Flirting With The Enemy
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Matthew 4:1-4 KJV
In this well know Scripture, Jesus is being tempted by Satan. We find that Jesus while in a physically weakened state because of forty days of fasting, the devil comes along (always) “to steal, kill and destroy.” Satan tries to take Jesus off his Spiritual path by offering Him worldly things that are of no Spiritual use. However Jesus is not having any of it, rebuking Satan at every turn.
I find that we as Christians, many times don’t have to be tempted, because we just don’t stop what we were doing before we were saved. We are too busy compromising our principles, our faith and the oaths that we made to God. How many people in the Church are still shacking up or sleeping around. I can guarantee that if you were one to frequent the night clubs you will not be the only Christian there.
I am reminded of a Pastor (whom shall remember nameless) that recently appeared in the newspapers, with a photograph of himself taking his own picture in the bathroom (with his cell phone) while wearing spandex pants and a muscle shirt. The newspapers said that he was sending this picture to young men in his congregation. I would not have believed it if I hadn’t seen the photo. This man who shared his pulpit with presidents, senators, congressman, a man who was well loved and respected by so many, with radio and TV broadcasts, a man who has the responsibility of a fifty thousand member congregation, thought that sin couldn’t touch him. He decided to flirt with the enemy.
Flirting with the enemy is not new to Christians; we flirt with Satan all the time. We don’t obey traffic laws, we cheat on our taxes, and we’ve even been known to take things that don’t belong to us. We flirt with the enemy when we decide that as long as the sin is small it is okay. We are careful not to commit the “Big Sins” but we must realize that sin of any size can land us in Hell. The Bible says; that sin “gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown brings forth death (James 1:15 RSV).” Take it from a sinner, the more you commit sin, the small ones don’t even feel like sin anymore. Sooner or later even the big sins don’t seem so bad.
Flirting with the enemy is practically the same as fellowship with Satan. The Bible exhorts us not to have partnership with the devil. The Bible says; “You cannot drink from the cup at the Lord’s Table and at Satan’s table, too. You cannot eat bread both at the Lord’s Table and at Satan’s table (1 Cor. 10:20-21 TLB).” What this Scripture is saying is that we cannot continue to straddle the fence; we need to be for the Lord or for Satan. Sisters and Brothers if we are going to; “Talk the Talk” than we need to; “Walk the Walk” too. The Lord is telling us; “Go and Sin no More…”
Spiritual Warfare
Filed under: Biblical Teachings, Godly Principles, The Faith Walk, What Does the Bible Say About That?, Word of Exhortation
All of human history and all human-divine encounters have taken place in the context of spiritual warfare. The entire biblical account, from Genesis 3, where spiritual warfare began for humanity, to Revelation 20, where it ends even for Satan and his evil kingdom, expresses ongoing conflict between good and evil.
Spiritual warfare can be defined as the believer’s multidimensional war against personal sin and to warfare with Satan and his fallen angels. Each and every Christian must learn what spiritual warfare (2 Cor. 2:11; 10:3–5; 11:3) is and how to avoid the dangers and pitfalls that lurk beyond our natural vision. [1]
“Spiritual Warfare” although it affects us all, is very personal. The Bible tells us; “For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Eph. 6:12 RSV) In other words: Satan is out to get us, he wants to destroy us, he wants us dead, he is “the accuser of the brethren” and he accuses us day and night before our God. (Rev. 12:10 RSV) Isn’t it considered personal when someone either wants you dead or is trying to kill you? This is the context with which the modern Christian must conduct him or herself, knowing that we are all in imminent danger if we aren’t careful.
Every day we read in the papers where someone has been killed or someone has been robbed and someone has stolen millions of dollars from the elderly, etcetera, etcetera, and etcetera. We normally say that this is because there are evil and wicked people in this world and that is true. Those who aren’t believers in Christ will be judged as sinners. However it is important to know that their influence is spiritual. “We are not contending against flesh and blood…” means that people are not totally to blame, they are not the instigators. The Scripture continues with “…but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” To be clear, the Scripture is saying that spiritual wickedness of outside entities are responsible. The devil, demons, they are responsible for the wickedness that takes place in this world.
If we examine the Book of Job, this book is a classic example of what spiritual warfare is all about. The Book starts out telling us about a man who is blameless (righteous) and fears God. Then it says that; “the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord and Satan was with them.” The Lord then asked Satan; “Where have you come from?” Satan replied, “From Earth, where I’ve been watching everything that’s going on.” Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth a good man, who fears God and will have nothing to do with evil.” Satan says; “Why shouldn’t he when you pay him so well? You have always protected him and his home and his property from all harm. You have prospered everything he does, look how rich he is! No wonder he ‘worships’ you! But just take away his wealth, and you’ll see him curse you to your face!” Job 1:7-11 TLB
Satan’s jealousy of God and his intense hatred of mankind has always been the center of this warfare, and it will always affect us, whether or not you are Christian. It was Spiritual Warfare when Satan took the life of Job’s sons and daughters. It was Spiritual Warfare when Satan attacked Job’s body with boils. It was Spiritual Warfare when Satan attacked Job’s property. And it will be Spiritual Warfare when Satan attacks you.
It is Spiritual Warfare when you are a minister serving under a pastor that resembles Satan more than the Christ. It is Spiritual Warfare when you’ve been in the same church for 15 years and no one but you can see that your church no longer serves Jesus. It is Spiritual Warfare when you turn 60 and you think things are finally looking up, but you find that you have now been diagnosed with prostate cancer. It is Spiritual Warfare when your friends and loved ones tell you that what you are doing is wrong when all you can see is Christ. It is Spiritual Warfare! Well I don’t know about you, but Satan can have my body, but my soul belongs to Jesus! Satan can take all my substance, but he cannot take away my love for the Lord. Satan can blind people to the truth and influence them to speak against me, but I can still see Christ and Him Crucified.
Brothers and Sisters, too many of us we simply go from day to day thinking that nothing can happen to us because we love the Lord. The Bible says; “…He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matt 5:45 NIV) Bad things happen to good people. The Bible says; “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” (Ps 34:19 KJV) That means that you are going to have to go through something. I have a friend that says; “We are always in three stages of existence. We are either going into a storm, we are in a storm or we are coming out of a storm.” The question is not if, it is when.
We are fast approaching the last and evil days; we can either leave this old world in defeat or in victory. We are facing the most powerful enemy ever known to mankind, complacency is not an option. The Bible tells us that Satan is the accuser of the brethren. His only agenda is to see each and every one of us dead, whether we serve him or not. It is time for us to raise the level of Spiritual awareness among Christians, concerning this daily battle with a very dangerous enemy. We are mankind at war!
[1] Murphy, E. F. (1997). Handbook for spiritual warfare (521). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Thank You Jesus
Filed under: Deliverance, Godly Principles, Healing, Miracles, Testimonies
Current Mood:
Blessed
2 Cor. 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. KJV
I remember a song that simply says; “When I look back over my life and I think things over, I can truly say that I’ve been blessed. I’ve got a testimony.” Like most Christians, I wasn’t born saved (I say most, because some of you all think you fell out of Heaven), as a matter of fact, I was unchurched for most of my life. When I got saved by the Lord, I was 45 years old. 45, yet God saved me!
I had no right to expect any help from anyone , especially God, because I had lived a life that for all intents and purposes was unacceptable, unacceptable to God, mankind, to my momma and even unacceptable to me. Even though I had an education, I was articulate, had a good job etc, my abhorring lifestyle was the kind of stuff that you read about in cheap novels. People make jokes about sex, drugs and rock and roll, but I was the king of loose living, so I didn’t expect God to do anything for me. I didn’t expect HIM to save my life when thugs came to rob me at the crack house that I ran, or when they put a pistol to my head and one of them said; “Don’t shoot him.” I didn’t expect HIM to keep me from getting AIDS when I’ve had sex with hundreds of women without using condoms, especially when I was about to have sex with a women who had AIDS and just as we were taking off our clothes, one of my girlfriends was outside banging on the door. God does work mysteriously.
God said that if we are born in Christ we become new creatures. How did I know that God would use my past experiences for HIS good? That HE would use me as a witness to HIS Goodness & Mercy. That HE would send me into the prisons and nursing homes, God even took the time and personally taught me how to feed the homeless.
I never saw it coming. People who carried Bibles and talked about Jesus were considered what I used to call; “Jesus Freaks.” These were people, I believed, who didn’t have a firm grasp on reality. Yet one day when I was on the “Run” from the law and from the drug dealers, I met the Lord Jesus. Jesus has a way of helping you to understand that the things that you thought were good like drugs, sex and booze is really bad, and what you thought was bad like going to church, praising God and loving your neighbor was actually pretty good.
The most amazing aspect of my new life in Christ is God’s ability to forget about your past. “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Imagine with all that I had done, God lost my sins. The Bible tells us; “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Because I am now a “Jesus Freak” no one can condemn me for my past, “because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”
Thank you Jesus!
Was I Really Born Gay?
During the last 20-25 years there has been debate on whether or not people have been born gay. This has even been perpetuated by some in the religious community who have decided that it was okay to pastor while being gay. There are those who themselves are gay, who have obfuscated the idea that it is not their fault that they are gay; they claim that, this is just the way that God has made them. Scientist (with their limited wisdom) have also tried to baffle us with their brilliance by seducing a news starved media when they introduced the idea that they have recently discovered anomalies or inconsistencies in human genetic material to suggest that there may possibly be a gay gene that causes homosexuality.
Smoke and Mirrors! That’s what it is, it’s just Smoke and Mirrors. What no one wants to talk about is; what does God have to say in the matter. What does the Creator of all things have to say about this behavior? We are living in an era where the Word of God doesn’t matter because we are now an “enlightened society.” We have come so far, seen so many advances, achieve so many modern miracles, that we have begun to believe that we no longer have to listen to the One who created us. Because God is archaic, old fashioned and out dated. After all what does God know about these modern times (reminds me of children talking to their parents)? I’ve even heard people say that; God make a mistake when it came to them, because God made them homosexual. Picture that?
The Bible tells us in 1 Cor. 6:9-11 (NIV): “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” If God says that these people will not go to heaven, why would a loving, merciful and generous God set anyone up for failure? He wouldn’t. After all it was God who was pleased to bruise His own Son for mankind. It was God who made the ultimate sacrifice of His only Son. It was God who has been merciful to mankind throughout the ages. Rewarding the righteous and punishing the wicked.
God tells us in: Lev 18:22 (NIV) “Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable” and Lev 20:13 (NIV) If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. The King James Version of the Bible uses the word an abomination, in other words, God cannot stand to look at these things, this sinful detestable behavior. God hasn’t created a sinful man, man became sinful by choice. Homosexuals indulge in their behavior by choice. Perversion cannot be blamed on God; it is mankind that chooses to be perverted. The Bible tells us that everything that God created was good, perfect in every way, this includes mankind.
I was listening to the news just yesterday, and Lady Gaga was singing a song on one of the award shows that made it so clear (even though I don’t know the context of the song), she said: “God makes no mistakes.” This coming from one of, if not the most outrageous performers today. She recognizes, the ungodly recognizes and even the devil recognizes, God is blameless for the condition of mankind. Can anyone be born gay? Preposterous!
Why Can’t We All Just Get Along
In the movie; “A Few Good Men,” Tom Cruise played a young JAG lawyer, while his co-star Jack Nicholson played a highly decorated but arrogant colonel. While questioning the colonel on the witness stand, their conversation became highly adversarial. The lawyer hollered at the colonel “I want the truth.” The colonel hollered back; “You want the truth? You can’t handle the truth.” In this same way, I believe most Christians cannot handle the truth. We cannot handle the fact that Christians are supposed to be different than the world. God wants us to humble, God wants us to be gracious, and God wants us to love, not hate.
Humility was one of the major characteristics of our Lord Jesus during His 3½ year ministry on this earth. He told us; “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Matt. 5:5. God tells us in the book of Psalms 37:11“…the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” The Bible is telling us here that without screaming and rabblerousing, we have power when we keep our mouths shut.
To be Christian means that we are imitators of the Christ and must obey the law of God and of Jesus. What we find in many Christians however, is arrogance, conceit, anger, stinginess, greed, bigotry, even hatred of fellow Christians. This is not just a congregational thing; this is ushers, deacons, and ministers, even pastors. People who have pledged their allegiance to God and His service now find themselves feeling superior to others.
The Bible tells us that; “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” Prov. 11:2 NIV It was pride that got Satan and his gang kicked out of Heaven. The Bible tells us that “A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.” Prov. 29:23 KJV The key to wisdom and God’s blessing is humility.
The Bible is exhorting us to be more like Jesus than that old man within us. Have we really changed when we were saved? The Lord says that “…in humility (we are to) consider others better than ourselves.” Phil. 2:3 NIV I will leave you with this one last word that Paul wrote to Titus because it is so important that we really get it. He wrote: “Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.” Titus 3:1-2 NIV
Just Add Water
Filed under: Biblical Teachings, Godly Principles, What Does the Bible Say About That?
I find that whenever something is too strong for our taste, we just add a little water. If the lemonade is too strong, add a little water. If our spaghetti sauce is too strong, we just add a little water. We dilute anything that we have difficulty appreciating and is too strong for our taste.
The same is true philosophically, if we believe that what we are saying isn’t palatable to our listeners, we compromise our original stand and add just a little water to try to get our point across. We find ourselves hoping that someday we will be able to share the truth to those who oppose our beliefs.
What about our Christian beliefs? Do we just ‘let our light shine’ instead of opening our mouths and proclaiming Jesus as Lord and Savior? The Bible says: “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” Luke 9:26-27 RSV
We have embarked on a new age and different types of preaching philosophies as well. There are preachers who have become motivational speakers instead of being proficient expositors of God’s Word. Preachers who tell us that God will give us whatever we ask for if we believe, and by believing they actually mean by giving (money). Preachers who skim over those parts of the Bible that aren’t palatable to their listeners, just talking about the things that motivate us to give and to “find favor with men’ instead of the full Gospel. The Bible tells us specifically in Galatians 1:6-9; that if anyone preaches another Gospel, even the angels, “let him be accursed.” Paul teaches his student Timothy a new pastor: “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Tim 4:2-4 KJV
Where are the preachers who teach “The wages of sins is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus?” Everything in the Bible is not how God blesses. God had to destroy many people because of paganism, sexual promiscuity and disobedience. The “Flood” is an example of Gods’ wrath for the behavior of mankind. There are passages in the Bible where God had the Israelites destroy entire civilizations; men, women, children and livestock. He would tell them to take nothing and to destroy everything. Remember what happened to Saul the first Israelite King, because of his disobedience? Did we forget Sodom and Gomorrah?
So why are these so-called “Men and Women of God” diluting the Gospel? I cannot tell you why, but I can tell you what will happen to them. John warns us in the Book of Revelations, he says: For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Rev 22:18-19 KJV
So Man and Woman of God, Christians; be careful what you say, God is listening and I pray that he approves of the Gospel you teach and preach. The Word of God is supposed to offend; this is Gods’ way of teaching us the truth and convicting people of sin. HE is “….a Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of offence…” and HE is coming back soon.
The Holy Ghost In Corporate America
I was given what I thought was an impossible assignment by the lovely publisher of Seeds for life, but what was in the mind of this young woman is actually in the heart of God. The title, as oxymoronic a title as I can think of, is actually what God would have those in corporate America be; God centered and Stewards of Gods’ Gifts.
We all know the history of Corporate America, its philosophy has always been to make all the money one can at all cost and at anyone’s expense. We remember the Enron Corporation, which actually stole money from their employees’ (past and present) retirement fund. Their company even though it went bankrupt still gave its’ president a 300 million dollar severance package which was like saying; “Thank you for all that you’ve done.” Then there is the infamous Bernard Madoff, who created and sold an investment fund that never actually invested any money at all. What he did was so despicable and dishonest even his own family members were at a loss for words.
Madoff for 20 years took money from one investor to pay off another. He knew what he was doing was illegal his employees knew what they were doing was illegal, yet they did it anyway without any concern for the financial loss of its investors, which included Madoff family members, Jewish synagogues, celebrities, universities and hospitals. Knowing that one day this would all end in financial ruin and him in jail, he did it anyway, without any concern for even his own future.
Which leaves us with the obligation to once again examine our title, is this business concept even possible? Can a capitalist driven organization in the midst of a society that worships the enemy and all that he has to offer, be indwelt with the Spirit of the Living and True God? The Bible says: “We can do all things through Christ which strengthens us,” however can an organization with principles that are in opposition to the principles of generosity, love and concern for mankind exhibit any of these qualities?
Imagine what our world would be like if Corporate America was Holy Ghost driven. What if the corporate execs trusted in the Lord? Imagine every board meeting starting off with prayer or the CEO of your company was also your Pastor in church.
I know of a company in Long Island that is or was the principle manufacturer of ‘The Standup MRI.’ These people would remind you of people from the hills of Appalachia. They wear overall jumpsuits and have long beards. These guys start every morning on their job in prayer with their boss. When you speak to them they’re not talking about God in every other sentence that they speak, but it is obvious that HE is in their lives.
There are many companies with Jesus as the head of their organizations. Companies that exhibit Godly qualities, they are competitive but not at the expense or the demise of another organization. It is possible to have “The Holy Ghost in Corporate America,” but you must have willing recipients of that Spirit. People must be willing to change their outlook on the way things are done in our country, and be willing to have the Lord as their Shepherd. God bless America, but help us Lord.
About the Author
Name: Rev. Raymond E., aka "Brother Raymond"
Email:
Web Site: http://www.BrotherRaymondandFriends.com
Bio: Rev. Raymond E. Williams Jr., was formerly an Associate Minister at Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, in St. Albans, New York. His area of expertise is outreach. He still heads the Prison Ministry Teams at Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church. Rev. Williams is the founder of Brother Raymond and Friends (Homeless outreach ministry). He is also the former Editor of The Herald and The Minister's Speak newsletters (church publication). Rev. Williams is currently an Associate Minister at St. Marks Missionary Baptist Church located in South Jamaica, NY. To learn more about Rev. Raymond E. Williams go to his website at the web address given above.
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