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When we wrestle with the question of evil, we must remember that God did not create evil The origin of evil is attributed to Satan. An explanation of the process of evil operative in one’s heart is outlined in Isaiah 14: 3-11 describing the fall of the King of Babylon. Continuing in Isaiah 14:12-21, Isaiah records the fall of Lucifer, who is Satan. A commentary regarding these verses is as follows: “These verses also have a double application. They are still part of the proverb against the king of Babylon. The language , however, shows that he is a type of Satan. Lucifer means ‘light Bearer.” The basic sin was that of unchecked personal ambition, desiring to be equal to or above God. With reference to Satan, it is best not to press every detail but grasp the symbolic intent.” (NKJV Study Bible, page 981).

In Isaiah 14:13-15, “I will occurs five times. Satan’s fall was occasioned by two things: pride that presumed to supplant god’s rule with his own, and self-will that asserted independence from the Most High.” (NKJV). While not directly said, this was the motivation behind Satan’s temptation of Adam and Eve in the garden. Their compliance with Satan’s rhetoric plummeted mankind into the total corruption that it has struggled throughout history. The motivation behind Satan’s temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, at the outset of His ministry, was to have Jesus lay aside the purpose for which Jesus came and to give His allegiance to Satan completely corrupting the redemptive plan of God. Satan’s game plan has not changed; however, he has been incapacitated and dethroned, and will face his final and complete judgement when God brings His Redemptive purpose to completion.

After Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus said to His disciples, just prior to His ascension, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” (Matthew 28:18a, NKJV). That leaves no authority for anyone or anything else, period.

And so we find ourselves in a situation where Jesus is Lord and all authority have been given to Him; yet, in the Sovereignty of God, Satan, who has been defeated because of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, is permitted to exercise an authority over the people and nations of the earth. Maybe, the word authority is to strong a word; maybe I should say that God allows him to exercise an influence on the nations of this world that do not seek the true and living God. The heart of mankind, apart from Christ, is totally depraved, sinful, lawless, wicked, and as such are children of darkness whose father is the Devil. (see John 8:31-47)

Romans 13:1 says, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. for there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God” Regarding our own struggle as a nation about the Presidency, I have had to resign myself to this statement. The candidate who won the election for the Presidency in 2016 was ‘appointed by God’; and the candidate who wins the election in 2020 is also ‘appointed by God’. That reality can be a very tough ‘pill’ to swallow.

I want to quote a lengthy explanation of Romans 13:1

“The authorities that exist are appointed by God: Se also Dan. 4:32; Ps 75:6,7. Paul does not suggest that God approves a corrupt government, ungodly officials or unjust legislation. Sometimes, however, in punishment for the sins of a people or for other reason known to Him, God allows evil rulers to have authority for a time, as the OT prophets frequently testify. God grants authority to serve good ends (vv. 3,4). How that authority is exercised will be the accounting of each to whom it has been given.” (Spirit Filled Life Bible, NKJV, page 1709)

What is our responsibility? Romans 13:2; the Study Bible offer this commentary:

“Although obedience to earthly authority is the general rule, a clear biblical principle is that we my need to disobey government if commanded to sin, for loyalty to God always takes priority over all human authority (see Esther 4:16; Dan. 3:12-18, 6:10; Matt. 2:12; Acts 5:29; Heb. 11:23).”

“God holds those, whom He appoints to rule over nations, responsible for their actions; and He holds us responsible to obey those in authority over us, unless they ask us to sin against Him.”

Peter writes in 1 Peter 2:11-17, “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the of visitation. Therefore, submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men–as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bond servants of God. Honor the people, Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.”

It is interesting that in my Study Bible, it says, that the king in verse 13 and in verse 17 refer “to Nero, the Roman emperor, who reigned from A.D. 54 to 68.” At the risk of being sarcastic, we think we have it rough.

My first alligence is to the Lord Jesus Christ as a citizen of the Kingdom of God. I submit to His governing authority. As a citizen of the Kingdom of God, I am to live my life honoring the Lord and being in submission to the governing authorities of the nation in which I reside. My lifestyle is to be such that it brings honor to the Lord and does not conflict with the nation unless the nation asks me to do that which is forbidden by the Word of God.Today, in our current climate of being ‘shut in’, many believers are struggling with what the authority of our nation is requesting us to do. At this time, my resolve is to pray for those in authority over us, and to speak in prayer against the principalities, powers and rulers of darkness that are waging a verbal warfare in our nation.

In closing this series, I want to share from a devotional by Jack Hayford’s, ‘Words of Life’. He is sharing on Psalm 19:14, which says, Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.” The devotional says, “This oft-quoted verse attests to the importance and desirability of our words and thoughts being consistent with God’s Word and will. The text literally says, “Let what I speak and what my heart murmurs to itself be a delight to You, God.” As followers of Jesus Christ, may we speak words that minister to others; and may the inward thoughts of our hearts be delight our Father.

Satan’s S.C.A.M. in the garden was to challenge the meaning of God’s spoken Word to Adam and Eve Since then his tactic has not changed. But God had his own ‘anti-SCAM’ before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1:3-14 tells us of the Father’s “…mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times, He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth — in Him.” (Eph. 1:9,10 , NKJV)

Satan was successful in corrupting God ‘s created order; however, God before the foundation of the world prepared His own plan to counteract Satan’s SCAM, that I would like to call God’s anti-SCAM.

God’s anti- S.C.A.M. – Sacrificing Christ Atones Mankind. Ephesians 1: 7 says, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace…” (NKJV)

God sent His Son as THE sacrifice to take away the sin of the world. Hebrews 9:28, “so Christ was offered ONCE to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him, He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” (NKJV) (emphasis mine)

Sin Caused A Mess; but Salvation Created A Message – the Gospel

As we enter the public domain, freed from our ‘shut in’, what will be the ‘words of your heart’ spoken to a hurting world; and what will be ‘meditation of your heart’ before the Father? (We need to make sure that the meditation of our heart is upright before the Father before we open up our mouth.)

May the Lord richly bless you, a brother in Christ, by the Grace of God, deo

May the Lord give you wisdom as you seek Him during this time of turmoil. I am so thankful that God is in control. Jesus is Lord.

Let’s face reality. Sin makes things hard, and complicates life. Satan corrupted God’s creation by offering Adam and Eve a better deal than what God had provided for them. Adam and Eve bought (or should I say, ‘bit’) into the plan and here we are, dealing with the ravages of sin that manifests itself in pure corruption. As the scripture says, “the wages of sin is death” (Roman 6:23), but the verse does not stop there; it continues, saying, “but the gift of god is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Sin produces bad news with a horrific result, called Hell; God has given His Son, and brought good news, with a hopeful result, called Heaven. What makes the difference for an individual? It is the message of the Gospel. If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord, then I encourage you to search out the truth of the Gospel. You can reach me through this blog site at livingwordsofencouragement.com and I will share with you the Gospel of Christ. Or, if you have a Bible, I recommend that you read I Corinthians 15:1-11, and then the Gospel of John.

.As a believer, I am torn, wrestling over my civic responsibility to this nation. Are you?

The Pharisees were seeking to trap Jesus verbally so that they could accuse Him of not being ‘politically correct’ (Matthew 22:15-22). They sent their representatives to pose the following question to Him. “Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” (Matthew 22:17, NKJV). Verse 18 tells us that Jesus “perceived their wickedness”. Asking for a coin, (I assume He took the coin) , and posed this question to those who had asked Him their question. Jesus said, verse 20, “Whose image and inscription is this?” His inquirers responded correctly by saying to Him, “Caesar’s”. (verse 21); and so Jesus simply says to them (verse 21), “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s , and to God the things that are God’s” (NKJV)

That was Jesus’ response to a verbal entrapment set up by the Pharisees to ensnare Him in a politically incorrect answer so that they could accuse Him of not being loyal to the Roman nation. Jesus’ response gave to us the guideline that we should follow as citizens of the nation in which we reside. Consider the following commentary taken from my Study Bible, page 1448, Matthew 22:21, “An earthly state provides for the welfare of its citizens, who are thus obligated to support the government. But citizens of God’s kingdom also owe allegiance to Him. Ideally, there should be no conflict between the two (see Romans 13:1-7), but where there is disharmony allegiance to God takes precedence ( see Acts 4:18-20).” Simply stated, Jesus told us to pay what is required to whatever political government we live under; unless as previously stated, that government requires us to something that is directly unscriptural according to the Word of God.

As a citizen of the Kingdom of God, we are instructed by the Word of God to pray for those in authority over us. I Timothy 2:1, says, “I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all me, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may live a quiet and peaceable life in godliness and reverence” (NKJV). May I say, Paul did not stipulate that some kinds of governments or certain leaders were more or less appropriate than other governments or leaders. That does not mean that we do not use wisdom; what it means is that we ask for wisdom regarding praying for nations and their leaders.

Why? In the letter to the Romans, Paul tells us in Romans 13:1-10, the true relationship between those in authority over us and God, Himself. Verse 13:1 says, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” (NKJV). Those words can be very troublesome to individuals who have personally suffered; or have had family members persecuted; or lived under regimes that have been horrendously evil, wicked, vicious, etc. How does one reconcile the despicable, detestable, hateful regimes throughout the history of mankind that have destroyed untold numbers of individuals for their own personal gain, pleasure, or cause. The logical consequence of these thoughts would be for someone to ask the question that many others have asked over the millenia. “How can I believe in the goodness of God when there is so much evil in the world?” There is an answer to that question; however, it requires more thought and study than I have personally done. We must remember that evil in our world did not come from God. However, God in His Grace, Mercy, and Love, has dealt with sin, and consequently with its evil and death. Jesus the Lamb of God has come to take away the sin of the world. That was accomplished at the cross. Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection has defeated death, hell and the grave. The Love of God has conquered Evil. The Day is coming when it will be totally eradicated; out of existence. There will be a new heaven and a new earth. O, glorious Day.

TBC

I would like to continue my C.O.A.C.H. – the Confession Of A Concerned Habitant.

In 2016, in order to vote for the well being of our nation and its Constitutional foundation, I had to lay aside my concerns for both presidential candidates lifestyles and their personal history. I could have voted for a candidate of another party rather than choosing between the Republican candidate and the Democratic candidate. As I have mentioned in an earlier blog, I find myself in the same predicament as I consider the 2020 presidential election. What is interesting is that intensity of the choice has been elevated. How so, you ask?

If you have read my previous thought about the coming election, you will understand that my voting choice would be predicated upon which ‘economic engine’ will be driving this nation, i.e. , capitalism or socialism, [I wrote that comment over a month ago.] Since then a lot has changed in the makeup of the presidential election. Who will be the candidate for the Democratic Party? What will be the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the presidential election; but more importantly, what will be the impact of Covid 19 on the economy? And what will be the long term impact of the passage of three stimulus packages, with a fourth one under consideration as I compose this blog? That’s a lot to consider when making a decision regarding what candidate to vote for? Especially, with the potential of $10 Trillion dollars worth of stimulus packages needing to be absorbed, somehow, by our economy. I am not confident that either party is capable of putting together an economic plan that will completely bring about a recovery to our economy.

Well, let’s regroup. We have all witnessed the clash of the mantras of socialism verses capitalism as we proceeded through the primaries; and because of the pandemic, there was the dropping out of the candidates espousing socialism; and it appeared that the socialistic engine to drive our economy stalled. However, we are aware that the philosophy of socialism still exists in the minds of many politicians and in the hearts of many voters in our nation.

And what we have witnessed, in a very short period of time, were the economies of the nations of the world shutting down overnight. Not just the United States, but the entire world. Economically, in our nation, we have watched all the past gains and growth wiped out. The economy of our nation is limping along, and that may be to optimistic of an observation at this time.

In 2008, we suffered through an economic downturn; the government stepped in and helped, and things turned around. At that time, I was wondering then if we were witnessing what is written in Revelation 18 that describes the fall of Babylon that represents the collapse of the economic system of the world. 2008 is minor to what is occurring now; and again I turned to Revelation 18 and wondered if these scriptures were being fulfilled at this time? Please read Revelation 18.

The measures taken by our government to assist the nation financially has been astronomical; some may even say it has been too excessive; others claim that it has not been enough. There are many progressive politicians, I believe, who are salivating at what they are witnessing. Because of our dire need, the nation is receiving levels of income assistance that politicians have been pushing for through government subsidies for years. Unfortunately, there seems to be issues with where the subsidies are ending up. Be that as it may! The question is:

Can our economic engine ‘fire-up’ and handle it? Will the economy recover? I am not trying to be pessimistic; I am asking myself, like many of you are, how far can we financially overextend ourselves and not do severe damage to our nation?

What impact will all of this have on the 2020 election? Opponents of our current POTUS are exuberant at what is taking place. I believe that many of them visualize this current economic situation caused by the coronavirus as the ‘cherry on top’ of all their anti-presidential rhetoric since 2016. Ultimately the voters will decide. (at this point when I was originally composing this blog, I had inserted the following aside: in the midst of all of this: there is a drive to change the voting process in our November general election; no stone is being left unturned to deconstruct our system of government,– on May 15, 2020, the House passed another stimulus package, the largest ever, and it included a change in the voting process.)

With all of this looming and coming to the forefront, even to a ‘boiling point’, what am I to do as a believer in Jesus Christ regarding the upcoming Presidential election? Our President has had many accomplishments and many non-accomplishments depending on your source. One source would be Marc Thiessen, who writes opinions, that are printed in the Washington Post. He has listed items on both sides of the issue in 2018 and 2019.

I have heard the President say many things that make me cringe. I have observed behavior that, in my estimation, was inappropriate. I am not here to gossip.. I am saying that I wrestle with what I have heard and observed; I do not believe that I am any different than you; I assume that you struggle, too. Therefore, just as I had to wrestle with the characteristics and lifestyles of the 2016 presidential candidates, I am faced with many of the issues in the 2020 election. I know that for many people there is no issue; it is cut and dried. I will vote for ____________(fill in the blank)

Now What?

TBC

Many years ago, while reading the Book of Revelation, I found myself contemplating that the media was a false prophet, not THE false prophet. Mind you, this was prior to what we have been subjected too, and observing the past several years. I am not a theologian, or a student of prophecy, and I am certainly not trying to be a prophet; but I would like to share my observation.

I understand that the false prophet in the Book of Revelation is an individual. I have no issue with that; and I am most certainly not trying to identify the false prophet or the anti-Christ. What I am interested in, is drawing your attention to the ‘spirit of the anti-Christ’, and the ‘voice of the false prophet. One of things that can be presumptive in drawing attention to a specific thought is while connecting the dots to make a personal conjecture you run the risk of creating your own dogma. That is what I run the risk of doing at this time.

In Matthew 24:3, Jesus’ disciples approach Him privately and ask Him, “Tell us, when will these things be, And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” Jesus had just told His disciples that the temple in Jerusalem was going to be totally razed in the future.

In Matthew 24:4, Jesus’ answer is startling, He says to them, “Take heed that no one deceives you…” He continues by outlining other events that will occur (see Matthew 24: 5-10). In Matthew 5:11-14, He says, “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many, and because lawlessness will abound, the love (agape) of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” (NKJV) [words in bold print are my emphasis]

For me personally, I can easily visualize Matthew 24:11-14 as the backdrop for what the Church is being prepared to embrace in this hour. I am not saying that this same backdrop has not been faced by the Church before; what I am saying is that the Lord is shaking everything that can be shaken to awaken His Church out of its lethargy and step forward to be bold with a Renewed Confidence. I encourage you to read and reflect on Matthew 24:4-14. Now, ask yourself, what is the Lord asking of me in this hour?

Paul, the Apostle, writing to the church in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2, “Now brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering unto Him, we ask you, not to be shaken in mind or troubled either by spirit or by word or by , as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.” This church thought they had missed Christ’s coming. Paul is assuring them that they had not missed His coming.

Paul continues, “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless, the falling , away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God…For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work…The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, will all powers, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish because they did not receive the love (agape) of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion , that they should believe the lie, they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (2Thessalonians 2: 3-4, 7a, 9-11, NKJV)

My point for using these verses is to dramatically highlight the words that are associated with and characterize Satan, and demonic activity. I submit to you that the ‘spirit of the anti-christ, and the false prophet have been unleashed against this nation.

I make no apology for my belief that the verbal rhetoric’ that this nation is being subject too, are lies, accusations, and deceptions from “below’. (James 3:14-16) ” But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist , confusion and every evil thing are there.” (NKJV)

This is the atmosphere in which we are living. What is the overall effect of this constant negativism? despair, unrest, hopelessness, despondency, fear, uncertainty, anxiety, lawlessness, what else can you add to the list? This is the bad news of sin; the scam of corruption that Satan has assailed against mankind. This is why, I assert, that our warfare is not against mankind, flesh and blood; but it is against the principalities, rulers of the darkness of this age. We are in a spiritual war against demonic spiritual powers.

We need to awake to reality in which we live. The spirit of the anti-Christ, and the voice of the false prophet spew forth through every media venue lies, deceit, and accusations propagating falsehoods, and confusion meant to kill, steal, and destroy humanity, relationships, and bring an upheaval to governments throughout the world.

Yes, what I am sharing is all bad news.

BUT, the good news is that in Christ, we overcome the bad news; that is why He came.

“Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)

“John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first born from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:4-6, NKJV)

Rejoice, Jesus is Lord.

TBC

Is there room in our nation to express one’s concern over the condition of our nation and not be viciously attacked by those who disagree? Instead of Political Correctness can we have Peaceful Civility?

I am a C.O.A.C.H.. Actually, I have done a lot of coaching in my lifetime. As a player and coach, I span over 5 decades playing and coaching different levels of softball. I enjoy baseball very much. My father took me to the first preseason game at Seals Stadium in San Francisco, in 1958, to see the game between the new San Francisco Giants and the Cleveland Indians. Prior to the Giants coming to the west coast, I used to follow the PCL. I watched the televised baseball games Saturday afternoon. It was great. Trivia question, can you name the teams in the PCL of the 1950’s?

My acronym for COACH is a ‘Confession of a Concerned Habitant’.

This blog resembles my ‘Elephant in the Room’ blog. I want to express my observations.

This coming November 2020, the nation will be electing another President of the United States. Never in the history of this nation has a four year Presidency, beginning in 2016, been so volatile. Our elected President has been maligned, challenged, hated, criticized, and harassed ruthlessly and purposefully. He has been the brunt of verbal attack. There have been lies, deceits, and accusations constantly hurled at him. For a more detailed explanation of what I am referring too, please see my blog series about the United States being a ‘Nation of P.O.W.’s’.

It has been several weeks since I first composed these thoughts. I wrote this out on April 15, 2020, Income Tax Day. I found myself faced with the same predictiment that I faced prior to the 2016 election. I was asking myself, why am I voting? In the state of California where I live, voting as a Republican is inconsequential.

Therefore, I want to share with you why I voted Republican in the 2016 election. First of all it has been my political party of choice. For most of my life, voting Republican was purely assumed. My stance supporting the Republican Party was formed primarily from the predisposition of my parents, and following in their footsteps. It is noteworthy that my father did vote for Harry Truman. The intersection of my parent’s beliefs, my education, and my environment were the contributing influences that shaped my political bent growing up.

There was no Biblical thought factored into my political equation. That began to change after Christine and I were married. I was at San Francisco State prior to the ‘free speech’ movement and the ‘hippie’ era. However, during my last year at State, I witnessed the mild beginnings of ‘public dissent’ on campus. After my graduation, there were the ‘free speech’ demonstrations at Cal Berkeley, and at State. These were demonstrations that did not bode well with me, with my parents, and with Christine’s parents.

Christine and I were married in 1964. We were living in her Uncle’s studio apartment near the San Francisco /Daly City border. Our search for a church to attend took us one Sunday morning to a Baptist church near Stonestown shopping center located in Daly City. It was there, that we heard a ‘social gospel’ sermon that did not set well with us. This was not church as we had been raised. We did not return to that church.

Going to church Sunday morning and listening to a social agenda did not mix, especially when politics were included. Well, that defines my mindset in the mid-sixties. From that moment on, for the next couple of years, we quietly lived out the beginning of our new married life.

For the past 56 years, as of June 13, 2020, there has been an evolution of political awareness taking place in me. It didn’t come with political involvement; it came through the ‘back door’ with the Lord’s discipline in my life. The process of political awareness that began in the 60’s now has taken center stage in my walk with the Lord. How? Because my center of government has been changed. I want to be governed by Christ, His Word, and guided by the Holy Spirit. In Christ, Jesus is Lord; that is what got the first century Christians in trouble. As a believer in Christ, I am first a citizen of the Kingdom of God. As such, I give unto the government what is the government’s; and I give unto God what is God’s.

In the 2016 election, I was not reluctant to vote because I believed it was the correct thing to do as a citizen of the United States; however, I was hesitant. My choice of party to cast my vote for was determined primarily to preserve the nation. How’s that for an utopian idealism?

My major concern for the nation was the Judicial System, specifically the Supreme Court. For me, the philosophifical constituency of the SCOTUS was the bedrock of our republic. In my opinion, the make-up of the Court was tenuous at best. I have watched the Court(s) become a political arena for individuals and groups to advance and/or deny agendas for personal gain. In short, I believe we are witnessing a system that leans more toward injustice than justice. ( I know that comment lights up both sides of the political atmosphere for debate. )

I am a Constitutionalist. My observation is that there has been a concerted effort to deconstruct our Constitution. The court system which is supposed to uphold the rule of law has become a place where the rule of established law has been questioned, diagnosed, reinterpreted, and subjected to a political agenda that undermines the foundational bedrock of our society by means of progressive thinking and conducting a political warfare with words of deceit, lies, and accusations.

Therefore, I voted for the party that in my estimation would uphold the principles of government as established by the Constitution of the United States. My choice was to vote Republican.

Since 2016, there has been a vicious war of words regarding appointments to the Supreme Court and a constant battle over wording in the Constitution with regards to impeachable offenses regarding the POTUS, and the governing authority of each branch of the government, their interaction, and responsibility to each. Let me repeat, it’s a ‘war of words’; and it is full of chaos, confusion, and corruption. There is a S.C.A.M..

Who is the source of chaos, confusion, and corruption?

TBC

Revelation 12:11 says, “And they (followers of Christ) overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love (agapeo) their lives to the death.”

I am so thankful for commentary that is concise and to the point. Quoting from my Study Bible regarding the aforementioned verse it says, ” They overcame him by appropriating the victory of the finished word of Christ, by the public confession of their faith and their patient endurance (Rev. 1:9) , even in the face of martyrdom (Rev. 13:10). The church’s constant posture under the authority of the Cross’s victory by the blood of the Lamb and steadfastness to the promises and authority of God’s Word – the word of their testimony – is their key to overcoming. (Spirit Filled Life Bible, NKJV, page 1977).

Follows of Christ, faithful in their witness, living a self-sacrificing life. Why do I say, ‘self-sacrificing’? Because they love not their life to the death. The word for ‘love’ is agapeo. That is self-sacrificing love. “For God so loved (agapeo) the world that He gave…” This is the self-sacrificing love of the cross. Followers of Christ take up their cross daily. Jesus said in Matthew 10:38-39, “And he who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worth of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake shall find it.” [Please read Matthew 10:32-39 for the context of these words.]

The New Testament teaches much about embracing the cross. Learning to live by the principle of the cross is the essence of being conformed to the image of Christ.

Hebrew 12:2 states the standard: “…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

When Jesus was being crucified on the cross, what words were hurled at Him by those who passed by Him? They cried out, (Matthew 27:39-40), “And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” The scripture continues, verses 41-44, “Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let him come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ “

Right up to the end, Satan was tempting Jesus to avoid His death on the cross for the purpose of saving His own life and not fulfilling the eternal work that He came to do.

I am so glad, and I am sure, you are too, that He ‘hung in there’ to take away the sin of the world.

Jesus gave up His life, of His own volition; He wasn’t coerced, threatened, or bribed. The giving up of His life was a self-sacrifice. It was the agape of God.

This is the gospel that Paul preached. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:2, “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” I submit to you those words declare Paul to be a follower of Christ. One who overcomes by the blood of the Lamb. In Galatians 6:14, Paul writes, “but God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Paul is one who overcomes by the word of his testimony. And in Philippians 3:10, Paul declares, “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” Paul, in essence, is one who does not love his life to death. As he stated else where in Philippians 1:21, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

I think it is easy to see that the Apostle Paul was an overcomer. He overcame, as a follower of Jesus Christ, by the blood of the Lamb, the word of his testimony, and he did not love his life to death. It would be simple to substantiate this claim studying the life of Paul. These same characteristics are the bedrock of our walk with the Lord.

Many followers of Christ, I believe, are wondering what is happening in the world? One thing I know, God is allowing this world-wide pandemic for His purpose in the earth. I also believe the Lord is desiring to speak to His Church to prepare them for change. What is the Spirit of the Lord saying to you? What adjustments is the Lord making in your life?

We need to heed Hebrews 13:7-19 (Please read and reflect); Let me especially encourage you to embrace Hebrews 13:12-14, “Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach, For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.”

A number of years ago, I heard a Bible teacher make this remark: “You and God are incompatible and He doesn’t change.”

I believe we need to hear that and embrace it.

God is changing things. You may need to go ‘outside the camp, bearing His reproach”.

May the Lord richly bless you, strengthen you, and give you peace, a brother in Christ, deo

If I didn’t believe in the Sovereignty of God, I would not compose this blog because it would be an exercise in absolute, absurd, futility. How’s that for an article entitled ‘A Renewed Confidence’. It is because of my belief in God’s Sovereignty that keeps me in His peace and assurance that allows me to persevere with a renewed confidence in Him. Our renewed confidence is upheld by the ‘blood of the Lamb’, ‘the word’ of our testimony, and not ‘loving my life to the death’. That’s what Revelation 12:11 declares how we, as believers in Christ, overcome in the last days. Because of Christ’s death, burial, resurrection, Satan has been stripped of his power.

It is recorded in Colossians 2:11-15, “In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it our of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” (NKJV).

I hope you took the time to read and meditate on Hebrews 12:1-28, then you will understand my next statement. I am repeating a thought from a previous blog. A fresh alignment of our heart toward the Lord must precede overcoming by the word of our testimony. We have considered overcoming by the Blood of the Lamb. We renewed our confidence in the power of the blood. We have reflected upon the apathy of our heart. Are we only kindly affectionate toward the Lord, or are we self-sacrificing in our commitment to follow Him? If the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart are not acceptable in His sight, then our words to the world and/or witness in the world, or other believers are as I Corinthians 13:1-3. Paul wrote, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love (agape), I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love (agape). I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love it profits me nothing.” (NKJV);

Let me share the commentary written about these verses expressed in my Study Bible, page 1739, “Without love (agape) the most magnificent manifestation of gifts and the most heroic self-sacrifice mean nothing. Right things must be done in the right way.” Reflect on those words.

Let me insert an observation: Do you remember when Moses was told by God to speak to the rock in order for the water to come out? Moses became upset with Israel’s complaining, and he struck the rock with his staff instead of speaking to it as God had told him. God did supply the water that the people were complaining about; but Moses misrepresented God before the people and Moses got to see the Promised Land but he was not allowed to enter into it and live there.(Numbers 20:7-13) Did it cost Moses his eternal relationship with God? No. How do we know that? Who was on the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus, Elijah, and three disciples? Moses. (Luke 9:27-36) What do we need to see from this episode in Moses’ life? He misrepresented God because of the words of his mouth and the meditation of his heart was not upright before the Lord and his response before the people was an act of disobedience that the Lord disciplined.

Let me say again, I am deeply convinced by the Word and the Spirit of God, that this nation is not fighting “against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12 NKJV). It is affecting the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts; and we are hearing and witnessing responses that do not please the Lord.

In his commentary on Isaiah, Ray Ortlund makes this statement. “The greatest prayer we can pray is for God to do His will, for His glory, in His way, by His gospel, in our generation without restraint. That’s a prayer God loves to hear and is ready to answer.”

My question: Father, are you using this present moment on Your created earth, waiting for Your people to pray the substance of this prayer to You, and You will come down, manifest Your Presence, pour out Your Spirit, have Your Gospel preached, save souls, and change the environment in our nations?

Is there another Spiritual Awakening on the horizon ?

Will this one have No Restraint?”

“Just let us be part of Your movement today.” Ray Ortland

Isaiah 63:15, “Look down from Your habitation, holy and glorious. Where are Your zeal and Your strength, The yearning of Your heart and Your mercies toward me? Are they restrained?” (NKJV)

“Oh, that You would come down and make Your Presence felt in our generation.” Ray Ortlund

What’s the desire of your heart?

Up to this point, we have considered overcoming by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of our testimony, but there is a third imperative in Revelation 12:11, “and they did not love their lives to the death.”

We need to consider what that means, TBC

I confess that I have been sidetracked with my original manuscript. I find myself writing in a certain direction and then many supporting thoughts crowd my thinking and expand my thinking. I am actually enjoying this; but I trust that it will not become burdensome for those who take time to read what I believe is important for the Body of Christ to hear, consider, and embrace. Thank you for your patience.

Let me explain it this way; the first four blogs in this series have been generated from the first page of my original writing. I am now at the bottom of my first page. We have considered the importance of the blood of Christ, and the word of our testimony. I contend that in order to pray effectively as Paul has implored us to do in Ephesians 6, that ‘the words of our mouth and the meditation of our hearts’ need to be upright in the sight of God. I am so grateful for the grace of God and His patience with us as we press forward, like Paul, “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings being conformed to His death.” (Philippians 3:10, NKJV)

But, lest I continue to digress, I want to focus our attention in the Book of James. We are aware that the scriptures have a lot to say about our tongue and our words. James 3, is most likely, the most used text to teach/preach about the use of our tongue and words of our mouth.

I would like to draw our attention to James 3:14-18. This portion of scripture identifies the two sources of wisdom and enumerates the characteristics of each kind. Verse 14 speaks of the heart that is filled with “bitter envy and self-seeking” (selfish ambition). It will “boast and lie against the truth.” Verse 15 tells us what is the source of that wisdom, “this wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.” verse 16, refers back to the “envy and self-seeking in your hearts” found in verse 14, and tells us what to expect; verse 16 says, there will be “confusion and every evil thing are there.” (NKJV) I submit to you this is the source of the divisive rhetoric that is being bantered about daily in our nation.

Verses 17-18 (NKJV) tells us about the other source of wisdom. “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy, and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” This is the source of wording that should be proceeding from the Body of Christ, the pulpits, the teaching and preaching of God’s Word. The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews, wrote in Hebrews 10, verses 19-25, imperatives for the Body of Christ. In the second half of verse 25, it says, “…exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” What Day? The Day of Christ’s coming.

How would describe what you hear, see, and feel in our nation?

I am not pursuing a political agenda with my remarks. As I have stated previously, the issue is NOT (emphasis mine) Democrat or Republican. Consider the prophet Isaiah speaking to God’s people. God is using Isaiah to lay out for God’s people the details of their sin. God is crying out to His people to turn away from their idolatry; their wanton lifestyle; and their half-hearted worship. In the midst of this detailed account of Israel’s failure as God’s people, God lovingly seeks to draw His people back to Himself and restore their relationship to Him.

At the same time, Isaiah is foretelling God’s larger redemptive plan that involves sending His Son, the Messiah, God’s Suffering Servant.

Refocusing on the wisdom that “does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic, what is the source of the words that are communicated involving that wisdom that cause “confusion and every evil thing”?

Jesus said in John 8:44, speaking of the devil (Satan), “He is a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in truth, because there is not truth in Him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”

In Revelation 12:9. it speaks of the great dragon as “…that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world…”; in verse 10, Satan is referred to as the “…the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night…”

I would like to leave you with these thoughts. I encourage to reflect upon Revelation 12:9. I will start there in my next blog.

a brother in Christ, deo

You might be asking yourself, where is my renewed confidence? I haven’t had any emotional surges, blinking lights, or aha moments. That’s ok. Let’s move forward.

What is my purpose of using the scriptures that speak of Satan being a liar, a deceiver, and an accuser? Consider this, what are the characteristics, the tenor, the tone of the verbal rhetoric that we are are plummeted with daily. People are adamant that their words are the truth, and the words of their opposition are full of lies, deceit, and accusations. This wisdom, thought process, evaluation is not from above, but from below. Their words and their thinking is earthly, sensual, and demonic causing confusion and every sort of evil thing just like the scriptures tell us (James 3:15-16).

In James 3:14, we are instructed that this wisdom and these kinds of words proceed from a heart with “bitter envy and self-seeking”. It is referencing the condition of our heart. I asked such a question earlier in one of my blogs, when is the condition of the heart of this nation? [please see an earlier blog entitled, ‘A Nation of POW’s, Part 4, ‘An Elephant in the Room (and it is not the Republican Party)} {go to livingwordsofencouragement.com}

Jeremiah wrote, Jeremiah 17:9,10, NKJV, “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately (incurably sick) wicked, who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind (most secret part), even to give to every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doing.” [that’s sowing and reaping; what are we, as a nation, going to reap for our words and works?]

Let me regroup: Is the rhetoric that shouts out lies, deception, or accusations contentious or calming? Are things constantly being stirred up or is there peace? What results do we witness as a result of these inflammatory words? Are we witnessing righteousness or corruption?

Every day, we hear words that incite verbal fighting, bickering, quarreling, and constant accusations of lieing.

A few days ago, I was reading, “Daily Moment” with Pastor Jack Hayford. The devotional was entitled “Power of the Blood”. The devotional was based upon Revelation 12:11. It was this devotional that started me thinking in the direction that I have been pursuing in this current series. [I mentioned this in an earlier blog]

Revelation 12:11 says, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”

Quoting, Dr. Hayford, “Christian believers are involved in a conflict. Our enemy is called “The Serpent”, “The Devil”, “Satan” and the Accuser of our brethren. (Revelation 12:9-10). He began this conflict in the Garden of Eden and will continue until the Lord returns to reign.” The good news is that Satan, our enemy, is a defeated foe! Christ’s attoning death and resurrection accomplished his complete and final defeat. The Blood of Christ causes God’s people to prevail, because it answers all of the enemy”s accusations. Satan controls and defeats humankind through guilt and accusation. He is a blackmailer.”

As I have said many times before, I believe that as a nation, we are hostages of Satan’s rhetoric. I call it ‘Prisoner’s of Words’.

In this moment of being ‘shut in’, ‘shut down’ or whatever you choose to call it, I encourage you to create your own ‘shut in’ with the Lord and His Word. Turn off the television, turn away from the radio, set aside the electronic media, in short, focus on Christ alone. [ ‘Christ alone’, there’s a good Reformation theme] Let us wait in silence.

Let me encourage you to ask the Lord to search your heart. Like King David, ask the Lord (Psalm 139:23-24) to “Search me, O God, and know my heart, Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

We are in trying times. The Lord is reaching out to His people longing for them to open up the doors of their hearts to Him. He wants to come in and fellowship with you. He desires to renew you, establish you, refresh you, and strength you for the times that are before us as believers. Ask the Lord to show you your heart. He wants to free you from the things of this world and realign you with Himself.

I invite you to read and meditate on Hebrews 12:1-28. Yes, it is a long passage of scripture; but I believe that it is the essence of what the Lord is doing in the Body of Christ at this time. We are in a time of preparation. Let us listen carefully to what the Spirit is saying to the Church. Let us tune our ears to the frequency of the Gospel of Grace; let us listen attentively to the Lord’s broadcast; and let us not only be hearers of the Word but doers of the Word.

TBC

For those who have been following my series entitled ‘A Renewed Confidence’, you will remember that our primary verse is Revelation 12:11, “And they (believers in Christ) overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they (believers in Christ) did not love (agape) their lives to the death.” (NKJV) (inserts mine)

Looking at the flow of thought in Revelation 12:11, I believe that it is apparent that there needs to be a fresh alignment of our heart the Lord. Such an alignment is only possible by the power of the blood of the Lamb. As believers, we need to daily posture ourselves before the Lord, confess our sins, and allow the precious blood of the Lamb to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We can never walk away from the work of the cross and the shed blood of the Lamb; because “without the shedding of blood, there is no remission(of sin)”(insert mine) (Hebrews 9:23b, NKJV); and Leviticus 17:11, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.” (NKJV)

A cleansed heart comes prior to the word of our testimony enabling us to overcome in midst of trials and temptations. We have considered overcoming by the blood of the Lamb enabling us to renew our confidence in the power of the blood. We have reflected upon the apathy of our heart being only kindly affectionate to the Lord; responding with self-referential service in our commitment following Him. If the words of our mouth and the meditation of our hearts are not acceptable in His sight, then our words before the world and other believers will be as described in I Corinthians 13:1-3.

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love(agape), I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love(agape) I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love (agape), it profits me nothing.” (NKJV)

[If you have not read my previous three blogs, I encourage you to do so; and if you have not read the series about our nation being a ‘Nation of POW’s, I encourage you to do that too. It will give you a sense of what is my concern for this nation and the Body of Christ.]

I am convinced that “…we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12, NKJV). These are the same one’s that Paul listed in Colossians 2:15 as being disarmed at the cross. It is one thing to recognize this, it’s another to “…withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:13b, NKJV); and it is another to embrace Exodus 14:13-14. “And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid, Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, shall see no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold (be quiet) [textual insert] your peace.” (NKJV)

Prior to verse 12, Paul writes, Ephesians 6:10, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.” (NKJV) This is not our strength nor our power. It is not our ingenuity or cleverness. Paul is verbally preparing the brethren for the reality of spiritual warfare. And then in verse 11, he tells them to get dressed for battle. He enumerates the whole armor of God. In this same verse Paul tells us why we need the whole armor of God, so that “…you may be able to stand against the wiles (scheming) of the devil.” Skipping over to verse 14- 17, Paul mentions each piece of armor and its spiritual significance. The last piece of armor mentioned is ‘sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God’. It is this piece of armor that MUST (emphasis mine) be wielded daily; especially in the hour that we are living. Verse 18, Paul instructs us what to do. He says, “praying (emphasis mine) always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” (NKJV) Praying is doing spiritual Warfare With Words.

Here is my concern, Satan is seeking to control this nation, suppress its liberties, oppress God’s people, and dismantle its Constitutional government. This is not new news, it is apparent from watching and listening to what is going on in our nation. Is it possible that there are Christians being buffeted about by the ‘wiles of the devil’? Is it possible that there are Christians that are a law unto themselves, living ungoverned lives? I know those are strong words; but those realities are definitely possible when you listen carefully to what some believers are saying and doing.

This brings me back to my last blog. What is your relationship to the Lord? When Jesus says, ‘Follow Me’, what is your response? Is it one of indifference, based upon a kindly affection for? or is it a growing loving relationship? What are you struggling with during this time of being ‘shut in’? What is the Lord dealing with in your life? What is your attitude regarding what is going on in the world? What spills out of you when some one bumps your cup? (not an original thought of mine; I attribute it to Judson Cornwall, that will date some of us)

Our personal response to this current ‘shut in’ will have profound consequences in our individual lives as the God’s redemptive clock ticks forward to the end of this Age.

TBC