Tag: resurrection

Battle Over Authority is Nothing New-The Conflict is in the Heavenly

Prior to our previous presidential election, a post entitled, I AM the Resurrection and the Life, was centered on Jesus standing before a sealed tomb in which His friend Lazarus had been lying dead for four days. (emphasis mine)

This scene is part of a pivotal moment in the life Jesus Christ recounted in John 11.

I am applying this event in the life of Christ to our nation’s national election.

How so? (See the post-I AM the Resurrection and the Life.)

I had previously asked the following question: “Will we ‘abort’ this nation’s life, or will we ‘sustain’ this nation’s life?

I know those are strong words, but I believe this question speaks directly to the main issue that is the driving force for this election spiritually. (emphasis mine)

Someone might be thinking, wait, you can’t mix politics and religion!

Wrong, I am not mixing politics and religion; I am showing us that God is Sovereign of all the nations of the earth. (Romans 13:1-7)

Our nation, has been entombed, and bound in grave clothes, with a stone rolled across its entrance for the past four years (not just four days).

Intercessors throughout our nation, and intercessors throughout the world, churches, and multitudes of Christians have been beseeching God to come and raise this nation back to life.

The election on November 5, 2024 revealed the Sovereign work of God intervening in the life of our nation, answering intercessory prayers asking Him to restore this nation’s health and well being.

On November 5, 2024, the voting electorate rolled back the stone at the ballot box; the votes were counted; and the results were declared to the people of this nation and to the other nations of the world that the United States of America was being brought back to life.

If you will permit me, just as Lazarus responded to Jesus’ words, “Lazarus come forth”; so our nation rose up and came out of its political tomb bound in all its grave clothes.

The voting electorate cast their votes for this nation to ‘come forth’.

John 11:44, NASV says, “He who had died (Lazarus) came forth bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” (insert mine)

As a result of our nation’s election process, our nation has arisen and we have been given a renewed life.

Our newly elected officials have the responsibility to unbind (remove) the grave clothes of the previous administration that have bound our nation’s hands and feet, and covered our eyes.

As the grave clothes are removed, once again we will be able to walk freely, work unhindered, and see clearly.

The results of this election has amazed many; some positively; some negatively.

John 11:45 NASV says, (positively), “Many, therefore of the Jews, who had come to Mary (John 11:19) and beheld what He (Jesus) had done, believed in Him (Jesus).” (inserts mine)

John 11:46 NASV says, (negatively), “But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things which Jesus had done.” (insert mine)

The same is true today.

I can see a number of people shouting back at me accusing me saying that I am saying that our new President is the savior of our nation. That is totally wrong. I am not saying that. I am not inferring it.

God, Himself, who is Sovereign over the nations of this world raises up individuals to be put in places of importance and authority according to His will and purpose.

Please see my previous post, A Comment About the 2024 Election.

There is no doubt in the hearts and minds of many believers in Christ that God heard their prayers, answered their prayers, and raised up a ‘bound-lifeless’ nation giving it new life to move forward.

There is also no doubt that in the hearts and minds of many believers in Christ that God did not answer their prayers as they had prayed.

These people are in anguish; especially if they do not understand the Sovereignty of God as taught in the Bible.

The truth is that the results of the election have left millions of people devastated and distraught.

Please see the post I AM the Resurrection and the Life.

This is NOT the time for believers in Christ to gloat over the results.

Reflecting on I Corinthians 13:4b-5a NASV, “…love does not brag, and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly…” Unfortunately, some have; but to gloat-by bragging, being arrogant, or unbecoming is not the “love of God shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.”

(The election results do not give a believer the right to gloat.)

Unfortunately, the reality is, just because the election process has taken place, and the results have been announced does not mean that bringing this nation back to full life is not going to be without difficultly.

What I am about to share with you, the Church must learn not just as information, but in their life experience.

Living in a sinful world demands that the Church understand the daily spiritual warfare that it faces.

What I am sharing, intercessors understand and battle daily.

I, confess, that I do not understand the dynamics of intercession; but I do understand that the Church must pray and learn to wrestle against the principalities of evil in the heavenly realms.

Paul writing to the Corinthian Church regarding learning to walk with Lord every day of his life, says, in I Corinthians 10:3-6, NASV, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.”

Paul understood the importance of the constant spiritual warfare he faced as he carried out his ministry for the Lord in the Church.

Jesus said, Matthew 16:18b, NASV, “… I will build My Church; and the gates of Hades (hell) shall not overpower it.” (insert mine)

Please stop, and read, Ephesians 6:10-19.

In Ephesians 6:12, NASV, Paul exhorts the Church telling them this truth.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (emphasis mine)

Does the Church exercise this authority of Christ in the world today?

Hence, the title of this post,

Battle Over Authority is Nothing New-The Conflict is in the Heavenly.

TBC

your brother in Christ, deo

Upcoming Trilogy

Today, March 20, 2024, I published a post entitled “Author Unknown”. It centers on the Gospel, the Cross, the death, the burial, and the resurrection of Christ. God’s redemptive plan of salvation that He has graciously and lovingly done Himself to offer the means of reconciliation for sinful humanity to receive eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ.

I recommend that you read it, reflect upon it, and call upon the name of the Lord for salvation. If you already know the Saviour as your personal Saviour then rejoice in the salvation that is yours in Christ;

After celebrating Resurrection Sunday, I will be re-posting three articles that I shared a number of years ago. They center on the Sovereignty of God, our government, our leaders, our nation, and the response of the Church.

I encourage you to read this trilogy and pray for our nation as it moves full speed ahead into the heart of the presidential election period that will take place in November.

Our nation is at a critical crossroads. The Church must make its voice heard in heaven and at the ballot box. This election is not about personalities. This election is about what direction this nation is going to pursue.

The voting electorate is going to hear a lot of conflicting rhetoric about each Presidential candidate, his agenda, and the direction that this nation will go depending on which individual is elected.

Our attention, as believers, must be focused on the God’s Sovereignty.

Our God reigns.

Amen.

Have a blessed resurrection celebration,

a brother in Christ, deo

Author Unknown

This morning I was trying to find a teaching that I had written many years ago. As I was rummaging through my papers, I found this. It’s message is apropos for this time of year as we reflect on the Passion Week, Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.

Beneath the blood -stained lintel I with my family stand; A messenger of evil is passing through the land. There is no other refuge from the destroyer’s face; Beneath the blood-stained lintel shall be our hiding place.

The Lamb of God has suffered, our sins and griefs He bore; By faith the blood is sprinkled above our dwelling’s door. The foe who seeks to enter doth fear that sacred sign; Tonight the blood-stained lintel shall shelter me and mine.

My Saviour, for my dear ones I claim thy promise true. The Lamb is for “for the household”–the children’s Saviour too. On earth the little children once felt Thy touch divine; Beneath the blood-stained lintel They blessing give to mine.

O Thou who gave them, guard them–those wayward little feet, The wilderness before them, the ills of life to meet. My mother love is helpless, I trust them to Thy care! Beneath the blood-stained lintel, oh, keep me ever there!

The faith I rest upon Thee Thou wilt not disappoint; With wisdom, Lord, to train them, my shrinking heart anoint. Without my children, Father, I cannot see Thy face; I plead the blood-stained lintel, Thy covenant of grace.

Oh, wonderful Redeemer, who suffered for our sake, When o’re the guilty nations the judgment storm shall break, With joy from that safe shelter may be then meet Thine eye, Beneath the blood -stained lintel, my children, Lord, and I.

Father, we thank you for Jesus Christ, Your Son, the Passover Lamb, that takes away the sin of the world.

Thank you Father that , “…without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”(Hebrews 9:22)

Thank you Father that, You, “made the One (Jesus) who knew no sin to become a sin offering on our behalf, so that in Him (Jesus) we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21, TLV)

As you reflect upon the work of Christ, His Passion Week, His death, burial, and resurrection, remember that it was God, the Father, who sent His Son into the world to be a sacrifice for sin on the Cross, so that His creation of mankind might be saved.

Consider the following: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. The one who believes in Him is not condemned; but whoever does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not put his trust in the name of the one and only Ben-Elohim (Son of God).” (John 3:16-18 TLV) (inserts mine)

This is the grace, mercy, and love of God demonstrated and poured out to all of mankind. God, the Father, sent His only Son, so that He might have a larger family of sons and daughters for eternity. God was willing to personally take on the issue of separation that sin created between Himself and His creation when Adam sinned. That is the message of the Gospel.

God loves you and desires that you become a child of His, by accepting His Son, Jesus Christ, as your personal Saviour.

Ask Christ, to be your Saviour; ask Christ to forgive you of your sin; thank Christ for His forgiveness and eternal life.

God’s Word says, “… For Everyone who calls upon the name of Adonai (the Lord) shall be saved. (Romans 10:13, TLV, insert mine)

May the Lord richly bless you this Resurrection season, your brother in Christ, deo