Sunday, January 26, 2014
Messages From Heaven: Wear Your Helmet!
Messages From Heaven: Wear Your Helmet!: Paul tells us we are to take “the helmet of salvation” ( Ephesians 6:17 ). The two most sought-after and vulnerable targets on the ancient...
Wear Your Helmet!
Paul tells us we are to take “the helmet of salvation” (Ephesians 6:17).
The two most sought-after and vulnerable targets on the ancient battlefield were the heart and the head. With our heart and other vital organs ably protected by the breastplate of righteousness, the enemy will try to strike the head. One well-placed blow to the head and the battle is over.
What does it mean to wear the helmet of salvation?
It would seem to me that the apostle is telling us to watch our thoughts in general. Most temptation comes through the gateway of the mind and imagination.
This is why Paul tells us, “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3 NIV).
When those “flaming arrows” of ungodly thoughts come, we need to have our guard up.
Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:5–6:
“We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity” (MSG).
So watch what you allow into your thought-life. Our minds, thoughts, and imaginations must be protected. Proverbs 23:7 reminds us, “As a man thinks, so is he.”
Satan recognizes the value of first getting a foothold in the realm of the thoughts and imagination, as this will “prepare the way” for that thought to translate into action! As it’s been said:
Sow a thought and reap an act.
Sow an act and reap a habit.
Sow a habit and reap a character.
Sow a character and reap a destiny.
So think “heavenly thoughts” this week!
The two most sought-after and vulnerable targets on the ancient battlefield were the heart and the head. With our heart and other vital organs ably protected by the breastplate of righteousness, the enemy will try to strike the head. One well-placed blow to the head and the battle is over.
What does it mean to wear the helmet of salvation?
It would seem to me that the apostle is telling us to watch our thoughts in general. Most temptation comes through the gateway of the mind and imagination.
This is why Paul tells us, “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3 NIV).
When those “flaming arrows” of ungodly thoughts come, we need to have our guard up.
Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:5–6:
“We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity” (MSG).
So watch what you allow into your thought-life. Our minds, thoughts, and imaginations must be protected. Proverbs 23:7 reminds us, “As a man thinks, so is he.”
Satan recognizes the value of first getting a foothold in the realm of the thoughts and imagination, as this will “prepare the way” for that thought to translate into action! As it’s been said:
Sow a thought and reap an act.
Sow an act and reap a habit.
Sow a habit and reap a character.
Sow a character and reap a destiny.
So think “heavenly thoughts” this week!
Messages From Heaven: What Can I Give to God?
Messages From Heaven: What Can I Give to God?: Have you ever received a gift that far exceeded what you could have expected? Something so nice that just saying “thank you” seemed inadeq...
What Can I Give to God?
Have you ever received a gift that far exceeded what you could have
expected? Something so nice that just saying “thank you” seemed
inadequate?
If anything, you feel like you want to do something special for that person, to show your appreciation.
In the same way, when you consider all that Christ did for us on the cross and what He continues to do for us today, it feels so inadequate to simply tell Him, “Thank you.” He has given us eternal life when we didn’t deserve it. And if you look back at the last year, I’m sure you’ll find countless things He has done in your life.
In fact, it’s hard not to say, “Wow, God is great! How can I thank Him for everything He has done for me? What can I possibly do to show my appreciation to Him?”
Fortunately, Scripture gives us a good blueprint for some ways that we can show our thanks to God.
1. We can give Him our praise. The psalmist says in Psalm 63:3–4, “Because your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus will I bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name” (nkjv).
It’s funny that we think it’s perfectly normal for people to wear their favorite team’s jersey to a sporting event, and go wild when their team scores. But when you come to church on Sunday morning and someone is lifting up his hands during the worship time, people stare and call him a fanatic.
Is there a place for verbally praising God, for lifting our hands in worship? Yes. It is biblical to lift your hands to the Lord. It is a good thing to do. You shouldn’t be reluctant to lift your hands in praise to God.
2. I should keep my promises to God. Psalm 116:18 says, “I will keep my promises to the Lord in the presence of all His people” (nlt).
When you prayed to receive Christ, you made a promise to God that you would turn away from your previous sinful lifestyle. You pledged to follow His commands, just as Jesus said: “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” (John 15:14 nkjv).
Now, of course, we are still flawed humans and we won’t always do exactly as He says, but we still need to be obedient to His will and keep that promise we made to Him.
3. We can honor the Lord by bringing our offerings to the Lord. 1 Chronicles 16:28 says, “O nations of the world, recognize the lord, recognize that the lord is glorious and strong. Give to the lord the glory He deserves! Bring your offering and come to worship Him. Worship the lord in all His holy splendor” (nlt).
When you are a child, it is hard to wrap your mind around the idea that giving is better than receiving. You’re more concerned about what people are going to give you. But as you get older and become a parent, you discover the joy of giving. You actually find more pleasure in giving a gift than in receiving one.
Jesus gives us another reason why giving is so important to Christians in Matthew 6:19–21:
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (nkjv)
In other words, Jesus is saying that it is wrong to put all of our hope in earthly treasures with nothing waiting for us on the other side. Why? Because these earthly treasures simply will not last.
When you play Monopoly, it’s fun to put up hotels and collect money and try to win. But once the game is over, that Monopoly money isn’t worth anything. You can’t go down to the car dealer, pull out those orange bills, and buy a new car. Monopoly money can’t do a thing for you in the real world.
When we get to heaven, all we have on earth will have no value if we do not invest it properly. You can’t take it with you, but you can send it on ahead. How? By investing in the work of the kingdom of God.
If anything, you feel like you want to do something special for that person, to show your appreciation.
In the same way, when you consider all that Christ did for us on the cross and what He continues to do for us today, it feels so inadequate to simply tell Him, “Thank you.” He has given us eternal life when we didn’t deserve it. And if you look back at the last year, I’m sure you’ll find countless things He has done in your life.
In fact, it’s hard not to say, “Wow, God is great! How can I thank Him for everything He has done for me? What can I possibly do to show my appreciation to Him?”
Fortunately, Scripture gives us a good blueprint for some ways that we can show our thanks to God.
1. We can give Him our praise. The psalmist says in Psalm 63:3–4, “Because your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus will I bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name” (nkjv).
It’s funny that we think it’s perfectly normal for people to wear their favorite team’s jersey to a sporting event, and go wild when their team scores. But when you come to church on Sunday morning and someone is lifting up his hands during the worship time, people stare and call him a fanatic.
Is there a place for verbally praising God, for lifting our hands in worship? Yes. It is biblical to lift your hands to the Lord. It is a good thing to do. You shouldn’t be reluctant to lift your hands in praise to God.
2. I should keep my promises to God. Psalm 116:18 says, “I will keep my promises to the Lord in the presence of all His people” (nlt).
When you prayed to receive Christ, you made a promise to God that you would turn away from your previous sinful lifestyle. You pledged to follow His commands, just as Jesus said: “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” (John 15:14 nkjv).
Now, of course, we are still flawed humans and we won’t always do exactly as He says, but we still need to be obedient to His will and keep that promise we made to Him.
3. We can honor the Lord by bringing our offerings to the Lord. 1 Chronicles 16:28 says, “O nations of the world, recognize the lord, recognize that the lord is glorious and strong. Give to the lord the glory He deserves! Bring your offering and come to worship Him. Worship the lord in all His holy splendor” (nlt).
When you are a child, it is hard to wrap your mind around the idea that giving is better than receiving. You’re more concerned about what people are going to give you. But as you get older and become a parent, you discover the joy of giving. You actually find more pleasure in giving a gift than in receiving one.
Jesus gives us another reason why giving is so important to Christians in Matthew 6:19–21:
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (nkjv)
In other words, Jesus is saying that it is wrong to put all of our hope in earthly treasures with nothing waiting for us on the other side. Why? Because these earthly treasures simply will not last.
When you play Monopoly, it’s fun to put up hotels and collect money and try to win. But once the game is over, that Monopoly money isn’t worth anything. You can’t go down to the car dealer, pull out those orange bills, and buy a new car. Monopoly money can’t do a thing for you in the real world.
When we get to heaven, all we have on earth will have no value if we do not invest it properly. You can’t take it with you, but you can send it on ahead. How? By investing in the work of the kingdom of God.
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Messages From Heaven: World Net Daily,Our Reality?
Messages From Heaven: World Net Daily,Our Reality?: I recently saw the new film United 93 . Though not a pleasant experience to view, this gripping and realistic film is a worthwhile one. Ab...
World Net Daily,Our Reality?
I recently saw the new film United 93. Though not a pleasant
experience to view, this gripping and realistic film is a worthwhile
one. About 15 minutes into the movie, I was not sure I wanted to relive
this horrific day that is so permanently etched into our collective
memories.
Though painful, it was powerful to experience this fateful day from the perspective of the passengers on United 93. You wonder if you would have been frozen with fear, or more like some of the courageous passengers like Todd Beamer, who overpowered the terrorists and sacrificed their own lives in order to save many others. You again feel the outrage we all felt the day after this horrific and brazen attack on innocent Americans.
After the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, I remember I was asked one question again and again. "Why did God allow this?" Some even suggested it was the "judgment of God." I don't agree with that.
Jesus spoke about a "current news story" of His own day, in Luke 13:4-5. A tower had apparently collapsed in Jerusalem, crushing a group of eighteen men. Referring to that local headline, Jesus asked the rhetorical question, "'Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem? No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will also perish'" (NLT).
Did these people who died fall under some special targeted justice of God? Did they get their comeuppance because they were all notorious rebels and God-haters, and judgment fell? No, Jesus was saying that the bottom line is that people die. And here was His point: "You'd better be careful, because you might die too! You too are a sinner, and this could happen to you as well. Those people weren't any worse or better than you!"
Tragedies happen. Wars happen. Accidents happen. Illnesses happen. Cancer happens. We live in a broken, fallen world, and nobody's exempt. It could happen to me. I could get hit by a car or die in a plane crash or succumb to a heart attack-or have a tower fall on me. One out of one people on earth die! Enoch and Elijah may have dodged that final bullet, but besides these two, there are no exceptions. Lazarus may have been raised from the dead, but in a few years, he had to die all over again.
This doesn't mean that God is unfair. It doesn't mean He has singled me or anybody else out for special judgment. If I die, it just means that it was my time to leave this earth. And that time will come for everybody.
The Bible says, "It is appointed unto men once to die..." (Hebrews 9:27 KJV). One meaning of that word appointed in the original language is "reserved." You've got an advanced reservation for when you will leave this world for an eternal destination. There's a ticket with your name and time of your departure on it. That's not a gloomy, pessimistic view of life if you belong to Jesus Christ. If you're a Christian, that whole concept of inevitable death is flooded with hope! You know that when you pass from this life, you will step immediately into the majesty and radiance of the Lord's immediate presence, and live with Him forever. What's not to like about that?
Paul told his friends in Philippi, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain...yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better" (Philippians 1:21, 22-23 NKJV). You would never hear that imprisoned apostle saying, "Well, if I've got to die, then I've got to die. Not much I can do about it anyway." No, to Paul, dying meant coming out ahead in the game! Stepping out of this life into the next was the best thing he could imagine. Being in the presence of the Lord Jesus wasn't just "better," it was "far better."
The simple truth is that tragedies have wracked this planet since Adam and Eve were pushed out of the Garden of Eden, and they will continue until Jesus Christ returns to earth to set up His rule of righteousness. But God in His mercy can also take the tragedies of life and use them for our good and for His eternal glory. Nothing is wasted! Not one sigh, not one tear, not one groan in our spirit.
In the book of Genesis is the dramatic story of Joseph. His wicked brothers betrayed him and sold him into slavery. But in what could have been the ultimate moment of payback, Joseph instead said, "'But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive'" (Genesis 50:20 NKJV).
That means God can take the most evil deed and work in spite of it. And even work through it and in it. Romans 8:28 tells us, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (NKJV). This includes what we perceive as "good things" as well as "bad things."
It's hard for us to understand how a bad thing could ultimately work for the good of anyone. In themselves, there's certainly nothing "good" about illness, car crashes, war casualties, or terrorist attacks. But God, in His infinite wisdom and love, somehow takes all the events of our lives — both good and bad — and blends them together ultimately for our good, the good He intends for our lives.
Sometimes God can even use pain and suffering to get our attention to bring us to faith. The Psalmist wrote, "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word" (Psalm 119:67 NKJV). C. S. Lewis, the Oxford scholar and author of The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe, wrote, "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world" (The Problem of Pain, 91). Sadly, for some of us, God has to use His "megaphone" in our lives. It's the only thing that will get our attention.
Though painful, it was powerful to experience this fateful day from the perspective of the passengers on United 93. You wonder if you would have been frozen with fear, or more like some of the courageous passengers like Todd Beamer, who overpowered the terrorists and sacrificed their own lives in order to save many others. You again feel the outrage we all felt the day after this horrific and brazen attack on innocent Americans.
After the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, I remember I was asked one question again and again. "Why did God allow this?" Some even suggested it was the "judgment of God." I don't agree with that.
Jesus spoke about a "current news story" of His own day, in Luke 13:4-5. A tower had apparently collapsed in Jerusalem, crushing a group of eighteen men. Referring to that local headline, Jesus asked the rhetorical question, "'Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem? No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will also perish'" (NLT).
Did these people who died fall under some special targeted justice of God? Did they get their comeuppance because they were all notorious rebels and God-haters, and judgment fell? No, Jesus was saying that the bottom line is that people die. And here was His point: "You'd better be careful, because you might die too! You too are a sinner, and this could happen to you as well. Those people weren't any worse or better than you!"
Tragedies happen. Wars happen. Accidents happen. Illnesses happen. Cancer happens. We live in a broken, fallen world, and nobody's exempt. It could happen to me. I could get hit by a car or die in a plane crash or succumb to a heart attack-or have a tower fall on me. One out of one people on earth die! Enoch and Elijah may have dodged that final bullet, but besides these two, there are no exceptions. Lazarus may have been raised from the dead, but in a few years, he had to die all over again.
This doesn't mean that God is unfair. It doesn't mean He has singled me or anybody else out for special judgment. If I die, it just means that it was my time to leave this earth. And that time will come for everybody.
The Bible says, "It is appointed unto men once to die..." (Hebrews 9:27 KJV). One meaning of that word appointed in the original language is "reserved." You've got an advanced reservation for when you will leave this world for an eternal destination. There's a ticket with your name and time of your departure on it. That's not a gloomy, pessimistic view of life if you belong to Jesus Christ. If you're a Christian, that whole concept of inevitable death is flooded with hope! You know that when you pass from this life, you will step immediately into the majesty and radiance of the Lord's immediate presence, and live with Him forever. What's not to like about that?
Paul told his friends in Philippi, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain...yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better" (Philippians 1:21, 22-23 NKJV). You would never hear that imprisoned apostle saying, "Well, if I've got to die, then I've got to die. Not much I can do about it anyway." No, to Paul, dying meant coming out ahead in the game! Stepping out of this life into the next was the best thing he could imagine. Being in the presence of the Lord Jesus wasn't just "better," it was "far better."
The simple truth is that tragedies have wracked this planet since Adam and Eve were pushed out of the Garden of Eden, and they will continue until Jesus Christ returns to earth to set up His rule of righteousness. But God in His mercy can also take the tragedies of life and use them for our good and for His eternal glory. Nothing is wasted! Not one sigh, not one tear, not one groan in our spirit.
In the book of Genesis is the dramatic story of Joseph. His wicked brothers betrayed him and sold him into slavery. But in what could have been the ultimate moment of payback, Joseph instead said, "'But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive'" (Genesis 50:20 NKJV).
That means God can take the most evil deed and work in spite of it. And even work through it and in it. Romans 8:28 tells us, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (NKJV). This includes what we perceive as "good things" as well as "bad things."
It's hard for us to understand how a bad thing could ultimately work for the good of anyone. In themselves, there's certainly nothing "good" about illness, car crashes, war casualties, or terrorist attacks. But God, in His infinite wisdom and love, somehow takes all the events of our lives — both good and bad — and blends them together ultimately for our good, the good He intends for our lives.
Sometimes God can even use pain and suffering to get our attention to bring us to faith. The Psalmist wrote, "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word" (Psalm 119:67 NKJV). C. S. Lewis, the Oxford scholar and author of The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe, wrote, "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world" (The Problem of Pain, 91). Sadly, for some of us, God has to use His "megaphone" in our lives. It's the only thing that will get our attention.
Messages From Heaven: God Has a Future for You!
Messages From Heaven: God Has a Future for You!: When the apostle Paul was imprisoned for proclaiming the gospel, he was no doubt feeling a bit down and discouraged. Perhaps he was wonder...
God Has a Future for You!
When the apostle Paul was imprisoned for proclaiming the gospel, he
was no doubt feeling a bit down and discouraged. Perhaps he was
wondering if he would ever be released. Then Jesus came to him with
these words: “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me
in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome” (Acts 23:11).
Paul could take comfort that there was a future for him because Jesus said, “You must also bear witness in Rome.” They wouldn’t kill him. He was still to bear witness in Rome. He had a future.
One of my favorite verses about God’s future for each of us is in the book of Jeremiah: “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).
It is worth noting that these words were given to Israel when they were in captivity in Babylon. They had lost hope. They saw no future, and felt as if God had forgotten about them. But the Lord was saying to them (and us too), “I have not forgotten you, and there is a future!”
Note that God does not say, “I know the thoughts that I have thought toward you.” Rather, He says, “I know the thoughts that I think toward you.”
Now it would be wonderful enough to know that God ever thought of me as an individual. But it is not something God has merely done in the past. It is something He is doing in the present and will continue to do in the future.
Know this: God is thinking about you right now! He is not thinking about you merely as a member of the human race. He is thinking about you as an individual.
Psalm 40:5 says, “Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done; and Your thoughts toward us cannot be counted to You in order. If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.”
Think about that! God Almighty, the One who holds the heavens in the span of His hand, the One who spoke and creation came into being, is thinking about you right now.
Jeremiah 29:11 speaks of a future. Now the word used here for future could be translated “an expected end.” Another translation describes it as “a ground of hope” or “things hoped for.”
There will be an outcome in your life, regardless of what you are going through at present. There will be completion. God will tie up the loose ends. You are still a work in progress. God is still finishing you, so don’t be impatient. Don’t feel it’s over, just because you are not where you want to be yet.
We see only the beginning. God sees “the expected end” and it is good! God still had a future for Paul, just as He does for you.
Paul could take comfort that there was a future for him because Jesus said, “You must also bear witness in Rome.” They wouldn’t kill him. He was still to bear witness in Rome. He had a future.
One of my favorite verses about God’s future for each of us is in the book of Jeremiah: “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).
It is worth noting that these words were given to Israel when they were in captivity in Babylon. They had lost hope. They saw no future, and felt as if God had forgotten about them. But the Lord was saying to them (and us too), “I have not forgotten you, and there is a future!”
Note that God does not say, “I know the thoughts that I have thought toward you.” Rather, He says, “I know the thoughts that I think toward you.”
Now it would be wonderful enough to know that God ever thought of me as an individual. But it is not something God has merely done in the past. It is something He is doing in the present and will continue to do in the future.
Know this: God is thinking about you right now! He is not thinking about you merely as a member of the human race. He is thinking about you as an individual.
Psalm 40:5 says, “Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done; and Your thoughts toward us cannot be counted to You in order. If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.”
Think about that! God Almighty, the One who holds the heavens in the span of His hand, the One who spoke and creation came into being, is thinking about you right now.
Jeremiah 29:11 speaks of a future. Now the word used here for future could be translated “an expected end.” Another translation describes it as “a ground of hope” or “things hoped for.”
There will be an outcome in your life, regardless of what you are going through at present. There will be completion. God will tie up the loose ends. You are still a work in progress. God is still finishing you, so don’t be impatient. Don’t feel it’s over, just because you are not where you want to be yet.
We see only the beginning. God sees “the expected end” and it is good! God still had a future for Paul, just as He does for you.
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Messages From Heaven: Is It Okay to Harvest Fetal Tissue for Research?
Messages From Heaven: Is It Okay to Harvest Fetal Tissue for Research?: I've been hearing a great deal about fetal experimentation and some of the possible medical breakthroughs that could be realized as a ...
Is It Okay to Harvest Fetal Tissue for Research?
I've been hearing a great deal about fetal experimentation
and some of the possible medical breakthroughs that could be realized as
a result of this research. Do you think it is ethical to "harvest"
tissue from fetuses if it means we'll find the medical solution to
debilitating diseases?
There is no hypothetical medical discovery that will justify the horrible procedure by which organs are "harvested" from a tiny human being. If most of us had to watch the grisly task of cannibalizing the body of a baby, it would sicken and outrage us. At the risk of distressing my readers, I am going to describe that procedure. Be forewarned! What I'm about to write will be disturbing.
First, it is important to remember that a child born alive presents a major problem to an abortionist. It is the ultimate "complication," because legally, every effort must be made to keep a breathing newborn alive. That's why the physician usually crushes the fetus's head while still in the uterus. However, a baby who is born dead is of less value to researchers because brain tissue and other organs quickly deteriorate when deprived of oxygen. Thus, the abortionist must employ a means of extracting the body parts and brain matter from a living baby who is not yet expelled from the birth canal.
The method is called "dilatation and extraction," or "partial-birth abortion." It is grotesque beyond imagination. It occurs on fully viable babies, weighing as much as six to eight pounds. Over a period of two days, the cervix is dilated. Then an ultrasound device and forceps are used to reach in and grab the baby's feet. The little body is pulled into the birth canal until only the head remains in the cervix. Next the abortionist grasps the nape of the neck and stabs the back of the skull with blunt scissors. A device called a cannula is then inserted into the wound, and the brain material is sucked out. If kidneys or other organs are desired, they are removed while the child is still partially in the vagina. Initially at least, these surgical procedures are performed on a live baby who has not specifically been anesthetized. The dismembered and lifeless body is then delivered the other few inches.
If puppies or kittens were subjected to such cruel treatment, the protests of the animal-rights people would be heard around the world--and I would be one of the most vocal.
In this instance, however, we're dealing not with animals but with human beings of inestimably greater worth, who are created in the image of the Creator. How anyone with the remotest sympathy for the sanctity of life could play God with the destiny of these little ones is beyond all comprehension. Without question, they comprise the most disadvantaged and defenseless segment in our culture today. And the excuse for this evil? It is the remote possibility of some distant medical breakthrough--or more commonly--for the convenience of the physician in late-term abortions! I will oppose it for as long as I have breath within my body.
There is no hypothetical medical discovery that will justify the horrible procedure by which organs are "harvested" from a tiny human being. If most of us had to watch the grisly task of cannibalizing the body of a baby, it would sicken and outrage us. At the risk of distressing my readers, I am going to describe that procedure. Be forewarned! What I'm about to write will be disturbing.
First, it is important to remember that a child born alive presents a major problem to an abortionist. It is the ultimate "complication," because legally, every effort must be made to keep a breathing newborn alive. That's why the physician usually crushes the fetus's head while still in the uterus. However, a baby who is born dead is of less value to researchers because brain tissue and other organs quickly deteriorate when deprived of oxygen. Thus, the abortionist must employ a means of extracting the body parts and brain matter from a living baby who is not yet expelled from the birth canal.
The method is called "dilatation and extraction," or "partial-birth abortion." It is grotesque beyond imagination. It occurs on fully viable babies, weighing as much as six to eight pounds. Over a period of two days, the cervix is dilated. Then an ultrasound device and forceps are used to reach in and grab the baby's feet. The little body is pulled into the birth canal until only the head remains in the cervix. Next the abortionist grasps the nape of the neck and stabs the back of the skull with blunt scissors. A device called a cannula is then inserted into the wound, and the brain material is sucked out. If kidneys or other organs are desired, they are removed while the child is still partially in the vagina. Initially at least, these surgical procedures are performed on a live baby who has not specifically been anesthetized. The dismembered and lifeless body is then delivered the other few inches.
If puppies or kittens were subjected to such cruel treatment, the protests of the animal-rights people would be heard around the world--and I would be one of the most vocal.
In this instance, however, we're dealing not with animals but with human beings of inestimably greater worth, who are created in the image of the Creator. How anyone with the remotest sympathy for the sanctity of life could play God with the destiny of these little ones is beyond all comprehension. Without question, they comprise the most disadvantaged and defenseless segment in our culture today. And the excuse for this evil? It is the remote possibility of some distant medical breakthrough--or more commonly--for the convenience of the physician in late-term abortions! I will oppose it for as long as I have breath within my body.
Messages From Heaven: Should Homosexuality Be Accepted as a Healthy Life...
Messages From Heaven: Should Homosexuality Be Accepted as a Healthy Life...: Homosexual activists claim their lifestyle, which in some cases includes thousands of sexual partners, should be sanctioned, protected, an...
Should Homosexuality Be Accepted as a Healthy Lifestyle?
Homosexual activists claim their lifestyle, which in some cases
includes thousands of sexual partners, should be sanctioned, protected,
and granted special rights by society. Their rationale is that since
their sexual nature is inherited, it is involuntary and therefore should
be considered morally neutral. Would you critique this stance?
Let me answer that question by asking two of my own: "What if?" and "So what?"
What if it could be demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt that homosexuality is, as activists claim, genetic, biochemical, and neurological in origin? We would still want to know, so what? The homosexual activist community would have us believe that because their behavior is genetically programmed and beyond their control, it is morally defensible. That is not supportable. Most men have inherited a lust for women. Their natural tendency is to have sex with as many beautiful girls as possible, both before marriage and after. Abstinence before marriage and monogamy afterward are accomplished by discipline and commitment. If men did what they are genetically programmed to do, most would be sexually promiscuous from about fourteen years of age onward. Would that make such behavior any less immoral? Of course not.
What if a pedophile (child abuser) could claim that he inherited his lust for kids? He could make a good case for it. Certainly his sexual apparatus and the testosterone that drives it are creations of genetics. Even if his perversion resulted from early experiences, he could accurately claim not to have chosen to be what he is. But so what? Does that make his abuse of children any less offensive? Should society accept, protect, and grant special civil rights to pedophiles? Is it blatant dis- crimination that they are tried, convicted, and imprisoned for doing what they are "programmed" to do? No! The source of their sexual preference is irrelevant to the behavior itself, which is deemed to be immoral and reprehensible by society.
What if it could be demonstrated conclusively that alcoholics inherit a chemical vulnerability to alcohol? Such is probably the case, since some races have a much higher incidence of alcoholism than others. But so what? Does that mean alcoholism is any less a problem for those families and for society in general? Hardly!
I hope the point is apparent. Being genetically inclined to do immoral things does not make immoral behavior right. There are many influences at work within us, but they are irrelevant. I know of no instance in Scripture where God winked at evildoers because of their flawed inheritance or early experiences. In fact, the opposite is implied. In the book of Genesis we are told that an angel informed Ishmael's mother that the child she was carrying would be "a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers" (Genesis 16:12). In other words, Ishmael was genetically inclined toward violence and rebellion. Yet there is no indication that he enjoyed a special dispensation from God that excused his sinful behavior. Each of us is accountable for what we do, without excuses and rationalizations. That's why we all need a Savior who died to eradicate our sins, regardless of their source.
There is one other "so what" with which we must deal. If homosexuals can claim to be genetically predisposed to lust after their own sex, why does that make their circumstances different from unmarried heterosexuals? Single individuals are certainly programmed by heredity to desire fulfillment with the opposite sex, but they are called to a world of purity. I know that is a tough requirement--especially for those who will never marry--yet this is my understanding of Scripture. Promiscuity for unmarried heterosexuals is the moral equivalent of promiscuity for homosexuals. Liberal ministers who are revising church standards to sanction sexual expression by homosexuals must, I would think, extend the same concession to heterosexual singles. But before they do, some scriptural justification should be found to support the "new morality." I think none exists.
Let me answer that question by asking two of my own: "What if?" and "So what?"
What if it could be demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt that homosexuality is, as activists claim, genetic, biochemical, and neurological in origin? We would still want to know, so what? The homosexual activist community would have us believe that because their behavior is genetically programmed and beyond their control, it is morally defensible. That is not supportable. Most men have inherited a lust for women. Their natural tendency is to have sex with as many beautiful girls as possible, both before marriage and after. Abstinence before marriage and monogamy afterward are accomplished by discipline and commitment. If men did what they are genetically programmed to do, most would be sexually promiscuous from about fourteen years of age onward. Would that make such behavior any less immoral? Of course not.
What if a pedophile (child abuser) could claim that he inherited his lust for kids? He could make a good case for it. Certainly his sexual apparatus and the testosterone that drives it are creations of genetics. Even if his perversion resulted from early experiences, he could accurately claim not to have chosen to be what he is. But so what? Does that make his abuse of children any less offensive? Should society accept, protect, and grant special civil rights to pedophiles? Is it blatant dis- crimination that they are tried, convicted, and imprisoned for doing what they are "programmed" to do? No! The source of their sexual preference is irrelevant to the behavior itself, which is deemed to be immoral and reprehensible by society.
What if it could be demonstrated conclusively that alcoholics inherit a chemical vulnerability to alcohol? Such is probably the case, since some races have a much higher incidence of alcoholism than others. But so what? Does that mean alcoholism is any less a problem for those families and for society in general? Hardly!
I hope the point is apparent. Being genetically inclined to do immoral things does not make immoral behavior right. There are many influences at work within us, but they are irrelevant. I know of no instance in Scripture where God winked at evildoers because of their flawed inheritance or early experiences. In fact, the opposite is implied. In the book of Genesis we are told that an angel informed Ishmael's mother that the child she was carrying would be "a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers" (Genesis 16:12). In other words, Ishmael was genetically inclined toward violence and rebellion. Yet there is no indication that he enjoyed a special dispensation from God that excused his sinful behavior. Each of us is accountable for what we do, without excuses and rationalizations. That's why we all need a Savior who died to eradicate our sins, regardless of their source.
There is one other "so what" with which we must deal. If homosexuals can claim to be genetically predisposed to lust after their own sex, why does that make their circumstances different from unmarried heterosexuals? Single individuals are certainly programmed by heredity to desire fulfillment with the opposite sex, but they are called to a world of purity. I know that is a tough requirement--especially for those who will never marry--yet this is my understanding of Scripture. Promiscuity for unmarried heterosexuals is the moral equivalent of promiscuity for homosexuals. Liberal ministers who are revising church standards to sanction sexual expression by homosexuals must, I would think, extend the same concession to heterosexual singles. But before they do, some scriptural justification should be found to support the "new morality." I think none exists.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Messages From Heaven: Is God Finished With Me?
Messages From Heaven: Is God Finished With Me?: “And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see,...
Is God Finished With Me?
“And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear not,
neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and
arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and
his people, and his city, and his land.” Joshua 8:1
Someone reading this article—it may be you—has failed the Lord, and you think perhaps God is finished with you.
In Joshua 8:1 we read that, coming off the incredible victory over Jericho, God’s people Israel met a stunning defeat against the small city of Ai, because there was sin in the camp. The sin was discovered and dealt with, but Joshua was dejected—even though he had not been personally responsible.
God said to Joshua in this passage, “I'm giving you another chance. I'm giving you another day.” I want to tell you, God is no more finished with you than God was finished with the children of Israel just because they sinned. God wants to give you another chance.
God is the God of the second chance. God is the God of grace. He is a God of forgiveness, of beginning again. Failures are neither fatal nor final as long as there's a God in heaven.
But you may be saying today, as David confessed to Nathan the prophet, “I am the man!” You may have failed and you acknowledge your failure.
Some people, because they have failed, just simply quit. They go around moaning, groaning saying, “What a fool I was.” Change that! It is not “over” for you. Say “What a fool I am to keep saying what a fool I was.” Listen, friend, the Bible says we are to “forget those things which are behind.”
What are some of the things that are behind? Both past guilt and past glory!
Past Glory Needs To Be Left Behind
If you camp out in “Past Gloryland,” you’ll find the Pillar of Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by night (God’s presence with His people) has moved on and now you are left behind!
Past Guilt Needs To Be Left Behind
In our Joshua passage, early in Israel’s history as a nation, the guilt was the greed and theft committed by Achan. Forget your success at Jericho and your failure at Ai. Confess your failure to God, leave it at the Cross—and press on. There's a land out there to be conquered, and the same God who wants to give you a second chance will give you a second chance.
God is the Giver of Second Chances
He gave Samson another chance, didn't He? Remember how Samson got his hair cut in the devil's barber shop? He lost his power and utterly failed to be the judge in Israel he had been chosen to be. Yet Samson said, “Oh God, hear me one more time!” And he was more victorious in his death than he was in his life.
God gave Jacob a second chance. Remember that Jacob went to Bethel and there he met the Lord. He saw a ladder descending out of heaven. He made vows to God. Then later on he got away from God. But the Bible says he went back to Bethel. God gave him a second chance.
God gave John Mark a second chance. The apostle Paul gave up on Mark. He said, “Mark’s been a failure—he’s been a deserter.” Mark even caused a rift between Paul and Barnabas! (Acts 15:39) Yet God gave Mark a second chance. In later years Paul wrote to Timothy, “Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11). Not only that, God gave him the privilege of writing the Gospel of Mark.
God gave Peter a second chance. Simon Peter cursed, swore and denied Christ in the darkest hour of His life, and yet Simon Peter was a great preacher on the day of Pentecost.
For Paul, it was hunting down and murdering Christians. It’s difficult to commit a “failure” that surpasses that.
Aren’t you glad that God is the God of a second chance? Bring your failure to Him.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
If you confess your sin, He will forgive your sin. He will give you a brand new start. And after you get this new start, you may serve Him better than ever because you've learned a lesson. You've known the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. Now you're ready to serve the Lord with power that you never had before.
Lamentations 3:22-23 may be a word from God for you today:
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness.
Aren't you glad that His compassions fail not? They are new every morning! Aren't you glad that regardless of what happened yesterday, today is “the day the Lord hath made”? Aren't you glad He is the God of the second chance? He is the God of a fresh start.
There is something about the nature and character of God revealed in Joshua 8:1. Don’t miss it. The God who judges failure is also the God who is willing to forgive sin when it's confessed, repented of, repudiated and put away.
God will give you a second chance.
Someone reading this article—it may be you—has failed the Lord, and you think perhaps God is finished with you.
In Joshua 8:1 we read that, coming off the incredible victory over Jericho, God’s people Israel met a stunning defeat against the small city of Ai, because there was sin in the camp. The sin was discovered and dealt with, but Joshua was dejected—even though he had not been personally responsible.
God said to Joshua in this passage, “I'm giving you another chance. I'm giving you another day.” I want to tell you, God is no more finished with you than God was finished with the children of Israel just because they sinned. God wants to give you another chance.
God is the God of the second chance. God is the God of grace. He is a God of forgiveness, of beginning again. Failures are neither fatal nor final as long as there's a God in heaven.
But you may be saying today, as David confessed to Nathan the prophet, “I am the man!” You may have failed and you acknowledge your failure.
Some people, because they have failed, just simply quit. They go around moaning, groaning saying, “What a fool I was.” Change that! It is not “over” for you. Say “What a fool I am to keep saying what a fool I was.” Listen, friend, the Bible says we are to “forget those things which are behind.”
What are some of the things that are behind? Both past guilt and past glory!
Past Glory Needs To Be Left Behind
If you camp out in “Past Gloryland,” you’ll find the Pillar of Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by night (God’s presence with His people) has moved on and now you are left behind!
Past Guilt Needs To Be Left Behind
In our Joshua passage, early in Israel’s history as a nation, the guilt was the greed and theft committed by Achan. Forget your success at Jericho and your failure at Ai. Confess your failure to God, leave it at the Cross—and press on. There's a land out there to be conquered, and the same God who wants to give you a second chance will give you a second chance.
God is the Giver of Second Chances
He gave Samson another chance, didn't He? Remember how Samson got his hair cut in the devil's barber shop? He lost his power and utterly failed to be the judge in Israel he had been chosen to be. Yet Samson said, “Oh God, hear me one more time!” And he was more victorious in his death than he was in his life.
God gave Jacob a second chance. Remember that Jacob went to Bethel and there he met the Lord. He saw a ladder descending out of heaven. He made vows to God. Then later on he got away from God. But the Bible says he went back to Bethel. God gave him a second chance.
God gave John Mark a second chance. The apostle Paul gave up on Mark. He said, “Mark’s been a failure—he’s been a deserter.” Mark even caused a rift between Paul and Barnabas! (Acts 15:39) Yet God gave Mark a second chance. In later years Paul wrote to Timothy, “Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11). Not only that, God gave him the privilege of writing the Gospel of Mark.
God gave Peter a second chance. Simon Peter cursed, swore and denied Christ in the darkest hour of His life, and yet Simon Peter was a great preacher on the day of Pentecost.
For Paul, it was hunting down and murdering Christians. It’s difficult to commit a “failure” that surpasses that.
Aren’t you glad that God is the God of a second chance? Bring your failure to Him.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
If you confess your sin, He will forgive your sin. He will give you a brand new start. And after you get this new start, you may serve Him better than ever because you've learned a lesson. You've known the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. Now you're ready to serve the Lord with power that you never had before.
Lamentations 3:22-23 may be a word from God for you today:
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness.
Aren't you glad that His compassions fail not? They are new every morning! Aren't you glad that regardless of what happened yesterday, today is “the day the Lord hath made”? Aren't you glad He is the God of the second chance? He is the God of a fresh start.
There is something about the nature and character of God revealed in Joshua 8:1. Don’t miss it. The God who judges failure is also the God who is willing to forgive sin when it's confessed, repented of, repudiated and put away.
God will give you a second chance.
Monday, January 6, 2014
Messages From Heaven: The Three-Second Pause? it will Make a Difference!...
Messages From Heaven: The Three-Second Pause? it will Make a Difference!...: The exercise of this discipline called self-control prevents desire from becoming a dictator. For the person without Christ, the desires d...
The Three-Second Pause? it will Make a Difference!
The exercise of this discipline called self-control prevents desire
from becoming a dictator. For the person without Christ, the desires
dictate and he or she obeys. Those in Christ, living under the authority
of His Spirit and ruled by Him, are able to defy this once-powerful
dictator. As a result, we experience a transforming change that others
notice.
As for the tongue, we exercise verbal restraint. Where our diet is concerned, we exercise restraint at the dinner table. (And I leave the ice cream in the freezer!) Pertaining to the temper, we exercise emotional restraint. As it relates to our thoughts, we exercise mental restraint. In terms of sexual lust, we exercise moral restraint. All of us have areas that tempt us more than others, so we must give ourselves over to the Spirit’s authority. He steps in and empowers us to hold back before we take steps to satisfy our impulse or our desire.
Let’s get practical. I have found that a three-second pause can make all the difference. Just as an impulse hits me, I decide to wait just three seconds before taking any action. During that pause, I do a quick assessment of what the consequences might be. Would this action be something that I would be embarrassed about later? Not all impulses are bad; some are good. Those three seconds have kept me out of a lot of hot water over the years.*
Pausing instead of reacting is one of the initial steps of living an authentic life. I've referred to this process as “becoming real” in my blog. In difficult situations, instead of responding quickly, pause a few moments in order to consider choosing a different, better response. During this pause, recall what “becoming real” looks like, and offer a genuine reply.
As for the tongue, we exercise verbal restraint. Where our diet is concerned, we exercise restraint at the dinner table. (And I leave the ice cream in the freezer!) Pertaining to the temper, we exercise emotional restraint. As it relates to our thoughts, we exercise mental restraint. In terms of sexual lust, we exercise moral restraint. All of us have areas that tempt us more than others, so we must give ourselves over to the Spirit’s authority. He steps in and empowers us to hold back before we take steps to satisfy our impulse or our desire.
Let’s get practical. I have found that a three-second pause can make all the difference. Just as an impulse hits me, I decide to wait just three seconds before taking any action. During that pause, I do a quick assessment of what the consequences might be. Would this action be something that I would be embarrassed about later? Not all impulses are bad; some are good. Those three seconds have kept me out of a lot of hot water over the years.*
Pausing instead of reacting is one of the initial steps of living an authentic life. I've referred to this process as “becoming real” in my blog. In difficult situations, instead of responding quickly, pause a few moments in order to consider choosing a different, better response. During this pause, recall what “becoming real” looks like, and offer a genuine reply.
Messages From Heaven: Winning Your Unseen Battles!
Messages From Heaven: Winning Your Unseen Battles!: "We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, but we are spiritual beings having a human experience." —Pierre Teilhard ...
Winning Your Unseen Battles!
"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, but we are
spiritual beings having a human experience." —Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
Do you remember years ago on September 11, 2001, when the first jet slammed into the World Trade Center in New York City? I was drinking my final cup of coffee before work when the morning news program I was watching was interrupted to broadcast live pictures of a gaping hole in the world's tallest building. The commentators speculated endlessly about the cause of the "accident." When told about the crash, President Bush was reported to have said, "That's one bad pilot!"
Many of us felt the same way. If indeed the crash had been caused by pilot error, perhaps the remedy for future accidents would have been to order remedial training for pilots, better navigation systems installed in planes, or more skilled air traffic controllers at airports.
But we soon discovered that this was no accident. When another plane crashed into the second tower, we immediately knew that America was under attack from a hostile force. For the first time in more than a hundred years, an enemy had attacked us on our own continent, forcing us to quickly formulate a strategy for defeating this new adversary. Knowing the source of a problem is crucial for developing a strategy to combat that problem. A navigational accident demands one response. A hostile strike requires a completely different strategy.
When the Other World Invades Your World
Every day our world is invaded by what are commonly thought to be random events...and we respond accordingly:
Couples divorce so we develop marriage enrichment seminars.
Drug use among children increases so we educate them about the dangers of narcotics and encourage them to "Just say 'no'."
Use of pornography among Christians rises dramatically so we organize accountability groups.
Churches fight and threaten to split so we hire arbitrators to help us with conflict resolution.
Christians complain of depression and thoughts of suicide so we medicate them with our latest drugs.
Please understand, I am all for marriage seminars, drug education, accountability groups, conflict resolution, and psychiatric medication when necessary. But what if the source of our conflicts is something more than just random events? What if the explanation for the problems that assault us regularly is something other than "stuff happens"? What if we are indeed under enemy attack? Would we change our strategy — or at least adapt it — to confront such a reality?
Meet Your Real Enemy
The Bible allows us to lift the curtain of our visible existence so that we can see the world as it really is. Through the lens of Scripture we discover not only that there is an unseen world...but it is a world at war. In perhaps the seminal passage in the New Testament about this spiritual conflict the apostle Paul writes:
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).
Notice Paul's use of the personal pronoun "our." This war is not just a spat between two cosmic forces that has little to do with us. We cannot shrug our shoulders when we read about it and say "I don't have a dog in that fight" (a favorite Texan expression). We do have a stake in this battle. Why?
Whether you realize it or not, you are living in the crossfire of this spiritual war. You have an Enemy who is determined to destroy everything and everyone important to you. Those who dismiss such words as being "over the top", "sensationalistic", or simply secondary to "more important spiritual realities" do so to their own detriment. The late pastor Martyn Lloyd Jones wrote...
Not to realize that you are in a conflict means one thing only, and it is that you are so hopelessly defeated, and so "knocked out" as it were, that you do not even know it — you are completely defeated by the devil. Anyone who is not aware of a fight and a conflict in a spiritual sense is in a drugged and hazardous condition.
Admittedly, most Christians are not aware of this intense battle in which we are engaged. Although we regularly witness the fallout of the Enemy's assaults all around us — broken marriages, wayward children, divided churches, inexplicable acts of violence — we fail to connect the dots and understand the source of many of our conflicts.
How can we not only survive, but win the war that has been waged against us? Paul encourages us to "put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil" (Ephesians 6:12).
In my book, The Divine Defense, I use this passage to outline six simple strategies for winning 'the greatest battles of our lives." Yes, our adversary is formidable, but he is also defeatable.
Avoiding the Extremes
However, in addressing the subject of Satan and spiritual warfare we need to exercise caution. Satan is just as pleased by those who exalt him as by those who ignore him. Even though Satan and his forces are real and really powerful, we need not fear them, nor do we need to become obsessed with them.
Author Neil Anderson compares the world of Satan and his demons to the world of germs. We know that germs, though invisible, are all around us. They inhabit our food, our water, our air, and other people with whom we come in contact. Some people are absolutely phobic about germs and spend their lives trying to insulate themselves from any contact with them.
But the right diet, appropriate rest and exercise, and practicing some simple principles of hygiene will protect you from most infections. You do not have to obsess about germs to be free from them. Yet, without an awareness of these microbes — and the ways to protect yourselves from them — you would be more prone to illness and even death.
We need to exercise balance in our understanding of this complex subject of spiritual warfare. But please do not equate "balance" with "passive." As the ancient warrior Sun Tzu observed:
The art of war is of vital importance.... It is a matter of life and death, a road to either to safety or to ruin. Hence, under no circumstances can it be ignored.
You are in the middle of an invisible, though very real, war.
The stakes are high.
Your enemy is skilled, armed, and determined.
The possibility of losing everything important to you is real.
You must be aware of and prepared for the fight.
Do you remember years ago on September 11, 2001, when the first jet slammed into the World Trade Center in New York City? I was drinking my final cup of coffee before work when the morning news program I was watching was interrupted to broadcast live pictures of a gaping hole in the world's tallest building. The commentators speculated endlessly about the cause of the "accident." When told about the crash, President Bush was reported to have said, "That's one bad pilot!"
Many of us felt the same way. If indeed the crash had been caused by pilot error, perhaps the remedy for future accidents would have been to order remedial training for pilots, better navigation systems installed in planes, or more skilled air traffic controllers at airports.
But we soon discovered that this was no accident. When another plane crashed into the second tower, we immediately knew that America was under attack from a hostile force. For the first time in more than a hundred years, an enemy had attacked us on our own continent, forcing us to quickly formulate a strategy for defeating this new adversary. Knowing the source of a problem is crucial for developing a strategy to combat that problem. A navigational accident demands one response. A hostile strike requires a completely different strategy.
When the Other World Invades Your World
Every day our world is invaded by what are commonly thought to be random events...and we respond accordingly:
Couples divorce so we develop marriage enrichment seminars.
Drug use among children increases so we educate them about the dangers of narcotics and encourage them to "Just say 'no'."
Use of pornography among Christians rises dramatically so we organize accountability groups.
Churches fight and threaten to split so we hire arbitrators to help us with conflict resolution.
Christians complain of depression and thoughts of suicide so we medicate them with our latest drugs.
Please understand, I am all for marriage seminars, drug education, accountability groups, conflict resolution, and psychiatric medication when necessary. But what if the source of our conflicts is something more than just random events? What if the explanation for the problems that assault us regularly is something other than "stuff happens"? What if we are indeed under enemy attack? Would we change our strategy — or at least adapt it — to confront such a reality?
Meet Your Real Enemy
The Bible allows us to lift the curtain of our visible existence so that we can see the world as it really is. Through the lens of Scripture we discover not only that there is an unseen world...but it is a world at war. In perhaps the seminal passage in the New Testament about this spiritual conflict the apostle Paul writes:
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).
Notice Paul's use of the personal pronoun "our." This war is not just a spat between two cosmic forces that has little to do with us. We cannot shrug our shoulders when we read about it and say "I don't have a dog in that fight" (a favorite Texan expression). We do have a stake in this battle. Why?
Whether you realize it or not, you are living in the crossfire of this spiritual war. You have an Enemy who is determined to destroy everything and everyone important to you. Those who dismiss such words as being "over the top", "sensationalistic", or simply secondary to "more important spiritual realities" do so to their own detriment. The late pastor Martyn Lloyd Jones wrote...
Not to realize that you are in a conflict means one thing only, and it is that you are so hopelessly defeated, and so "knocked out" as it were, that you do not even know it — you are completely defeated by the devil. Anyone who is not aware of a fight and a conflict in a spiritual sense is in a drugged and hazardous condition.
Admittedly, most Christians are not aware of this intense battle in which we are engaged. Although we regularly witness the fallout of the Enemy's assaults all around us — broken marriages, wayward children, divided churches, inexplicable acts of violence — we fail to connect the dots and understand the source of many of our conflicts.
How can we not only survive, but win the war that has been waged against us? Paul encourages us to "put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil" (Ephesians 6:12).
In my book, The Divine Defense, I use this passage to outline six simple strategies for winning 'the greatest battles of our lives." Yes, our adversary is formidable, but he is also defeatable.
Avoiding the Extremes
However, in addressing the subject of Satan and spiritual warfare we need to exercise caution. Satan is just as pleased by those who exalt him as by those who ignore him. Even though Satan and his forces are real and really powerful, we need not fear them, nor do we need to become obsessed with them.
Author Neil Anderson compares the world of Satan and his demons to the world of germs. We know that germs, though invisible, are all around us. They inhabit our food, our water, our air, and other people with whom we come in contact. Some people are absolutely phobic about germs and spend their lives trying to insulate themselves from any contact with them.
But the right diet, appropriate rest and exercise, and practicing some simple principles of hygiene will protect you from most infections. You do not have to obsess about germs to be free from them. Yet, without an awareness of these microbes — and the ways to protect yourselves from them — you would be more prone to illness and even death.
We need to exercise balance in our understanding of this complex subject of spiritual warfare. But please do not equate "balance" with "passive." As the ancient warrior Sun Tzu observed:
The art of war is of vital importance.... It is a matter of life and death, a road to either to safety or to ruin. Hence, under no circumstances can it be ignored.
You are in the middle of an invisible, though very real, war.
The stakes are high.
Your enemy is skilled, armed, and determined.
The possibility of losing everything important to you is real.
You must be aware of and prepared for the fight.
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