The Word On The Womb

As we celebrate God’s creative work in the womb this weekend, we affirm this truth: Since everyone is made in the image of God, everyone is important to God. God has a special place in his heart for children. This week I was deeply saddened and sickened even, to hear about an “After School Satan Club” at an elementary school in Moline. This school is one block from our house and is where the children in our neighborhood attend. Whatever else we can say about this, it must be stated clearly that Satan is real, he is liar, a thief, and a murderer…and he targets children who are fearfully and wonderfully made.

As I considered how best to respond, on Wednesday I posted a sermon excerpt on Facebook about what the Bible says about Satan and his demons and was led to type out a prayer I posted and prayed on Moody Radio Thursday morning. Later that day, I did a 30-minute Facebook Live video which is archived on the Edgewood page and my personal page.

This story is all over social media and has been covered by local media. It has also appeared in the Daily Mail out of the UK, USA Today, Newsweek, and the New York Post. On Friday night, Tucker Carlson interviewed the national leader of the Satanic Temple about why the Satan Club is operating in Moline.

About an hour after I posted the prayer, this same guy posted a comment on my wall which said, “Hail Satan!” I immediately deleted it. Brothers and sisters, because we are in a spiritual battle, I invite you to pray this prayer with me now.

Almighty God, we thank you that you are the victor and though Satan is a liar, a thief, and a murderer, he is a vanquished foe. We affirm that Jesus has defeated death, depravity, and the devil through His substitutionary death on the cross and glorious resurrection from the dead.

We come before you today on behalf of our community and ask for protection for precious students made in your image. May the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ continue to be spread through groups like Good News Clubs and Quest Clubs in our elementary schools, along with Young Life and Fellowship of Christian Athletes in our high schools.

Stir within parents and grandparents to live for you so they can imprint your Word on the hearts of the next generation. May you use this situation to alert parents to the reality of evil so they will introduce their kids to the life-changing message of the gospel. Continue to equip children’s ministry directors and youth pastors in our churches as they seek to evangelize and equip students. We ask that those teachers, staff, and administrators who are followers of Christ will continue to represent you well, using their positions as platforms for ministry.

We pray against the devil and his demons, recognizing that the real battle in this present darkness is against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Remind us to take up the spiritual armor you have provided for us so we can withstand evil by standing firm in Christ.

We pray specifically that parents will not send their children to the “After School Satan Club” and that this group will not gain any traction in our schools.

Awaken us Lord to the need for revival and mobilize your followers to live on mission for your glory and for the good of our community. We pray this in the mighty, matchless name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Write this down: You can either believe what the Bible teaches, and swim against the current of our culture; or you can follow the crowds and be at odds with God.

Perhaps you’ve heard of the new law in Canada which deals with “conversion therapy.” Bible-preaching pastors in Canada are concerned this law could adversely affect churches which teach a biblical understanding of sexuality. In unity and solidarity with these pastors, I, along with many pastors from the United States, are standing with Canadian Christians this weekend.

Here’s part of a statement prepared by the Canadian Religious Freedom Summit which was read by pastors across Canada last Sunday.

“Along with church leaders of like conviction across Canada, we stand before you today to pledge that we are committed to obeying God above all others (Acts 5:29). With the Lord’s help, we will continue to proclaim the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27) without fear or favour.

“This includes God’s life-giving design for human beings, made in His image, male and female (Genesis 1:27), with sexual intimacy reserved for the covenantal union of a man and a woman (Genesis 2:24). We will continue to issue the call to repent of all kinds of sin and to believe the gospel, knowing that we all have sinned (Romans 3:23), and that salvation through Jesus is the one true hope for the world (Acts 4:12).”