Have you ever wondered why Jesus said, when told about a boy with a demon, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you?" Luke 9:41 I used to think that He was rebuking His disciples for not being able to cast the unclean spirit out. But He was addressing a whole generation of the nation of Israel, not just a few guys. What do you think was bothering Him? I got an insight on that today from our Old Testament passage in the OYB.
When I was pondering what to write today, the Holy Spirit said "Start with Jesus and go back." So I did. This is a good principle - I highly recommend it!
I'm quite certain that Jesus was disturbed because this was God's chosen people and they had become completely victimized by Satan. If they had obeyed God's directions back when they were given the Promised Land, the ones we read today and have been reading, they would not have been in this predicament. They were as bad off as the rest of the world, at least in the demonic oppression arena, when they should have been free from the evil one's torment. But they did exactly what God had told them not to do: imitate the nations around them, especially when it came to spiritual practices.
“When you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you. You shall be blameless before the LORD your God. For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the LORD your God has not appointed such for you." Deuteronomy 18: 9-14
When I was in college (long, long ago "in a faraway land"), I got caught up in the occult. I promise you, when you do this stuff, or even dabble in it, you open up doors to demonic influence. My salvation included a lot of necessary deliverance from evil spirits. Some people go way too far in condemning every little thing, and they become as tormenting as the demons they're afraid of! I'm not talking about witch-hunting or "finding a demon under every rock". I'm serious, though, about not grieving the Spirit and not giving place to the abominations that God clearly hates.
Unfortunately, our culture is full of evil practices, idol worship, and occult fascination and involvement. "Pagan" is big these days. I run into it a lot in the artistic circles I associate in (this is my mission field). The Lord reminds me often not to let it influence me. We are so surrounded by it that I think we (the Church in general) are becoming callous to it. Be open to the correction of the Holy Spirit, and also of those who watch over you spiritually, such as your pastor, when they warn you of these things. I'm not one of these, I am just a messenger (but if you hear His voice through me, listen). As such, I'll name a couple of things as examples of what I feel are infiltrating influences that I know for a fact that some Christians are allowing in: vampire stuff and Harry Potter. Sorry to meddle, but these images and ideas are from the devil; they should not be fun to a believer because they grieve the Holy Spirit. This stuff is contamination; I think at best it is lowering your spiritual immune system, but probably much worse. Please consider dealing with it!
When our spirit is no longer grieved by what grieves the Holy Spirit (or we continue to ignore the grief) we are in great spiritual danger. This troubles me because we are to be overcomers, and this means "conquerors". Should we be conquered by the evil that Jesus died and rose again to conquer? He delivered us from evil; we even pray "deliver us from evil". Why do we play with it then? We call it "entertainment"! Wouldn't Jesus call it "faithless and perverse?" This hurts, I know, but it needs to be said. Believe me, I've heard it from Him more than once myself.
It is prophetic types, like me, who are most attracted (when not yielding to the Holy Spirit) to darkness, evil practices and occult spiritual power. Even though they are called to be especially tuned-in to God's communications and purposes and to help train others this way, it is this type of person that is most likely to be influenced by satanic and occult things. [This is why God gave instructions as to how to know a prophetic word was from Him or not. Deut. 18: 21-22, and many others] This may seem strange and unbelievable to many, but if you are this type of person, or you are near someone who is, you will easily be able to observe what I am talking about. Sadly, I have known people who are amazingly gifted prophetically who have gotten far too interested in what the devil is doing, so much so that they ended up following him instead of Christ Jesus. Don't you be one of these! And if you are a parent, and you have a child who is generally drawn to these things, pay attention, because you probably have a prophetically motivated/gifted child, and you will need to understand these things and learn how to raise them up in the Lord according to their gifts.
I praise God because Jesus conquered! He completely trampled down the devil. Jesus is Lord!! It is up to each of us individually to allow Jesus to be Lord in our own life. When He is, He will increase His kingdom in us, and through us where He gives us authority. These are dark and perilous times, and deceptions are rampant. Since we are the Children of Light, let us all live in the Light and shine His Light into the world.
Showing posts with label deliverance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label deliverance. Show all posts
Friday, April 1, 2011
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
November 3, 2010 The Mark of Groaning
Jesus, God's faithful High Priest, has been revealing to us the idols that grieve Him-- all leading up to the exposure of the "image that provokes to jealousy." Although there may very well be an historical outworking of this in the world, with the beast, false prophet and the "abomination of desolation," I am, right now, simply responding to the Spirit who is revealing spiritual conditions of the human heart. In my understanding, this image that provokes God to jealousy is the self, sitting on the throne of the heart. By now, we should have a clear sense of God's opinion of this. If that is what we see in ourselves, then we must allow Christ to deal with it once and for all. True salvation includes deliverance from the rule and worship of self.
God has work for His saints to do. We're not just waiting around for the end to come~ we are called to be kings and priests with Him as His Kingdom grows upon the earth. He intercedes 24/7 in the heavenlies and we are to minister with Him (we are in the heavenlies when we walk in the Spirit). This requires purification of heart so that we may be at one with Him and His purposes. Once our hearts are cleansed and in unity with the Spirit, we begin to see what He is doing on the earth and to be united with His purposes.
We must understand that God allows things to come to fruition~ He lets them develop until they are fully grown. It is then that things are seen for what they are, and God's judgments are shown to be righteous. Ezekiel writes: "The rod has blossomed, pride has budded. Violence has risen up into a rod of wickedness." Ezekiel 7: 10b-11a NKJV This is one reason we don't see God act on things when we think He ought to! Yes, it is troublesome to have to put up with evil all around us, but the end is coming for all wickedness.
I'll never forget the first time I realized that I was supposed to be grieved over the evil in the world (before that, I sort of ignored it). I had read a Scripture verse about Lot being troubled over the evil of his city (2 Peter 2:7 I suggest reading the different translations), and I realized that I wasn't all that bothered myself. I began to pray for God's heart on it: wow, what a change that brought on! Very uncomfortable, but how can we pray if we don't see things the way God does?
One of the reasons we don't want to see and feel God's way is that it makes us feel separated from humanity, and from the world we live in. Most of us don't want to feel that way. We have such an intense need to belong that we dull ourselves to the evil, or hide ourselves away in little pockets of Christian life. No, of course we don't need to wallow in wickedness~ that's not what I'm getting it. But you can hardly get away from it if you exist in the world. It is how we respond to what we see that I'm talking about. The sick feeling I get in my soul and spirit when I see the way the world is does not drive me to attack the world, rather it causes me to go before the throne of God for direction and grace. I then receive His comfort, because He feels the same separation from the world, and so many of the people in it. Christ came to bridge that separation, yet how many refuse to cross into the blessedness of God's light? And yet, His heart rejoices greatly in those who love Him, and His glorious plans for the future are real and sure.
Sharing God's hatred of evil and His love of the truth sets us apart from the world, and brings us into His realm of protection. "And He called to the man clothed with linen, who had the writer’s inkhorn at his side; and the LORD said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.” Ezekiel 9: 3-4 NKJV (Of course, we know this includes women too). Part of the Lord's Prayer is "deliver us from evil". Are we serious about praying this, or are we too concerned about how it will affect our lifestyle?
God's "secret place" is not always a very comfortable one, but it is a spiritually safe one.
These visions of Ezekiel today are some of the most chilling in the Bible to me. This picture strikes at the heart of what is going on in the world and in our nation, not just historically in the past or future temple in Jerusalem:
"Then he said to me, 'Mortal, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in his room of images? For they say 'The Lord does not see us, the Lord has forsaken the land.'" Ezekiel 8:12 NRSV
Satan has dark strategies that are working out in the governments of man. But there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed. We might as well face it: God sees everything. He's dealing with what's inside His people's hearts until we can join in praying wholeheartedly "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. . .deliver us from evil." We ask the Spirit of Truth and Revelation to expose the darkness, bring those who will repent into the Kingdom of Christ, and to glorify His name in the lives of the people of God.
Don't be afraid to see what the Lord shows you about what is happening in the world. Because Christ is victorious, and so are you!
Come quickly, Lord Jesus!
God has work for His saints to do. We're not just waiting around for the end to come~ we are called to be kings and priests with Him as His Kingdom grows upon the earth. He intercedes 24/7 in the heavenlies and we are to minister with Him (we are in the heavenlies when we walk in the Spirit). This requires purification of heart so that we may be at one with Him and His purposes. Once our hearts are cleansed and in unity with the Spirit, we begin to see what He is doing on the earth and to be united with His purposes.
We must understand that God allows things to come to fruition~ He lets them develop until they are fully grown. It is then that things are seen for what they are, and God's judgments are shown to be righteous. Ezekiel writes: "The rod has blossomed, pride has budded. Violence has risen up into a rod of wickedness." Ezekiel 7: 10b-11a NKJV This is one reason we don't see God act on things when we think He ought to! Yes, it is troublesome to have to put up with evil all around us, but the end is coming for all wickedness.
I'll never forget the first time I realized that I was supposed to be grieved over the evil in the world (before that, I sort of ignored it). I had read a Scripture verse about Lot being troubled over the evil of his city (2 Peter 2:7 I suggest reading the different translations), and I realized that I wasn't all that bothered myself. I began to pray for God's heart on it: wow, what a change that brought on! Very uncomfortable, but how can we pray if we don't see things the way God does?
One of the reasons we don't want to see and feel God's way is that it makes us feel separated from humanity, and from the world we live in. Most of us don't want to feel that way. We have such an intense need to belong that we dull ourselves to the evil, or hide ourselves away in little pockets of Christian life. No, of course we don't need to wallow in wickedness~ that's not what I'm getting it. But you can hardly get away from it if you exist in the world. It is how we respond to what we see that I'm talking about. The sick feeling I get in my soul and spirit when I see the way the world is does not drive me to attack the world, rather it causes me to go before the throne of God for direction and grace. I then receive His comfort, because He feels the same separation from the world, and so many of the people in it. Christ came to bridge that separation, yet how many refuse to cross into the blessedness of God's light? And yet, His heart rejoices greatly in those who love Him, and His glorious plans for the future are real and sure.
Sharing God's hatred of evil and His love of the truth sets us apart from the world, and brings us into His realm of protection. "And He called to the man clothed with linen, who had the writer’s inkhorn at his side; and the LORD said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.” Ezekiel 9: 3-4 NKJV (Of course, we know this includes women too). Part of the Lord's Prayer is "deliver us from evil". Are we serious about praying this, or are we too concerned about how it will affect our lifestyle?
God's "secret place" is not always a very comfortable one, but it is a spiritually safe one.
These visions of Ezekiel today are some of the most chilling in the Bible to me. This picture strikes at the heart of what is going on in the world and in our nation, not just historically in the past or future temple in Jerusalem:
"Then he said to me, 'Mortal, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in his room of images? For they say 'The Lord does not see us, the Lord has forsaken the land.'" Ezekiel 8:12 NRSV
Satan has dark strategies that are working out in the governments of man. But there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed. We might as well face it: God sees everything. He's dealing with what's inside His people's hearts until we can join in praying wholeheartedly "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. . .deliver us from evil." We ask the Spirit of Truth and Revelation to expose the darkness, bring those who will repent into the Kingdom of Christ, and to glorify His name in the lives of the people of God.
Don't be afraid to see what the Lord shows you about what is happening in the world. Because Christ is victorious, and so are you!
Come quickly, Lord Jesus!
Monday, October 18, 2010
October 18, 2010 Bubbles of Hope
God loves us so much! He is daily sending out His messages of love and hope, if we just had ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts to understand. Jeremiah received a message of hope in a mundane transaction of real estate. How often we miss these things because we're not expecting them.
Are you in the midst of disaster? Turn to God. He is the God of restoration.
Are you suffering from depression? I am your hope, says the Lord.
Are you being disciplined? "For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” Jeremiah 31:34
In Christ we have a new covenant, the promise of God's goodness forever. Even if you feel like you are at the bottom of the ocean. . . weighed down by impossible circumstances and crushed by unbearable heaviness. . . God is with you, and nothing is too hard for Him. Do you feel separated from God's love? There are bubbles all around you! Take these to your heart, for they contain the oxygen of hope that will sustain you until He comes and lifts you up.
"And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me. Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good" Jeremiah 31: 40-41a NKJV
Are you in the midst of disaster? Turn to God. He is the God of restoration.
Are you suffering from depression? I am your hope, says the Lord.
Are you being disciplined? "For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” Jeremiah 31:34
In Christ we have a new covenant, the promise of God's goodness forever. Even if you feel like you are at the bottom of the ocean. . . weighed down by impossible circumstances and crushed by unbearable heaviness. . . God is with you, and nothing is too hard for Him. Do you feel separated from God's love? There are bubbles all around you! Take these to your heart, for they contain the oxygen of hope that will sustain you until He comes and lifts you up.
"And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me. Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good" Jeremiah 31: 40-41a NKJV
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
June 29, 2010 The Mighty, Prevailing Word of God
Sometimes it feels like we're in the middle of the riot in Ephesus, with everybody chanting "Great is Diana of the Ephesians!" When large numbers of people get together, all worshipping the same god, a lot of shouting happens if you say anything about Jesus Christ being Lord. Confusion and mindlessness are a symption of mass deception. It's hard to get it to listen.
In order to save our nation, we need revival-- meaning: we need a majority of people who are free from mind-control and who believe and follow the truth of the gospel. We need to pray for the Spirit of Truth to break through and open people's minds that have been captivated by lies, so that they can receive the truth. This prayer has already had great effect. However, just because we pray doesn't mean there isn't more to do. Everyone who is free has work to do to get others set free. The word of God still needs to be shared: taught, preached, written about, discussed, illustrated, etc. Now is not the time to be lazy or intimidated. We need to work harder than the devil is!
There are two strategies I see that would be useful in dealing with the problem of mass deception as we get the word of God out: 1) publicly demonstrate the power of God and His word in a way that is undeniable. 2) relate to individuals in a way that doesn't trigger the programmed response (in other words, have wisdom in how you approach people about the gospel, and other subjects--included is a discussion on what to do if you if you end up triggering people).
If you'll think about it, you'll see that Jesus, in His earthly ministry, did both these things. He was dealing with a nation of people who were captivated in a religious "stronghold." Even some of the Pharisees, who were controlled by it but were also using it to control the masses, were won by the prevailing Word of God. Jesus demonstrated God's power by healing the sick, raising the dead and casting out demons, as well as other miracles. Jesus also spoke in parables to the people, getting the truth into them, in part, by by-passing their mental triggers. He didn't talk to the people in the same religious way that the Pharisees did, and they listened. I think that Jesus may have deliberately triggered the Pharisees to show what spirit they were really of!
These strategies are going to take a lot of prayer, submission to God, and obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit. We know, without a doubt, that it is God's will to get people set free. Why else would Paul the Apostle have been casting demons out in the name of Christ? (possession by a prevailing mindset of lies is just as bad as demon possession, isn't it?) This was true demonstration of the power of God, and it couldn't be duplicated by those who were not obedient to Christ. (It wasn't the only way Paul showed God's power, however; he did many other miracles.)
When the power of God is demonstrated along with the preaching of the word, the fear of the Lord rises up in people. The result is that 1) people come to Christ (by their own choice), 2) people confess their sins, and 3) people lay down their idols and their idolotrous practices because of the conviction of the Holy Spirit. (you can see this is verses 17-19)
I am fascinated by this verse: "So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed." Acts 19:20 We need not be intimidated by the seeming power of a crowd of deceived people. When the word of God is spoken, it gets planted in people. I think when people see God's word in action, it sort of pokes a hole in them, and the seed of the word goes down deeper-- has a chance to take root. God's word grows in people, then bears fruit. This takes time. (Some of the hard times we've been going through are perhaps digging the "rocks" out of people-- softening the hardness of people's hearts and making them better "soil"). All the Christian mass media in the world won't suddenly change society by suddenly changing the crowds' mind. But the word of God spread en mass will touch many individuals. And God's word always prevails.
There is nothing mightier than the word of God. In the Psalm today, we are reminded how the word of God controls nature. He created nature in the first place-- with His word. He created mankind. He upholds the universe with His word. If He can do this, then He could control a crowd, easily, with His word. But I don't see that He has ever done this, even with His own people. He doesn't violate His own policies, and the individual's free will is one of the things He has set up. It is a key to His kingdom.
Satan, however, has no qualms about violating God's laws. Controlling a group is something he tries to do as much as possible. (In the incident in Ephesus, Demetrius was used by Satan to stir up a crowd against the gospel, using a group deception that was already in place and a strong economic incentive: and the devil always uses "fear, shame and the need to belong".) Even so, God sets people free individually. Otherwise, we would just be pawns in a duel between God and Satan, and we are not. God is not controlled by Satan's tactics. We don't have to be either.
God's people, when we become full of His Word and Spirit, will eventually act as one-- not because God is controlling us against our will, but because each of our wills are freely submitted to the Head, who is Christ. We will choose to do His will because we want to. It is pure worship. If we are submitted to the Head, we will be free of any other type of control. We will not fear or worship anything else. We will move as one-- His Body.
In the words of John, "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." 1John 5:21 In order to free others, we must be free ourselves. Watch for how the enemy promotes controlling mindsets through the media. He does it by saturation, seduction and peer pressure (and other forms of intimidation). Don't become a cult-victim of the prevailing culture. Let God's culture and His powerful word prevail in your life. The choice is yours.
*******
The following is specific instructions about dealing with triggered behavior. I just wanted to let you know in advance, so you don't get mad at me for taking up so much of your time. It might be very useful for you, either now or in the future, especially if you are in ministry. It just seems that, since this is a very common problem, and the Scripture readings brought it up, it would be wrong of me to not share what I know, at least briefly (and this is very brief, really).
Satan believes that if he can get people, either in a mass or individually, so programmed that they will not be able to think or listen (or even get angry and attack) if they are triggered, that we will stop preaching the gospel to them. Since this is a widespread phenomenon, we either have to avoid the triggers (and they are often common and avoidable), or learn to deal with people when they are triggered, either by ourselves or others. What we must not do is become afraid of people and stop speaking the truth in love. I will share with you a little of what I have learned so far; some of it was revealed to me as I read the Scriptures today.
Sometimes God will lead us to do or say something that will trigger the programmed response, either in a crowd or in an individual. This is to show us what is controlling the crowd or person. It is possible to calm a crowd, as we saw by the speech the clerk gave in the theater. But all he did was cater to their belief system. It didn't set them free. I'm not saying we should do this. Sometimes Paul was barely able to talk sense into a frenzied crowd (such as when they tried to worship him as Zeus). In my limited experience, it is possible to speak (whatever the Holy Spirit tells you to) into the volitile situation. This can change a hostile atmosphere by the work of the Spirit, who speaks to individual hearts and allows His peace to overwhelm enemy activity. This is temporary, but it gives you the chance to share the word of God to the group of people. I believe angel ministers also help in this situation when we speak the word given us. You also can speak directly to an evil spirit who has tried to invade a meeting, and you can directly cast it out (if you've been given authority over the meeting). I can't share experience on what to do in situations like Paul was in, since I've never preached in venues like he did. Thankfully, if I ever have to, I know that God's grace is sufficient for all things.
In ministering to an individual who you see is being controlled by something, we have to have discernment and guidance of the Holy Spirit, moment by moment. I have had lots of experience with this in the counseling room, as well as everyday life, but there is no formula. Sometimes you can cast a demon out, but lots of times there is more to it, and you just have to calm the person down and go at the problem from a different angle. You may have to wait for another time. When I was counseling one time, a lady client was triggered into a tizzy because I wore the color pink! It seemed bad at the moment, but it led us to a place that needed healing. No, I didn't cast a demon out! Yes, I have cast demons out before. Just try casting a wound or a thought-process out though! Discipleship, and often deliverance, is a process.
If you trigger a controlled throught-process, evoking a programmed response (and then you're dealing with an unreasonable, and even dangerous, person at that moment), most likely your conversation is over for the time being. Make a note of what you learned. You will have to go around the "back door" and, in a different way, begin to share the word of God that will refute the lies that the person is believing. Once the person believes the truth, they will overthrow the demon themselves, if there is one. This is best and most permanent. (There isn't always an actual demon present, because the human psyche is capable of all sorts of strange defensive behaviors, which often look demonic to us, but aren't necessarily. The number of demons in the world is finite, and Satan won't use them if he doesn't have to. He has had thousands of years to study human psychology, and he knows more than you do. He is a master mind-twister. Good thing we have access to the infinite mind of Christ! God's wisdom and knowledge always trump the devil!) If there is a demonic guard everywhere you go in talking with a person, then you are going to have to get them delivered. Prayer over the situation is advised before you act. I'm sure Paul was praying over the girl with the spirit of divination, and he knew exactly what he was getting into. I have been led, in some instances, to immediately command a demon to leave, and it has left. But if you don't help the person close the door that let it in, it will be back, guaranteed. This is worse, and to be avoided. Jesus taught about that.
Christian deliverance is not exorcism! Never forget that the word of God is His will; it is powerful and it will prevail. If Christ lives in you, then His authority will speak through you when He gives you the word. You never have to exert human power; if fact, in dealing with demons, you are only giving them something to feed on when you do things in the flesh. It makes them stronger. The fruit of the Spirit is poisonous to them however, so make sure you're in the Vine and bearing lots of fruit! Doing something "in the name of Jesus" requires doing it in His nature. You can't use the name of Jesus as a magic potion.
When you are walking in the Spirit, then He will lead you only to places in which He will either work through you, or teach you with what you are experiencing.
In order to save our nation, we need revival-- meaning: we need a majority of people who are free from mind-control and who believe and follow the truth of the gospel. We need to pray for the Spirit of Truth to break through and open people's minds that have been captivated by lies, so that they can receive the truth. This prayer has already had great effect. However, just because we pray doesn't mean there isn't more to do. Everyone who is free has work to do to get others set free. The word of God still needs to be shared: taught, preached, written about, discussed, illustrated, etc. Now is not the time to be lazy or intimidated. We need to work harder than the devil is!
There are two strategies I see that would be useful in dealing with the problem of mass deception as we get the word of God out: 1) publicly demonstrate the power of God and His word in a way that is undeniable. 2) relate to individuals in a way that doesn't trigger the programmed response (in other words, have wisdom in how you approach people about the gospel, and other subjects--included is a discussion on what to do if you if you end up triggering people).
If you'll think about it, you'll see that Jesus, in His earthly ministry, did both these things. He was dealing with a nation of people who were captivated in a religious "stronghold." Even some of the Pharisees, who were controlled by it but were also using it to control the masses, were won by the prevailing Word of God. Jesus demonstrated God's power by healing the sick, raising the dead and casting out demons, as well as other miracles. Jesus also spoke in parables to the people, getting the truth into them, in part, by by-passing their mental triggers. He didn't talk to the people in the same religious way that the Pharisees did, and they listened. I think that Jesus may have deliberately triggered the Pharisees to show what spirit they were really of!
These strategies are going to take a lot of prayer, submission to God, and obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit. We know, without a doubt, that it is God's will to get people set free. Why else would Paul the Apostle have been casting demons out in the name of Christ? (possession by a prevailing mindset of lies is just as bad as demon possession, isn't it?) This was true demonstration of the power of God, and it couldn't be duplicated by those who were not obedient to Christ. (It wasn't the only way Paul showed God's power, however; he did many other miracles.)
When the power of God is demonstrated along with the preaching of the word, the fear of the Lord rises up in people. The result is that 1) people come to Christ (by their own choice), 2) people confess their sins, and 3) people lay down their idols and their idolotrous practices because of the conviction of the Holy Spirit. (you can see this is verses 17-19)
I am fascinated by this verse: "So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed." Acts 19:20 We need not be intimidated by the seeming power of a crowd of deceived people. When the word of God is spoken, it gets planted in people. I think when people see God's word in action, it sort of pokes a hole in them, and the seed of the word goes down deeper-- has a chance to take root. God's word grows in people, then bears fruit. This takes time. (Some of the hard times we've been going through are perhaps digging the "rocks" out of people-- softening the hardness of people's hearts and making them better "soil"). All the Christian mass media in the world won't suddenly change society by suddenly changing the crowds' mind. But the word of God spread en mass will touch many individuals. And God's word always prevails.
There is nothing mightier than the word of God. In the Psalm today, we are reminded how the word of God controls nature. He created nature in the first place-- with His word. He created mankind. He upholds the universe with His word. If He can do this, then He could control a crowd, easily, with His word. But I don't see that He has ever done this, even with His own people. He doesn't violate His own policies, and the individual's free will is one of the things He has set up. It is a key to His kingdom.
Satan, however, has no qualms about violating God's laws. Controlling a group is something he tries to do as much as possible. (In the incident in Ephesus, Demetrius was used by Satan to stir up a crowd against the gospel, using a group deception that was already in place and a strong economic incentive: and the devil always uses "fear, shame and the need to belong".) Even so, God sets people free individually. Otherwise, we would just be pawns in a duel between God and Satan, and we are not. God is not controlled by Satan's tactics. We don't have to be either.
God's people, when we become full of His Word and Spirit, will eventually act as one-- not because God is controlling us against our will, but because each of our wills are freely submitted to the Head, who is Christ. We will choose to do His will because we want to. It is pure worship. If we are submitted to the Head, we will be free of any other type of control. We will not fear or worship anything else. We will move as one-- His Body.
In the words of John, "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." 1John 5:21 In order to free others, we must be free ourselves. Watch for how the enemy promotes controlling mindsets through the media. He does it by saturation, seduction and peer pressure (and other forms of intimidation). Don't become a cult-victim of the prevailing culture. Let God's culture and His powerful word prevail in your life. The choice is yours.
*******
The following is specific instructions about dealing with triggered behavior. I just wanted to let you know in advance, so you don't get mad at me for taking up so much of your time. It might be very useful for you, either now or in the future, especially if you are in ministry. It just seems that, since this is a very common problem, and the Scripture readings brought it up, it would be wrong of me to not share what I know, at least briefly (and this is very brief, really).
Satan believes that if he can get people, either in a mass or individually, so programmed that they will not be able to think or listen (or even get angry and attack) if they are triggered, that we will stop preaching the gospel to them. Since this is a widespread phenomenon, we either have to avoid the triggers (and they are often common and avoidable), or learn to deal with people when they are triggered, either by ourselves or others. What we must not do is become afraid of people and stop speaking the truth in love. I will share with you a little of what I have learned so far; some of it was revealed to me as I read the Scriptures today.
Sometimes God will lead us to do or say something that will trigger the programmed response, either in a crowd or in an individual. This is to show us what is controlling the crowd or person. It is possible to calm a crowd, as we saw by the speech the clerk gave in the theater. But all he did was cater to their belief system. It didn't set them free. I'm not saying we should do this. Sometimes Paul was barely able to talk sense into a frenzied crowd (such as when they tried to worship him as Zeus). In my limited experience, it is possible to speak (whatever the Holy Spirit tells you to) into the volitile situation. This can change a hostile atmosphere by the work of the Spirit, who speaks to individual hearts and allows His peace to overwhelm enemy activity. This is temporary, but it gives you the chance to share the word of God to the group of people. I believe angel ministers also help in this situation when we speak the word given us. You also can speak directly to an evil spirit who has tried to invade a meeting, and you can directly cast it out (if you've been given authority over the meeting). I can't share experience on what to do in situations like Paul was in, since I've never preached in venues like he did. Thankfully, if I ever have to, I know that God's grace is sufficient for all things.
In ministering to an individual who you see is being controlled by something, we have to have discernment and guidance of the Holy Spirit, moment by moment. I have had lots of experience with this in the counseling room, as well as everyday life, but there is no formula. Sometimes you can cast a demon out, but lots of times there is more to it, and you just have to calm the person down and go at the problem from a different angle. You may have to wait for another time. When I was counseling one time, a lady client was triggered into a tizzy because I wore the color pink! It seemed bad at the moment, but it led us to a place that needed healing. No, I didn't cast a demon out! Yes, I have cast demons out before. Just try casting a wound or a thought-process out though! Discipleship, and often deliverance, is a process.
If you trigger a controlled throught-process, evoking a programmed response (and then you're dealing with an unreasonable, and even dangerous, person at that moment), most likely your conversation is over for the time being. Make a note of what you learned. You will have to go around the "back door" and, in a different way, begin to share the word of God that will refute the lies that the person is believing. Once the person believes the truth, they will overthrow the demon themselves, if there is one. This is best and most permanent. (There isn't always an actual demon present, because the human psyche is capable of all sorts of strange defensive behaviors, which often look demonic to us, but aren't necessarily. The number of demons in the world is finite, and Satan won't use them if he doesn't have to. He has had thousands of years to study human psychology, and he knows more than you do. He is a master mind-twister. Good thing we have access to the infinite mind of Christ! God's wisdom and knowledge always trump the devil!) If there is a demonic guard everywhere you go in talking with a person, then you are going to have to get them delivered. Prayer over the situation is advised before you act. I'm sure Paul was praying over the girl with the spirit of divination, and he knew exactly what he was getting into. I have been led, in some instances, to immediately command a demon to leave, and it has left. But if you don't help the person close the door that let it in, it will be back, guaranteed. This is worse, and to be avoided. Jesus taught about that.
Christian deliverance is not exorcism! Never forget that the word of God is His will; it is powerful and it will prevail. If Christ lives in you, then His authority will speak through you when He gives you the word. You never have to exert human power; if fact, in dealing with demons, you are only giving them something to feed on when you do things in the flesh. It makes them stronger. The fruit of the Spirit is poisonous to them however, so make sure you're in the Vine and bearing lots of fruit! Doing something "in the name of Jesus" requires doing it in His nature. You can't use the name of Jesus as a magic potion.
When you are walking in the Spirit, then He will lead you only to places in which He will either work through you, or teach you with what you are experiencing.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
June 26, 2010 Rated R for Spiritual Warfare
I wouldn't want to see today's passages from Kings on the big screen! Rated R for violence!! Even with just a mental picture, it's hard to forget the gruesome end of Jezebel. If you think God hates evil any less than He did back then, you're wrong. We're still in a war against wickedness-- it just looks different right now, unless you're seeing with spiritual eyes. I'm reminded of one of Jesus' parables, and a line quoted from it: "But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them-- bring them here and kill them in front of me." Luke 19:27 By the time you get to the end of the Bible, your understanding of Jesus will have expanded.
Make no mistake: we still are to be grieved over evil! "Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols." Acts 17:16 And remember how he felt about the girl with the spirit of divination who was following them around? He was irritated. Did he kill the girl? Of course not! He cast the evil spirit out instead. He knew the demon's time was coming. God's purposes at present are to deliver all (who are willing to be delivered) from the grips of evil. We are in the Age of Grace, and we have a different approach: mercy.
Paul taught in one of his letters: "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." 2 Timothy 4:2 He demonstrated this in his address to the Athenians. He talked with them, even though they had darkened minds and called him a babbler! "Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there." Acts 17:17 NKJV People were won to Christ through his discussions, but also he was persecuted. It really does take longsuffering (patience).
Sometimes we forget how merciful God's ways are with us. We get tired of hearing correction. I'm happy to take my Father's chastening over having His fire break out against me! I am thankful beyond words to Christ for taking my punishment-- my deserved gruesome death-- and extending God's heart of grace and mercy. That IS God's heart, you know! Why else did Christ die? God's still killing off evil in me though, and in all of His Church. The more we "reckon ourselves dead to sin" through the cross, the easier it is on us. (see Romans 6-- this is deep and important doctrine here, and if you need help with it, please go to your pastor.)
A lot of "hellfire and brimstone" preaching has turned us off, perhaps because it was done without love. We are to speak the truth in LOVE. Is it truly love not to warn people that evil will finally be destroyed? How can we truly preach the cross of salvation if we don't let people know that God hates evil! The "world" is trying to make tolerant wimps out of all of us, trying to make us afraid of telling the truth (politically correct "tolerance" is not the same thing as God's grace and mercy!).
We are becoming, as a culture, much too concerned with our safety! This alarms me! If we are not willing to share the true Gospel of the Kingdom-- of the coming Righteous King and of salvation from evil, sin and death through Jesus Christ alone--because we're afraid of the "consequences," (we should be much more afraid of what God thinks) then we have already come under the influence of a Jezebel spirit (which is an anti-christ spirit). And the future of that demonic spirit is parallel to the doom of said queen.
Today, the spiritual war is just as gruesome and bloody as it was in the Old Testament days. I've personally witnessed what happens when a human being, given over to a Jezebel spirit, gets into a Christian assembly (church) and tries to take over. It's ugly. You want to get the person free if you can, but you have to get rid of the demonic infiltration. You have to protect the sheep. The warfare is difficult, painful and dangerous. But Jesus Christ has already won! Victory is assured (if we'll actually fight)!
"The Kingdom of Christ" is the greatest epic ever! [speaking figuratively here] I dare you to watch the Special Features and see what's happening "behind the scenes"! I guarantee you'll take "wearing your armor" a lot more seriously. But you will begin to realize how great it is to serve the King-- and you will never be a wimpy Christian again.
I pray that the spiritual eyes of the whole Body of Christ will be opened, and that we will seek Him for His strength and courage to do His will. The eternal destiny of this generation is at stake. Are we willing to lay down our lives for them?
Make no mistake: we still are to be grieved over evil! "Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols." Acts 17:16 And remember how he felt about the girl with the spirit of divination who was following them around? He was irritated. Did he kill the girl? Of course not! He cast the evil spirit out instead. He knew the demon's time was coming. God's purposes at present are to deliver all (who are willing to be delivered) from the grips of evil. We are in the Age of Grace, and we have a different approach: mercy.
Paul taught in one of his letters: "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." 2 Timothy 4:2 He demonstrated this in his address to the Athenians. He talked with them, even though they had darkened minds and called him a babbler! "Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there." Acts 17:17 NKJV People were won to Christ through his discussions, but also he was persecuted. It really does take longsuffering (patience).
Sometimes we forget how merciful God's ways are with us. We get tired of hearing correction. I'm happy to take my Father's chastening over having His fire break out against me! I am thankful beyond words to Christ for taking my punishment-- my deserved gruesome death-- and extending God's heart of grace and mercy. That IS God's heart, you know! Why else did Christ die? God's still killing off evil in me though, and in all of His Church. The more we "reckon ourselves dead to sin" through the cross, the easier it is on us. (see Romans 6-- this is deep and important doctrine here, and if you need help with it, please go to your pastor.)
A lot of "hellfire and brimstone" preaching has turned us off, perhaps because it was done without love. We are to speak the truth in LOVE. Is it truly love not to warn people that evil will finally be destroyed? How can we truly preach the cross of salvation if we don't let people know that God hates evil! The "world" is trying to make tolerant wimps out of all of us, trying to make us afraid of telling the truth (politically correct "tolerance" is not the same thing as God's grace and mercy!).
We are becoming, as a culture, much too concerned with our safety! This alarms me! If we are not willing to share the true Gospel of the Kingdom-- of the coming Righteous King and of salvation from evil, sin and death through Jesus Christ alone--because we're afraid of the "consequences," (we should be much more afraid of what God thinks) then we have already come under the influence of a Jezebel spirit (which is an anti-christ spirit). And the future of that demonic spirit is parallel to the doom of said queen.
Today, the spiritual war is just as gruesome and bloody as it was in the Old Testament days. I've personally witnessed what happens when a human being, given over to a Jezebel spirit, gets into a Christian assembly (church) and tries to take over. It's ugly. You want to get the person free if you can, but you have to get rid of the demonic infiltration. You have to protect the sheep. The warfare is difficult, painful and dangerous. But Jesus Christ has already won! Victory is assured (if we'll actually fight)!
"The Kingdom of Christ" is the greatest epic ever! [speaking figuratively here] I dare you to watch the Special Features and see what's happening "behind the scenes"! I guarantee you'll take "wearing your armor" a lot more seriously. But you will begin to realize how great it is to serve the King-- and you will never be a wimpy Christian again.
I pray that the spiritual eyes of the whole Body of Christ will be opened, and that we will seek Him for His strength and courage to do His will. The eternal destiny of this generation is at stake. Are we willing to lay down our lives for them?
Friday, June 18, 2010
June 18, 2010 Persecution and Ministering Angels
There are two parallels with the Old and New Testament readings today that stood out to me: 1) the activity of a major demonic spirit, and 2) the activity of ministering angels from God. We call this particular evil spirit "Jezebel", after the queen who allowed it to control her. I see the same evil spirit working in Herod as well, as the evil spirit can work through men as well as women. It seems here that it tries especially to control the person in charge. Keep your eyes open for the workings of this devious spirit, as it is very active at this time in history.
One of the marked traits of the Jezebelian spirit is persecuting and killing the prophets of God (and anything to do with prophetic ministry). It's always good to see the end of a road so as to decide whether we want to be on it or not. Personally, I wouldn't want to be following the same path as a Jezebel spirit, even in a small way. Since we're in the last days, and we've been told that God would pour out His Spirit on all flesh and that there would be a lot of prophesying going on (Joel 2: 28-32), I think we should be careful not to be party to an evil spirit who would wish to stop this. It's also good to beware of counterfeits: but if you know the Spirit of Truth, it's pretty easy to spot something that's not Him.
Even though I'm not excited about going through more persecution (although Jesus did say it was coming), I am very much looking forward to seeing more angelic activity (God's ministering angels). As we see in today's passages, when the persecution level goes up, so does the level of angelic ministry. I've personally experienced some angelic ministrations, although I have not "seen" the angels (with my natural eyes). I would certainly like to be aware of more.
If you're not used to (or don't like to be) thinking about supernatural things, you might want to ask the Lord to change your viewpoint. You might find this kind of help to be very much needful in the future. Probably none of us would be alive today if it weren't for the help and protection of God's angels. I'm grateful indeed for a God Who loves us so much that He created a multitude of powerful and holy beings who are willing to serve Him and us! And in God's mercy, He didn't allow Satan, and the other rebellious angels, to run around on Earth without making sure that God's loyal and powerful angels were right there to help us always have the victory.
P.S. I'm reminded of Rick Joyner's little book, When God Walked The Earth-- and I'm wondering how an angel might feel if they were not allowed to save someone, such as James, who was called to be martyred and was killed for the sake of the Gospel. They would then minister a different kind of grace.
One of the marked traits of the Jezebelian spirit is persecuting and killing the prophets of God (and anything to do with prophetic ministry). It's always good to see the end of a road so as to decide whether we want to be on it or not. Personally, I wouldn't want to be following the same path as a Jezebel spirit, even in a small way. Since we're in the last days, and we've been told that God would pour out His Spirit on all flesh and that there would be a lot of prophesying going on (Joel 2: 28-32), I think we should be careful not to be party to an evil spirit who would wish to stop this. It's also good to beware of counterfeits: but if you know the Spirit of Truth, it's pretty easy to spot something that's not Him.
Even though I'm not excited about going through more persecution (although Jesus did say it was coming), I am very much looking forward to seeing more angelic activity (God's ministering angels). As we see in today's passages, when the persecution level goes up, so does the level of angelic ministry. I've personally experienced some angelic ministrations, although I have not "seen" the angels (with my natural eyes). I would certainly like to be aware of more.
If you're not used to (or don't like to be) thinking about supernatural things, you might want to ask the Lord to change your viewpoint. You might find this kind of help to be very much needful in the future. Probably none of us would be alive today if it weren't for the help and protection of God's angels. I'm grateful indeed for a God Who loves us so much that He created a multitude of powerful and holy beings who are willing to serve Him and us! And in God's mercy, He didn't allow Satan, and the other rebellious angels, to run around on Earth without making sure that God's loyal and powerful angels were right there to help us always have the victory.
P.S. I'm reminded of Rick Joyner's little book, When God Walked The Earth-- and I'm wondering how an angel might feel if they were not allowed to save someone, such as James, who was called to be martyred and was killed for the sake of the Gospel. They would then minister a different kind of grace.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
May 15, 2010 Goliath Is Whatever Defies God
The concept of "safety in numbers" doesn't hold up when we're dealing with our own personal nemesis. The armies of Israel were terrified of this one giant. Perhaps that fear came down from the top, as King Saul was afraid too. The challenge was to fight this giant one-on-one, and nobody wanted to do that.
The truth is, we really stand alone against the world, the flesh and the devil. Are you thinking, "that's not right!" Did you ever think about the fact that Jesus Himself stood against Goliath in the wilderness-- alone? ("And the Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening." 1 Samuel 17:16) Goliath isn't just the devil, it's anything that defies God. Dares you to get past it. Intimidates you.
I say that David had already faced his nemesis, and found his Champion! The Scriptures call David a prophet, and I can see why. In some way or another, he saw Jesus in the wilderness defeating the very giant David faced in the Valley of Elah. Seeing himself covered by the Lord, he could easily stand in confidence to face each and every Goliath in his life, and become a champion himself.
This is your destiny! This is your champion mindset; this is what you say to your giant: “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world." John 8:23
You are more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus! Find yourself in Him! He has already conquered your nemesis; therefore, there is nothing that can defeat you. You have the five stones of the grace of God. And all it takes is one.
The truth is, we really stand alone against the world, the flesh and the devil. Are you thinking, "that's not right!" Did you ever think about the fact that Jesus Himself stood against Goliath in the wilderness-- alone? ("And the Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening." 1 Samuel 17:16) Goliath isn't just the devil, it's anything that defies God. Dares you to get past it. Intimidates you.
I say that David had already faced his nemesis, and found his Champion! The Scriptures call David a prophet, and I can see why. In some way or another, he saw Jesus in the wilderness defeating the very giant David faced in the Valley of Elah. Seeing himself covered by the Lord, he could easily stand in confidence to face each and every Goliath in his life, and become a champion himself.
This is your destiny! This is your champion mindset; this is what you say to your giant: “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world." John 8:23
You are more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus! Find yourself in Him! He has already conquered your nemesis; therefore, there is nothing that can defeat you. You have the five stones of the grace of God. And all it takes is one.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
April 22, 2010
The Scriptures in which Jesus talks about the end times are, to me, some of the most important ones we can study, and hear His voice in, for NOW. He tells us these things not to frighten us, but to prepare us and comfort us. All these "dreadful portents" are indications that the Kingdom of Heaven is soon to be Christ's reign on Earth! How could these things be our doom? They are only foreboding to those who reject Christ, and to the rebellious kingdoms of the earth. If we endure, we very well could be among the generation to see "the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory" !
Jesus made it clear that these terrible signs and events should give us a sense of expectation, not the fear and confusion that would be characteristic of the nations of the earth. "Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Luke 21:28 Our response should be to get ready and be watchful-- keeping our eyes on heavenly things and our focus on Jesus Christ. It is time to renew our commitment to serving the Lord, putting aside all the idols that distract us and take our attention away from Him. It is time to lay down all the things in the past that keep us focused on ourselves and that hinder us by causing us to have a victim mentality.
It is time to rise up and show the world that there is an unshakeable Kingdom, with a glorious King who reigns with love and wisdom, and to call people into it. We are in this Kingdom already, because we are in Christ who is the King. We will have righteousness, peace and joy if we will actually live in the Kingdom we are part of. We are, in truth, high above all that is happening on this earth.
I believe we have physicalized the concept of the "Rapture" because we took the things in Scripture and interpreted them the only way we knew how, naturally. But if we can see things according to the Spirit, we will realize that we are ALREADY "seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus". "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2: 4-7
Oh, how the Spirit of the Lord is singing over us right now, desiring with fervor for us to get a hold of this REALITY!
"Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son" Colossians 1:13 KJV
"He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love" NKJV
"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves" NIV
"For he has rescued us from the one who rules in the kingdom of darkness, and he has brought us into the Kingdom of his dear Son" NLT
"He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son" ESV
"el cual nos ha librado de la potestad de las tinieblas, y trasladado al reino de su amado Hijo" RVR
"He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son" RSV
"who did rescue us out of the authority of the darkness, and did translate us into the reign of the Son of His love" ASV
"who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love" HNV
It has already been done! Can you hear the music? Will you sing it with Him?
P.S.
The sudden switch of tone and perspective in the second half of Psalm 89 reminds me of the way we think and feel when we do not realize what God has already accomplished in Christ, for us.
P.P.S PLEASE READ THIS!
So you don't get the wrong idea from what I'm saying:
Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.
2 Thessalonians 2: 1-2
Jesus is still returning in person to reign on Earth, and we will reign with Him!
I suggest reading this chapter, as well as chapter 1. Paul is encouraging the brethren who are enduring persecutions and tribulations. Jesus said we would have these things, and that is why we must endure. But our endurance and patient perseverance is going to be dictated by our internal outlook and perspective.
"that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer;
since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels. . . when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. " 2 Thessalonians 1: 5a-7,10
Jesus made it clear that these terrible signs and events should give us a sense of expectation, not the fear and confusion that would be characteristic of the nations of the earth. "Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Luke 21:28 Our response should be to get ready and be watchful-- keeping our eyes on heavenly things and our focus on Jesus Christ. It is time to renew our commitment to serving the Lord, putting aside all the idols that distract us and take our attention away from Him. It is time to lay down all the things in the past that keep us focused on ourselves and that hinder us by causing us to have a victim mentality.
It is time to rise up and show the world that there is an unshakeable Kingdom, with a glorious King who reigns with love and wisdom, and to call people into it. We are in this Kingdom already, because we are in Christ who is the King. We will have righteousness, peace and joy if we will actually live in the Kingdom we are part of. We are, in truth, high above all that is happening on this earth.
I believe we have physicalized the concept of the "Rapture" because we took the things in Scripture and interpreted them the only way we knew how, naturally. But if we can see things according to the Spirit, we will realize that we are ALREADY "seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus". "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2: 4-7
Oh, how the Spirit of the Lord is singing over us right now, desiring with fervor for us to get a hold of this REALITY!
"Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son" Colossians 1:13 KJV
"He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love" NKJV
"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves" NIV
"For he has rescued us from the one who rules in the kingdom of darkness, and he has brought us into the Kingdom of his dear Son" NLT
"He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son" ESV
"el cual nos ha librado de la potestad de las tinieblas, y trasladado al reino de su amado Hijo" RVR
"He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son" RSV
"who did rescue us out of the authority of the darkness, and did translate us into the reign of the Son of His love" ASV
"who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love" HNV
It has already been done! Can you hear the music? Will you sing it with Him?
P.S.
The sudden switch of tone and perspective in the second half of Psalm 89 reminds me of the way we think and feel when we do not realize what God has already accomplished in Christ, for us.
P.P.S PLEASE READ THIS!
So you don't get the wrong idea from what I'm saying:
Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.
2 Thessalonians 2: 1-2
Jesus is still returning in person to reign on Earth, and we will reign with Him!
I suggest reading this chapter, as well as chapter 1. Paul is encouraging the brethren who are enduring persecutions and tribulations. Jesus said we would have these things, and that is why we must endure. But our endurance and patient perseverance is going to be dictated by our internal outlook and perspective.
"that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer;
since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels. . . when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. " 2 Thessalonians 1: 5a-7,10
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
April 14, 2010
The Luke passage again reminded me of the problem of offenses (remember the walled city). What He says shows us how very serious offenses are. Here, Jesus is teaching us about what we need to do to avoid offenses. Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” Luke 17: 1-4
Notice that everybody's talking in the last scenario. Offenses come when we don't talk to our brothers and sisters. He's speaking about our family in the faith-- people in a Family whose whole foundation is God's total forgiveness. He instructs us to tell them what they did wrong, that is, when they do something to us that is sinful (He doesn't mean go around and correct everybody for everything! This is personal). And He doesn't say, go point out the person's repeat errors. He says if they do it again and come and repent to you, let them know you forgive them, over and over. This is a great way for us to get trained in a righteous behavior, by practicing accountability. Notice that this brother is not offended, since he keeps asking for forgiveness. And we are walking in forgiveness, which means we've released it to the Lord.
Pay attention, though: Jesus said "Take heed to yourselves." We're being careful here not to create an offense. And not to take offense ourself. We all sin on a regular basis. We get offended when we don't get things aired out. If I let someone sin against me over and over, and I don't point it out to them, it is too easy to become hard of heart, bitter and unforgiving. Soon my fellowship with God and others is ruined. This is offense. Jesus didn't say, "If your brother offends you." We choose to be offended. If we do as Jesus said, we keep ouselves clear. Guarding against offense means we must act against it before it comes, because once we're offended, we're probably going to need to be rescued (delivered).
We must understand how we could possibly create an offense, so we can be careful not to do so. We help create an offense by not speaking correction at the proper time. Consider this: what if, later on, the person realizes they've been sinning all this time, and you didn't tell them. What if they reaped all sorts of bad consequences for their sin that could have been avoided by honesty.
We also create a situation for offense when we wound someone and do not admit it and ask them to forgive us for our sin. It's not enough to repent privately to God and know we're forgiven. If someone is harboring something against us (we used to call it "an ought" from the King James, and all that means is "something"), then things are not healthy, and we are all hindered. The Kingdom of God is a lot about right relationship. These things can contribute to people taking offense-- not only against you, but against the whole church, and eventually God. They create opportunities for the devil to steal, kill and destroy.
The direst circumstance of creating offense is against "one of these little ones." I see this as little either in the natural, as a young child, or young in the family of God. I think a "little one" can be anyone you are have authority over. When a person in authority-- such as a parent, or a spiritual leader-- sins against those in their protection-- those who trust and follow them-- they create a situation where the rebuke-repent-forgive scenario (open communication) cannot usually take place.
"Little ones" will usually be too afraid to approach the authority to confront them about a sin. If they do attempt it, most of the time, they are repelled, and will never attempt it again. The young, untrained, and immature have the ability to forgive a parent or leader's sin without speaking about it to them (and most of the time to no one but God), but if the sin is very heinous or repeated, and it is not humbly confessed, this places a burden on these little ones that, too many times, cannot be overcome without help.
Parents are mistaken if they think they should never admit wrong to their children. [In order to keep from defiling them unnecessarily, we confess only what the child already knows about]. Humble repentance is always in good order. Children respond very gracefully to it, are very forgiving (unless they are already offended), and learn by the example.
Our responsibility as Christians, especially if we are in a place of maturity and leadership, is to do everything we can to guard against offense. Offense causes people to build terrible walls around their heart and life. These walls become fortresses that keep people from loving and receiving love, and often make people lash out angrily. If we realize we have helped create an offense, we must get on our face and repent before God, seeking Him as to how to restore the person or people. It will not be easy, but nothing is impossible with God.
Having been in the place of offense myself, on both sides, I can testify that the feeling is much like Jesus described: a millstone tied around one's neck and drowning in the sea. Until we realize how horrible it is to treat people in this way, and how unbearable it is to be in this place, we will not be diligent enough.
I have not discussed sinning against, and causing offense, in unbelievers. How has the world been affected by the professing Christian who does not walk in love or obey Christ's commands? What must we do to deliver the world from offense?
Notice that everybody's talking in the last scenario. Offenses come when we don't talk to our brothers and sisters. He's speaking about our family in the faith-- people in a Family whose whole foundation is God's total forgiveness. He instructs us to tell them what they did wrong, that is, when they do something to us that is sinful (He doesn't mean go around and correct everybody for everything! This is personal). And He doesn't say, go point out the person's repeat errors. He says if they do it again and come and repent to you, let them know you forgive them, over and over. This is a great way for us to get trained in a righteous behavior, by practicing accountability. Notice that this brother is not offended, since he keeps asking for forgiveness. And we are walking in forgiveness, which means we've released it to the Lord.
Pay attention, though: Jesus said "Take heed to yourselves." We're being careful here not to create an offense. And not to take offense ourself. We all sin on a regular basis. We get offended when we don't get things aired out. If I let someone sin against me over and over, and I don't point it out to them, it is too easy to become hard of heart, bitter and unforgiving. Soon my fellowship with God and others is ruined. This is offense. Jesus didn't say, "If your brother offends you." We choose to be offended. If we do as Jesus said, we keep ouselves clear. Guarding against offense means we must act against it before it comes, because once we're offended, we're probably going to need to be rescued (delivered).
We must understand how we could possibly create an offense, so we can be careful not to do so. We help create an offense by not speaking correction at the proper time. Consider this: what if, later on, the person realizes they've been sinning all this time, and you didn't tell them. What if they reaped all sorts of bad consequences for their sin that could have been avoided by honesty.
We also create a situation for offense when we wound someone and do not admit it and ask them to forgive us for our sin. It's not enough to repent privately to God and know we're forgiven. If someone is harboring something against us (we used to call it "an ought" from the King James, and all that means is "something"), then things are not healthy, and we are all hindered. The Kingdom of God is a lot about right relationship. These things can contribute to people taking offense-- not only against you, but against the whole church, and eventually God. They create opportunities for the devil to steal, kill and destroy.
The direst circumstance of creating offense is against "one of these little ones." I see this as little either in the natural, as a young child, or young in the family of God. I think a "little one" can be anyone you are have authority over. When a person in authority-- such as a parent, or a spiritual leader-- sins against those in their protection-- those who trust and follow them-- they create a situation where the rebuke-repent-forgive scenario (open communication) cannot usually take place.
"Little ones" will usually be too afraid to approach the authority to confront them about a sin. If they do attempt it, most of the time, they are repelled, and will never attempt it again. The young, untrained, and immature have the ability to forgive a parent or leader's sin without speaking about it to them (and most of the time to no one but God), but if the sin is very heinous or repeated, and it is not humbly confessed, this places a burden on these little ones that, too many times, cannot be overcome without help.
Parents are mistaken if they think they should never admit wrong to their children. [In order to keep from defiling them unnecessarily, we confess only what the child already knows about]. Humble repentance is always in good order. Children respond very gracefully to it, are very forgiving (unless they are already offended), and learn by the example.
Our responsibility as Christians, especially if we are in a place of maturity and leadership, is to do everything we can to guard against offense. Offense causes people to build terrible walls around their heart and life. These walls become fortresses that keep people from loving and receiving love, and often make people lash out angrily. If we realize we have helped create an offense, we must get on our face and repent before God, seeking Him as to how to restore the person or people. It will not be easy, but nothing is impossible with God.
Having been in the place of offense myself, on both sides, I can testify that the feeling is much like Jesus described: a millstone tied around one's neck and drowning in the sea. Until we realize how horrible it is to treat people in this way, and how unbearable it is to be in this place, we will not be diligent enough.
I have not discussed sinning against, and causing offense, in unbelievers. How has the world been affected by the professing Christian who does not walk in love or obey Christ's commands? What must we do to deliver the world from offense?
Monday, April 12, 2010
April 12, 2010
As I read today in the Joshua passage, I saw something that simply took my breath away! It's possible that I may have heard it taught before, but I don't remember it, and I certainly never "got it" with such impact. What I saw in the story about Jericho was intercession and spiritual warfare over individuals and cities. I'm not saying that we should do literally what the Israelites did, but that it is a symbolic word picture through and through, as well as the historical account.
The Lord brought a Scripture to my mind that upheld what He was saying to me (He is always so kind, isn't He, to help us understand). "A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city." Proverbs 18:19 [Many people are offended with God-- I think it's true of anyone who won't receive Him or others.]
When I read of Joshua encountering the Captain of the Hosts (He was Jesus, the Word, wasn't He!), it absolutely gave me chills. It is His battle-- we are fighting with Him as part of the army of God, and it's a spiritual one, not fought with flesh and blood, but with effective weapons against spiritual enemies-- and He is victorious! Only, we must bow before Him and obey His commands.
Rather than try to pick the story apart for an exact strategy, I will share the things that became energized to me today. I saw the seven days, seven times, seven priests, seven trumpets, as God's perfect and complete plan of redemption and restoration, the trumpets as praise of God and announcing His presence, and the circling in silence as forgiveness. What did Jesus say, "seventy times seven?"
Oh, I could write a long essay on this! Have we ever been able to win a person who has a hardened heart-- or with walls of defense built up around them-- by trying to batter the walls down? No! And yet, it has been done to me, and I have done it to others. I have learned the hard way that if I haven't interceeded for a person, coming before God with a humble heart (to be circumcised of the selfishness, or to have the log removed from my own eye), the Lord will not allow me to speak. If I do it without His permission and in His timing, the walls will not fall down, they will only be fortified, and often I will be the one attacked. Most of the time, a confrontation is not needed when intercession is done, declaring the Word over a person (in private, as the Spirit dictates only), and declaring the truth of their deliverance to the enemies who hold them captive-- until their enemies melt with fear. And at the proper time, we can shout the praises of God for the victory, and the walls come down without ever having attacked the person.
Rahab, a prostitute who had come to fear God and believe His Word, was saved along with her family, and everything else was devoted to destruction! There was a heavy penalty for anyone who would take something that was supposed to be destroyed. It is so important to let the Lord deal with anything in us that would hold a person to their sin, especially someone we are close to, such as a spouse,child, or close friend. It is too easy to become attached to the one we used to know, or out of some unmet need, to try to save the very things that God is burning. You could call that co-dependency. I know by experience that it is painful to go through the process of having the walls fall down, and the sinful nature burned up-- when I'm there myself, or when I'm around another who is going through the process. But we must allow the Captain of the Host to do His work.
Salvation rarely looks the way we think it should. So often it offends our proud and self-righteous spirits (religious). Just when we think the process is done within ourselves or in another, something else begins to burn or fall down. Don't forget the picture we saw of the loving Father, who forgives, receives, restores and rejoices over the one who had gone astray-- or the Good Shepherd, who leaves the 99 and goes after the one.
Now, take this picture and see how the Spirit of Wisdom might apply this to winning cities for the Kingdom of God!
The Lord brought a Scripture to my mind that upheld what He was saying to me (He is always so kind, isn't He, to help us understand). "A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city." Proverbs 18:19 [Many people are offended with God-- I think it's true of anyone who won't receive Him or others.]
When I read of Joshua encountering the Captain of the Hosts (He was Jesus, the Word, wasn't He!), it absolutely gave me chills. It is His battle-- we are fighting with Him as part of the army of God, and it's a spiritual one, not fought with flesh and blood, but with effective weapons against spiritual enemies-- and He is victorious! Only, we must bow before Him and obey His commands.
Rather than try to pick the story apart for an exact strategy, I will share the things that became energized to me today. I saw the seven days, seven times, seven priests, seven trumpets, as God's perfect and complete plan of redemption and restoration, the trumpets as praise of God and announcing His presence, and the circling in silence as forgiveness. What did Jesus say, "seventy times seven?"
Oh, I could write a long essay on this! Have we ever been able to win a person who has a hardened heart-- or with walls of defense built up around them-- by trying to batter the walls down? No! And yet, it has been done to me, and I have done it to others. I have learned the hard way that if I haven't interceeded for a person, coming before God with a humble heart (to be circumcised of the selfishness, or to have the log removed from my own eye), the Lord will not allow me to speak. If I do it without His permission and in His timing, the walls will not fall down, they will only be fortified, and often I will be the one attacked. Most of the time, a confrontation is not needed when intercession is done, declaring the Word over a person (in private, as the Spirit dictates only), and declaring the truth of their deliverance to the enemies who hold them captive-- until their enemies melt with fear. And at the proper time, we can shout the praises of God for the victory, and the walls come down without ever having attacked the person.
Rahab, a prostitute who had come to fear God and believe His Word, was saved along with her family, and everything else was devoted to destruction! There was a heavy penalty for anyone who would take something that was supposed to be destroyed. It is so important to let the Lord deal with anything in us that would hold a person to their sin, especially someone we are close to, such as a spouse,child, or close friend. It is too easy to become attached to the one we used to know, or out of some unmet need, to try to save the very things that God is burning. You could call that co-dependency. I know by experience that it is painful to go through the process of having the walls fall down, and the sinful nature burned up-- when I'm there myself, or when I'm around another who is going through the process. But we must allow the Captain of the Host to do His work.
Salvation rarely looks the way we think it should. So often it offends our proud and self-righteous spirits (religious). Just when we think the process is done within ourselves or in another, something else begins to burn or fall down. Don't forget the picture we saw of the loving Father, who forgives, receives, restores and rejoices over the one who had gone astray-- or the Good Shepherd, who leaves the 99 and goes after the one.
Now, take this picture and see how the Spirit of Wisdom might apply this to winning cities for the Kingdom of God!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
March 16, 2010
It isn't always our own wrongdoing or negative words that bring opposition to us. Sometimes its persecution from an enemy! How do we know the difference? We have to keep on inquiring of the Lord. If things are troubling us we need to go talk to the Lord about it. By allowing God to examine us, we avoid self-justification and blame-shifting, as well as condemnation and false guilt.
David wrote in Psalm 59 "Even now they lie in wait for my life; the mighty stir up strife against me. For no transgression or sin of mine, O Lord, for no fault of mine, they run and make ready." vs 3-4 All persecution arises from a real enemy who hates us: Satan. It can either come through direct activity of evil spirits, through people who are influenced by them, or from a worldly system that is given over to Satan. We should not blame everything that happens on the devil, for we can do a lot to ourselves through our choices, but we also should not ignore the fact that we have an aggressively evil foe. What do we do about this foe?
Obviously, I'm not going to go into a major teaching in this devotional on how to deal with the devil . But I will do what I've been doing all along, and that is, bring out what I see in the readings for the day. Today, I saw a few things about this:
1) recognize and proclaim that Jesus came to deliver us; the Good News is that we have a Savior! Luke 2: 10-11 (One of the things He came to save us from was Satan and his works: if this is something you don't understand yet, keep your eyes open for evidence of this as you continue reading this year.)
Follow David's example and
2) pray for deliverance and protection from your enemies (and like him, trust God and expect Him to do this). Psalm 59: 1-2
3) declare your faith and trust in God, and His goodness and faithfulness. vs 9-10
4) sing praises to God, remembering how He's protected you before.
5) trust in God's strength and not your own: "O my strength, I will watch for you; for you, O God, are my fortress." vs 9
The angel's message to the shepherds was "do not be afraid; for see-- I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people." Luke 2: 10 Praising God through declaration and singing reminds us of this good news. Fear doesn't survive in an atmosphere of praise. And if we've lost our joy, our peace will be the next to go. Get your joy and your peace back by praising the Lord. It's a great way to activate your shield of faith, and your spiritual enemy hates it and will run the other way!
David wrote in Psalm 59 "Even now they lie in wait for my life; the mighty stir up strife against me. For no transgression or sin of mine, O Lord, for no fault of mine, they run and make ready." vs 3-4 All persecution arises from a real enemy who hates us: Satan. It can either come through direct activity of evil spirits, through people who are influenced by them, or from a worldly system that is given over to Satan. We should not blame everything that happens on the devil, for we can do a lot to ourselves through our choices, but we also should not ignore the fact that we have an aggressively evil foe. What do we do about this foe?
Obviously, I'm not going to go into a major teaching in this devotional on how to deal with the devil . But I will do what I've been doing all along, and that is, bring out what I see in the readings for the day. Today, I saw a few things about this:
1) recognize and proclaim that Jesus came to deliver us; the Good News is that we have a Savior! Luke 2: 10-11 (One of the things He came to save us from was Satan and his works: if this is something you don't understand yet, keep your eyes open for evidence of this as you continue reading this year.)
Follow David's example and
2) pray for deliverance and protection from your enemies (and like him, trust God and expect Him to do this). Psalm 59: 1-2
3) declare your faith and trust in God, and His goodness and faithfulness. vs 9-10
4) sing praises to God, remembering how He's protected you before.
5) trust in God's strength and not your own: "O my strength, I will watch for you; for you, O God, are my fortress." vs 9
The angel's message to the shepherds was "do not be afraid; for see-- I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people." Luke 2: 10 Praising God through declaration and singing reminds us of this good news. Fear doesn't survive in an atmosphere of praise. And if we've lost our joy, our peace will be the next to go. Get your joy and your peace back by praising the Lord. It's a great way to activate your shield of faith, and your spiritual enemy hates it and will run the other way!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
February 20, 2010
I was thinking about God's statement "You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean." Leviticus 10:10. And then, there it was again in the New Testament reading! These Scriptures together made me wonder if the concept of "clean and unclean" has to do with "what the Lord will inhabit and what the devil will inhabit."
Jesus delivered the man with the legion of demons, and when He cast them out, they went and inhabited a bunch of swine ("unclean" animals by Mosaic law). The man was converted and became an evangelist then. Jesus delivered him and he became clean. Jesus called him into cleanness, a habitation for the Lord.
What happened to Aaron's sons, then, in Leviticus? Apparently, they weren't clean, although they had been consecrated with all the ritual. God looks at the heart. It's His heart of compassion to see us delivered from evil. The priests of God had all the advantages, and yet they didn't love God. The man among the tombs was an abused outcast, and yet his immediate response was to be devoted to Christ. The priests were common then, and the delivered man was holy. I think it's very interesting to see the contrasts in these chapters today, and the judgment and mercy of God.
Jesus delivered the man with the legion of demons, and when He cast them out, they went and inhabited a bunch of swine ("unclean" animals by Mosaic law). The man was converted and became an evangelist then. Jesus delivered him and he became clean. Jesus called him into cleanness, a habitation for the Lord.
What happened to Aaron's sons, then, in Leviticus? Apparently, they weren't clean, although they had been consecrated with all the ritual. God looks at the heart. It's His heart of compassion to see us delivered from evil. The priests of God had all the advantages, and yet they didn't love God. The man among the tombs was an abused outcast, and yet his immediate response was to be devoted to Christ. The priests were common then, and the delivered man was holy. I think it's very interesting to see the contrasts in these chapters today, and the judgment and mercy of God.
Monday, February 1, 2010
February 1, 2010
God, give us the eyes to see the glory cloud that goes before us and sometimes becomes our rear-guard. We have nothing to fear, and everything to praise God for. He magnificently delivers us!
From yesterday's reading: "Lord, let our eyes be opened." Matthew 20:33
From yesterday's reading: "Lord, let our eyes be opened." Matthew 20:33
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
January 26, 2010
Today's readings really spoke to me of God's compassion. Powerfully! In the face of how the world is slandering God (e.g., the movie Legion), I think we'd better get to know Him a whole lot better! Hold on to your faith!
Why did Jesus say "You faithless and perverse generation?" when the disciples couldn't cast out a demon that was tomenting a boy? He said they couldn't cast it out because their faith wasn't even as big as a mustard seed. Matthew 17:17, 20. Why was their faith so small?
I saw something today I hadn't seen before. I think they had all forgotten that God was all about deliverance. They forgot He was compassionate. They had forgotten their nation's deliverance in the past. They weren't on the same page with God.
In Exodus 3:7-8, God said to Moses: "I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey."
God came down then, and then He came down in Jesus. Why? Compassion.
Jesus was teaching Peter that they were under religious oppression, and that as long as they were, He would provide--e.g., the tax. But Jesus did more than just alleviate the temporary suffering. His mission was to set everyone free from the oppression. He released people from spiritual bondage, from Satanic oppression. "The children are free," He said. Fact. vs 26 We can't be free on the outside if we're not free on the inside.
Psalm 22 is such a moving prophetic expression of the sufferings of Christ on the cross, so that we could be free. He entered in to our oppressions and bore them Himself. "In you our ancestors trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them." vs. 4 David knew and trusted in God's deliverance, and so did Jesus.
The Proverbs 5 section reminds us that sometimes the oppression we suffer is because we were disobedient. But that doesn't mean God won't deliver us, it just means we need to repent first.
If we're lacking in faith to trust God for deliverance from oppression, or unable to help others get free, we need to meditate on the Scriptures once again and rediscover God's heart of compassion and His track-record of deliverance. He hasn't changed.
God will again "come down" to set His children free from what is working up to be the most horrendous, tyrannical oppression ever to be seen on earth. Jesus Christ WILL come again and do away with the oppressions of evil forever. Have faith in God!
Let's not be a "faithless and perverse generation."
Why did Jesus say "You faithless and perverse generation?" when the disciples couldn't cast out a demon that was tomenting a boy? He said they couldn't cast it out because their faith wasn't even as big as a mustard seed. Matthew 17:17, 20. Why was their faith so small?
I saw something today I hadn't seen before. I think they had all forgotten that God was all about deliverance. They forgot He was compassionate. They had forgotten their nation's deliverance in the past. They weren't on the same page with God.
In Exodus 3:7-8, God said to Moses: "I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey."
God came down then, and then He came down in Jesus. Why? Compassion.
Jesus was teaching Peter that they were under religious oppression, and that as long as they were, He would provide--e.g., the tax. But Jesus did more than just alleviate the temporary suffering. His mission was to set everyone free from the oppression. He released people from spiritual bondage, from Satanic oppression. "The children are free," He said. Fact. vs 26 We can't be free on the outside if we're not free on the inside.
Psalm 22 is such a moving prophetic expression of the sufferings of Christ on the cross, so that we could be free. He entered in to our oppressions and bore them Himself. "In you our ancestors trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them." vs. 4 David knew and trusted in God's deliverance, and so did Jesus.
The Proverbs 5 section reminds us that sometimes the oppression we suffer is because we were disobedient. But that doesn't mean God won't deliver us, it just means we need to repent first.
If we're lacking in faith to trust God for deliverance from oppression, or unable to help others get free, we need to meditate on the Scriptures once again and rediscover God's heart of compassion and His track-record of deliverance. He hasn't changed.
God will again "come down" to set His children free from what is working up to be the most horrendous, tyrannical oppression ever to be seen on earth. Jesus Christ WILL come again and do away with the oppressions of evil forever. Have faith in God!
Let's not be a "faithless and perverse generation."
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