1337AFC091313 – Keep your Eyes Open

Read it online here, please.

Proverbs 20:13 – If you love sleep, you will end in poverty. Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat!

Open my eyes that I may see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp and set me free.

    Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready, my God, Thy will to see;
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit Divine!

“Yes, to use a mirror effectively, it has to be clean, intact, and you have to keep your eyes open.”

Recently we looked at the idea of using the Bible as a mirror to show us who the Lord wants us to look like – HIM. (click on the link open above).Again this week we turn to an old, old hymn to help focus on that concept of wakeful readiness. These days you have to be sharp, look share, see sharp in order to keep ahead of that tide of advancing evil sweeping across the world and into our own lives. So you remember these words from Paul in his letter to the Ephesians?

 ¹¹ Have no part in the things that people in darkness do, which produce nothing good. Instead, tell everyone how wrong those things are. ¹² Actually, it is shameful to even talk about the things those people do in secret. ¹³ But the light makes clear how wrong those things are. ¹⁴ Yes, everything is made clear by the light. This is why we say,

“Wake up, you who are sleeping!
Rise from death,
and Christ will shine on you.”

¹⁵ So be very careful how you live. Live wisely, not like fools. ¹⁶ I mean that you should use every opportunity you have for doing good, because these are evil times.

How are we to make sense of all that is going on in the world? There is so much gone amok, so much mayhem and chaos; we are constantly bombarded by horrific images, dreadful deceptions, and blatantly wicked teachings. And it fascinates us! We are glued to the TV so we can get all the lurid details.

As I thought of this, I recalled some images from one of my favorite newspaper comic strips, Calvin. Take a look at these:

Is your family altar manufactured by Visio, Panasonic, or Emerson? Do your kids see you in front of the TV Sunday morning instead of in front of the pulpit? If it’s true that what you see is what you get, then TV can give us everything we need – food, entertainment, information, education, life, liberty, and happiness. But you know that isn’t true! I’m afraid more of us use the TV as our mirror than use the Bible as a mirror. Does that seem unfair?

Is it possible that TV has replaced God in the lives of millions of Americans, and maybe billions of others in nations around the world? Possibly. But so what? There’s a lot of good that comes from television, too. There’s the 700 Club, and EWTN, and those Billy Graham Crusades we all used to watch. There’s real educational television on PBS, and all TV stations have to do something about children’s programming. There are TV shows of all genres in many, many languages here in the USA. So, understand Beloved that I am not saying TV is evil. I’m saying the way we use it can lead to evil, or in itself be evil.

In addition to all the good things just mentioned, TV also brings us pornography, and incredible violence in nauseating detail. TV brings us foul-mouthed “comedians”, “twerking,” and voyeurism unrivaled in history. TV clobbers us with messages that insult our intelligence, insult our nation, and insult even God. As a medium, it has incredible power to penetrate our homes, our minds, and even our hearts with messages contrary to the Gospel such as: It is right to support same-sex marriage, it is right to fight multiple wars for years and years with no foreseeable closure. It is wrong to feel like you have to go to church instead of stay home and watch the game on your 52″ LCD TV. It is right to use lewd actions and vulgar language to promote your own popularity or notoriety.

Why take so much time to blast television? You know that I sit there every evening and watch it. I don’t really like sports, so it would be a very rare occasion for me to watch a sports broadcast at all, much less on Sunday morning 9:30-10:30; but that’s said not to boast but simply to clarify. Our TV viewing habits at the Todd House are pretty tame. I think probably the same is true for everyone who is reading this right now. We know that TV – and the Internet and the movie theater and magazines and books and any for4m of mass-media – can be a vehicle for the devil’s use. But, are we awake with our eyes open? It’s not just bread that comes to us when we are diligent and stay awake (think of the 10 young women who had to light their lamps when the bridegroom came at an unexpected hours). We have to be awake spiritually. These are evil times. When the TV – or the mass media which are your distractions – is the mirror we use to gauge how we are expected to look, then we’re not going to look the way God intended. I know it is easy for me to forget which mirror is the right one. I get distracted, and that does not turn out well. Whatever I use to “replace” God becomes my god, and I suffer for it until I repent. How about you? Is it like that for you, too?

You can bet that God knows we have precious few moments when we see clearly. The “glimpses of truth” mentioned in the lyrics above are our cue to redirect our focus away from us, away from the world, away from our temporary gods and home in on the One, True, Eternal, Almighty God. It is true that we often fail to catch even those brief glimpses sometimes. But every time we make the effort to replace a personal god with the one-and-only real God, our gracious, generous, omnipotent, loving God illumines us with a jolt from the Holy Spirit. Do you remember the time when Peter asked Jesus how many times he had to forgive someone, “Even as many as seven times?” Our Lord replied, “As many as seventy times seven.” If we, as sinners, can forgive that often, how much more will God forgive?

I am asking all of us then to hunt down and kick out those little puny gods that distract us from the Goodness of God. If it’s the Internet, or disinhibiting chemicals (even if they don’t become addictions), or televised-whatever, if it isn’t of or for God, then maybe it is your personal idol. Open your eyes and look hard at it. Is it really so essential. When God asks you at the judgment day how many times you replaced him with something or someone temporary, remember that he already knows – it’s written in the book – and you’ll probably wish you had spent more time looking at him than at the other gods who gave you so many temporary pleasures. Me, too, Beloved. Me too

We can use our eyes to see many things. Some of the things we see are Truth and bring us satisfaction, and other things we see are lies and bring us cravings. We should ask God to open the eyes of our heart so that in whatever we see, we see him.

Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service, Beloved.

Please pray for Syria, and all the places where oppression, death, and godlessness rule the lives of the people.

Pray also for all the millions dealing with cancer and other chronic diseases. Some of our members are still in hospice, so pray for their families, too.

And just a personal note about the unexpected passing for Father Smart Chinyanwa from Zambia: A wonderful Priest, a great friend of the MBN, and a much-loved and well-respected Servant of God. We’ll see him again when the roll is called up yonder.

1336AFC0906113 – Sunbeams and Moonbeams

Read it online here, please.

Also, please watch this video before reading the text. Thanks!

John 8:12 – Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Matthew 5:14-16 – You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

John 3:21 – But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

The sun at the center of our solar system is the power source for physical and biological life on this Earth. The sun makes the plants grow, the water recirculate between sky and sea, and helps regulate the waking hours and resting hours of living things. Every bit of energy it sends our way is free, sent with no expense to us. In ages past, earthlings have worshiped it, studied it, analyzed it, aimed for it, blessed it and cursed it, and all the while depended on it for light, warmth, and energy.

The Son at the center of our Faith is the source for spiritual and eternal life both on and beyond this Earth. The Son makes love grow, happiness recirculate between Heaven and Earth, and helps synchronize the lives and deaths of all earthlings. Every bit of Grace he sends our way is free, sent with no expense to us. In ages passed we have worshipped Him, studied Him, ignored Him, expected him, crucified and buried him, and all the while depended on Him for Light, Peace, and Joy.

And now, as always, He wants us to want Him, to know Him, to Love and Serve Him. He wants us to be like Him. That’s why Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam is the Song of the Day this Friday. He wants us to bring light and goodness into the world. He wants us to be loving as He is Loving, to be humble as He is Humble, and to be perfect as our Father in Heaven is Perfect.

The last two lines of the third verse say, Ever reflecting His goodness, / And always shine for Him. Often we hear we should mirror Christ (remember last week?) so that when people see us they see Christ. We are to reflect His Glory into the world, let his Light shine forth from us. As I thought about that in the days since our last message, I realized “That’s what Moonbeams do. They reflect the light of the sun.”

You and I are moonbeams, right? I mean, isn’t this the Moon Beam Network? Jah, sure, you betcha we are! And we reflect the Love of Christ in our day-to-day prayers, thoughts, words, and deeds. His Light illuminates our lives, and we share that light by shining it on others’ lives. The moon does not generate light, it reflects it. We know about the moon having phases in its rotation. For fourteen days part of its surface is visible, but for all but a few days part of the far side of the moon, the so-called “dark side,” is discernible, too. In fact, since the same side of the moon always faces the Earth, when we see a “New Moon” it is actually the near side of the moon during lunar night. Over the course of about 29 days the moon makes one single rotation, and during that rotation only one side of the moon faces the earth; BUT, also during that one rotation of the moon every bit of its surface is exposed to the sun. We always only see the nearside, but when the near side appears dark, the far side is fully lit. No matter how you think of the moon, you know that it never sends us its own light; it reflects the light of the sun to us. In like manner, we reflect the Light of the Son to others. We are moonbeams.

BUTWAITTHERE’SMORE!

What do the lyrics say? Jesus wants me for a Moonbeam? Nope. Jesus wants ME for a SUNBEAM.     Hm.     Well, OK then, I suppose we could rethink this a little. After all it’s a Gospel chorus or a Gospel hymn, but it is definitely not a Gospel passage. This isn’t Scripture by any means, but it is a popular and powerful message for Christian children, especially those in the “primary grades.” So here’s what I started thinking about: If Jesus wants me for a sunbeam, what does that mean? Where do sunbeams come from and where do they go? They come from the sun, right? And they go everywhere. They don’t just shine on Earth, they shine on all the planets, and all the asteroids, and all the moons, and satellites, and space ships, and extraterrestrials (astronauts), and for a full 46,656,000 degrees in all directions (that’s 360X360X360). Its light travels for roughly 93,000,000 miles to get to us and keeps blasting past us for billions and billions of miles. Recently scientists reviewing images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope calculated that they had captured light from galaxies 13.2 billion light-years from Earth. It takes a “sunbeam” – a photon – moving at the speed of light about eight minutes and twenty seconds to travel from the surface of the sun to our eyes. That’s a mere 8.2 light-minutes. The light seen comes from where it originates inside the sun.

If you and I are going to try to be Sonbeams, we have to originate inside the Son. What a remarkable coincidence! We do! As we see in our passage from the Gospel of John, we see that Jesus says, “I am the Light of the world.” If His Light is in us and we are in His Light … SUNBEAMS!

If you remember singing this song as a child, now you know how to be a Sunbeam for Him; be a Sonbeam, and shine for Him each day. (and if you didn’t sing it as a child, it’s never too late to learn it!) And, in addition to Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam, you can also sing This Little Light of Mine. You will be in the Light and the Light will be in you. And do you know what? IN the Light there is no darkness, so whatever you do will be Light. [Go ahead. Take a moment and read that link.] And, when we live in the Light and the Light lives in us, we live in the Truth so whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

Beloved, darkness is upon this world, and shadows cover us in every direction. Still, the Light is there; the Light of Christ, who is the image of the Living God, is yours to claim. Do not fear or love the darkness. Do you want that darkness to leave? Darkness is merely the absence of light. You are the light of the world, so stand where you can be seen and light the place where you stand.

Share-A-Prayer

Whatever you need, Jesus is it.

We pray for the conversion of sinners everywhere. Help them to nurture and cherish the spark of your Spirit that dwells in every living soul. We pray on behalf of those whose faith is tepid so that, through the fervency of our prayer, their faith will become stronger.

We pray for those who are blinded by the world and do not see the Light of Christ. Open their eyes, Lord. Help them to see.

We pray for all among our families, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and congregations who are suffering from chronic disease including cancer, addiction, diabetes, and constant pain asking that God both grant relief from the disease and hope for a healthy future.

We pray for our leaders, and for leaders of all nations, that they might govern with morality, compassion, integrity, wisdom, and justice so we can all live together in Peace.

Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service, Beloved.

chick

Jesus wants me for a sunbeam
1
Jesus wants me for a sunbeam,
To shine for Him each day;
In every way try to please Him,
At home, at school, at play.

Refrain:
A sunbeam, a sunbeam,
Jesus wants me for a sunbeam;
A sunbeam, a sunbeam,
I’ll be a sunbeam for Him.
2
Jesus wants me to be loving,
And kind to all I see;
Showing how pleasant and happy,
His little one can be.
3
I will ask Jesus to help me
To keep my heart from sin;
Ever reflecting His goodness,
And always shine for Him.
4
I’ll be a sunbeam for Jesus,
I can if I but try;
Serving Him moment by moment,
Then live for Him on high.

1334AFC082313 – Mirror, Mirror on the Shelf

Read it online here, please.

James 1:23-25 – Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:23-25)

Recently our Fr. Gerry delivered a homily that had a striking thought in it; it sounded a bit like this: “One difference between a mirror and a window is that a mirror has a silver lining.” That stuck with me, partly because of that old adage about silver linings, and partly because mirrors are fascinating objects – not so much because of what you see in them but how they work. Instead of seeing through it, you see up to it and what is beyond you is behind you. A window lets you see out from inside (or in from the outside), but in order to see out, one side of the window has to be outside and the other side inside. When you look through a window, what is beyond you is ahead of you but what is behind you is seen only indistinctly. If you hang a window on a wall without a hole in the wall, all you can see is where it’s hung up. If you set a mirror in a space for a window in a wall, the light outside cannot come in and the light inside cannot go out. A good quality mirror gives a relatively true, but not perfect, reflection. A poor mirror gives a poor reflection so it is nearly useless. What are some things that make a mirror useless? Dirt and abrasions on the front, corrosion and scratches in the back, and keeping your eyes closed. Yes, to use a mirror effectively, it has to be clean, intact, and you have to keep your eyes open.

Some people are mirrors. Some people are windows. I know. You’re thinking of “two-way mirrors” like in the Interrogation Rooms on TV. On one side it functions as a mirror, on the other side it functions as a window. For that to work, the inside of the room has to be brightly lit, and the persons on the other side of the glass have to be in an area dimly lit. There are people like that, too. How they appear to you depends on which side you’re standing on and why you’re there. If you are inside the room, you are under scrutiny in the light. If you are outside the room, you are in the shadows evaluating what’s in the light. Even in this we see the wisdom and power of God in Creation. It works the way he intends it to work. From the first time someone looked into still water and saw a face reflected back, the physics of reflection always follow God’s laws of Creation. We would do well not to question that.

God asked Job a question that included a reference to a mirror. Job 37:18 – Can you help God spread out the sky and make it shine like polished brass? Paul compared our knowledge of God to the image we see in an imperfect mirror. I Corinthians 13:12 – Now we see a blurred image in a mirror. Then we will see very clearly. Now my knowledge is incomplete. Then I will have complete knowledge as God has complete knowledge of me. Later, in his second letter to the Corinthians, he said, 2 Corinthians 3:18 – But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass [mirror] the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

The Word of God is the only mirror that can show you the future, your future. The Bible is not a “mirror, mirror on the wall,” but rather a mirror in your hand, transforming you from the inside out by the power of the Word of God. God can see through any mirror of ours, and his word can be a mirror to our lives. We can use that mirror to see what changes we must make to appear more like the image of Christ who is the Don’t just put on makeup; make up with God. Reflect in the Word by reflecting on his Scriptures.

Exact Image of the Father

Hebrews 1:3 –  God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners, hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds; who being the effulgence of his glory, and the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had made purification of sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high …

The late Rev. Adrian Rogers stated in one of his messages that God uses Scripture to show us what we can become if we focus on the Word. He said that the deeper you are in the Word “you become like what you look at.” The entire Word of God is in Christ Jesus and Christ Jesus is in the entire word of God. If you are in the Word, where are you? In Christ Jesus! If the Word of God is in you, then inside you is Christ Jesus, “changed into the same image from glory to glory!” We will see him as he is for we shall be like him.

Mirror, Mirror on the shelf,

Reflect back to me my true self.

Ah, Beloved! Don’t be like the person who looks into the mirror, turns away, and forgets what you saw! Look hard and carefully into the mirror of scripture. Take up that Bible, pull it off the shelf or nightstand or out of the drawer in your desk and dive in!

As for the other rhyme:

“Mirror, Mirror on the wall,

Who’s the Fairest of them all?”

Share-A-Prayer: Praise Reports

For P and P and C – PRAISE GOD! Clean and sober and staying that way! Thank you, MBN, for your prayerful support for these brothers and sisters of ours.

1329AFC071913 – This Little Light

Read it online here, please.

Exodus 34:30 – When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to approach him.

James 1:17 – Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Matthew 17:2 – As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light.

Do you know someone whose face is always filled with the Light of God? We see folks like that from time to time, people whose whole life is so immersed in God that His Glory shines in their appearance and character. Every disposition they have points to God. They are always happy – not to say they don’t get angry or sad or lonely once in a while like the rest of us – but even in those times, the Light is still there to see; it’s just behind a bit of a veil. Moses put on a veil when he spoke with the children of Israel because he was imbued with the Sh’khinah Glory of God –  the manifestation of His actual presence when dwelling in the Temple. (Sh’khinah is an ancient word used to describe the “abiding, dwelling, or habitation” of the physical manifestations of YHWH described in Exodus 24:16, and 40:35; 2 Chronicles 7:1-3.) We have said several times that GOD is LOVE, remember?

LIGHT ≡ GOD ≡ LOVE ≡ TRUTH ≡ WAY ≡ LIFE ≡ FOREVER

James speaks of God as the Father of lights. He is the creator of light, the source of Light, the giver of Light, the Light of the World is Jesus, and the Spirit – the giver of life and love – leads us to the Kingdom of Light. No one else can BE Light; only God ≡ Light. (Remember that the symbol “≡” means “is identical to.”) “In him there is no darkness at all.” In our lives, however, we are often plagued with darkness. Our light is somewhat quenched when we are betrayed, hurt, confused, or tired, or feel unloved, unwanted, and unappreciated. Some folks are still so saturated in the Light of the Spirit that it permeates not only their lives but also the lives of persons around them – even strangers. How can this be? Are they super-Holy, or super-human? How can they be such brilliant conduits of the Light of God?

Ah, beloved. It is so simple. We are created in the image of God, in the image of Light, in the image of Love. We can pray with confidence, “May the constant hope I have in You be the Light that drives away the darkness and draws me and everyone I meet to your perfect integrity, endless mercy, and eternal salvation.” When we turn to the Light, we are filled with the liveliness of Hope and Joy because of God’s Eternal Love. Here is a simple way to remember that:

Almighty
God
Is
Love
Eternal

Be agile (alert, responsive, swift, lively, clearheaded, bright) in your love: Be A.G.I.L.E.

What is it that makes our faces shine? Paying off our bills? The day we get married? When we experience the birth of a child? Perhaps when we attend an ordination or graduation? Yes, of course all of these and many more – any moment of happiness that is overwhelmingly fulfilling the deepest desires of our hearts. Even when darkness comes we know it is “better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.” But sometimes, Beloved, the darkness is so intense that it is unbearable.

These times of intense darkness are sometimes called The Dark Night of the Soul. We can feel that even GOD has drawn the curtains of darkness around us and we are utterly alone. We can feel that when a loved-one betrays us. Darkness clenches our hearts when our child’s rebellion is malicious toward us and injurious for them. Darkness clouds our minds, and sometimes even our faith, when we are confronted with persistent and heinous injustices. And all the while we clutch a tiny, flameless candle unwilling to strike our last match to bring light back to our lives; we shrivel and curse the darkness and sometimes blame God for our circumstances or even question God’s Wisdom in allowing this or that to happen to us. In the grand scheme of things, we’ve gotten a splinter in the heel of our hand and we rail against God and the world because we are being crucified. Not even close, Beloved; not even close. Remember that right after the Transfiguration when Jesus’ face shone like the sun, Peter was so oblivious to what was going on, he wanted to set up a memorial there on the mountain; he wants his mountain top experience to go on “forever.” Jesus says, NO it’s time to leave the mountain. He must pass through the Valley of Death so there can be and will be a Resurrection. It is time for him to carry his cross. It is time for us to carry our crosses – even the ones that fall on us, as expected, in darkness.

I recall a story about a man who heard a sermon about “Take up your cross and follow me.” He was moved by it and decided he should go to Confession. The Priest tells him, “For your penance, pray, and continue to carry your cross with humility & love.” He goes back home, sees his wife cooking in the kitchen, walks over to her, picks her up, and carries her to the recliner in the den. He stands there with her gazing with love into her eyes. She is amazed and says, “Not in 25 years have you carried me like that? What gives?” The husband recounts what the Priest told him, “Father told me to carry my cross.” And she says, “OK. But let me down now so I can carry YOU!” We all have our cross to bear (I am my cross). All of us, at one time or another, think it’s a pity no one else can see how much we are suffering. That is when we truly are in the dark. We have forgotten God knows where we are and what is happening. He speaks to us quietly, in the reassuring calm of a loving father, and says “Remember you have Light.” But we do not hear, or hear imperfectly, because we want the spotlight, not the Light of Love. We too easily forget that it is from these crosses we bear that we find the deepest fulfillment in life – kids, spouses, friends and colleagues, our mission and ministry – the things that are hard but ought to be easy because they are the sources of our Joy. Joy that comes from hard work and sacrifice is the only lasting joy, the JOY that comes through the Cross, especially in the darkness. (See Matthew 27:45, Mark 15:33, and Luke 23:44. Contrast those with John 1:4-13) Our resurrection, like his, comes after our Calvary and death in the dark.

Christ willingly laid down his life; he did not crucify himself. He submitted to the cross. Christ did not willingly descend from the cross; he was lowered down by others. He submitted to the grave. It was God’s will which Christ obeyed by neither lifting himself up on the cross nor descending from the cross on his own. Shall I, then, shall you, shall we attempt to evade our cross? How say you, Beloved? Grace was won for us by Christ’s obedience. What Easter lies beyond your Cross? That is a day when your face – your whole being – will shine like the Son. But for right now, in this present darkness, find the Light of God in you and let your little light shine!

Share-A-Prayer____________

SP – Showing early signs of dementia. Pray for strength in family members, courage as the condition progresses, and the hope of a reversal of this cross.

IL – A child’s opposition to this parent is causing disruptions throughout the family. Pray for repentance, Peace, and restoration of family unity.

KC – Energy, wisdom, and discernment in upcoming decisions about life and work.

SK – Recovering from a mild stroke. Pray for rapid and effective recovery accompanied by a renewed commitment to health, and for faith and strength throughout the family.

Pray for the conversion of sinners everywhere. Ask Jesus to help them to nurture and cherish the spark of His Spirit that dwells in every living soul. We pray on behalf of those whose faith is tepid so that, through the fervency of our prayer, their faith will become stronger.

Pray the God will Bless and protect the lives and works of the gallant men and women who serve in our Armed Forces around the world. For those who are in the greatest danger in combat zones, send your mighty angels to stand with them against our foes.

Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service, Beloved!

Light and Love to all of you!

1328AFC071213 – WAR!!

Read it online here, please.

Ephesians 6:10-12 – Finally, brothers and sisters, draw your strength and might from God. Put on the full armor of God to protect yourselves from the devil and his evil schemes. We’re not waging war against enemies of flesh and blood alone. No, this fight is against tyrants, against authorities, against supernatural powers and demon princes that slither in the darkness of this world, and against wicked spiritual armies that lurk about in heavenly places.

Luke 10:18 – And he said unto them, I beheld Satan fallen as lightning from heaven.

John 12:31 – The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out.

 John 14:30-31 – “I will not speak with you much longer, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me, but I am doing just what the Father commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Get up, let us go from here.”

Matthew 24:6-7 – “You will hear about wars. You will also hear people talking about future wars. Don’t be alarmed. Those things must happen. But the end still isn’t here. Nation will fight against nation. Kingdom will fight against kingdom. People will go hungry. There will be earthquakes in many places.” John 14:27 –Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Is the whole world at war? Here is a map of current ongoing armed conflicts with deaths over 1000/year as of 2012:

Ongoing Conflicts 2012

Dgreco

And here is a map showing the Index of Peace

War is the act of intentionally inflicting harm upon a wide area and large number of people with the intent of gaining victory by causing death or submission to terror. It is often prolonged armed conflict, typically with excessive violence, and aims to subjugate one group (the enemy) to the control of another (initiators). The Apostle Paul informs us, though, that the war we are in is Spiritual Warfare. For this type of warfare he recommends The Whole Armor of God:

1. Belt of Truth
2. Breastplate of Righteousness
3. Gospel of Peace
4. Shield of Faith
5. Helmet of Salvation
6. Sword of the Spirit
7. Spiritual Warfare through Prayer.

Beloved, the hard work is already done by Christ in his life, death, and resurrection. “The Kingdom of God is at hand! The victory is assured, but the battle continues. You must fight! When any of us acquiesce, we endanger others – some of whom have no fight in them at all and some of whom fight with tenacious courage, virtue, and valor. I want to remind you what this fight is about, so I am going to repeat something from December 24, 2010. It is The Battle Plan. If you read it before, refamiliarize with it. If you’ve never read it, please consider reading it carefully. There are a LOT of Bible verses here, so I ask for your patience as you carefully read each one. Individually they might seem familiar, but taken as a whole, they will fortify your mind and heart for the battles you face.

Remember that the Whole Armor of God has nothing that covers the back of you. As long as you face the enemy, God’s got your back. Turn your back on God and the enemy will wound you there!

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = ➡

There are three points I want to make about this idea of Spiritual Warfare.

1. It is real and not enough Earthlings believe that.
2. There are consequences – including eternal death – for losing the battles that comprise the War.
3. Only one Army will win. War is a community effort. Both sides have armies of soldiers fighting each other. That winning community of Warriors will know eternal Life.

1. It is real and not enough Earthlings believe that.

For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10: 3-4 (Amplified Version).

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6: 12

…every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:3-4

2. There are consequences – including eternal separation from the Life of God – for losing the battles that comprise the War.

If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. Matthew 18:8

“Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. Matthew 25:41

“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Matthew 25:46

But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.” Mark 3:29

They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power. 2 Thessalonians 1:9

And don’t forget Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, which were filled with immorality and every kind of sexual perversion. Those cities were destroyed by fire and serve as a warning of the eternal fire of God’s judgment. Jude 1:7

Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so. Hebrews 6:1-3
The wages of the righteous is life, but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death. Proverbs 10:16

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death. Revelation 2:11, and Note

Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years. Revelation 20:6

Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Revelation 20:14, and

“But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death. “Revelation 21:8 and Note

Whether you believe that Hell is a burning lake of fire or “merely” the knowledge that your spirit and resurrected body are totally and eternally cut off from God, the fact remains that Only Christ has the power of Redemption and all who are without Christ cannot be and will not be redeemed.

3. Only one Army will win. War is a community effort

16 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. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God. John 3:16-21

I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. Luke 10:19

No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me, “declares the LORD. Isaiah 54:17

On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The LORD has spoken. Isaiah 25:7-8

Should I ransom them from the grave? Should I redeem them from death? O death, bring on your terrors! O grave, bring on your plagues! For I will not take pity on them. Hosea (13:14)

1 Corinthians 15 Read this entire chapter for some amazing insights. Check out the notes as you come across them.

Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. Revelation 21:1-7 Read the whole passage.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

When this …

… became this, the victory was assured.

But the war rages on, and if we, together, put on The Whole Armor of God, we will share in His Victory for all eternity.

Some recent prayer requests:

ML: Young, beautiful, single, pregnant. Pray for discernment as she moves forward in her pregnancy.

TO: Recent bicycle crash will require some serious rest while injuries heal. Pray for financial protection during that period.

AE and family: Adjusting to new surroundings has left AE looking for meaning. Pray for AE’s spiritual solidarity in faith matters, and that the family will be spared from all distress in their new location.

G&C: Heroic faith in the face of chronic illness means they still trust in God and know that everything will work out for them. Pray for continued remission without any complications from the medications.

Please remember all the folks who have suffered loss of life, liberty, and/or property in the recent natural disasters and political upheavals. Also take a moment to pray for the orphaned and widowed, the impoverished and starving, and all who live in oppression because of the evil of others who side with our enemy, the initiator of this war.

Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service, Beloved.