It's been a long time. Re-prioritizing caused me to step away from this blog, but today, I find myself back because I can't stay silent.
As of late, I have been reading more and more articles of Christians being persecuted in our own country. Where Christians are being denied basic rights and freedom of religion. We are being denied the ability to pray, to run our businesses as we see fit - according to God's Word - and to even admit to our beliefs.
This summer I read of:
9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
Mark 16:1-8
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body.2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
We win! Jesus wins! God wins!
SAINTS: THE VICTORY HAS ALREADY BEEN WON!
What an encouragement!
In a world that can look so discouraging at times, it's so good to get into God's Word, talk with him, and be reminded that we have the victory! Maybe not here on earth, but the battle has been won and God is victorious!
Remember, Ephesians 6:12 tells us, "We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world."
This is not a battle between humans. We are to love our brothers and the lost and hurting world. Rather, this is a spiritual battle - a spiritual fight! It's weird to think that the way we "fight" against Satan is by loving people... humans typically think about weapons, lobbying, or earthly approaches.
Are you willing to be fully surrendered to God? Are you ready to be so fully surrendered that you're willing to give up your business, your security, your privacy, or your job for the sake of Jesus?
David Platt asks this great and challenging question in his book, Radical:
"If you were on trial, accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?"
Let's pray now, work now, and fight now (not with violence, of course!) so that the answer to that question is an unequivocal YES!
As of late, I have been reading more and more articles of Christians being persecuted in our own country. Where Christians are being denied basic rights and freedom of religion. We are being denied the ability to pray, to run our businesses as we see fit - according to God's Word - and to even admit to our beliefs.
This summer I read of:
- A mom in NH who had been told she was not allowed to pray on school property for her children and their friends.
- The 5 Pillars of Islam were put up, replacing the 10 Commandments in a TN school.
- A Christian cake business in Oregon shuts down because of threats and coercion by LGBT groups angry they didn't want to participate in a gay wedding.
- And of the Air Force cracking down on Christians at Lackland Air Force base in San Antonio, TX.
Those are just a few of the many attacks on Christians, and our beliefs, in this country. As I read about the Air Force this morning, I was feeling so discouraged. We are idly standing by while atheist and other non-Christian groups wage a great fight. And it appears they are winning a great number of those fights. As a nation under God, we are seeing the pendulum swing to the left and God is being taken out one fight at a time.
We have great leaders like the owner of Hobby Lobby, David Green; the owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa, Aaron and Melissa Klein; and Lizarda Urena, a praying mom, paving the way for us to be brave and courageous. (BTW, Lizarda Urena won her fight(!) and is now allowed to pray on campus again, but must do it silently.) But we must rise up and be courageous, too. We cannot allow our freedoms to be taken away. Just as non-Christian groups are fighting to take God out of everything, we must fight to keep God in everything.
Skillet has a great song just out - take a listen. I love their emphasis on how we fight. Specifically, they depict the battle happening with weapons such as faith, hope, and most importantly love. We're not going to overcome the world with weapons or hostility, legislation or protesting. But rather by demonstrating the love of God and living out his commandments.
That fight begins in God's Word and in prayer!
Skillet has a great song just out - take a listen. I love their emphasis on how we fight. Specifically, they depict the battle happening with weapons such as faith, hope, and most importantly love. We're not going to overcome the world with weapons or hostility, legislation or protesting. But rather by demonstrating the love of God and living out his commandments.
That fight begins in God's Word and in prayer!
In my devotional this morning, I was so encouraged by God. Knowing I was feeling discouraged by the state of our country and the direction in which she is being lead, He led me to 2 Chronicles 36.
2 Chronicles 36 chronicles the making and fall of 4 kings over just 22 years and 6 months. All had done evil in the eyes of the Lord, mocked God's messengers, despised His Words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy. (2 Chronicles 36:16) The wrath of God was aroused!
Then God lead me to Revelations 12 and 13. Revelations 12 speaks of the woman and the dragon - of Jesus' birth and how Mary was protected, but how Satan waged war on her offspring - us!
Revelations 12:9-12
9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
“Now have come the salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Messiah.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,
who accuses them before our God day and night,
has been hurled down.
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death.
and you who dwell in them!
But woe to the earth and the sea,
because the devil has gone down to you!
He is filled with fury,
because he knows that his time is short.”
Satan knows his time is short and he's working hard to get as much done as possible.
Revelations 13:8-10
8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast - all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.
9 He who has an ear, let him hear.
10 If anyone is to go into captivity,
into captivity he will go.
11 If anyone is to be killed with the sword,
with the sword he will be killed.
That was not what encouraged me though. With all that's happening around us with regards to Christians and our faith, both domestically and internationally, do you know what happens? Follow me to Mark 16.
Mark 16:1-8
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body.2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
We win! Jesus wins! God wins!
SAINTS: THE VICTORY HAS ALREADY BEEN WON!
What an encouragement!
In a world that can look so discouraging at times, it's so good to get into God's Word, talk with him, and be reminded that we have the victory! Maybe not here on earth, but the battle has been won and God is victorious!
Remember, Ephesians 6:12 tells us, "We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world."
This is not a battle between humans. We are to love our brothers and the lost and hurting world. Rather, this is a spiritual battle - a spiritual fight! It's weird to think that the way we "fight" against Satan is by loving people... humans typically think about weapons, lobbying, or earthly approaches.
Are you willing to be fully surrendered to God? Are you ready to be so fully surrendered that you're willing to give up your business, your security, your privacy, or your job for the sake of Jesus?
David Platt asks this great and challenging question in his book, Radical:
"If you were on trial, accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?"
Let's pray now, work now, and fight now (not with violence, of course!) so that the answer to that question is an unequivocal YES!
