already written about the necessity of trust on the battlefield but I want to keep emphasizing it and giving Scriptural examples so you will have something to lean on as the battle intensifies. We have to remember that Jesus warned us that the end times would become very difficult for believers. The Word says it will look and become so bad that some would be given over to despair. But, in the end, we will have the victory. Here's my example from Scripture.
It looked bad for Judah. They were at war with Israel and were out numbered 2 to 1. One king served himself and the other king served Yahweh. But Israel ambushed Judah so that they were surrounded. But the army of Judah did an amazing thing. There on the battlefield they trusted Yahweh, even when it looked to be the end for them. They did not despair. Instead, they cried out to Yahweh and fought on:
They cried out to the Lord, and the priests sounded the trumpets. Then the men of Judah gave a shout; and as the men of Judah shouted, it happened that God struck Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. And the children of Israel fled before Judah, and God delivered them into their hand. (2 Chronicles 13:14-16)
Trust is the key to our survival and personal victory. The Church will triumph. Jesus will have the victory. The question is will that victory include you and me. Jesus told his disciples to trust him, to put their confidence in him, and those words stand for us today. This battle requires us to ensure that we have the full armour of God in place and that we stand our ground. It is going to get messy but we are in it together and most important, we are in it with Jesus. Together we stand and trust because Jesus is King.
Do not let your hearts be troubled (distressed, agitated). You believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely on God; believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely also on Me. (John 14:1 AMP)
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:12-13)
Showing posts with label battle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label battle. Show all posts
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
The Armour Of God - Essential
We are far too independent. It's not a good thing. We were created to be dependent on our Father. Unlike human fathers who's purpose is to help train their children for independent adulthood, our heavenly Father never wants us to become independent from him. In fact, he has made it impossible for us to be independent.
We died with Jesus on the cross. It is the only way that we could be separated from sin, breaking our slavery to it. In dying we had to be raised to life again so we were raised in Jesus. There is life as long as we stay in Jesus. Away from Jesus there is only spiritual death. We are absolutely dependent on him for life and everything we need to be victorious.
There is nothing in us that is of any use except the Holy Spirit. We have nothing to offer Jesus except our emptiness. It is our emptiness that he can use and that he gladly excepts from us. If we think we have anything to offer God we have not yet matured to the point of understanding this relationship. This is a truth that is important for us to understand if we are going to be effective warriors.
The armour of God is not natural to us. There is no part of it that comes from us. All of it is provided by God. Underline this fact in your thoughts so you will understand that fighting the darkness of this world is not natural to us and in our flesh we would rather just hide under the covers. But in Jesus we rise up as mighty warriors, heroes of the faith, putting on the full armour of God. From Ephesians 6:
- belt of truth: it holds everything together. If we allow falsehood to be part of us it unties the belt and everything falls apart. We cannot fight without truth. Not ours. God's.
- breastplate of righteousness: God's righteousness has been declared over us. It is ours and it covers our heart. Regardless of what the enemy may accuse us of, truth or fabricated, it is covered by this breastplate. Learn to depend on that fact and let the sins of the past go. Do not allow those things to cripple you when God has declared you clean and innocent. This needs to be settled in you or the enemy will squash you in an instant.
- gospel of peace: which keeps you ready to move, to take action. This peace is not world peace but is the declaration of what Jesus has done in bringing peace to us in our relationship with God. That is the good news that we hold out to the world and you must be prepared to share it wherever the Spirit sends you. As a soldier is ready to move out in an instant when the signal is given, so must we be prepared to share as the Spirit signals.
- shield of faith: protects us from all those flaming arrows flung at us from the enemy. Arrows of fear, doubt, anxiety. The shield is our declaration of trust. Jesus said it so it is. This is what so many potential warriors try to go out into battle without. It's crazy. We are open to every attack of the enemy when we leave behind our shield. Faith must be with us daily. It is given to us by God, not natural to us at all.
- helmet of salvation: covers us. It protects us. It keeps our head in place. It protects our mind which gives us perspective. We do not get lost in the perspective and values of this world. Our salvation reminds us that we belong elsewhere and that we get our values from a different source. Salvation keeps us grounded in God's perspective, especially as we are reminded of his love, mercy and grace.
- sword of the Spirit, the Word of God: which we use to strike back at the enemy. Remember what Jesus did when faced by the enemy. The Word of God was his defence. It is our defence. Philosophies and clever ideas from our own mind already belong to the enemy. It is only the Word of God that has any effect on our foe. Know it well. Learn to use it. Become an effective warrior.
I will talk about prayer in all of this tomorrow.
For today, if you have any desire to stand for Jesus, to take your stand, to be the mighty warrior you have been called to be in the army of Jesus Christ, then you better understand God's armour well. You better make sure it is in place every day. Without it you will not succeed as you have been called to succeed. With it, no evil force or influence can come close to touching or harming you. With it, you are a giant walking on the face of this earth. Make sure you have it in place before you start your day. Rise up mighty warrior of God.
We died with Jesus on the cross. It is the only way that we could be separated from sin, breaking our slavery to it. In dying we had to be raised to life again so we were raised in Jesus. There is life as long as we stay in Jesus. Away from Jesus there is only spiritual death. We are absolutely dependent on him for life and everything we need to be victorious.
There is nothing in us that is of any use except the Holy Spirit. We have nothing to offer Jesus except our emptiness. It is our emptiness that he can use and that he gladly excepts from us. If we think we have anything to offer God we have not yet matured to the point of understanding this relationship. This is a truth that is important for us to understand if we are going to be effective warriors.
The armour of God is not natural to us. There is no part of it that comes from us. All of it is provided by God. Underline this fact in your thoughts so you will understand that fighting the darkness of this world is not natural to us and in our flesh we would rather just hide under the covers. But in Jesus we rise up as mighty warriors, heroes of the faith, putting on the full armour of God. From Ephesians 6:
- belt of truth: it holds everything together. If we allow falsehood to be part of us it unties the belt and everything falls apart. We cannot fight without truth. Not ours. God's.
- breastplate of righteousness: God's righteousness has been declared over us. It is ours and it covers our heart. Regardless of what the enemy may accuse us of, truth or fabricated, it is covered by this breastplate. Learn to depend on that fact and let the sins of the past go. Do not allow those things to cripple you when God has declared you clean and innocent. This needs to be settled in you or the enemy will squash you in an instant.
- gospel of peace: which keeps you ready to move, to take action. This peace is not world peace but is the declaration of what Jesus has done in bringing peace to us in our relationship with God. That is the good news that we hold out to the world and you must be prepared to share it wherever the Spirit sends you. As a soldier is ready to move out in an instant when the signal is given, so must we be prepared to share as the Spirit signals.
- shield of faith: protects us from all those flaming arrows flung at us from the enemy. Arrows of fear, doubt, anxiety. The shield is our declaration of trust. Jesus said it so it is. This is what so many potential warriors try to go out into battle without. It's crazy. We are open to every attack of the enemy when we leave behind our shield. Faith must be with us daily. It is given to us by God, not natural to us at all.
- helmet of salvation: covers us. It protects us. It keeps our head in place. It protects our mind which gives us perspective. We do not get lost in the perspective and values of this world. Our salvation reminds us that we belong elsewhere and that we get our values from a different source. Salvation keeps us grounded in God's perspective, especially as we are reminded of his love, mercy and grace.
- sword of the Spirit, the Word of God: which we use to strike back at the enemy. Remember what Jesus did when faced by the enemy. The Word of God was his defence. It is our defence. Philosophies and clever ideas from our own mind already belong to the enemy. It is only the Word of God that has any effect on our foe. Know it well. Learn to use it. Become an effective warrior.
I will talk about prayer in all of this tomorrow.
For today, if you have any desire to stand for Jesus, to take your stand, to be the mighty warrior you have been called to be in the army of Jesus Christ, then you better understand God's armour well. You better make sure it is in place every day. Without it you will not succeed as you have been called to succeed. With it, no evil force or influence can come close to touching or harming you. With it, you are a giant walking on the face of this earth. Make sure you have it in place before you start your day. Rise up mighty warrior of God.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Understanding The Nature Of The War, Mighty Warrior
Everyone wants world peace but it isn't going to happen. As long as the enemy is here we are going to be involved in this war with many battles ahead of us. What is important for us is to understand the nature of this war and the battles we are engaged it. How can we be effective if we don't understand what we are doing and what we are up against? The nature of it is this:
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12)
There is more to it than what you see. To the enemy people are nothing more than pawns in his battle against God. He uses everyone who belongs to the dark as pawns in this great war but he cannot use us. We are not his pawns because he cannot control those who are covered by the blood of Jesus. He will try to scare us, intimidate us, confuse us, even discourage us but he can't touch us or use us. We are the object of God's affection and he hates that. We are filled by the presence of God and he hates that. We smell like Jesus and he definitely hates that.
As we are engaged in battle it is important for us to remember that those who are lost in the darkness are still the objects of God's affection. Jesus died for us while we were still sinners and he died for the entire world. Each person is a potential Kingdom dweller. We are not out to kill them or even destroy them but the dark influence that is over them. In fact, their salvation is the reason we fight. They are just puppets and they have no idea what is going on. But we do.
We need to grasp this picture of a great realm of darkness at work in this world. We do not fear it. We stand against it. We fight for people not against people. We use the full armour of God to take our stand in the place God has given to us and we fight for the people God has placed in our lives. We do not pray for the destruction of governments but instead we pray for their salvation. We never pray against a person but for a person. We pray against the darkness as we hold out the Light and Hope to this world.
Just be aware that the enemy is always looking for ways to discourage you. You must be aware of this in order to defend against it. This morning I woke up to the thought of setting aside my writing and preaching, of quitting, just walking away. There was a great spirit present trying to discourage me when I was the weakest, when I wasn't fully awake and when tiredness creates openings. It is only as I turned to the Word this morning that such thoughts were sent fleeing as I encourage myself in the Lord. With the Sword of God in my hand I remembered who I am in the Lord. Those thoughts did not belong to me but were ploys of the enemy.
Pay attention. Be aware. Be on your guard. Stand your ground. Fight, warrior of God! Fight against those dark realms. Pray without ceasing.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12)
There is more to it than what you see. To the enemy people are nothing more than pawns in his battle against God. He uses everyone who belongs to the dark as pawns in this great war but he cannot use us. We are not his pawns because he cannot control those who are covered by the blood of Jesus. He will try to scare us, intimidate us, confuse us, even discourage us but he can't touch us or use us. We are the object of God's affection and he hates that. We are filled by the presence of God and he hates that. We smell like Jesus and he definitely hates that.
As we are engaged in battle it is important for us to remember that those who are lost in the darkness are still the objects of God's affection. Jesus died for us while we were still sinners and he died for the entire world. Each person is a potential Kingdom dweller. We are not out to kill them or even destroy them but the dark influence that is over them. In fact, their salvation is the reason we fight. They are just puppets and they have no idea what is going on. But we do.
We need to grasp this picture of a great realm of darkness at work in this world. We do not fear it. We stand against it. We fight for people not against people. We use the full armour of God to take our stand in the place God has given to us and we fight for the people God has placed in our lives. We do not pray for the destruction of governments but instead we pray for their salvation. We never pray against a person but for a person. We pray against the darkness as we hold out the Light and Hope to this world.
Just be aware that the enemy is always looking for ways to discourage you. You must be aware of this in order to defend against it. This morning I woke up to the thought of setting aside my writing and preaching, of quitting, just walking away. There was a great spirit present trying to discourage me when I was the weakest, when I wasn't fully awake and when tiredness creates openings. It is only as I turned to the Word this morning that such thoughts were sent fleeing as I encourage myself in the Lord. With the Sword of God in my hand I remembered who I am in the Lord. Those thoughts did not belong to me but were ploys of the enemy.
Pay attention. Be aware. Be on your guard. Stand your ground. Fight, warrior of God! Fight against those dark realms. Pray without ceasing.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
You Are Not A Victim, Warrior Of God
I really dislike it when people teach that there is nothing for us to do, that we must just sit back and allow God to do it all. Funny, when I read the Bible and listen to the Spirit I hear God calling me to join him in his mission. I hear Jesus telling me to GO! I hear him telling me I will DO greater things than he did. I hear God calling me to action, not slumber.
First perceptions are sometimes hard to overcome and so we must examine by the Word of God what we have perceived as truth in the Church. Sometimes the way we were raised in the Church was according to man's interpretation of God's Word and not by the Spirit of truth. Stop going by hearsay and check into it yourself.
First of all, we are not victims.
Right now ask Jesus to deliver you from that victim mentality. Stop blaming others and stop looking for excuses. You have been chosen as a warrior of the Kingdom of Jesus not a citizen of this world. Nothing can harm you or come against you because of Jesus who is in you. Nothing can overwhelm you and what looks like defeat God uses to glorify himself and he does huge things with it.
What you have been chosen for by the King is to be the warrior who stands and represents him! Yes, you stand and keep the ground you have been given. You have been chosen as a warrior, not to defend yourself and look after your own needs but to represent the King and fight for the lost and weak.
We do not defend those God loves for ourself but because of who we represent. No foul beast or mangy spirit will come against those whom God loves because he has put the Spirit of God in us so that we can defend them as warriors of the Kingdom. Yes, God is the defender but he has raised up an army to work through. We seem to fail to understand this simple fact. He left us here for a reason. There is purpose in our staying. We have been called so he can fight through us.
You disagree? You think we are suppose to just sit around reading our Bibles and singing songs? Then you need a paradigm shift.
You need to hear Jesus' command again. You need to see the King with fresh eyes. While walking this earth he was a man of action through the Spirit and he sent that same Spirit on us so that we may be men and women of action. He defended the weak. He sought those who were lost. He fed those who were hungry. He put the enemy to flight as he sent demons scurrying. He brought the light to people's thinking and perception. He rescued them from the darkness. He defeated death.
You need to hear apostle Paul's battle cry as he called us out as warriors of love, equipped by the Spirit to fight and defend the weak and the lost:
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. (Ephesians 6:10-13)
Does that not stir the spirit inside of you as God calls you in that deep place and you respond: deep calling to deep? You are not a victim. You have no excuses. You are a warrior sent by Jesus to speak and act in the authority, in the name, of the King. You do not fight for yourself, you fight for the King. You do not defend yourself, you defend others in the authority of the King. How dare anything come against what belongs to the King of kings!
We do not do such things for our glory but for the glory of the King. Ours is not self-ambition but our motivation comes from a deeper place, from the greatest motivation of all:
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:16-19)
When we know this love we know our place. When we know this love we know our strength. When we know this love we know the truth of our existence and purpose.
We are not victims. We are warriors who gladly bear the scars and burdens of our calling, who are not ashamed to be the King's representatives, and who joyfully lay down our lives for others in the name of the King. We have been chosen for this by the King himself. It is who we are and what we do in the authority of the King. Get off that bed of self-pity. Get your armour on. Get back in the battle!
First perceptions are sometimes hard to overcome and so we must examine by the Word of God what we have perceived as truth in the Church. Sometimes the way we were raised in the Church was according to man's interpretation of God's Word and not by the Spirit of truth. Stop going by hearsay and check into it yourself.
First of all, we are not victims.
Right now ask Jesus to deliver you from that victim mentality. Stop blaming others and stop looking for excuses. You have been chosen as a warrior of the Kingdom of Jesus not a citizen of this world. Nothing can harm you or come against you because of Jesus who is in you. Nothing can overwhelm you and what looks like defeat God uses to glorify himself and he does huge things with it.
What you have been chosen for by the King is to be the warrior who stands and represents him! Yes, you stand and keep the ground you have been given. You have been chosen as a warrior, not to defend yourself and look after your own needs but to represent the King and fight for the lost and weak.
We do not defend those God loves for ourself but because of who we represent. No foul beast or mangy spirit will come against those whom God loves because he has put the Spirit of God in us so that we can defend them as warriors of the Kingdom. Yes, God is the defender but he has raised up an army to work through. We seem to fail to understand this simple fact. He left us here for a reason. There is purpose in our staying. We have been called so he can fight through us.
You disagree? You think we are suppose to just sit around reading our Bibles and singing songs? Then you need a paradigm shift.
You need to hear Jesus' command again. You need to see the King with fresh eyes. While walking this earth he was a man of action through the Spirit and he sent that same Spirit on us so that we may be men and women of action. He defended the weak. He sought those who were lost. He fed those who were hungry. He put the enemy to flight as he sent demons scurrying. He brought the light to people's thinking and perception. He rescued them from the darkness. He defeated death.
You need to hear apostle Paul's battle cry as he called us out as warriors of love, equipped by the Spirit to fight and defend the weak and the lost:
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. (Ephesians 6:10-13)
Does that not stir the spirit inside of you as God calls you in that deep place and you respond: deep calling to deep? You are not a victim. You have no excuses. You are a warrior sent by Jesus to speak and act in the authority, in the name, of the King. You do not fight for yourself, you fight for the King. You do not defend yourself, you defend others in the authority of the King. How dare anything come against what belongs to the King of kings!
We do not do such things for our glory but for the glory of the King. Ours is not self-ambition but our motivation comes from a deeper place, from the greatest motivation of all:
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:16-19)
When we know this love we know our place. When we know this love we know our strength. When we know this love we know the truth of our existence and purpose.
We are not victims. We are warriors who gladly bear the scars and burdens of our calling, who are not ashamed to be the King's representatives, and who joyfully lay down our lives for others in the name of the King. We have been chosen for this by the King himself. It is who we are and what we do in the authority of the King. Get off that bed of self-pity. Get your armour on. Get back in the battle!
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Come On Warriors, Rise Up!
What are we suppose to do as Christians in this world? Even after 40 years of walking with Jesus some people have not grown past this question. Well there are a lot of things we need to "do" but if you really want to know, look at Jesus' example.
The big thing is to be engaged with people. We cannot fulfil our purpose if we are not engaged with people. Jesus doesn't care about the beauty of our church buildings or the size of our congregations. His focus is on the heart condition of people and that is why we must be engaged in this world and the conversation that is taking place. In other words, we are being disobedient when we hide out in our church buildings or in our homes.
You do realize what happens when God's children fail to obey the "go" command, don't you? Jesus told his disciples to "go" to the ends of the world with the good news. Instead they held up in Jerusalem and the Church began to grow in huge numbers there. So God allowed a great persecution to come on the Church forcing everyone to scatter. And where they scattered the Good News spread.
There is an attitude we are suppose to maintain as Christians to fulfil our purpose in this place, while we remain engaged and part of the conversation. I think we find a nice summary of that attitude in Colossians 4:
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. (Colossians 4:2)
Pray!
Pay attention!
Be Thankful!
Let's be honest, we often do the opposite. There is a great prayer deficit in the average Christian life. Most of us spend less than 15 minutes in prayer every day and much of that has no real purpose, faith or power behind it. We pray because we feel obligated to "stay in touch" with God. It certainly is not a weapon we are wielding and it is not a provocation of God's power for the sake of the Kingdom. Much of our prayers are about ourselves and not about people we are fighting for. We certainly are not devoted to prayer. We have no real sense of purpose in it.
Pay attention? Hardly. Most Christians can't tell you who their political leaders are. We don't know what is going on in our various countries. We certainly don't know what is happening around the world. We don't even know what is happening in our neighbourhood. We are a very closed people who are only concerned with those things that impact us personally. We go to work/school, come home and eat, look for entertainment, take care of the family, take care of what is ours and that is our life. This is not paying attention.
A Christian should know his neighbours, notice when something is wrong, be engaged to be there to help and most importantly to pray. We need to pay attention to know what is going on to know how to battle in prayer. We aren't in this place for ourselves. We are here to fight for others.
Have you ever met a thankful Christian? Well shake their hand and take a picture because they are a rare breed. Most Christians are complainers, grumblers and accusers. We allow so much negative things to take up residence in us and yet the Word says that a relationship with Jesus produces an attitude of thanksgiving.
Yes, watching the evil of this world can have an effect on us. Seeing how much evil is in the world can even attempt to overwhelm us but maintaining an attitude of gratitude guards our heart. When we constantly remind ourselves of the goodness, faithfulness, and love of Jesus evil is kept in its place. Remembering the power and authority of Jesus keeps everything in perspective. With a heart filled with gratitude to Jesus for everything, we will find it that much easier to be engaged with people.
This is a call for us to wake up from our stupor and self-centered attitude and get engaged with the battle we are here to be part of. We need to shake ourselves up before God does and get back to the fight. Pray! Pay Attention! Be Thankful! This is our attitude and we will do well in the battle today if we maintain it. Come on warrior called by Jesus! Rise up!
The big thing is to be engaged with people. We cannot fulfil our purpose if we are not engaged with people. Jesus doesn't care about the beauty of our church buildings or the size of our congregations. His focus is on the heart condition of people and that is why we must be engaged in this world and the conversation that is taking place. In other words, we are being disobedient when we hide out in our church buildings or in our homes.
You do realize what happens when God's children fail to obey the "go" command, don't you? Jesus told his disciples to "go" to the ends of the world with the good news. Instead they held up in Jerusalem and the Church began to grow in huge numbers there. So God allowed a great persecution to come on the Church forcing everyone to scatter. And where they scattered the Good News spread.
There is an attitude we are suppose to maintain as Christians to fulfil our purpose in this place, while we remain engaged and part of the conversation. I think we find a nice summary of that attitude in Colossians 4:
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. (Colossians 4:2)
Pray!
Pay attention!
Be Thankful!
Let's be honest, we often do the opposite. There is a great prayer deficit in the average Christian life. Most of us spend less than 15 minutes in prayer every day and much of that has no real purpose, faith or power behind it. We pray because we feel obligated to "stay in touch" with God. It certainly is not a weapon we are wielding and it is not a provocation of God's power for the sake of the Kingdom. Much of our prayers are about ourselves and not about people we are fighting for. We certainly are not devoted to prayer. We have no real sense of purpose in it.
Pay attention? Hardly. Most Christians can't tell you who their political leaders are. We don't know what is going on in our various countries. We certainly don't know what is happening around the world. We don't even know what is happening in our neighbourhood. We are a very closed people who are only concerned with those things that impact us personally. We go to work/school, come home and eat, look for entertainment, take care of the family, take care of what is ours and that is our life. This is not paying attention.
A Christian should know his neighbours, notice when something is wrong, be engaged to be there to help and most importantly to pray. We need to pay attention to know what is going on to know how to battle in prayer. We aren't in this place for ourselves. We are here to fight for others.
Have you ever met a thankful Christian? Well shake their hand and take a picture because they are a rare breed. Most Christians are complainers, grumblers and accusers. We allow so much negative things to take up residence in us and yet the Word says that a relationship with Jesus produces an attitude of thanksgiving.
Yes, watching the evil of this world can have an effect on us. Seeing how much evil is in the world can even attempt to overwhelm us but maintaining an attitude of gratitude guards our heart. When we constantly remind ourselves of the goodness, faithfulness, and love of Jesus evil is kept in its place. Remembering the power and authority of Jesus keeps everything in perspective. With a heart filled with gratitude to Jesus for everything, we will find it that much easier to be engaged with people.
This is a call for us to wake up from our stupor and self-centered attitude and get engaged with the battle we are here to be part of. We need to shake ourselves up before God does and get back to the fight. Pray! Pay Attention! Be Thankful! This is our attitude and we will do well in the battle today if we maintain it. Come on warrior called by Jesus! Rise up!
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
The Battleground Called School
School is not an easy place for a Christian. It doesn't matter which level we discuss, it is a hard place for a Christian to grow. Years ago it was mostly behaviour that parents worried about, bad influences and terrible opportunities. Now it is a place where a war is fought over the hearts and minds of our youth.
We have to remember that it is a system completely bathed in the world, having its roots in the knowledge and tradition of man. At one point the Bible was a key element of its foundation but this is no more. Now it is fully what man thinks is right and whatever is popular in society as a whole.
These glorious institutions of learning are a hostile environment for the hearts and minds of young Christians who are still trying to allow faith to get established. Maybe it is to them then that the Spirit intended these words:
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. (Colossians 2:8)
This is why our youth need so much grounding in the Word. We need to stop trying to entertain them and help them realize the war they are thrust into every day. We need to help them develop spiritual discipline, to discuss with mature Christians what they are being taught in school, to question everything and examine it against the Word of God.
It is hard because every day they are being presented with things that appear rock solid according to the knowledge of man. It is presented as fact, black and white. If they want to make it through the system they have to learn man's knowledge and be tested on it. Those seeds are there trying to grow roots in those young minds. Even the most mature of us would find it hard to stand up under such daily assault against our faith.
The most important thing for students to remember is that God's wisdom is far beyond the knowledge and wisdom of man. Man's traditions, thinking and actions are born out a rebellion against God and take man even further from Jesus:
The wise will be put to shame;
they will be dismayed and trapped.
Since they have rejected the word of the Lord, what kind of wisdom do they have? (Jeremiah 8:9)
Our God is so much more than man could ever imagine thinking and being:
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9)
Our students should be seen as young Daniels, facing a system that is foreign to any knowledge of God. Not only foreign to the knowledge of Jesus but hostile toward him. They need all the support, encouragement, teaching, guidance, training and prayer that we can give them. To the students I say:
"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy."
We have to remember that it is a system completely bathed in the world, having its roots in the knowledge and tradition of man. At one point the Bible was a key element of its foundation but this is no more. Now it is fully what man thinks is right and whatever is popular in society as a whole.
These glorious institutions of learning are a hostile environment for the hearts and minds of young Christians who are still trying to allow faith to get established. Maybe it is to them then that the Spirit intended these words:
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. (Colossians 2:8)
This is why our youth need so much grounding in the Word. We need to stop trying to entertain them and help them realize the war they are thrust into every day. We need to help them develop spiritual discipline, to discuss with mature Christians what they are being taught in school, to question everything and examine it against the Word of God.
It is hard because every day they are being presented with things that appear rock solid according to the knowledge of man. It is presented as fact, black and white. If they want to make it through the system they have to learn man's knowledge and be tested on it. Those seeds are there trying to grow roots in those young minds. Even the most mature of us would find it hard to stand up under such daily assault against our faith.
The most important thing for students to remember is that God's wisdom is far beyond the knowledge and wisdom of man. Man's traditions, thinking and actions are born out a rebellion against God and take man even further from Jesus:
The wise will be put to shame;
they will be dismayed and trapped.
Since they have rejected the word of the Lord, what kind of wisdom do they have? (Jeremiah 8:9)
Our God is so much more than man could ever imagine thinking and being:
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9)
Our students should be seen as young Daniels, facing a system that is foreign to any knowledge of God. Not only foreign to the knowledge of Jesus but hostile toward him. They need all the support, encouragement, teaching, guidance, training and prayer that we can give them. To the students I say:
"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy."
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