One of the most challenging things I have to do in the midst of difficult situations is to find ways to be encouraging. I always want to point you to faith-based solutions, but many times, I must explain the problem so you understand how to develop your biblical life strategy! Many people cannot endure facing the problem, so they are never prepared when the situation reaches its peak.
In the ’80s and ’90s, religion taught us if we screamed at the devil long enough, the problems would melt away. They were wrong! The whole “scream at the devil” was a straw man ploy. It’s the same thing that happens in marriages that are failing, corrupt politics, and virtually every scenario of life. Let’s get you looking in the wrong direction, focusing your attention on the wrong enemy, or utilizing the wrong strategy, and while you’re focused on “the straw man,” you’ll lose everything you have!
Even as a young believer, I never bought into “the devil makes all the bad stuff happen” arguments. I knew there was a devil. I knew that it was, in fact, his anti-God philosophies that caused all the problems in the world. But I knew he didn’t have the authority to destroy anyone! I knew it was people aligning themselves with his anti-God concepts, humanistic philosophies, and corrupt political positions that caused all the problems in our individual lives as well as in the world.
Make no mistake: everything that is happening in the world is the result of people embracing ideas, philosophies, doctrines, and political positions that oppose God’s Word and wisdom! But the real problem is not the wicked unbelievers; it’s the unbelieving believers.
Politically, everything that the wicked “left” is doing right now would easily stop if the “right” was not so corrupt and complicit. Very few of the people on the “right” who profess to be conservatives really are. Very few who claim to value our Judeo-Christian values actually do. That’s just what they say to get votes. We keep voting for them, expecting them to stand up, only to discover most of them are traitors to our country and their constituents.
The truth is, most of the country wants law and order; most of the country still values basic decency. The left is not powerful enough to destroy our country… unless the hypocritical “right” does nothing.
The same thing is happening spiritually: the devil isn’t powerful enough to destroy our country or the world unless believers allow it to happen. The body of Christ loves the world and the way of the world more than it loves God and the way of God. I talk to very few Christians that know the Bible or even have any intention of knowing the Bible; therefore, they don’t know the character and nature of God. These are the facts that no one wants to face. It sounds too ugly!
Luckily for us, we are not like the nation of Israel. We do not have a national covenant with God. We don’t even have a personal covenant with God. Jesus has a covenant with God, which we share as a result of being in Jesus and believing what He obtained through the new covenant. We can have Kingdom living regardless of what anyone else does, and regardless of what happens around us or to us.
We live in a time when every person should guard their heart above all things. The quality of your life, your children’s lives, and your children’s children depend on it.
Paul affirmed; “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: …we are not ignorant of his devices.” (2 Cor 2:11).
Back in the eighties, I used to tell people we must know our enemy, and we must know his strategies; otherwise, we will defeat ourselves. Until you know and understand your enemy and his strategies, you are pretty much defenseless. You will find yourself fighting the wrong battle; you‘ll succumb to diversions and distractions; eventually, you will wear down emotionally and give up!
In Matthew 24:4-7, Jesus said, “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.”
This verse tells me the great tool used against all believers is deception. For example: right now, we are deceived about what our country wants. America doesn’t want our country to go in the direction it’s going. But we are deceived by the new media, humanist church leaders, and game-playing politicians. We are made to believe the majority of our country wants this lawless anarchy, but it’s a lie!
The entire month of July, in our weekly CyberChurch broadcast, I will be teaching a series called Understanding the Times. I hope you will join me every week to discover more about how to guard your heart, understand what is really happening, and learn to live as an overcomer no matter what happens!
Remember, one of the reasons King David was so successful was that he surrounded himself by those… “who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do” (1 Chron 12:32). I want you to understand what is really happening so you can always know what you need to do.
Thank you for all you do to make it possible for us to continue to take this gospel of the Kingdom to the ends of the earth so we can bring the church into harmony and usher in the return of the Lord Jesus – to end the destruction taking place, and to rule and reign in peace for a thousand years!
Blessings,
Jim
PS Make plans to participate in World Changer Weekend 2020, July 17-19, here in Huntsville or live stream! CLICK HERE for details!