A FRIEND RECENTLY ASKED ME: HOW GOES THE WAR?
HIS WORDS CAUGHT ME BY SURPRISE
AFTERALL - I LIVE IN AMERICA - THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE BRAVE
WAR IS A TERM GENERALLY RESERVED THOSE DISTANT COUNTRIES ON OTHER CONTINENTS LIKE GERMANY, GREAT BRITAIN, CROATIA, IRAQ
BUT I KNEW THIS WASN'T WHAT MY FRIEND WAS REFERRING TO
HE WAS REFERRING TO ANOTHER WAR
A WAR WHICH IS JUST AS REAL AS WORLD WAR 2, VIETNAM, OR THE GULF WAR
IN FACT - THIS WAR HAS BEEN RAGING SINCE MAN WAS CREATED
IT'S A WAR AGAINST AN INVISIBLE ENEMY
WHICH PRODUCES VERY VISIBLE CASUALTIES
AND IT'S TAKING PLACE RIGHT HERE IN OUR HOMELAND
RIGHT HERE IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY
IT'S THE ONGOING WAR BETWEEN THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE KINGDOM OF DARKNESS
JUST AS WE CAN NEVER BE TOO PREPARED WHEN IT COMES TO RAISING CHILDREN
WE CAN'T BE TOO PREPARED WHEN IT COMES TO WARFARE
ESPECIALLY SPIRITUAL WARFARE
IF TRAINING IS NECESSARY FOR FIGHTING HUMAN WARS
HOW MUCH MORE IS IT NECESSARY IN FIGHTING AGAINST THE KINGDOM OF DARKNESS
IF WE ARE GOING TO SUCCESSFULLY FIGHT THIS SPIRITUAL WAR WE ARE IN
W WILL HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE TACTICS OF OUR ENEMY AND KNOW HOW TO EQUIP OURSELVES AND USE THE WEAPONS GOD SUPPLIES US WITH
IN HIS LETTER TO THOSE LIVING IN EPHESUS
THE APOSTLE PAUL DEBRIEFS US CONCERNING OUR ENEMY AND OUR WEAPONS
Eph 6:10-18
IN THIS PASSAGE
PAUL'S IDENTIFIES OUR ENEMY AND OUR WEAPONS
NOTICE THAT MOST OF OUR WEAPONS ARE DEFENSIVE WEAPONS
THE BELT OF TRUTH,
THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
THE SHIELD OF FAITH,
THE HELMET OF SALVATION,
WITH OUR ONLY OFFENSIVE WEAPONS BEING THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT - WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD
AND PRAYER
ALL OF THESE WEAPONS PAUL MENTIONS WOULD HAVE BEEN FAMILIAR TO THOSE PAUL WAS ORIGINALLY WRITING TO
THEY COMPRISED THE MILITARY ARMOR WORN BY SOLDIERS PREPARING FOR BATTLE
BEFORE THE CONSCIENTIOUS SOLDIER WOULD GO INTO BATTLE
HE WOULD SHARPEN HIS SWORD AND CHECK HIS ARMOR FOR CHINKS
CHINKS ARE PLACES IN THE ARMOR WHICH HAVE BECOME DAMAGED BECAUSE OF REPEATED ATTACKS OF PAST BATTLES
AND IF NOT REPAIRED - MIGHT NOT HOLD UP IN THE NEXT BATTLE
LEAVING THE SOLDIER VULNERABLE AND UNGUARDED
WHY DOES PAUL USE COMBAT TERMINOLOGY?
BECAUSE THE SAME THING WHICH IS TRUE OF HUMAN BATTLES IS TRUE OF THIS SPIRITUAL BATTLE WE FIGHT
SOMEONE HAS SAID: THE BEST DEFENSE IS A GOOD OFFENSE
THE OFFENSIVE WEAPONS GOD GIVES US ARE HIS WORD AND PRAYER
THREE TIMES - WHEN JESUS IS TEMPTED BY SATAN IN THE WILDERNESS
HE SAYS: IT IS WRITTEN
AND USES GOD WORD TO SILENCE SATAN'S TEMPTATIONS
DAVID SAID IN PSALMS: THY WORD HAVE I HIDDEN IN MY HEART, THAT I MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST THEE
GOD'S WORD = WHEN ACCOMPANIED WITH PRAYER - GIVE US ALL THE WISDOM AND OFFENSE WE NEED TO SUCCESSFULLY FIGHT OUR ENEMY
BUT - LIKE THE WARRIORS PAUL IS REFERRING TO
WE ALSO NEED A STRONG DEFENSE
WE NEED GOD'S ARMOR
AND BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN IN THIS BATTLE FOR AWHILE
WE NEED TO CONSTANTLY CHECK THIS ARMOR FOR CHINKS
BECAUSE IF ANYONE IS A MASTER AT EXPLOITING THE WEAKNESSES OF HIS ENEMY
SATAN IS
HE IS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE RULES OF WARFARE SET FORTH BY THE GENEVA
CONVENTION
HE IS THE ULTIMATE CHEAP SHOT ARTIST
HE GOES AROUND LIKE A ROARING LION SEEKING SOMEONE TO DEVOUR
LOOKING FOR THE SMALLEST IN OUR ARMOR -
AND HITTING US FULL FORCE IN OUR VULNERABLE PLACES
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT HE WHO IS IN US IS STRONGER THAN OUR ENEMY
THE BAD NEWS IS THAT UNLESS WE UNDERSTAND OUR ENEMY AND HOW TO USE OUR WEAPONS
WE DON'T STAND A CHANCE IN THIS WAR
IN THE PAST FEW YEARS - I'VE HAD SEVERAL DEAR FRIENDS BECOME CASUALTIES OF THIS WAR WE ARE IN
NOT AS A RESULT OF THEIR DESIGN OR PURPOSE
BUT BECAUSE OF NEGLECT
YOU SEE, THEY NEGLECTED GOD'S WORD
THEIR SWORDS BECAME DULL AND THERE HEARTS HARD
AND BECAUSE OF THE REPEATED BLOWS OF THE ENEMY
THEIR ARMOR BECAME WEAK AND EVENTUALLY LOST IT'S ABILITY TO DEFLECT THE ATTACKS OF SATAN
AND TODAY - THESE FRIENDS ARE BEING HELD HOSTAGE BY SATAN
HAVING ABANDONING THEIR FAITH AND THEIR GOD
FROM THEM - I'VE LEARNED THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING MY SWORD SHAPE
AND CHECKING MY ARMOR FOR CHINKS
WHAT ARE SOME CHINKS WE NEED TO BE LOOKING FOR?
1. CHINKS IN OUR BELIEFS
PAUL SAYS IN 2 CORINTHIAN 2:11 - THAT WE NOT TO BE UNAWARE OF THE DEVILS SCHEMES
IN Eph 6:11, HE SAYS:
11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
(NIV)
WHAT ARE THE DEVILS SCHEMES?
THEY ARE HIS WAR TACTICS
HIS DESIGNS AND PLANS FOR DESTROYING US
HIS ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO KEEP US FROM GOD
HE KNOWS HE'S CONDEMNED AND HIS DAYS ARE NUMBERED
AND IN HIS BITTERNESS - HE WANTS TO TAKE AS MANY PEOPLE WITH HIM AS HE CAN
HIS TITLE DEFINES ONE OF HIS MAIN WEAPONS:
HE'S THE FATHER OF LIES
SATAN LOVES TO LIE TO US AND TRY TO KEEP US CONFUSED AND OFF BALANCE
KEEPING US FROM SERVING GOD
HIS LIES ARE CONSTANTLY HITTING OUR ARMOR
CONSTANTLY QUESTIONING GOD'S TRUTH
HE ASKED EVE IN THE GARDEN - DID GOD SAY THAT YOU CAN'T EAT FROM THE FRUIT OF THE GARDEN?
IMPLIED IN HIS QUESTION WAS ANOTHER QUESTION: SURELY GOD DIDN'T MEAN WHAT YOU THINK HE MEANT
THE PROBLEM IS - IF WE LISTEN TOO LONG TO HIS LIES - AND DON'T SHARPEN OUR SWORD THROUGH INTERNALIZING GOD'S WORD AND USE IT TO FIGHT OFF HIS ATTACKS
HIS LIES CAN BEGIN TO SOUND LOGICAL AND RATIONAL
AND BEFORE LONG - IF WE HAVE CHINKS IN OUR ARMOR
HIS RATIONALE BECOMES OUR LICENSE
TO SIN
IN Jude, WE READ ABOUT THOSE WHO CHANGE THE GRACE OF GOD INTO A LICENSE FOR IMMORALITY
Gal 5:13
13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.
(NIV)
ONE OF THE CHINKS IN THIS AREA OF OUR BELIEFS HAS TO DO WITH THE ONGOING STRUGGLE WE ALL FACE
AS WE ATTEMPT TO FIND AND MAINTAIN THE BALANCE BETWEEN LIBERTY AND LEGALISM
A. UNBRIDLED LIBERTY
CALL IT GREASY GRACE - CALL IT WHOLESALING THE GOSPEL
WHAT IT AMOUNTS TO IS SERVING GOD ACCORDING TO OUR TERMS AND NOT HIS
I THINK - FOR THE MOST PART - GRACE WITHOUT BOUNDARIES IS A REACTION TO THE OTHER LY EXTREME - RIGID LEGALISM
MY FRIEND JOHN - NOT HIS REAL NAME - IS ONE OF MY FRIENDS WHO TURNED AWAY FROM GOD
JOHN WAS RAISED IN A HARSH - LEGALISTIC HOME
AND BECAME A REACTION TO HIS UPBRINGING
HE CAME TO BELIEVE THAT HIS ACTIONS REALLY DIDN'T MATTER MUCH -
HIS RATIONALE WAS THAT GOD IS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT WHO HE WAS BECOMING THAT WHAT HE IS DOING
I'VE ASKED JOHN - HOW DO YOU SEPARATE WHO YOU ARE FROM WHAT YOU DO?
NOW - BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO GET UP AND LEAVE
LET ME ASSURE YOU - THAT I TOO BELIEVE THAT GOD IS MORE CONCERNED WITH WHO I AM BECOMING THAT WITH WHAT I AM DOING
BY THIS - I MEAN THAT GOD IS MORE CONCERNED WITH MY MOTIVATION THAN WITH THE ACTIONS THEY PRODUCE
BUT DIDN'T JESUS TELL US THAT OUR ACTIONS ARE PRODUCED BY OUR MOTIVATIONS
FOR BY THEIR FRUIT WE SHALL KNOW THEM
A GOOD TREE PRODUCES GOOD FRUIT - A BAD TREE BAD FRUIT
IF WHAT I AM DOING IS NOT IN LINE WITH GOD'S WILL FOR MY LIFE
I HAVE A HEART PROBLEM
BECAUSE OUT OF MY HEART COMES MY ACTIONS
SO TO DISMISS MY ACTIONS AS UNIMPORTANT TO GOD
IS TO MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT'S REALLY IN ME
AND ALLOW GOD TO CHANGE ME
MY FRIEND MISSED ALL THE WARNING SIGNALS TELLING HIM TROUBLE WAS BREWING IN HIS HEART
AND THOUGH HE OUTWARDLY LOOKED FREE
INWARDLY - HIS SIN WAS MOUNTING AND HIS GUILT WAS SEPARATING HIM FROM GOD
TODAY - SADLY - JOHN LIVES IN A DITCH - THE ONE JESUS WARNED US ABOUT WHEN THE BLIND FOLLOW THE BLIND
THE FIRST CHINK WE NEED TO CHECK FOR CONCERNS THE LIBERTY WE HAVE WITH OUR FREEDOM IN CHRIST
WE'VE BEEN LIBERATED TO SERVE GOD WITH A CLEAR CONSCIOUS
TO MISUSE THIS LIBERTY BRINGS US UNDER CONDEMNATION AND GUILT
AND NONE OF US CAN SERVE GOD LONG TERM WITH THOSE KIND OF CHINKS IN OUR ARMOR
B. RIGID LEGALISM
ON THE OTHER EXTREME IN THIS AREA OF TRUTH
WE FIND RIGID LEGALISM
THIS CAN BE A BIG CHINK - ESPECIALLY FOR NEW CHRISTIANS
TO THOSE LIVING IN GALATIA, PAUL ASKS:
Gal 3:1-3
1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.
2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?
3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?
(NIV)
PAUL'S WRITE TO THOSE WHO FEEL THAT WHAT THEY INITIALLY RECEIVED AS A RESULT OF GOD'S GRACE - MUST NOW BE MAINTAINED BY DOING CERTAIN GOOD WORKS
IF WE ARE WORKING FOR OUR SALVATION -
IT'S NOT A GIFT NOR IS IT THE RESULT OF GOD'S GRACE
YOU WILL RECOGNIZE THOSE CAUGHT UP IN LEGALISM
THEY ARE THE SELF APPOINTED MORAL POLICE
THEY ARE QUICK TO JUDGE - AND SLOW TO FORGIVE
THEY PRIDE THEMSELVES ON CALLING IT LIKE IT IS
AND USUALLY COME ACROSS WITH ALL THE FINESSE OF A BULL IN A CHINA SHOP
PROBABLY THE BEST ADVICE I'VE HEARD CONCERNING THOSE WHO ARE OVERLY CONCERNED WITH POLICING THE MORAL CLIMATE OF OTHERS LIVES CAME FROM ONE OF MY PROFESSORS IN BIBLE COLLEGE
DR HAMMOND SAID: I KEEP A REIGN ON MYSELF AND A LOOSE REIGN ON EVERYONE ELSE
THIS IS GREAT ADVICE - ESPECIALLY WHEN WE REALIZE THAT WE WILL BE JUDGED ACCORDING TO HOW WE HAVE JUDGED OTHERS
LEGALISM IS A CHINK IN OUR ARMOR -
ALLOWING US TO BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE ATTACKS OF THE ENEMY
THE PROBLEM WITH PLACING OURSELVES IN THE JUDGEMENT SEAT
IS THAT WE DETHRONE GOD
THAT'S HIS SEAT
IT'S RESERVED FOR HIM
HE IS THE JUDGE
JUDGEMENT PRODUCES BITTERNESS
AND IT'S A CHINK THAT ALLOWS THE ENEMY TO SOW SEEDS OF DISCORD AND DISILLUSIONMENT IN THE LIVES OF WELL MEANING CHRISTIANS
SO THE FIRST CHINK - FOUND IN THE AREA OF TRUTH - OCCURS WHEN WE GRAVITATE TO ONE OF TWO EXTREMES - UNBRIDLED LIBERTY AND RIGID LEGALISM
THE SECOND CHINK IN OUR ARMOR HAS TO DO WITH OUR FOCUS
I. WHAT WE SEE
THE THIRD AREA WHERE I HAVE SEEN CHRISTIANS TURN BACK FROM GOD CONCERNS WHAT WE SEE
I'M SURE WE ALL KNOW THOSE WHO PROFESS TO BE CHRISTIANS - BUT LIVE LIVES WHICH CONTRADICT THEIR STATED FAITH
WE GENERALLY CALL SUCH PEOPLE HYPOCRITES
BUT I THINK THEY ARE REALLY PHONIES
WHAT IS A HYPOCRITE?
A HYPOCRITE - IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
IS AN ACTOR OR WHO PERFORMS ON STAGE
IN THE FIRST CENTURY THEATRES - THE ACTORS AND ES WOULD COMMONLY HOLD MASKS UP TO THEIR FACE
LIKE OUR MODERN HALLOWEEN MASKS
COVERING THEIR TRUE IDENTITY
THEN - WHEN THE SCENE CHANGED - THEY WOULD SIMPLY DON ANOTHER MASK - AND PLAY A DIFFERENT ROLE
THIS IS NOT UNLIKE WHEN WE DO THINGS - WHICH CONTRADICT OUR CONVICTIONS
PAIL SAYS - WHY DO I DO THE THINGS I DON'T WANT TO DO
BUT THE THINGS I WANT TO DO, THESE THINGS I DO NOT DO
PAUL IS DESCRIBING HYPOCRISY IN THIS VERSE
IF I BELIEVE THAT SIN IS CONTRARY TO GOD'S WILL FOR MY LIFE
AND YET I SIN ANYWAY
THE DISTANCE BETWEEN MY CONVICTIONS AND MY PRACTICE IS CALLED HYPOCRISY
SO LET'S FACE IT - TO SOME DEGREE - BECAUSE WE ALL SIN - WE ARE ALL HYPOCRITES
AND GOD HELP US TO NARROW THE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN OUR CONVICTIONS AND OUR ACTIONS
HYPOCRISY IS ONE THING
BUT THERE IS SOMETHING WORSE THAN HYPOCRISY
IT'S PHONINESS
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A HYPOCRITE AND A PHONY IS MOTIVATION
IT'S POSSIBLE THAT ALL OF US ACT AS HYPOCRITES FROM TIME TO TIME - LIVING BELOW THE LEVEL OF OUR CONVICTIONS
BUT HOPEFULLY NONE OF US ARE PHONIES
PHONIES ARE THOSE WHO LIVE DECEITFUL LIVES
MUCH MORE CONCERNED WITH WHO OTHERS THINK THEY ARE THAN WHO THEY REALLY ARE
SOMETIMES - WE HEAR ABOUT PHONIES IN MINISTRY
LIKE LEACHES - DRAINING WHATEVER THEY CAN FROM GOD'S PEOPLE
IF YOU SAW THE SHOW - LEAP OF FAITH WITH STEVE MARTIN - YOU SAW A PHONY IN ACTION
SOMEONE PRETENDING TO BE OUTWARDLY SOMETHING THEY WERE NOT INWARDLY
BRAD - HAS SEEN ONE TO MANY PHONIES IN HIS DAY
PEOPLE PEDDLING THEIR RELIGION - AS A JOB - NOT AN OFFICE ORDAINED BY GOD
AS A YOUNG CHRISTIAN - I KNEW A PHONY - ONE WHO CALLED HIMSELF A CHRISTIAN
BUT LIVED QUITE DIFFERENTLY
I REMEMBER ASKING MY MOTHER IN LAW - WHY SOMEONE WOULD DEFAME THE LORD BY CALLING THEMSELVES A CHRISTIAN ALL THE WHILE LIVING FOR THE DEVIL?
HER ADVICE - GIVEN TO THIS NEW CHRISTIAN - HAS STUCK WITH ME
SHE SAID: TIM, PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS LET YOU DOWN
THEY WILL NEVER LIVE UP TO YOUR EXPECTATIONS FOR THEM
THAT'S WHY WE MUST LEARN TO KEEP OUR EYES ON CHRIST
CHRIST IS THE ONLY ONE WHO WILL NEVER FAIL US
HE WILL NEVER DISAPPOINT US WITH HIS ACTIONS
THE FACT THAT SOME USE HIS NAME FOR PERSONAL GAIN SHOULD NOT CAUSE US TO FORGET THAT WE USE HIS NAME BECAUSE GOD HAS GIVEN IT TO US
WE ARE HIS CHILDREN - HE'S ADOPTED US AS SONS AND DAUGHTERS
AND GIVEN US THE NAME OF HIS SON
HIS NAME HAS BECOME OUR NAME
NOT ONLY HAS HE GIVEN US HIS NAME
BUT HE'S GOING TO GIVE US A NICKNAME
A PERSONAL NAME KNOWN ONLY BETWEEN US AND HIM
Rev 2:17
17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.
(NIV)
WE MUST STRIVE TO NEVER DEFAME THE NAME OF THE LORD - BECAUSE IT'S OUR NAME
PAUL TELLS US THAT WE ARE TO STRIVE TO LIVE LIVES WORTHY OF OUR CALLING
AND WHEN WE SEE OTHERS LIVING THEIR LIVES IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY BRING SHAME TO HIS NAME
WE MUST REMEMBER - GOD IS THE JUDGE - HE WILL AVENGE HIS NAME
WE DON'T HAVE TO
ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS KEEP OUR EYES FOCUSED ON HIM - AND LIVE OUR LIVES SERVING HIM ALL THE DAYS HE GIVES US
HE WILL TAKE CARE OF THE REST
II. WHAT WE EXPECT
JIM - IS THE PROVERBIAL ROLLING STONE
HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS BASED ON WHAT HE RECEIVES FROM GOD
JIM WAS ALWAYS RUNNING HERE AND THERE - LOOKING FOR THE NEXT SPIRITUAL FIX
HE TENDED TO FOLLOW THE MOST SENSATIONAL - EMOTIONAL - AND SOMETIMES FRINGE PREACHERS HE COULD FIND
JIM POSSESSES A HYPERACTIVE CURIOSITY
AND IT EVENTUALLY LED TO HIS DOWNFALL
AS HIS UNFILLED EXPECTATION LED HIM DOWN A END ROAD -
TODAY - JIM SITS AT THE END OF THIS ROAD
DISILLUSIONED AND DISTRAUGHT
SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE - JIM CAME TO BELIEVE THAT GOD WAS MORE REAL WHEN HE WAS VISIBLE PRESENT
SO JIM LEARNED TO FOLLOW SIGNS AND WONDERS
IN SOME REGARDS - JIM WAS LIKE A HARD CORE ADDICT -
ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A HIGHER HIGH
HE LIVED FOR THE MOUNTAIN TOP EXPERIENCES
BUT D THE VALLEYS - THOSE TWEENER DAYS - WHICH FALL BETWEEN THE MOUNTAIN TOPS
THOSE AVERAGE - NORMAL DAYS DROVE JIM CRAZY
I SAW AN INTERVIEW WITH ONE WHO RESEMBLED JIM
ON A DIFFERENT LEVEL
THE INTERVIEW WAS WITH DENNIS RODMAN
THE CONTROVERSIAL RAINBOW HAIRED CENTER FOR THE CHICAGO BULLS BASKETBALL TEAM
I'M NOT A RODMAN FAN - TO SAY THE LEAST
BUT I HEARD HIM IN AN INTERVIEW WHICH REMINDED ME OF JIM
THE INTERVIEW CAME DURING THIS YEARS CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES BETWEEN THE BULLS AND THE UTAH JAZZ
DENNIS SAID: WE'D BETTER END THIS SERIES AT HOME (IN CHICAGO), BECAUSE I CAN'T STAND SALT LAKE CITY
DURING THE LAST SERIES WE PLAYED THERE
- I HAD TO HOP A JET TO LAS VEGAS SO I COULD FIND SOME NIGHTLIFE - BECAUSE THERE IS NONE IN UTAH
NOW THAT'S ANTSY!
THAT'S DISCONTENTMENT TO THE MAX
BUT THAT'S MY FRIEND JIM
HE WAS TOO FIGEDY TO EVERY REALLY GET GROUNDED IN A LOCAL CHURCH FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME
THERE WAS NEVER ENOUGH EXCITEMENT
IN FACT - HE ONCE TOLD ME - THAT THERE WASN'T ONE CHURCH IN CRESCENT CITY THAT HAD THE SPIRIT OF GOD IN IT
I WANTED TO TELL JIM -
IF GOD'S SPIRIT WAS THERE - HE SURELY LEFT WHEN YOU SHOWED UP - BUT I DIDN'T
FOLKS - DO WE SERVE GOD OR DO WE EXPECT HIM TO SERVE US?
DOES MY COMMITMENT TO GOD DEPEND ON HIS VISIBLE DISPLAYS OF POWER?
OR IS IT BASED IN THE TRUTH OF HIS WORD
NOW DON'T MISUNDERSTAND ME
I LOVE THOSE TIMES WHEN GOD VISITS US WITH DISPLAYS OF POWER
AS MANIFESTATIONS OF HIS SPIRIT FLOW OUT OF HIS PEOPLE
AND WE WILL CONTEND FOR THE AUTHENTIC POWER OF GOD BEING RELEASED IN OUR LIVES AND IN OUR CHURCH SERVICES
BUT WE WILL NEVER SINCE THE NEED TO MANIPULATE OR MANUFACTURE GOD'S POWER
I'VE BEEN IN CHURCHES WHICH LOOKED MORE LIKE BIG TIME WRESTLING THAN AN OUTPOURING OF GOD'S SPIRIT
WE DON'T HAVE TO HELP GOD BY CHOREOGRAPHING DISPLAYS OF SPIRITUAL POWER
WE SIMPLY RELEASE HIM TO MOVE THROUGH US
WHEN OUR GATHERINGS BECOME CENTERED AROUND WHAT WE RECEIVE FROM GOD - RATHER THAN WHAT WE BRING TO GOD
WE HAVE A SERIOUS CHINK IN OUR ARMOR -
AND ARE FOLLOWING A ROAD HEADED FOR UNFILLED EXPECTATIONS
SO LET'S EXAMINE OUR EXPECTATIONS - SO WE DON'T END UP WHERE JIM IS
WITH OUR BACKS TURNED TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER
THE SECOND CHINK IN OUR ARMOR WHICH WE NEED TO WATCH FOR HAS TO DO WITH OUR EXPECTATIONS
SO LET'S CHECK OUR ARMOR FOR CHINKS IN IT
LET'S CONTINUALLY EXAMINE OUR BELIEFS TO MAINTAIN A BALANCES SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE EXTREMES OF LEGALISM AND UNRESTRICTED LICENSE
LET'S EXAMINE OUR EXPECTATIONS - AND REMIND OURSELVES THAT OUR CALL IS TO SERVE GOD - NOT FOR HIM TO SERVE US
AND FINALLY LET'S KEEP OUR FOCUS ONE JESUS - AND NOT ALLOW HYPOCRITES OR PHONIES TO DETRACT US IN OUR PURSUIT OF LIVING RIGHTEOUS, GODLY LIVES
LET'S PRAY
