Sheep Food

  There’s been a lot of chatter of late across the country... encouraging folks to ‘join the resistance’. Let me be the first to chime in and say I’m all about that! But first ...maybe I should clarify what it is that we are actually supposed to be ‘resisting’. My daily writings/postings here are primarily directed at those who would consider themselves to be people of ‘faith’, fellow ‘believers’ who strive to follow Jesus. I was going to say that most folks ‘in the world’, who would not claim to be people of faith or spiritual in nature, are going to pretty much do what they want to do. And then it dawned on me...how many people who claim to be children in God’s kingdom do that as well...do what they ‘want’ to do as opposed to what Jesus wants us to do? “Why do we call Him Lord and not do the things He says?” (Luke 6:46) I’m continuing on from my message of the past few days that centers around dealing with spiritual enemies, the powers of darkness... and yesterday, I touched on ...

  “Give. No. Place. To. The. Devil!” (Eph. 4:27) Could Paul have been any more clear than that!? We could elaborate and add more words and illustrations...’don’t give him any foothold’; or “don’t crack the door or window open, even a little bit”! But he was serious as a heart attack: Don’t Do it!” (Matt. 12:43-45; John 5:14) Paul would later write of the importance of this ‘spiritual war’ we find ourselves in...having ‘weapons’ ...where we first ‘bring into captivity – every thought to the obedience of Christ’ (2 Cor. 10:3-5). And let’s not forget his admonition to ‘awaken from our slumber’ and ‘put on the Lord Jesus Christ’ as we ‘’cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light...walking properly and making no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts” (Rom. 13:11-14) There was also good reason why Peter wrote just as clear and with the same serious tone: “You better remain vigilant and alert because your enemy, the devil, goes around like a roaring lion seekin...

  Here it is from three of the most influential writers in the New Testament for all of us believers to see, read, ...and DO: Peter - “For this you were called...since Christ suffered for us leaving us an example...you should follow His steps...” (1 Pet. 2:21) Paul – “Therefore as God’s children...be imitators of Him and walk in love as Christ also loved us...” (Eph. 5:1-2) John – “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” (1 John 2:6) I know...easier said than done, right? And how many of us have tried and tried and tried so many times to do this in our own power...to ‘be like Jesus’, and then continue to fall on our faces in failure. Some, if not many eventually give up all together in frustration and walk away. Others keep picking themselves up, dusting themselves off as they wipe away their bitter tears, thankful for God’s ‘grace and mercy’ along with the fact that “God understands you are not perfect, just forgiven’. But what kind of a lovin...

  We know that countless people today suffer from a wide range of mental ‘illnesses’ and emotional ‘disorders’. Depression, anxiety, panic attacks and ‘irrational fears’ are nothing new to any of us, including many people who yes...are ‘faithful church members’. And what's interesting is for the most part, many of these people are just ‘treated’ for their conditions...as opposed to being cured or healed from them. Why is that? No doubt someone is making a lot of money with all the medications we prescribe to folks that enables them to ‘cope’ with their conditions. (and I'm not knocking 'meds' either) Now that is not to say that people are not actually cured or set free from painful wounds in their lives that have caused much pain, emotional and such. No doubt...trained therapists have probably helped many a folk work through unresolved issues from their past as they are coached or gently guided to ‘let go’ of past hurts, bitterness, resentments...leading them to fo...

  God has absolutely no problem at all with Satan or the demonic forces of darkness that exist in the world today. And He could remove them in a heartbeat if He wanted to. But we...are the ones who have a problem with them...IF...we are not abiding in Jesus. (1 John 5:18) How’s that for an opening statement to get your day started? You would be amazed when you start laying out all these ‘puzzle pieces’ from scripture that deal specifically with devils and demons and Satan and the powers of darkness...and then allow the Holy Spirit to ‘put them all together’ to bring out a very clear picture as to what we are contending with in this world today (Eph. 6:12). A world, I might add, where many consider themselves to be more ‘educated and enlightened’ than those who lived back in the ‘olden days’, medieval times and prior, and who did believe in such ‘nonsense’. And here’s some irony for you- Guess why they can’t ‘see’ it? Luke 10:17-21 might explain it. That might also explain why so ...

  Whether you are a person of faith...or not...and are trying to make sense of the chaos, pain, and confusion, as well as all the evil that exists in this world today, take a moment and at least consider three passages taken right out of the Holy Bible. They do offer up some insight and perspective from a ‘book’ that has been around for some time now, and a ‘best-seller’ at that! (You’re gonna want to take your time with this one today) “Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.” (Rev. 12:7-9- NLT) “We know that ...the world around us is under the control of the evil one.” (1 John 5:19- NLT) “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen w...

  We read early on where Jesus called those first twelve to Himself and was going to send them out to preach the gospel of the kingdom, as He, Himself was doing. We also read there in Mark 6 that He ‘gave them power over unclean spirits’ (7). Have you ever wondered what that was all about...empowering them against ‘unclean spirits’? You do realize we are talking about ‘demon’ spirits here, yes? (13) He goes on to tell them that if anyone does not hear or ‘receive’ what they have to say... to just ‘shake off the dust under their feet’...adding this declaration: “I say to you most assuredly: it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgement than for that city” (those who rejected their message). Again, I ask- what is Jesus trying to convey with that comparison, as we know what happened to those two cities was not good. And what is He referring to when He speaks of a ‘day of judgment’? So the Twelve ‘went out and preached that people should repent. And they ca...