I am not one of those guys who see a demon behind every bush and rock. I don’t blame sound system feedback on evil spirits and I have never personally encountered anyone who manifested clear evidence of demon possession. I do know demonic activity is real; however, and I know we as God’s people are involved in a spiritual battle with evil, continually.
In many foreign countries that have little or no Christian influence, many demonic encounters are reported by our missionaries in the field. The people in those countries are bound in false religious systems that are controlled by the demonic. The people are manipulated, controlled and intimidated by superstitions and false teachings. The goal of such evil influence is spiritual bondage and to keep people from hearing and responding to the truth of the gospel. The favorite tool is the lie. Victory over such bondage is found in Jesus and His truth.
In our American culture, demonic spirits seek to put people in spiritual bondage and keep people from responding to the gospel just as in more pagan cultures. The difference is that their approach is more sophisticated. Americans would dismiss demon possession as a mental illness and not be frightened into accepting a false religion just because they saw someone manifest demonic control. Our culture does not sacrifice a black goat and three white chickens to appease an evil spirit as some other cultures do. The satanic approach in America is more subtle and sophisticated, but the results are just as deadly. Here are three facts we need to keep in mind:
1. Our greatest defense is our personal walk with God. Ephesians 6:10-20 speaks of putting on God’s full spiritual armor so we can stand in the face of evil when that day of spiritual battle comes to us. The armor is a metaphor for our walk with God as we live according to truth, seek practical righteousness, keep our minds on God’s truth, stand ready to share Christ, and live by faith. As we align our lives with God’s Word and stay in contact with Him in prayer, we are indestructible until God calls us home to be with Him in glory.
2. We do not need to fear evil, for Christ is in us through the Holy Spirit. 1 John 4:1-4 reminds us that Christ lives in us and He is greater than any spiritual force on earth. We should not be fearful or frightened of the demonic. We have nothing to be afraid of. Christ has delivered us and given us victory in this battle through His perfect redemption.
3. Prayer and the Word of God are our most powerful weapons. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 reminds us that satanic lies bring spiritual bondage and God’s truth delivers us from those demonic strongholds. Satan’s goal is bondage, not to see people foam at the mouth and bark like dogs. His “mission” is to keep people from knowing Christ and following His plan for their lives. Our mission is just the opposite. As spirit-filled witnesses, we must win the battle.
Spiritual warfare is real and we are in the battle whether we like it or not. Satan’s sophisticated approach to bondage in America is very effective. Those who have been duped by the devil have no idea what is happening to them. We must not surrender the battle when so much is at stake.
Showing posts with label church. Show all posts
Showing posts with label church. Show all posts
Monday, May 17, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Avoiding Human Monkeyshines
In a major university the Psych Department ran an interesting experiment on a group of monkeys. They had several monkeys in a room with a rope hanging from the ceiling. At the top of the rope was a nice tasty bunch of bananas. One monkey started up the rope to get a snack, but about halfway up he was sprayed with cold water. This was repeated several times. They each made several attempts until finally the monkeys no longer tried to climb the rope.
Then the people conducting the experiment took out one monkey and replaced him with a monkey that had never had the experience of the cold-water spray. When the newcomer attempted to go up the rope, all the other monkeys grabbed him and screamed at him, keeping him from climbing the rope. One by one they replaced the monkeys until there were no monkeys who had ever experienced the cold spray of water, but none of them ever attempted to climb the rope to get the tasty food. They ignored the opportunity for satisfaction, but none of them knew why.
I’ve discovered that in life that there are many people that are like that group of monkeys. They see an amazing opportunity to grow and discover what it really means to follow Christ or to go to the next level in their Christian experience. But as they start the climb, they have a group of well-intentioned people warning them and filling them with doubts and obstacles. Because they listen to the crowd, they never experience the life God has intended for them.
Sometimes it is a teenager being pressured by her peers to not pray before eating lunch at school. Or, it can be a young adult being belittled in a college classroom for his belief in the Bible. Sometimes it is an adult in the workplace being told to keep her beliefs to herself even when an associate is asking what makes her different. Maybe it is a neighbor that makes fun of a man’s Christian bumper sticker or welcome mat. Perhaps, for some, it is a close family member who thinks attending church is for losers or fanatics. We all have those voices screaming at us to be silent, to be like everyone else, and to be ashamed or embarrassed of the gospel and even the Lord Himself.
As a result of the “monkeys in the room” we don’t reach out for the life we can have. We settle for second best. We surrender to “the way things are.” As we develop that victim way of thinking, we too can stop reaching for the prize without even knowing why we shouldn’t try.
To overcome, we must resist the “stinking thinking” of the world. We must realize that God created us for more than mediocrity. We each have unique value and purpose put into our hearts by our Creator. We must learn to reach for that, even if we get a cold shower once in a while. Lukewarm complacency will lead us to a life void of purpose and meaning.
Monday, January 18, 2010
The Bigness of Small Things
How can a church building suddenly turn up missing? Well, it really did in a rural part of Russia. It was stolen! Last seen in July 2008, the 200-year-old Russian Orthodox Church building disappeared just a few months later. Orthodox officials in a village northeast of Moscow intended to reopen the abandoned, two-story Church of the Resurrection and begin services again. Imagine their surprise when they came to the place where the church had once stood and saw nothing! Apparently, it is a common occurrence in rural areas of Russia for vacant churches to have their gilded icons and other valuables stolen. But now the entire church building itself had been stolen! How did it happen?It happened brick by brick. Nearby villagers dismantled the structure in October 2008 and sold each brick to a local businessman for one ruble each (which amounts to about four cents per brick). “Of course, this is blasphemy,” a local priest declared, “These people have to realize they committed a grave sin.” But it does raise a question, “Where were the leaders and members of the church? Didn’t they also commit a grave sin through their neglect and lack of participation?”
Who knows how these things happen. I’m sure they occur for a variety of reasons. Perhaps it has to do with a number of “terrorist cells” I recently heard about. “News reports” say that five terrorist cell groups have been operating in many of our churches. They have been identified as: Summa Bin Sleepin, Summa Bin Arguin, Summa Bin Grumblin, Summa Bin Murmurin, and Summa Bin Missin.
Okay, I made up that last part. Just having a little fun with you, but there is a point. Little things like complaining and grumbling seem insignificant when compared to the bigger picture of God’s kingdom work, but they can do a great deal of damage. They can tear down God’s people and God’s church, “one brick at a time.” They can quench the fire of the Holy Spirit’s work.
The Hebrew people of Moses’ day had seen God do miracles. They saw God bring judgment on the Egyptians through 10 plagues. They were eye-witnesses to the dividing of the Red Sea. They saw God provide manna and water in the desert wilderness to feed over a million people. Yet, they still complained against Moses and Aaron and even the Lord Himself. It grieved the Lord so much, that He brought various judgments upon them. Those little things began to build into bigger issues and even outright idolatry and rebellion, and soon the entire nation was missing out on God’s Promised Land. It can happen to churches, too.
But I have also heard of some counter-terrorist groups being formed: Summa Bin Prayin! Summa Bin Teachin! Summa Bin Sharin! Summa Bin Givin! Summa Bin Faithful! I truly thank God for those who are faithful with the “small things.” They keep the church strong and focused on the mission of God. They are the mortar that holds the bricks in place so that the evil one cannot steal them and cause the building to collapse. They are people like you who serve God day in and day out without murmuring or complaining, even when you might have a reason to do so. Let’s stay faithful to the small things so we can see God do the big things.
Who knows how these things happen. I’m sure they occur for a variety of reasons. Perhaps it has to do with a number of “terrorist cells” I recently heard about. “News reports” say that five terrorist cell groups have been operating in many of our churches. They have been identified as: Summa Bin Sleepin, Summa Bin Arguin, Summa Bin Grumblin, Summa Bin Murmurin, and Summa Bin Missin.
Okay, I made up that last part. Just having a little fun with you, but there is a point. Little things like complaining and grumbling seem insignificant when compared to the bigger picture of God’s kingdom work, but they can do a great deal of damage. They can tear down God’s people and God’s church, “one brick at a time.” They can quench the fire of the Holy Spirit’s work.
The Hebrew people of Moses’ day had seen God do miracles. They saw God bring judgment on the Egyptians through 10 plagues. They were eye-witnesses to the dividing of the Red Sea. They saw God provide manna and water in the desert wilderness to feed over a million people. Yet, they still complained against Moses and Aaron and even the Lord Himself. It grieved the Lord so much, that He brought various judgments upon them. Those little things began to build into bigger issues and even outright idolatry and rebellion, and soon the entire nation was missing out on God’s Promised Land. It can happen to churches, too.
But I have also heard of some counter-terrorist groups being formed: Summa Bin Prayin! Summa Bin Teachin! Summa Bin Sharin! Summa Bin Givin! Summa Bin Faithful! I truly thank God for those who are faithful with the “small things.” They keep the church strong and focused on the mission of God. They are the mortar that holds the bricks in place so that the evil one cannot steal them and cause the building to collapse. They are people like you who serve God day in and day out without murmuring or complaining, even when you might have a reason to do so. Let’s stay faithful to the small things so we can see God do the big things.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Priorities in the Church
I heard about a happily married couple who had certain struggles because old Aunt Emma showed up at their door one day needing a place to stay. Emma was loud and demanding, and generally ungrateful. The couple held back their feelings because Aunt Emma was family; and besides, Emma could really lay on the guilt trip any time there seemed to be any hesitation in meeting her many needs.
After seven long years, Aunt Emma died. On the way home from the funeral the husband said, “You know dear, if I did not love you so much, I don’t think I would have put up with your Aunt Emma all these years.” The wife looked at her husband in total disbelief and said, “My Aunt Emma? I thought she was your Aunt Emma!”
I have noted that some times churches can be bamboozled by the enemy into accepting responsibilities that are really not theirs. God has created and designed the church to do three basic things: Worship God, Build up Believers and Share Christ with a lost world.
Because we are people committed to being loving and compassionate, we can sometimes be drawn toward activities and causes that are very good, but may be a distraction from the real priorities of the church. We are a people of conviction and moral standards, but we need to be cautious that we are not sidetracked into social or political activism when the lost are dying without hope. If we are not careful, even our desire for personal holiness can take us down a path of legalism, causing us to neglect the Great Commission.
Yes, we must remember to be salt and light to the world, but we must also remember why.
After seven long years, Aunt Emma died. On the way home from the funeral the husband said, “You know dear, if I did not love you so much, I don’t think I would have put up with your Aunt Emma all these years.” The wife looked at her husband in total disbelief and said, “My Aunt Emma? I thought she was your Aunt Emma!”
I have noted that some times churches can be bamboozled by the enemy into accepting responsibilities that are really not theirs. God has created and designed the church to do three basic things: Worship God, Build up Believers and Share Christ with a lost world.
Because we are people committed to being loving and compassionate, we can sometimes be drawn toward activities and causes that are very good, but may be a distraction from the real priorities of the church. We are a people of conviction and moral standards, but we need to be cautious that we are not sidetracked into social or political activism when the lost are dying without hope. If we are not careful, even our desire for personal holiness can take us down a path of legalism, causing us to neglect the Great Commission.
Yes, we must remember to be salt and light to the world, but we must also remember why.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Avoiding Spiritual Laziness
I heard a story of a group of sailors on a ship at sea. A discussion broke out over who was the laziest man on board. After many opinions were given one man found a way to end all the arguments. He shouted out, “I’ll settle this right now. I have a 50 dollar bill that I will give to the laziest man on this vessel.” Several of the men stepped up quickly to claim the 50 dollars, but the winner was obvious. He was the one who stayed in his bunk and said, “Could one of you guys just roll me over and shove that 50 in my back pocket?”
Laziness is something the book of Proverbs rebukes over and over again. Diligent labor is something that is praised in the Proverbs. In the New Testament we are instructed to do our work as unto the Lord. It is clear from the Bible that a strong work ethic is a spiritual issue!
It is important that we do not allow laziness into our spiritual lives as well. We all know how easy it is to neglect spiritual things. We do not intentionally set out to drift away from that close fellowship with the Lord. It is usually a slow fading away of closeness to Christ, like the gradual evaporation of water from a glass over a period of time.
How does it happen? It is a form of spiritual laziness! We get slothful concerning Bible reading and prayer. We get to liking that extra hour of sleep on Sunday morning more than the fellowship of our Sunday School class. Nothing is better than watching football on Sunday, so why not skip Sunday evening service? Plus, we work hard all week; we don’t have much time for ministry anymore. Because we are not diligent about the things of God, we find ourselves saying and doing things we know hurt others and we begin to damage our intimacy with the Lord.
Of course the devil is involved, but the reality is, we let much of it happen to ourselves through simple neglect. The good news is that God is all about giving us a fresh new start. He is ready to forgive and begin the rebuilding process. He is patiently waiting for us to admit we have been gradually wandering away and turn back to Him. No one can “roll us over” and put godly passion back into our hearts. It is up to us to allow Him first place in our hearts and our activities.
Laziness is something the book of Proverbs rebukes over and over again. Diligent labor is something that is praised in the Proverbs. In the New Testament we are instructed to do our work as unto the Lord. It is clear from the Bible that a strong work ethic is a spiritual issue!
It is important that we do not allow laziness into our spiritual lives as well. We all know how easy it is to neglect spiritual things. We do not intentionally set out to drift away from that close fellowship with the Lord. It is usually a slow fading away of closeness to Christ, like the gradual evaporation of water from a glass over a period of time.
How does it happen? It is a form of spiritual laziness! We get slothful concerning Bible reading and prayer. We get to liking that extra hour of sleep on Sunday morning more than the fellowship of our Sunday School class. Nothing is better than watching football on Sunday, so why not skip Sunday evening service? Plus, we work hard all week; we don’t have much time for ministry anymore. Because we are not diligent about the things of God, we find ourselves saying and doing things we know hurt others and we begin to damage our intimacy with the Lord.
Of course the devil is involved, but the reality is, we let much of it happen to ourselves through simple neglect. The good news is that God is all about giving us a fresh new start. He is ready to forgive and begin the rebuilding process. He is patiently waiting for us to admit we have been gradually wandering away and turn back to Him. No one can “roll us over” and put godly passion back into our hearts. It is up to us to allow Him first place in our hearts and our activities.
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