Line Upon Line

Here are a few thoughts about the Perfect Church and Perfect Church people--which, by the way, are one and the same. The Church is people. The Church is not an institution, nor a denomination, nor a building, nor an organization. The Church is the people of God--and God is perfecting a people who will live to show forth His praise and glorify His name in the earth.

1 Peter 2:9,10 (NKJV)
"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God..."

The Perfect Church is totally, unquestionably, and unashamedly submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

The Perfect Church has knowledge of the will, purpose, and plan of God.

The Perfect Church loves people.

The Perfect Church understands that every believer is a minister of the Gospel and an ambassador of Christ.

The Perfect Church has no regard nor use for the traditions of men.

Perfect Church people happily submit to those God has set in authority--and to one another--for their sake and the sake of the Gospel.

Perfect Church people don't live to impress one another, but to serve one another.

Perfect Church people understand their enemy, the nature of the battle, and the weapons of their warfare.

Perfect Church people are compassionate with regard to others.

Perfect Church people are unyielding as regards the Truth.

Perfect Church people love righteousness and hate injustice.

Perfect Church people are holy.

Perfect Church people are willing to sacrifice themselves and their substance for the cause of Christ and for the needs of others.

Perfect Church people have the mind of Christ.

Perfect Church people are well-pleased to offer the gifts and talents God has given them to further the Kingdom of God and for the work of the ministry.

Perfect Church people have a vision for the world and a passion for the lost.

Perfect Church people have a heart that cries, "Not our will, but Thine be done!"

I'm searching, praying, believing, and waiting to see God's Perfect Church. The world is waiting, too!

think on these things...

Matthew 16:18 (NKJV)
...I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Ephesians 5:25-27 (NKJV)
...Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Psalm 138:8 (NKJV)
The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

"The whole church of God gains when the members that compose it begin to seek a better and a higher life." A.W. Tozer

The following is from Neil T. Anderson and Timothy M. Warner's book, The Beginner's Guide to Spiritual Warfare:

"The primary [spiritual] battle is between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of God, between the Antichrist and Christ, between the father of lies and the Spirit of truth; and we are in that battle whether we like it or not. The primary location of that battle is our minds. Either we believe the lies that keep us in bondage or we believe the truth that sets us free. So, we define spiritual warfare as the battle for the mind.

"Every action is just a product of our thoughts. 'For as he thinks within himself, so he is' (Prv 23:7, NASB). The will can only act on what the mind knows. Wrong information, lack of knowledge, or a faulty belief system can lead to undesirable and even destructive actions. Satan knows this, and this explains why deception is his primary tactic. This is also why...Peter tells us to 'prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled' (1 Pt. 1:13). He wants us to understand that if we can win the battle for the mind, we can win the battle against Satan as the deceiver." (The Beginner's Guide to Spiritual Warfare, Neil T. Anderson and Timothy M. Warner, Servant Publications, © 2000, pp. 39,39)

It's All in Your Mind

There is a ferocious battle being waged in this hour--it's a battle of thoughts, ideas, worldviews, and so-called "philosophies"--it's a battle for your mind. The apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians, warning them not to "let anyone lead you astray with empty philosophy and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the evil powers of this world, and not from Christ" (Col. 2:8 NLT). We'd do well to heed Paul's warning, too.

We are continually bombarded with messages that contradict and attempt to undermine the truth of God's Word. These messages come from the god of this world, through every form of media: newspapers, books, and magazines, and advertising and television programming (especially news, situation comedies, and talk shows). The only way to survive this onslaught, is to be "rooted and grounded in Christ." You simply must know the Word of God and have the mind of Christ for any hope of survival in this day. Lacking these, you'll be blown away.

God has given us His Word to counter the attacks of the enemy of our faith. It's not enough to have "good feelings" about Jesus and the promise of Heaven to come. You must be a student of God's Word. But you can't be a hearer only--you must be quick to obey. too.

"It is Written!"

When Jesus was in the wilderness forty days and forty nights, He answered every temptation Satan brought to Him with, "It is written...." Jesus fought back with the Word of God. You see, Satan has no answer for the Word! After taking his best shot, he left Jesus, and decided he'd wait for a "more opportune" time to launch his next attack (See Lk. 4:1-13).

If you don't know God's Word, you have nothing to fight with--you are on the battlefield without a weapon. Sadly, that's the condition of many of God's people--they've believed in Jesus, but they've never "come to the knowledge of the truth" (See 1 Tim. 2:4). Thus, they are at the Devil's mercy. (And just in case you haven't learned this yet, the Devil has no mercy--he is constantly on the prowl, seeking someone to devour.)

So, don't be left defenseless when the enemy attacks you (and he will). Be prepared--take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and declare, "It is written!"

think on these things...

2 Timothy 2:14-18 (NKJV)
Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.

Ephesians 6:10-18 (NKJV)
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

Acts 17:10-11 (NLT)
That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the synagogue. And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul's message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to check up on Paul and Silas, to see if they were really teaching the truth.

In 1974, a year after my wife and I gave our lives to Jesus, we traveled with a group of 30 or so people from Calvary United Methodist Church in Flint, Michigan, to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We went to attend the Greater Pittsburgh Charismatic Conference, which was held on the campus of Duquesne University. We joined 10,000 others (mostly Catholic charismatics), who came from around the country to experience this outpouring of God's Spirit.

This was all new to Debbi and me. The next few days would be a time of discovering, learning, growing, and soaking in the presence of God. There were morning and afternoon classes offered each day, and Debbi and I picked out a few that sounded interesting to us.

One of our classes was held in the university chapel. Our teacher was a young minister from Los Angeles, California, named Frederick K.C. Price. Fred took his place at the lectern, held his Bible high in the air, and said, "Has everybody got a Bible? If you've got a Bible, hold it up--now wave it around!"

Well, I didn't have a Bible. What did I need a Bible for? Carrying a Bible wasn't something we did in the church I was raised in. It didn't take long to realize, however, that I was one the only ones in the room that didn't have a Bible. As everyone else wildly waved their Bibles in the air, Fred said, "Well, if you don't have a Bible, you're a big dummy!"

You Talkin' to Me?

Yes, Fred was talking to me. Fred made his point--and I got it! Ouch! After the meeting, I headed to the conference hall and bought myself a brand new, simulated leather-bound Bible. There was absolutely no way I was going back to Fred's class empty-handed!

One of the other classes we attended was taught by Robert Frost (no, not that Robert Frost). Robert was a somewhat shy, soft-spoken guy--the total opposite of Fred, who was bold and brash. As different as these two Bible teachers were, I liked them both, and looked forward to their classes each day.

As the week progressed, however, a disagreement arose between Fred and Robert over an interpretation of Scripture. They ended up verbally attacking one another from their respective classroom platforms. I can't remember what the particular problem was, but their heated exchanges became the talk of the conference. I was troubled by the controversy.

After our last class of the day, Debbi and I headed back to the dormitory to get ready for dinner. I can still remember how upset I was over this matter, as I paced the floor of our room. Totally frustrated, I said to Debbi, "Fred says one thing, and Robert says something different--who are we supposed to believe?!"

My question hung in the air, and then Debbi calmly replied, "Well, what does the Word say?"

Good answer.

What Does the Word Say?

I was watching a popular television preacher recently, and heard him make a statement that was clearly contrary to Scripture. Yet, the congregation gave their corporate approval, saying "Amen!" to the preacher's word. It made me so mad, I wanted to throw something at the T.V..

We've got to do better than this, people. We need to be like those folks in Berea, who "searched the Scriptures daily" to see whether or not Paul's teaching was true. I'm not saying we should be suspicious of everything we hear, but we need to get into the habit of going to God's Word for ourselves and checking things out. We will either be convinced of the truthfulness of the teaching, or discover the error. The Word of God is the standard--it is the rule--it is the judge--it is the final authority.

So, when you're confused and don't know what to believe, ask yourself, "what does the Word say?" And if you don't know what the Word says, go find out!

think on these things...

Proverbs 14:14 (NLT)
Only simpletons believe everything they are told! The prudent carefully consider their steps.

2 Timothy 3:16,17 (NLT)
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NKJV)

In his book, Winning the Invisible War, E. M. Bounds wrote:

"The power of the devil extends to the mind. He can influence the mind, insinuate thoughts, suggest purposes, and excite the imagination. Satan can inflame the passions, stir the appetites, awaken old habits, and fan dead flames or light new ones. He deceived the natural innocence of Eve. He entered into Judas, possessed him fully, and made his half-formed treason complete.

"In Corinthians, the devil is called the god of this world. 'The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.' The devil uses this world as a veil to shut out the truth of God and the light of His glorious gospel. He closes the eyes of faith to all the discoveries in the unseen and eternal. 

"The antagonism between the children of the world who are possessed by Satan and the children of God who are possessed by God is set forth by John. 'Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error' (1 John 4:4-6). Who is in us? God. Who is in the children of the world? The devil.

"Our faith, our hope, and our final triumph are in the truth of the Word of God. 'Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.'"  E. M. Bounds (1835-1913) Winning the Invisible War, Whitaker House, 1984, pp. 100,101)

"Well, Shut My Mouth!"

As I listened to a radio talk show the other day, I was dumbfounded.

Now, is dumbfounded the word I want?

Don't touch that mouse--I'll be right back. I want to look up the definition of dumbfounded.

Okay, I'm back.

Yup, I was dumbfounded: "as if struck dumb with astonishment and surprise."

The conversation between the radio host and the caller centered on the current U.S. presidential campaign. The exchange of thoughts on the subject was interesting. But here's the thing that dumbfounded me--when the host suggested that the caller's choice for the office of president had not been truthful in some statements he'd made, the caller said that didn't bother him. To make sure he understood the caller's thoughts, the host pressed him further and asked, "If you found out that your candidate lied about this, you'd vote for him anyway?" The caller said, Yes, that wouldn't matter."

Dumbfounded! I was then, I am now.

I guess to some (probably many), truth and truthfulness don't really matter. But seeking, knowing, and following after the truth means everything to me.

Listen again to what E. M. Bounds said: "The devil uses this world as a veil to shut out the truth of God...," and, "Our faith, our hope, and our final triumph are in the truth of the Word of God." [emphasis mine]

Truth Matters

You see, truth matters--it's what the Kingdom of God is established upon--and it's the foundation of every successful Christian life. It's the standard by which we know right and wrong, good and evil.

Praying to His heavenly Father, Jesus said, "I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth" (John 17:14-17 NKJV).

God's Word is truth--and the truth of God's Word brings light to the darkness. The psalmist said, "Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105 NKJV).

Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "But the people's minds were hardened, and even to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, a veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. Yes, even today when they read Moses' writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, then the veil is taken away" (2 Cor. 3:14-16 NLT, emphasis mine).

A person can't see or know the truth until they turn their heart to Jesus. Jesus--the One called the Word of God--is the Truth! (See John 14:6)

The world around us is shrouded in a thick fog of lies, half-truths, opinions, ideas, philosophies, hypotheses, and theories. But we who have received Christ, have received the light of the knowledge of glory of God--the Truth--that gives us insight into the spiritual realm, and illuminates the path of life.

I encourage you to seek the truth, love the truth, hear the truth, hold fast to the truth, and walk in the truth--because only the truth will set you free!

think on these things...

Ephesians 4:17-21 (NLT)
With the Lord's authority let me say this: Live no longer as the ungodly do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their closed minds are full of darkness; they are far away from the life of God because they have shut their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They don't care anymore about right and wrong, and they have given themselves over to immoral ways. Their lives are filled with all kinds of impurity and greed. But that isn't what you were taught when you learned about Christ. Since you have heard all about him and have learned the truth that is in Jesus.

John 8:30-32 (NKJV)
As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.''

Why don’t modern men try using the Bible as a guide for life? They have tried everything else. Alfred Armand Montapert

It makes all the difference in the world whether you put the truth in the first place or the second place. Anonymous

"Measure not God's love and favour by your own feeling. The sun shines as clearly in the darkest day as it does in the brightest. The difference is not in the sun, but in some clouds which hinder the manifestation of the light thereof." Richard Sibbes

think on these things...

John 14:26,27 (AMP)
But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you. Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]

John 16:33 (AMP)
I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

Revelation 12:7-12 (NKJV)
And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.''

A Box Office Smash!

Mel Gibson's movie, The Passion of the Christ, now appears destined to become one of the most successful movies ever made. Today, it stands at #46 of the top grossing movies of all time at the U.S. box office. Ticket sales could reach the $400 million mark, surpassing Spiderman, which presently holds the #5 position. (The all-time record in U.S. ticket sales is held by Titanic, with $600 million.)

Gibson's portrayal of the last hours of Jesus' life, His suffering, and His crucifixion, has become an unexpected and unprecedented cultural phenomenon. Making the movie was not easy, however. There were many unusual challenges during filming and production that caused Gibson to question whether the project would ever be completed. In an interview with Christianity Today editor, David Neff, Mr. Gibson recalled the spiritual battles he encountered while making the film.

Neff: "At the July screening and in an EWTN interview, you talked about spiritual warfare. What kinds of attacks did you experience during the filming?"

Gibson: "Well you know, there's technological nightmares that crop up, complications that block certain things. And the closer you are to a breakthrough point, the more vigorous it gets, so that you know when the opposition is at its greatest, you're close and that you have to keep pressing on. That happened a number of times, and it's happened a number of times since. Post-production has been more difficult than production. Post-production has been brutal: crashing computers, you name it, it's happened. It's kind of a mechanical weirdness. Whoa! The world goes into revolt."

Neff: "So you think there are spiritual forces resisting this project?"

Gibson: "Oh, of course. But that's the big picture, isn't it? The big realms are slugging it out. We're just the meat in the sandwich. And for some reason we're worth it. I don't know why, but we are."

The Spiritual Battle Continues

A.W. Tozer described the on-going battle between God and Satan, in an article he wrote while editor of Alliance Life magazine.

"There are two spirits in the earth, the Spirit of God and the spirit of Satan, and these are at eternal enmity. The ostensible cause of religious hatred may be almost anything; the true cause is nearly always the same: the ancient animosity which Satan, since his inglorious fall, has ever felt toward God and His kingdom. Satan is aflame with desire for unlimited dominion over the human family; and whenever that evil ambition is challenged by the Spirit of God, he invariably retaliates with savage fury.

"The world hated Jesus without a cause. In spite of their fantastic charges against Him, Christ's contemporaries found nothing in either His doctrines or His deeds to rouse in them such unreasonable anger as they constantly displayed toward Him. They hated Him, not for anything He said or did, but for what He was.

"It is possible within the provisions of redemptive grace to enter into a state of union with Christ so perfect that the world will instinctively react toward us exactly as it did toward Him in the days of His flesh.

"Satan will never cease to make war on the Man-child, and the soul in which dwells the Spirit of Christ will continue to be the target for his attacks." (from The Warfare of the Spirit: Developing Spiritual Maturity, a collection of Tozer's editorials, compiled by Harry Verploegh)

Satan has sought to discredit and destroy Jesus since the day the Christ-child was born into this world. Now, the followers of Christ are the chief objects of Satan's mad obsession. In my March 7 weblog entry, "Counter-Attack: A Response to The Passion of the Christ," I wrote:

"I've noticed a disturbing pattern of spiritual attacks on believers over the past couple of weeks. I'm convinced this is a counter-attack by Satan against God's children--a calculated response to the phenomenal success of Mel Gibson's film, The Passion of the Christ."

There has been an escalation of the spiritual battle and demonic attacks against the people of God. This is Satan's answer to the all of the talk and attention that's being given to Jesus recently (The Devil is a very jealous creature, you know). I remind you of these things, so you might remain on guard--quick to recognize and resist any attacks of the enemy.

The Next Great Awakening?

As I've observed increasing wickedness, sinfulness, and lawlessness in the world, I've thought one of two things would likely happen soon: either God would say, "Enough!", and send His Son back to the earth to shut this whole mess down--or, there would be another "Great Awakening"--a revival that would transform America and the world, and usher hundreds of thousands into the Kingdom of God. With all of the renewed interest in Jesus, which has been sparked by The Passion of the Christ, this might well be the beginning of such a revival of righteousness, and a spiritual awakening like the world has never known.

Now, that, my friend, is an exciting thought!

think on these things...

Isaiah 59:19 (NKJV)
So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun; when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.

Luke 10:18,19 (NKJV)
And He [Jesus] said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you."

You can read the Mel Gibson interview with David Neff and Jane Johnson Struck here.

A team of scientists recently published findings about the behavior of ants along congested food trails. After reviewing videotapes of thousands of ants, they discovered that ants tend to get pushy and shove one another off the main path when traffic gets heavy.

Gee, that sounds like some Christians I've known. If someone gets in their way, they just shove them aside or run over top of them--"Hey, out of my way! I'm coming through!"

Whatever happened to the idea of preferring our brothers and sisters? Whatever became of God's commandment to love one another? And what about serving one another? is that just some archaic Biblical abstraction?

Look, Jesus didn't get to where He is today by running over folks--He got to the top by setting aside His own agenda, and becoming a servant--first to God, and then to the people. Because He humbled Himself, God the Father exalted Him. I realize this is contrary to the "wisdom of the world"--but, it's the only way to live, if you love God and His Word.

So, what's your hurry? Instead of pushing and shoving--trying to get to where you want to be--how about taking the Service Road, instead? I guarantee you, it's much less crowded--and it's the only road that will take you to that place where God wants you to be!

think on these things...

Mark 9:35 (NKJV)
And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.''

Romans 12:10 (NLT)
Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

Philippians 2:1-4 (NLT)
Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose. Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don't think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing.

"Blessed the man and woman who is able to serve cheerfully in the second rank--a big test."
Mary Slessor, Scottish missionary

"Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour." (1 Pet. 5:8 NLT)

I've noticed a disturbing pattern of spiritual attacks on believers over the past couple of weeks. I'm convinced this is a counter-attack by Satan against God's children--a calculated response to the phenomenal success of Mel Gibson's film, The Passion of the Christ.

I can only imagine how much all this talk about Jesus torments the Devil. If he weren't already mad, I'm quite sure this would drive him over the edge.

You Are a Target

My wife Debbi, my daughter Tiffany, and I traveled to Lee's Summit, Missouri, recently, to spend a few days with friends. Leo and Barb were faithful members of Life of Faith Fellowship in Port Huron. Because of a job change, they moved from Michigan to Missouri last year. One evening, Leo and I went out to a store so I could pick up a couple things for Debbi. As we approached the interstate exit ramp, I noticed a large, red bulls-eye, glowing in the darkness of the night. It marked our destination--Super Target. I said to Leo, "You know, anyone who's serious about following Christ and doing the will of God, is a target for the enemy." And I might add, those who are super serious, are super-targets!

That's important to remember--if you're serving Christ, you're on Satan's "hit list." He'll do everything he can do to bring you down and take you out of the game. He is hell-bent on silencing the saints of God!

I really wish someone had told me this when I first received Jesus. It took many years for me to understand the spiritual battle we are in, and to realize the intense hatred Satan has for God's children. You see, if you're in Christ, you're a marked man or woman--you're marked for harassment, marked for persecution, and marked for elimination.

If we could only see into the spiritual realm, we'd be able to identify (as Satan is able to), the children of light and the children of darkness. Just like that giant, red Super Target bulls-eye shining in the Missouri night, the light of Christ in you and me shines forth into the darkness of this world, and shouts to the evil one, "Here we are, come and get us!"

Got Depression?

One of Satan's chief weapons is discouragement. When you get discouraged, you lose your strength and the will to fight. If you've experienced depression or weariness recently, you're not alone. As I communicate with believers across the country, the word "discouragement" has come up far too often to be mere coincidence. Once again, I believe this present attack on God's people is Satan's retaliation to all the questions and conversations about who Jesus is, and the meaning of His death upon the cross--questions and conversations that have resulted from the sweeping success of The Passion of the Christ.

Saints of God, it's time to stand up and resist the Devil--it's time to fight back! The apostle Paul sounded a "call to arms" when he wrote the following words to the church at Ephesus. We'd be wise to take them to heart, also.

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints" (Eph. 6:10-18 NKJV).

Someone observed, "We don't fight for a place of victory--we fight from a place of victory!" That is a powerful truth--one worth remembering. I pray that you will be able to recognize the attacks of the enemy against you, and overcome every one, in the name of Jesus! Be strong in the Lord, and the power of His might--be encouraged!

think on these things...

James 4:7 (NLT)
So humble yourselves before God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.

1 Peter 5:8-10 (NKJV)
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

1 Corinthians 15:57,58 (NKJV)
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

My wife and I went to the Krafft 8 Theatre in Port Huron, Michigan, Monday morning to see The Passion of the Christ. I'm sure by now, many of you have either seen Mel Gibson's much talked about film, or plan to see it soon. The film earned $125 million in its first five days--putting it right up there with Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

The Paralysis of Analysis

It's hard to describe the feelings I had, as Debbi and I got in the car and headed to the theatre. After reading countless reviews, and listening to endless debates about this movie, I wasn't sure what to expect. I do believe I would have viewed the film differently if I hadn't heard all the media coverage. Instead of experiencing the emotion and drama of the story, I found myself analyzing every scene for scriptural accuracy and anti-Semitic messages. I watched from a distance.

Was there too much violence? Maybe. The movie was brutal in its depiction of the physical sufferings of Christ. But, really, none of us know exactly how the events unfolded. What is certain, according to the prophet Isaiah, is that, "many were amazed when they saw him--beaten and bloodied, so disfigured one would scarcely know he was a person" (Isaiah 52:14, NLT). Obviously, He was tortured and beaten without mercy.

There's something I think we often miss, though, when we consider Jesus' suffering. Every year, on Good Friday, or sometime during the Easter season, someone pulls out a doctor's description of the suffering one goes through while being crucified. From all accounts, it's a terrible way to die. But when you think of the physical suffering Jesus endured on the cross, you need to remember that there were two other guys--one on His right and one on His left--that endured the same things He did. There was a difference, however. These men were guilty and deserved to die--Jesus died an innocent man.

Now, I'm not trying in any way to diminish the work of Christ on the cross. But the truth is, thousands of people have experienced the horrors of death by crucifixion. Church tradition tells us that Peter was crucified--upside down. Now, that's a tough way to go.

A Look Behind the Scenes

To really understand the sufferings of Christ, you must look behind the scenes--you must understand what happened to Jesus in the realm of the spirit. I believe that the pain Jesus felt in the flesh--as terrible as it was--pales in comparison to what He experienced when our sin was laid upon Him. I believe this was the chief reason for His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. It was not the fear of being physically nailed to the cross that caused Him to sweat drops of blood--it was the knowledge that when He took our sin, He would experience a separation from His Heavenly Father. The moment He realized that separation, He cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken Me?" There is no way we can understand the agony and terror of that moment.

These things, my friend, were the depths of the suffering and pain Jesus endured for you and me. Paul put it this way, "He who knew no sin, became sin..." (2 Cor. 5:21). At that moment, the sun was obscured, darkness fell upon the land, and Jesus knew what it felt like to be abandoned, cast off, and forsaken by God--He knew the feeling of being lost.

As I watched The Passion, the word "torn" came to mind.

I saw Mary, the mother of Jesus, watching in agony, as her son was torn from her, and as His body was torn apart by scourging and crucifixion. I felt Jesus' pain as the nails tore through his hands and feet, and when He was torn away from the presence of the Father. I imagined the Father's heart being torn in two, as that single tear dropped from the heavens, and splashed on the earth below. Then there was the veil in the temple--torn from top to bottom--signaling a new day, opening a new way, and inviting us back into the presence of God.

You see, if you only focus on the physical aspect of the sufferings of Christ, you will miss the greatest sacrifice of all--Jesus didn't just offer His body--He offered His very life, too.

Because of Love

While we are on this earth, there's only so much that we will be able to comprehend concerning Christ's sacrifice. Now, we only "know in part." But when we see Him face to face, we will understand more completely the price that was paid for our redemption from the power of sin and a sentence of death. Jesus Christ bore our sins, He took our punishment, and He suffered more than anyone ever has or ever will.

Why did He subject Himself to such pain and suffering?

Because of love. Because God loved the world so much that He was willing to give up His only Son to die for our sins. Because Jesus loved the Father so much He was willing to lay down His life in obedience to the will and purpose of God. Jesus truly is "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).

"Thank You, Mr. Gibson"

I commend Mel Gibson for putting his money where his heart is, and making this movie. It has--and will--touch hundreds of thousands of lives for time and eternity. God is using this breathtaking portrait of the suffering of Jesus Christ as a catalyst for conversation about the meaning of His life and death. This is one story the devil would just as soon bury (God knows he's tried!). But God has a way of bringing dead things to life. You just can't keep a good man down!

By the way, if you haven't seen the Lord of the Rings trilogy, you must. But I suggest you watch them in sequence. Going to see The Return of the King, before you've seen The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers, is like starting a book 2/3 of the way through--you're just not going to understand what's going on. There are many good reasons why Return of the King was voted "Best Picture of 2003" by the Motion Picture Academy. You simply must see it. But do yourself a favor--see the other two first.

think on these things...

Isaiah 53:3-8 (LVB)
We despised him and rejected him--a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised and we didn't care. Yet it was our grief he bore, our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, for his own sins! But he was wounded and bruised for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace; he was lashed--and we were healed! We--every one of us--have strayed away like sheep! We, who left God's paths to follow our own. Yet God laid on him the guilt and sins of every one of us! He was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he never said a word. He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he stood silent before the ones condemning him. From prison and trial they led him away to his death. But who among the people of that day realized it was their sins that he was dying for--that he was suffering their punishment?

"My movie has a tremendous message of faith, hope, love, forgiveness and a message of tremendous courage and sacrifice. My hope is that it will effect people on a very profound level and somehow change them..." -- Mel Gibson

For more articles on "The Passion of the Christ," and the meaning of Jesus' sacrifice, visit The Christian Broadcasting Network's "The Passion of The Christ Special Feature". I also encourage you to take a look at Gordon Robertson's perspective on "Psalm 22 and The Passion of Jesus".

"Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." Brother Lawrence

think on these things...

1 Corinthians 13:13 (NLT)
There are three things that will endure--faith, hope, and love--and the greatest of these is love.

"We must honestly look at our lives. We shall see that there is much of self in us. We often try to live the Christian life in our strength. (The very fact that we are "trying" to live the Christian life shows that "self" is still reigning!) Self tries to do Christian work. Self easily gets annoyed. Self becomes envious of others. It resents others. It finds fault. It gets worried. It is hard. It is not willing to give in to others. It is shy. That is why we must be broken. God cannot do a great work in the lives of those who are ruled by self. He wants to fill us with the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22,23). But this is just the opposite of self! Until [self] has been broken and crucified, the fruit of the Holy Spirit cannot be seen in our lives." Roy Hession, The Way of the Cross

think on these things...

2 Corinthians 5:15 (NLT)
He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live to please themselves. Instead, they will live to please Christ, who died and was raised for them.

Matthew 10:38,39 (LVB)
"If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will save it."

"Breath in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy." Augustine