Satan does exist. The state of our broken society testifies to his reality. Those who ignore him do so at their own peril. This is especially true of Christians since we are at war with him. Spiritual warfare is personal. You need to take it that way. Satan crafts specific attacks just for you. Though he cannot steal your spirit from God, he can and does harass you physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Every ambush and frontal attack is meant to defeat your witness so you can’t live a victorious life.

Our enemy is not omniscient but he is crafty. He observes our strong and weak points to determine the best areas for attack. As soon as we become comfortable and let down our guard, the Devil springs a trap. Among his most deceptive tactics is hiding behind familiar faces in order to misguide our fury. For example, he may tempt a husband to make an unwise financial decision that angers the wife and leaves her feeling insecure. But the husband is not her enemy. He needs her love and forgiveness. The enemy is always Satan and his legion of demons.

The first rule of warfare is to know one’s enemy and thanks to Scripture, we can. The Bible also contains an important assurance: “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

The combined forces of hell cannot equal the supernatural power of a single believer. We have Christ living within us. The same Christ who was triumphant on the cross and who we remember this Ash Wednesday. Through Him, we can conquer Satan and win our unseen battles.

Hold your ground. Watch your back.

Michael

Acts 5:17-42 (GW)
¹⁷ The chief priest and the whole party of the Sadducees who were with him were extremely jealous. So they took action
¹⁸ by arresting the apostles and putting them in the city jail.
¹⁹ But at night an angel from the Lord opened the doors to their cell and led them out of the prison.
²⁰ The angel told them, “Stand in the temple courtyard, and tell the people everything about life {in Christ}.”

As we begin Lent, imagine receiving a beating as a warning to stop talking about Jesus. Would you quit? Would you go underground, secretly sharing His salvation with others? Or would you do as the disciples did: rejoice that you were considered worthy to suffer shame for Jesus’ sake and then go right back to your public ministry? Yesterday, I talked about passionate obedience. The Lord’s disciples experienced submission. These men were not compelled by fear or the hope of reward—they faced shame, physical pain, and death because they loved Christ too much to stay quiet!

People who receive salvation and then sit back, content that their name is in the Lamb’s Book of Life, have missed the point of discipleship. Salvation is not just for our benefit; the Lord’s grace also positions us to be used for His glory. He intends to live through us, expressing His life-changing principles so that we can impact others. The only hindrance is the restriction we set on ourselves.

Life might seem easier if we choose when to obey God, but we’ll never be satisfied. Instead, we will always wonder why the Lord does not use us more or bless us better. Passionate obedience begins with commitment. Our dedication may at first be based on the promised reward, which is acceptable because blessing is part of obedience. But as we mature and experience increasingly difficult challenges to our submission, our devotion also grows until we, too, can rejoice when we suffer for His name. Don’t be afraid to suffer for Christ? If doing the right thing brings a good conscience before God, it is worth it. In more ways than you can imagine.

Michael

A passion to obey God does not suddenly appear in the believer’s life. Salvation sparks love and a desire to please Him, but a passionate fire is built slowly from the timbers of spiritual knowledge, faith, and devotion.

Obedience usually begins with a fear of the consequences of disobeying. Until believers build a firm foundation of biblical knowledge and trust that offers better reasons to follow God, we are kept safe by the desire to avoid harsh repercussions. Thankfully, as we mature and gain greater scriptural wisdom, fear is replaced by recognition of God’s sovereignty and a commitment to submit to His wisdom.

Following God’s will shifts our focus from disobedience’s consequences to obedience’s blessings. Once we taste the best He has to offer, we want to keep good flowing into our lives. Obedience and God’s best are natural partners—good derives from following divine commands, while suffering results when we stubbornly choose our own way. This irrevocable principle plays out in the Bible as well as in day-to-day life. Every act of obedience is rewarded—either on earth or in heaven. As we become more aware of how blessing follows obedience, we realize that complying with the Lord’s will is the only wise choice.

As our faith grows, we will learn that blessing’s motivational power is not as strong as that of devotion. All the promised blessing in the world cannot make a believer follow God into some frightening places. But love for our Father compels us toward passionate obedience, no matter what is at stake.

Let love be your passion today.  See how far it takes you.

Michael

Last week, we revisited Christ's promise to be our Good Shepherd.  It is an ancient promise for modern days.

Psalm 23 depicts Jesus Christ as the Great Shepherd living for His sheep. It also gives us two assurances. First, Jesus shepherds us throughout each day. Dr. Harry Ironside used to say that goodness and mercy are the two sheepdogs that help keep the sheep where they belong. We live our lives one day at a time, because God built the universe to run one day at a time. There must be a time for labor and a time for rest. When we try to live two or three days at a time, we cannot enjoy today. Eventually, this catches up with us physically, emotionally and spiritually. We need to remember that "as thy days, so shall thy strength be" (Deut. 33:25).

As His sheep, we can begin each day with confidence. John 10 tells us that Jesus goes before His sheep. We cannot walk into any experience where Jesus has not first been. Though we may not know or understand what is taking place around us, we will fear no evil because we are close to the Shepherd. His rod takes care of the enemies; His staff takes care of the sheep (discipline and guidance). We can stay close to the Shepherd through His Word.

Our second assurance is that Jesus shepherds us all the days of our lives. This psalm is a summary of the Christian life. Verses 1 and 2 speak of childhood. Children need protection and provision. God loves and watches over them. Verse 3 speaks of youth. Teenagers need direction and discipline. The Great Shepherd finds these wandering youth and brings them back. Verses 4 and 5 talk about the middle years. These are not easy years, when the children are growing up and there are bills to pay. Verse 6 speaks of the mature years.

We don't understand why some things happen. But one day we'll realize that everything is under God's goodness and mercy. Then we'll look ahead and see His house.

What are your needs today? Stay close to the Shepherd by reading the Word. Resolve to follow His leading.

Have a good weekend.  See you Sunday.  Michael

Imagine someone saying, “I’m so proud of my humility!” That reminds me of the joke about a leader who was given an award for his humility. Because he accepted the award, he had to give it back.

David seemed to be making the same error when he said, “My heart is not haughty” (Ps. 131:1). When we understand the text, however, we know that he wasn’t boasting about his humility. Rather, in response to the accusation of treason made by Saul’s men, David stated he didn’t consider himself so important nor think of himself so highly as to have “lofty” eyes.

Instead, David learned to be like a “weaned child” in the Lord’s arms (v.2). Like a baby who is completely dependent on his parents, he waited on God for His protection while he was a fugitive under King Saul’s pursuit. In his darkest hour, David realized his need and then advised his people: “Hope in the Lord from this time forth and forever” (v.3).

The path to humility is twofold. It involves knowing who we are—having a proper self-esteem rather than thinking too highly of self. But most important, it requires knowing who God is—holding Him in highest esteem and trusting Him for His best in His time.  

Humility’s a slippery prize
That seldom can be won;
We’re only humble in God’s eyes
When serving like His Son. —Gustafson

When we think we’re humble—we’re not.  In a time when no one wants to accept blame or responsibility, it’s nice to find Christians who will.  Humble yourself before the Lord today.  You don’t have to be right all the time.  The truth is, you aren’t.

Michael

During a recent speaking engagement at the Georgia House of Representatives, Hunt, pastor of the Atlanta-area First Baptist Church in Woodstock, said government officials lined up to ask him whether the Bible says anything pertaining to the financial difficulties Americans are facing.

Hunt said the Bible is the oldest collection of wisdom, and he called it the church's stimulus package.

"If we're looking for something from out there to help us, really what we're saying is that which we've received in here is not sufficient," he said, holding up a Bible.

The first chapter of the Book of Job holds the answer for how believers are able to endure hard times, Hunt said. Satan asked whether Job feared God simply because God had put a hedge of protection around him, and Hunt said the same question could be asked of Americans.

"In other words, it's easy to serve Him as long as we're in our fine churches, our fine offices, wherever you may be serving, and we're being taken care of," he said.

But the true test comes when the sun is no longer shining down and the road is marked with suffering. That's when the world is watching to see how Christians will respond, Hunt said. As Job asked, Southern Baptists need to ask themselves, "Will we accept good from God and not accept adversity?"

Hunt then transitioned into eight prayer requests derived from Psalm 119:33-40, in which the psalmist asked God to help him cope in life.

"He's crying out to God, and I see it relating so well to where we are as a denomination," Hunt said.

First, there is a prayer for education, he said, noting that the psalmist is teachable and has a desire to learn.

"Also note in this petition a tone of humility and dependence," he said. "He sees God as a path to be followed, and he's saying, 'God, I so desire for You to educate me.'"

In verse 34, there is a prayer for illumination, Hunt said. Three words predominantly used in Psalms and Proverbs, he said, are knowledge, understanding and wisdom. Knowledge is education, but understanding is knowledge that has worked itself out in the realities of life. Wisdom, he said, can only be given by God, and it can be given to people with no formal education.

The psalmist prays for direction in verse 35 as he asks, "Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it."

Next comes a prayer for inclination, in which the psalmist is asking God to establish a pattern of consistency in his life and to help him avoid covetousness.

"If there's any place that America has bowed and formed an altar and stayed there, it's in the area of the idolatry of covetousness," Hunt said.

The psalmist also sets forth a prayer for attention, Hunt said, when he asks God to turn his eyes from looking at worthless things.

In verse 38, there is a prayer for realization.

"When Isaiah saw God for who He was, the very next thing that happened was he saw himself for who he was," Hunt said. "... We'll never see ourselves the way God sees us until we see God for who God is. And then when we do, we won't think near as much of ourselves."

The psalmist also prays for protection when he asks God to turn away his reproach.

"To bear reproach is to bear shame. The psalmist is asking God to protect his testimony. He so desired to never disgrace the Lord and bring His name dishonor," Hunt said.

Finally, the psalmist prays for aspiration. In other words, he longed to live the kind of life laid out in God's Word, and he longed for the life-giving transformation that only God could produce in his life.

"I feel like sometimes that we need the life-transforming breath of Almighty God to come to where we are in our decline and breathe into us and help us to stand again and be a mighty army, a force for the glory of God."

"And in my estimation, if He were going to hit America anywhere to get our attention, the best place to begin is in the pocketbook. And if by taking us from recession to depression He could get us on our knees again and help us to realize a need for Him and bring revival, if He could do that and will do it, I'll be the first if He'd like to bankrupt me first," Hunt said.

"You say, 'Talk is cheap.' We're not just talking. This is something we've prayed through over and over again and just begin to say, 'God, whatever it takes in my lifetime.' Some of you have prayed far longer than I have. Some of you have been preaching longer than I've been a Christian," he said.

"But to really mean it, whatever it takes for God once again to wake this nation up to the fact of who He is in the name of Jesus, I pray He'll do it. That's my prayer, and may God do it."

Wow! I wish I had said that.   Michael

Someone share this with me from a friend. 

Last Friday I was going through the Indianapolis Airport.  People in the Security Checkline were grumbling about what nonsense the process was, blah, blah, blah.  An elderly lady (in a different line) was struggling with her luggage, pocketbook, etc. She was also confused about what to do, how to do it, couldn't get her shoes off (and a host of other things). The Security Officials weren't helping the situation either (they can be mighty callous at times). I started to move her direction, but before I could get out of the line I was in, a gentleman (close by) sat down all of his stuff, and began to help the lady. I thought he looked familiar, but it didn't register; it was fascinating to see him come to her aid (nobody else was making a move to help!). He was talking to her, making conversation, helping her untie her shoes, putting her things in one of those bins, and making sure she was AT EASE. He helped her through the screening gate, then calmly put his things on the belt, went through and immediately began to help the lady put her shoes back on, gather her belongings, etc. In the meantime she had reached in her purse to show him pictures of her family. He made a big fuss over the photos, then asked for a wheelchair so he could get her to her gate. Honestly, it was a Hallmark script.  They disappeared down the concourse together...he was pushing the wheelchair and she was jabbering with him. It made me smile...a lot. NOW HERE'S THE KICKER: I got through security and went to get something to drink. Just beyond the little restaurant was a group of people gathered, all excited, shaking hands, etc., and in the center of them was THE KIND GENTLEMAN. Guess who it was? TONY DUNGY, the recently retired coach of the Indianapolis Colts! I looked at his hand and, SURE 'NUFF there was the HUGE diamond Super Bowl ring.
The point:  The elderly lady didn't know who he was, or care WHO HE IS, of would even have known had she been told.  HE DID THE RIGHT THING FOR THE RIGHT REASON.  Important people serve others with a sense of purpose.  These kinds of things are still THE BEST LESSONS EVER.  Thanks for letting me share it.

Enjoy your day. Michael

We define ourselves here at BCC by reaching out to the community and investing the kingdom in those out in the world.  Take a glance at an interesting article about how inclusive we really are.  By the way, Screwtape was C.S. Lewis name for the Devil.

One of the greatest of recent seductions by that wily devil Screwtape – perfectly fitted to the times – is to puff a tiny sugar crystal of Christianity into sweetish airy cotton candy. “IN-clusiveness!” he will insist. “Christianity is about nothing if not IN-clusiveness.”

That is how Screwtape sweet-talks you into affirming that some abomination (divorce, abortion, euthanasia, adultery, gay marriage) is, actually, included within the broad reach of Christian love. It would be positively un-Christian to think ill of that “abomination.” You should be ashamed you ever thought it was wrong. Are you a bigot or something?

“Strange!” I would have thought, “Christianity is about EX-clusion.” On the last day the Judge shall divide the world into sheep and goats, you over on the left, you over on the right. A few of you will be chosen to enter with me into Paradise. The rest will descend, as you have chosen, into everlasting punishment. I have come not to bring peace, but the sword. He who is not with me is against me. God sent His light into the darkness, and the darkness received it not. The gate is narrow, and the way is strait. Only a tiny remnant will be saved. There was much weeping, and tears, and gnashing of teeth.

You can look it up.

Take half an hour, skim through the gospels of Matthew and Mark. (Even more “un-Christian” are some of the Epistles of St. Paul.)

Screwtape has it all wrong. The moment you encounter someone stressing how IN-clusive Christianity is, walk away from him quickly, for the truth is not in him.

Conspicuously was this true of the infamous Newsweek article putting homosexual liaisons in paradise, and picturing marriage (in the Christian view) as a kind of hell. This article appeared at Christmastime – Christmastime! And it was later defended by the usually clear-eyed editor of Newsweek, John Meacham. That is the shrewdest sign of how skillful Screwtape is. He picks none but the best.

An interesting paradox isn’t it.  We reach out yet we reject much of the world’s ideology.  I would like to hear your take on this subject.  Leave a comment or email me. 

Michael

A nurse who was suspended without pay for asking a patient whether she would like to be prayed for has been reinstated and will return to work in the next few days.

Caroline Petrie, who was subjected to disciplinary action even though the patient did not complain, was told yesterday that she could resume her duties by North Somerset Primary Care Trust.

Mrs Petrie, an evangelical Christian and mother of two, was suspended after her employers discovered that she had asked a patient whether she would like prayers to be said for her. Although the patient was not offended, the incident was reported.

Last week Mrs Petrie, who was supported by the Christian Legal Center, was summoned to a disciplinary hearing on the basis that she had failed to demonstrate a “personal and professional commitment to equality and diversity” by offering her prayers.

Last night Mrs Petrie told Channel 4 News: “When I asked her \ the question I saw she didn’t actually look offended at all. Her body language was quite relaxed. She was happy in my presence. It was just basically ’no thank you’.

“I’m happy to pray for anybody. I think the issue is she felt possibly there may be somebody who might be offended by the question of somebody saying would you like prayer.”

When asked if she would do it again, Mrs Petrie replied: “Yes.” She added: “I would like to get this issue resolved and I’m absolutely delighted that I have been offered to go back.”

It is good to be back home but it seems nothing changes in the world.  More prayers and power to Christians like Mrs. Petrie who take the time to show a little love of Jesus.  We need a little more of that right now.

Michael