Author: petebeck3

Pete Beck III ministered as a pastor and Bible teacher in Burlington for over 34 years. He is married to Martha, with whom he has four children, ten beautiful grandchildren, and four amazing great grandchildren. He ministers in his local church as a Bible teacher and counselor. He has published two books - Seeing God's Smile and Promise of the Father - as well as a wide variety of Bible-related articles which he has compiled into books in PDF form.

The Lord’s Supper – A Reminder of Our Mission

 

Among other things, the Lord’s Supper serves as a reminder of our 

We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear, 75  in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live. Luke 1:74-75 (NLT)

The Exodus marked the beginning of the nation of Israel. It was launched on Passover, which, fifty days later was followed by the first Pentecost at Mt. Sinai, where God gave the Law. The church was launched by the fulfillment of Passover at the crucifixion of Christ Jesus, which was followed three days later by his glorious resurrection and fifty days later by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the church on the New Covenant fulfillment of Pentecost.

The Lord’s Supper serves to remind us of what Jesus accomplished for us and what he expects from us.

Gospel Memorial
For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24  and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.” 25  In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it.” 26  For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (NLT)

Communion is a ongoing gospel memorial to Jesus, the true Passover Lamb. Just as the blood of that first Passover lamb was smeared on the door posts and lintels of the homes of the Israelites to protect them from God’s judgment; Jesus, our Passover, shed his blood to deliver us from God’s judgment against our sin. We deserved condemnation and death, but it fell on Jesus instead.

Communion is a symbolic proclamation or announcement of the good news that Jesus died for our sins.

Those who understand and believe the gospel message, receive the benefits of Christ’s death and resurrection by faith. The Jews celebrate Passover with a feast once a year, but Christians remember what Jesus accomplished as the true Lamb of God over and over again throughout the year.

Mission Reminder
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 (NLT)

God set Israel free from the oppressive power of Pharaoh and Egypt in one glorious event, but bringing them into the land of promise and transforming them into a nation that would bring glory and honor to God was much more difficult and is still ongoing.

Setting people free is easier than getting them to use their freedom to serve God from the heart.

Today followers of Christ are faced with the same challenge as the Israelites of old. Will we use our freedom in Christ to serve God or just go do our own thing? We have a distinct advantage over the Israelites, however: the Holy Spirit indwells every believer, giving each of us the internal desire and ability to serve him.

Jesus is not only the risen Lamb of God who suffered and died for our sins. He is also the ascended glorious Lord of lords, who poured out his Spirit on the church to commission and empower her to fulfill the Great Commission.

When we share communion, it is a chance for us to recommit ourselves to serve the Lord with all our hearts by taking the gospel to the ends of the earth and making disciples as we go.

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Ferreting Out Legalism: Part 3 – The Blame Game

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the third article in this series entitled Ferreting Out Legalism. In the first one, I took a look at how legalism attempts to measure spirituality instead of trusting in the finished work of Christ. The second article examined how legalism seeks to manipulate and control people through fear. This one focuses on how legalism focuses blame on individuals and groups in order to promote the false narrative that it is possible to earn our salvation.

Identifying the False Narrative

Psychologists recognize that we often deride and malign others in an attempt to bolster our own position or image. We sometimes project on others the things of which we are guilty ourselves. This is a form of denial. We imagine that we are guiltless, or least better than the person we judge, and feel comfortable accusing them, without realizing that, in so doing, we condemn ourselves.

Paul highlighted this sinful tendency in his letter to the church in Rome.

You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. Romans 2:1 (NLT)

Our propensity to judge others for the things for which we are also guilty reveals that we have not accepted the truth about our own sinfulness.

Jesus told a parable (Matthew 18:21-35) about a servant who owed his master an enormous debt for which he no means to pay it back. Rather than condemn this bankrupt servant to debtor’s prison, the master freely forgave the debt. Apparently this was an affront to his pride, and the servant refused to accept that he was unable to pay back the debt. He immediately set about trying to do just that by collecting much smaller debts that others owed him. When a fellow servant was unable to come up with the money owed, the forgiven servant had him thrown into debtor’s prison. When the master heard about this, he became furious and had the previously forgiven man also placed in the same prison.

The root of the first servant’s problem was his pride kept him from seeing that he was a spiritual pauper, who had to fully depend on his master’s mercy.

God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. Matthew 5:3 (NLT)

We undercut the mercy shown to us when we refuse to forgive others.

By default, our pride makes us all gravitate toward legalism.

The false narrative is that we can improve ourselves and become acceptable to God, if we try hard enough.

Some of us have been engaged in a lifelong remediation project in the hope that one day, hopefully soon, we will finally arrive at our destination – perfection. The Bible teaches that this is the surest way to frustration, anger, and depression. Pursuing perfection can totally demoralize us or turn us into mean spirited self-righteous judges.

The more we try to measure up to the demands of God’s righteousness using our own resources, the greater will be our failure.

Paul discovered this and wrote about it in his letter to the church in Rome (Romans 7:14-25). Until we come to realize how bankrupt we are, we will feel comfortable accusing and condemning ourselves, our leaders, the church, and anyone else, and, by doing so, unwittingly ally ourselves with Satan, the Accuser. (Revelation 12:10) Misery loves company.

The Price We Pay

When we judge others in an accusatory and condemning way, we heap judgment upon ourselves.

And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. 3  Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? Romans 2:2-3 (NLT)

Jesus also warned us about the flashback effect of improperly judging others.

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2  For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. Matthew 7:1-2 (NLT)

No one likes to be judged; yet, we often do it to others without regard for the negative consequences. Judging others restricts them and us. Judging invites God’s judgment into our own lives. Judging others strips away our joy and peace. When we judge someone, we lose the ability to help them or be helped by them. When we judge and condemn those in authority, we may open the door for divine judgment to fall upon us. I am truly concerned about those who call themselves Christians and who seem to feel very comfortable railing at our president. (Acts 23:5.  If you are not familiar with the stories of those who decided it was fine to attack and criticize Moses, you should read those accounts – Numbers 16. It is sobering.)

Examples

  • Sometimes I am surprised when church leaders say that the current broken state of society is the church’s fault. This presupposes that if we do everything right, everyone else will also do the right thing, which is totally false. Jesus did all the right things when it came to discipling his apostles: yet, one of them betrayed him. It certainly was not Jesus’ fault. God created Adam and Eve and gave them a perfect environment; nevertheless, at the first opportunity, they betrayed their Creator to follow Satan. Was that God’s fault? Of course not. Perfect parents, if there ever were such a thing, cannot guarantee that their children will turn out well.

The false narrative is that if we can perform well enough, we can guarantee an outcome.

If we accept the lie that the church is responsible to change the world through its performance, we fall into a legalistic trap that will lead to frustration, demoralization, or self-righteousness.

  • Some people teach that God always physically heals us when we ask him. They cite scriptures that bolster this position and insist that God is always true to his word. Therefore, if we do not receive our healing, the fault must lie in us. Elaborate schemes are developed to insure that we receive our healing. People are taught to deny that they are sick, since God has healed them already. They are encouraged to repeat over and over the verses that promise healing, in the hope that faith will grow and God will be persuaded by our persistence. I remember once when I heard that the family of a man dying from cancer would admit no one who did not hold the same belief about positively confessing healing. People who properly discerned that it was his time to die were not allowed to console and encourage him as he approached the threshold into eternity. I thank God for his promises. I thank him that Jesus paid the price for my healing. I believe that we should trust him to do just what he promised, but I also realize that it is in God’s discretion and timing how he dispenses his grace and gifts. Everyone dies eventually, and only God knows when it is our time. Jesus holds the keys of hell and death. When that moment arrives, nothing is going to stop it from happening. Likewise, before it is time for us to die, nothing can take us out by stealth.

Surrendering our lives and health to a loving and sovereign God is the surest way to peace and being able to discern what the Spirit is speaking to us about our situation.

(You can read more about this important topic in my book Seeing God’s Smile, which can be purchased on Amazon.

Conclusion

Life is so much easier and more joyful when we admit that we are spiritual paupers who depend on the mercy of God and have no right or business condemning others. There is a proper form of judgment, but it never includes condemnation. It is important that we refrain from judging ourselves, too. We get enough of that from the devil and other people.

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Ferreting Out Legalism: Part 2 – The Control Factor

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legalism and control are twins that depend on each other. God gave us freedom when he created us, but we traded our liberty for bondage when we fell for the devil’s false narrative in the garden. By pursuing what was presented as freedom from having to depend on God, we were trapped in bondage to sin and death. Jesus came to set us free once again, which we can experience if we are willing to voluntarily surrender ourselves to his benevolent lordship. Freedom is found in God. it is an unearned gift that came at great cost to our Lord. It’s opposite is the bondage of sin.

Freedom is based in truth. Bondage is founded on a lie. 

The gift of grace provides freedom; whereas, legalism, which is founded on the lie that we can and must earn our right standing with God, always produces darkness and slavery to sin. Truth produces freedom. Lies produce slavery.

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32  And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 (NLT)

At the government level, the bondage of sin produces the darkness of totalitarianism.

Totalitarian governments prey upon the fears of the populace by offering security in return for the surrender of personal freedoms.

The goal of such governments is total power, wealth, and control. Sometimes more sinister ends are pursued, such as Nazi Germany’s plan to exterminate the Jews or China’s plan to snuff out the church. Once freedoms have been forfeited, the true nature of the totalitarian government emerges, resulting in the suppression of truth and anything that sets people free on the inside, such as faith in God and free speech. Propaganda replaces the sharing of freedom producing truth and ideas. Thought and speech are monitored to make sure everyone is toeing the line and marching in lock step. Where freedom exists, people are able to worship, speak, and assemble as they see fit. They are also allowed to have the means to defend themselves.

Totalitarianism also exists at the church level. The principle is the same as in government.

The church preys upon the ignorance and fear of the people and offers them a clear path to security with God at the price of surrendering to church control.

Keep the rules and kiss the ring, and you can go to heaven.

The Roman Catholic Church maintained such control over most of Europe during the Middle Ages. As with governments, the goal was power and wealth. To achieve this the church developed elaborate schemes to hold the populace in check. The church was presented as the only gateway that common people had to reach God. They were taught that the church held the key to obtaining and maintaining a right standing with God.  Only the priests could provide the sacraments that kept open the door to God – baptism, confirmation, holy communion, confession, matrimony, holy orders, and the last rites. Common people, called the laity, were taught that they had no direct access to God, making them dependent on the the mediation of the priesthood. All of this is contrary to the New Covenant.

For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5 (NLT)

The Reformation set dynamite to this Roman church’s totalitarian structure, opening the gates to the masses to approach God directly without needing the mediation of the church or the priesthood. The Word of God became the standard for judging what is right and wrong and acceptable to God, replacing the Catholic Church’s insistence that church tradition and the infallibility of the papacy trumped the Bible.

In the brave new world of the Protestant movement, people’s freedom to worship according to the dictates of personal conscience was restored, at least partly, which introduced a greater degree of personal accountability. Reformers took advantage of this freedom to explore and develop their own versions of what it meant to follow God, resulting in an explosion of new sects and denominations. But the Reformation did not deal with the inherent desire in humanity to control others. Soon the Protestants were seeking such control over the new sects, even to the point of persecution. Some things never change.

Today, in America, where at the moment we still have freedom to worship as we see fit, we usually find legalistic control at the denominational and local church levels.

We are free to associate with whatever church we choose, but sometimes we may find ourselves being manipulated and controlled within the church of our choice. Here are some of the things to which we should be alert in our quest to ferret out and free ourselves from legalism.

Insistence of the Acceptance of Non-essential Doctrines and Positions

An essential doctrine is one that is required for us to be called a Christian. If God does not require it for entrance into heaven, it is not essential here on earth either.

Any church or leader that requires members to adhere to doctrines that fall into the non-essential category should be questioned as to why? If we are satisfied with the answer, we may wish to stay. If not, we probably should leave.

Church leaders sometimes use their influence to pursue personal “pet” projects. For example, the United Methodist Church has aligned itself with the LGBT and transgender positions, forcing its members to choose between adhering to traditional biblical morality and leave the church or stay with the denomination as it careens away from biblical truth. Those members who have no firm anchor in God’s Word will likely be swept away by the church’s improper use of its influence and power. If you are in a church that is more loyal to a popular societal position than to God’s truth, get out before you partake it its judgment.

The Exaltation of Leaders

Totalitarian regimes, even in the church, always have a privileged ruling class. Jesus taught that a qualifier for leadership in his kingdom is being a servant.

But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26  But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27  and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28  For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28 (NLT)

If you see that your church improperly exalts its leaders, it should serve as a red flag. It is always appropriate to honor our leaders (1 Thessalonians 5:12, 1 Timothy 5:17), but never to put them in a separate status above the rest of the church.

The Attempt to Control Personal Decisions

Our forefathers in America during the Great Awakening defined slavery in a broad sense as not being allowed to follow the dictates of our own conscience. They were willing to fight and die to secure this freedom, but today we meekly acquiesce when the government routinely strips us of making personal decisions, such as during the coronavirus lock down. During what was called the Discipleship Movement a few decades ago, church members were told not to make everyday family decisions, such as buying new appliances or a car, without checking in first with whomever was in their discipleship up line.

It is never a good thing to make decisions for other adults because it strips away dignity and hinders personal and spiritual growth.

Paul made it clear that we are never to seek such dominance over the faith of others.

But that does not mean we want to dominate you by telling you how to put your faith into practice. We want to work together with you so you will be full of joy, for it is by your own faith that you stand firm. 2 Corinthians 1:24 (NLT)

If you are in such a church, get out before you get used to being a slave.

The Attempt to Control Thought and Speech

Our society is currently being assaulted by the thought and speech police who run Big Tech and who censor and seek to manipulate political outcomes in violation of our First Amendment rights. We are being told what words we can use, what positions we can have, and with what political party we should align.

The church sometimes has been duped into adopting a false sense of guilt and responsibility built on a false narrative.

For example, we are told that refusing to embrace the LGBT position is tantamount to a hate crime. However, if the Bible is true, we must love those who embrace that sinful lifestyle and proclaim that this way of doing life is in direct opposition to the purposes and plan of the Creator and will ultimately end in death and destruction. The gospel does not condemn us in our sin, but offers a way out. We condemn ourselves if we refuse the offer. God’s judgment against sin stands. The only remedy is faith in Jesus. The church is to operate in the dynamic tension between loving people who have been deceived and captured by sin while holding to the biblical position that all sin will be judged. Jesus did this, and the Holy Spirit can help us to share the truth with love, too.

If we find ourselves in a church that tries to control thought and speech, we must flee and find somewhere that allows people to pursue God in accordance with their own conscience and understanding of God’s Word.

Healthy churches teach biblical truth and encourage their people to check it out for themselves.

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 see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. Acts 17:11 (NLT)

Conclusion

In writing this article, I have made the presupposition that the reader understands that freedom does not preclude the proper function of godly authority in the church. The road we travel has two ditches to avoid: antinomianism and legalism. We live in a dynamic tension between freedom and control. True freedom is allowing God’s Spirit to control us. He uses people to help us along the way, especially church leaders, who are responsible before God for their flock. They are charged with teaching God’s truth, encouraging the weak and faint hearted, rebuking the headstrong when they plunge into sin and error, and even on occasion administering church discipline.

We must live in a dynamic tension between properly listening to those whom God placed in authority in our lives, while maintaining personal responsibility before God for our thoughts and actions.

Likewise, church leaders must always evaluate how far their authority can be properly exercised without damaging their people’s relationship with God. As with government, less is better.

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Ferreting Out Legalism: Part 1 – How do we measure up?

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the business world people are always looking for ways to measure success. Investors have come up with elaborate measurement systems to evaluate stock values. Corporate executives want to prove their effectiveness as leaders by showing measurable success. Since the goal of most businesses is profit, success is usually measured in this regard. However, if profitability is the only aspect of success, it is likely that important values will be sacrificed in the pursuit of the bottom line.

We live in a time when a large segment of the church has adopted corporate policies and methods from the business world with corresponding ways to measure success. The modern church growth movement is largely responsible, but it is part of human nature to want to gauge how we are doing on our spiritual journey. The Three Bs have been used by measurement minded pastors for years: bodies, bucks, and buildings. Rate of growth, numbers in attendance, and new baptisms are sometimes factored into the body count. Many times pastors try to leave their mark on congregations and their resumes by being the instrument for pulling off a building project, often saddling the congregation with debt and the pressure to maintain a high level of attendance and giving.

Measuring success by these three parameters pressures church leaders to corrupt the gospel.

Jesus set the bar very high for his followers and often “thinned the herd” by reminding them of the high cost of discipleship. Churches that major on attendance often struggle between preaching God’s unadulterated truth and being seeker friendly enough to keep people coming back. The pressure to keep church income high enough to cover the cost of staff, programs, and facilities can put pressure on leaders to overlook the sins and offenses of large donors and to target the most prosperous segments of society in violation of Christ’s clear command not to do this. (Luke 14:13-14) Measuring success by financial gauges can also lead to an unhealthy emphasis on money that drives some people away from the church and the gospel.

What does this have to do with this series topic, “Ferreting Out Legalism?” Legalism is a broad term that can be defined in various ways. In a biblical context, its opposite is salvation by grace through faith alone. Christ perfectly accomplished everything needed for our salvation. We do not need to add anything to it except our allegiance to Christ and trust in his promises.

Legalism, however, always measures a person’s spiritual status by demanding the addition of something to simple faith in Christ’s perfect work on our behalf, whether it is insisting on adherence to some outward standard of behavior or submitting to some form of control.

The early legalists insisted that Gentile believers not only must declare allegiance to Christ but also had to be circumcised, which was the Old Covenant proof of belonging to God. Paul decried this demand as an affront to what Christ had already accomplished through his death and resurrection. The proof that God did not require this addition to the gospel was that the Holy Spirit was given to believing Gentiles who had never been circumcised. If God accepted them without being circumcised, how could the church not?

Paul refused to allow the legalists to define Christianity in terms of adherence to outward standards.

For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I might live for God. 20  My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21  I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die. Galatians 2:19-21 (NLT)

A simple way to identify legalism is to ask ourselves if some standard is being used to measure our devotion to Christ other than our inner faith and outward verbal confession of allegiance to him. (Romans 10:9-10)

Legalism can be as obvious as a church forbidding its members to smoke cigarettes or as subtle as insisting that they make some sort of public statement in favor of a political hot button topic. It can be as easy to discern as insisting that only a priest can forgive our sins or as hidden as making non-essential doctrines a litmus test for church membership. Anything that attempts to measure our performance, demands that we adhere to some outward standard of behavior, or seeks to control us through spiritual means smells of legalism.

Trusting in God’s grace means we set our focus on Christ himself rather than evaluate our own spiritual development.

Think about it: can we ever really know how we are progressing spiritually? Isn’t trying to do so a trap? Paul wrote about this.

As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point. 4  My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide. 5  So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due. 1 Corinthians 4:3-5 (NLT)

By now I hope you understand that this article is only for serious disciples. If you are looking for an excuse to give yourself over to some form of sin in the name of freedom from legalism, you are going down the wrong path and in serious danger. But if we are honestly pursuing Christ, we need to be encouraged to disregard every man made report card.

There is no effective way to measure how we are doing spiritually because it has already been accomplished by Christ on our behalf.

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT)
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Why Apprenticeship Works Best for Making Disciples

 

 

 

 

 

Those who take seriously the need to produce disciples who can disciple others have come up with all sorts of strategies to get this done – everything from seminary to in house training by the local church. Any discussion about making disciples begs the question: “What exactly are we trying to accomplish?” I have heard ministers who went through seminary complain that they never learned the practical side of things that would have helped them navigate the “real world.” Do we really think that filling a person with biblical and theological truth is all they need? Should we not be preparing people to live out the teachings of Jesus, including the Great Commission, and teach others to do the same? Isn’t that what making disciples is all about?

The seminary route assumes that Christian leaders are formed primarily by consuming, digesting, and regurgitating significant amounts of prescribed information about theology, the Bible, ethics, counseling, and a variety of related topics in a location that is generally separate from the local church setting. It is a classic “Greek” methodology which treats knowledge as an abstract, divorced of action. The presupposition is that the highest good is right thinking about doctrine. Unsurprisingly, this is the surest route to produce self-righteous heresy hunters and anti-God Pharisees. It is also a proven way to convince people that the doing part of being a disciple is not that important. Attending multiple church services per week replaces evangelism in the priority list. I contend that using the classroom approach to making disciples actually produces good church goers and Bible students, not true disciples who take seriously the Great Commission.

Interestingly, the classroom approach was not the strategy Jesus used.

Jesus trained and equipped apprentices using a combination of oral teaching, ministry demonstration and inclusion, and sending out to do what was taught and demonstrated.

Jesus’ goal was to produce men and women who had a vision and understanding of how to “go” to the world carrying the words of the gospel in the power of the Spirit, and who were equipped and able to minister healing and deliverance, while standing up to the hostilities they would receive from the Jewish leaders and Roman state. Do we really have a better plan?

Jesus was criticized by the “seminarians” of his day (the Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees) for not having been properly taught. His main men were considered to be ignorant fisherman. His sermons were simple affairs filled with stories and examples drawn from the lives of common people. There is no record that Jesus taught his apostles any sort of a “systematic” theology, used any written manuals of instruction, or developed a formal system for making disciples. He seemed to operate “by the seat of his pants” (doing what he saw his Father do – John 5:19) as he took his followers with him on ministry trips and used the opportunities that presented themselves to instruct them on a variety of topics as needed.

I believe a case can be made for the effectiveness of disciple development by using what seem to be “random” opportunities for teaching, demonstration, and discussions related to real life situations that we all face on a daily basis.

The classroom approach usually assigns a prescribed “course of study” that seeks to include all the basic things that a disciple should know. Once the student completes this course of study satisfactorily, he or she receives a certificate or diploma acknowledging the accomplishment. This in turn may become their “ticket” for being hired into the ministry. Jesus did not do this. How did he know when his disciples knew enough to survive and thrive as his ministry representatives? The answer is that he trusted the Holy Spirit to teach them what they needed to know as they went forward – a kind of on the job training.

But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. John 14:26 (NLT)

Most people, especially new followers of Jesus, have enough “issues” going on in their lives that those of us who are engaged in discipleship development will never lack something to talk about when we get together with them. We gain traction in the transformation process when we apply Christ’s teaching to the real life issues they currently face.

Most of what we need to know in order to properly love and serve our Lord is fairly simple. It’s the application that is challenging. Most disciple development should consist of putting simple truths into practice, not perfecting deeper and deeper theological understanding. Of course there is a need for solid doctrinal training, but it is not the core of disciple development.

Putting Christ’s teachings, including the Great Commission, into practice in everyday life must be our focus.

A great plan for working with most individuals might be for them to be responsible for reading portions of Scripture on their own and making notes of anything they want to discuss. When a disciple maker meets with his or her developing disciples, the first thing to talk about might be what is going on in their lives that is a challenge. This should not be some formal or hurried endeavor; rather, it should be done perhaps over a cup of coffee in casual conversation. The disciple maker should be genuinely interested in the life of the person with whom he or she is working; otherwise, the whole process will be somewhat of a sham and never get below the surface. There is too much superficial Christianity already – people who know what the Bible teaches but do not put it into practice.

The disciple developer will be amazed how many teaching opportunities there will be in the context of talking about everyday matters. Once that “stream” has dried up, if there is still time, discussion can center around what the disciple has been reading in the Bible. Of course, the entire thing should be “organic” and develop as led by the Spirit. You may end up praying or discussing theology. Who can say? That is what makes each encounter interesting.

If you are developing a potential leader and someone who likely will be teaching others, more attention should be given to teaching sound principles of doctrine. A book that lays out this sort of thing could be assigned for reading and discussed. Ultimately there should be a hunger in the disciple that will propel him or her to seek deeper understanding. You can lead a horse to water…

Lastly, but by no means least, developing disciples should participate in ministry, outreach, and developing the next generation of disciples.

If we produce Bible scholars who are not fishing for men and making disciples, we are teaching people to disobey Christ.

If we fail to develop men and women who in turn make their own disciples, we have failed in the Great Commission. Churches have been fairly successful at developing churchgoers, but our God given mandate is to focus on disciple development instead. The goal and strategy for the two are entirely different.

Disciple development has to be hands on, organic, Spirit-led, and Christ-focused. It must include following Christ’s teachings in everyday life and ministry to those around us.

It also must have a multi-generational approach to disciple development. If the church is going to grow and multiply as it should, this sort of development must be practiced by all followers of Christ. We cannot afford to spend years developing seminarians who may not even know how to reach and disciple the Jesus way. Jesus turned over the keys of his kingdom to “regular” people after a mere three years of apprenticeship. This is amazing and very challenging to those of us who prefer to develop ministry systems.

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Overcoming Barriers to Following Jesus

 

 

 

 

 

You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.Matthew 7:13-14 (NLT)

Jesus warned that being his disciple is only for those who are willing to pay a price.

Because we are born with a sin nature and are inherently self-centered, we all tend to take the easy way, just as water seeks the path of least resistance. Very few embrace the difficult path by choice, but that is exactly what Jesus tells us to do. Is it any wonder that many of his would be disciples turned back from following him? Let’s look at some of the barriers to following Jesus that are listed in Luke’s gospel and see how we might overcome them.

Pressures from Family

If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:26 (NLT)

One of the first hurdles every follower of Christ likely will face is the conflict between following Jesus and pleasing his or her family. Being a disciple is not something we do it our spare time. It is not something we tack on to our lives without fundamentally altering everything else. Following Jesus is more like gutting a home and totally remodeling it than simply rearranging the furniture. Following Jesus means that we love him more than any other person or thing. Our relatives may misinterpret our dedication to Christ as hatred toward them. Some followers of Christ have suffered the loss of their families. This is a painful test which many fail.

If we cannot put Jesus ahead of family, we will get mired into compromise and disobedience, and our testimony to the family will be ruined.

We can only walk with those with whom we can agree to follow the same path. (Amos 3:3) The only way to overcome this barrier is to steel ourselves against rejection and trust the Holy Spirit to give us the strength to put God ahead of everything else, even family.

Putting Our Own Interests First

And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:27 (NLT)

A cross was an horrible instrument of torture and death. Everyone who heard these words must have inwardly cringed. No one wanted to be crucified. Why would Jesus link following him with dying on a cross? This was not merely a metaphor. Many of his followers would die painful deaths for their allegiance to Jesus.

We are all inwardly motivated to preserve our lives, sometimes at all costs. The second barrier to discipleship is overcoming the impulse or habit to put ourselves first without regard for God’s will or the best interests of others. Being a disciple means we follow Jesus wherever he may lead and we fish for people. Sharing the gospel is potentially a dangerous business, especially in closed countries. But even here in the USA people may suffer for their declared allegiance to Christ and his teachings. Following Christ means we choose to embrace our Lord and the gospel, no matter what the personal cost. God has a vested interest in enlarging his family, which happens when the gospel is shared and believed.

People who do not yet know Christ have a desperate need to hear the gospel, which trumps our desire for self-preservation. Jesus calls his followers to put their self interests behind his and those they serve, trusting that God will take care of them.

Following Jesus may require us to make choices that may not always seem to be in our own best interests. In these cases we must choose Christ’s interests over our own.

These choices can involve to whom we relate , where we live, whom we marry, what job we take, how we spend our money and time, and possibly even whether we live or die. Martyrs make the choice to remain steadfast to Jesus at the cost of their own lives. This is the ultimate death to self, but the smaller day to day choices are what challenge most of us. The ability to put others first and trust God to take care of us is a true test of faith. Overcoming the barrier of self-interest can be done with God’s help. We must trust the Holy Spirit to do this deep work in our hearts.

Paying the Piper

But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? 29  Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. 30  They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’ 31  “Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? 32  And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. 33  So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own. Luke 14:28-33 (NLT)

The third hurdle for every disciple is the financial cost of following Jesus, who is Lord of all, even our money. The rich young man chose not to follow Jesus because he was unwilling to part with his wealth. Wealth represents different things to different people. It can be our ticket to comfort and material things. For others it provides security. Still others imagine that it provides power, recognition, and esteem.

Parting with our money means we are willing to let go of what it gives us and choose to trust God to provide those things instead.

The rich young ruler (Luke 18:18-24) did not realize he loved money more than God. He was surprised that Jesus’ offer of a place in his discipleship band carried such a heavy price tag – giving away all his wealth. When faced with having to make a choice between keeping his money or following Christ, he chose the former, to his own detriment and sadness. Jesus does not want us to be caught by surprise as was the young ruler, but to intelligently consider the cost of discipleship prior to launching out on our journey with him.

Jesus claims the right to all we have because he is our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. If he demands that we give it all away to please him, we must do that. The cost of discipleship is more than monetary, however. Following Jesus will cost us our time, energy, freedom, family relationships, and may even impinge on our health. We must be willing to pay any and every price in order to follow Jesus. (Read Acts 4:34-37.) What financial cost have you paid to follow Jesus? What other costs have you incurred?

Overcoming this barrier requires that we honestly face our relationship with money and choose to put God first, trusting the Holy Spirit to develop faith in us that God is our ultimate Provider.

The Willingness to Endure Conflict

Anyone who chooses to follow Jesus will experience resistance and conflict. Spiritual warfare comes from the devil and from people who have a worldly perspective and are thus, often unwittingly, aligned with Satan. Our enemy seeks to harass, intimidate, demoralize, and stop the work of God. The more important our call and role is in God’s kingdom, the more intense the warfare we should expect. God does not want us to be surprised by this, nor does he want us to surrender. God has made his children more than conquerors, but it takes courage and perseverance to overcome the enemy.

Spiritual warfare does not always show up the way we might expect.

Suddenly everything may seem to start “going wrong.” Appliances or automobiles break. Loved ones get sick. Strife erupts. Discouragement pays a visit. Unless we are alert, we may be well on our way to losing the battle without even knowing that we are under attack.

Disciples need to be alert and determined to acknowledge and praise God in all things because we truly believe Romans 8:28. Once we understand that we are in warfare, it actually gets easier to make a stand.

We cannot afford to be uninformed and oblivious to the devil’s tactics. (Read Ephesians 6:10-18.)

What was the most costly conflict you have endured thus far that came as a result of being a disciple of Jesus? Were you surprised when it happened? Had you already made up your mind to push through it, or did you have to regroup? Have any loved ones suffered as a result of your commitment to Jesus? How is this different from personal suffering?

Overcoming this barrier to discipleship requires that we choose up front to keep going when we encounter conflict and resistance – spiritual warfare. Retreat and surrender cannot be an option. Double minded people are unstable and often abandon ship in the midst of a storm. Ask the Holy Spirit to inwardly fortify you to endure warfare.

Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13 (NLT)

Giving Up Everything

The last instruction Jesus gave to his followers was to renounce everything they owned. When we declare allegiance to Christ at water baptism, unknown to many, Jesus gets us to sign a blank check. He will choose when, where, and how much the amount will be collected, up to everything we have.

It is one thing to agree to the principle of Jesus’ ownership of everything, but it is quite another to deliberately renounce our “rights” to all we own.

Renunciation makes it official. All we have belongs to Jesus and every good gift comes from God. He allows us to use it as he sees fit, and we should be ready to dispose of it at a moment’s notice. Whoa! Did just write that? Yes, I did.

Renunciation does not mean we do not appreciate or get to enjoy what God has given us. It means nothing “owns” us but God.

This is not necessarily a one and done proposition. We will probably need to continually disentangle ourselves from the pull of what we have until the day we let go of it all at death. He does not require the same things at the same time from everyone. We cannot compare ourselves to others in this matter. Ours is to faithfully follow our Lord.

Prayer

Jesus, I choose to be your disciple and I embrace the cost. I choose my relationship with you over all my other relationships. I am willing to be rejected by people who may misunderstand or hate my loyalty to you. My desire is for my family and friends to walk together with me on this journey of faith, but, if need be, I choose to put you ahead of them, no matter how much it hurts to do so. Lord, forgive me for loving myself more than I love you. I purpose to put you first from now on. Help me to boldly embrace any persecution or suffering which may accompany boldly witnessing to you and sharing the gospel. I choose to carry my cross daily and put your will over mine whenever there is a conflict. Lord, I give you my finances. All I have came from you and belongs to you, and I give it back to you. Help me to never back away from any cost associated with following you, even if it means death. Help me never to retreat or surrender to the attacks from Satan and those who serve him. I renounce everything I have – my relationships, my choices, my money, my right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, my comfort, my time, my peace – so that I can please you. I know that you will give me back more than I can ever give you. I totally depend on your grace and Holy Spirit to enable me to follow you as a disciple. Allow me to be an encourager to all those who call on your name. Amen.

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How to Identify a Satanic Attack: Part 3 – Mockery, Fear, and Intimidation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When lies and false accusations fail to accomplish their ends, the devil and his allies will resort to mockery, intimidation, threats, and fear to derail us from God’s purposes.

When Nehemiah endeavored to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, he encountered every form of satanic resistance and attack. The book of the Bible named after him is one of the best study guides for identifying and countering deception.

King Artaxerxes of Persia authorized Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem’s wall. When the Jews under Nehemiah’s command made the decision to take on this prodigious task, here is the first thing Israel’s enemies said.

But when Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arab heard of our plan, they scoffed contemptuously. “What are you doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” they asked. Nehemiah 2:19 (NLT)

This statement contains mockery combined with a false accusation. The last thing these three men wanted to see was Israel return to any sort of strength. But Nehemiah refused to be intimidated. He replied:

...“The God of heaven will help us succeed. We, his servants, will start rebuilding this wall. But you have no share, legal right, or historic claim in Jerusalem.” Nehemiah 2:20 (NLT)

Work was begun immediately resulting in tremendous progress being made.

Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews, 2  saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, “What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?” 3  Tobiah the Ammonite, who was standing beside him, remarked, “That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!” Nehemiah 4:1-3 (NLT)

The purpose of mockery in demoralization. If the enemy can discourage us, we may stop ourselves, without his having to actively resist in any way. Being made fun of is a powerful weapon. We must steel ourselves against being thought of poorly by others. What others think is not our business.

Nehemiah recognized it as a formidable attack and responded appropriately.

Then I prayed, “Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land! 5  Do not ignore their guilt. Do not blot out their sins, for they have provoked you to anger here in front of the builders.” Nehemiah 4:4-5 (NLT)

If mockery fails to accomplish its objective, God’s enemies will escalate things.

But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the work was going ahead and that the gaps in the wall of Jerusalem were being repaired, they were furious. 8  They all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into confusion. 9  But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves. Nehemiah 4:7-9 (NLT)

The threat of physical violence is designed to either harm or kill us or to incapacitate us through fear and confusion. If we have to defend ourselves, how can we get anything done? Another possible response to the threat of violence is to cease from doing what provokes the enemy’s anger. Nehemiah refused to be intimidated.

So I placed armed guards behind the lowest parts of the wall in the exposed areas. I stationed the people to stand guard by families, armed with swords, spears, and bows. 14  Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!” 15  When our enemies heard that we knew of their plans and that God had frustrated them, we all returned to our work on the wall. 16  But from then on, only half my men worked while the other half stood guard with spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. The leaders stationed themselves behind the people of Judah 17  who were building the wall. The laborers carried on their work with one hand supporting their load and one hand holding a weapon. 18  All the builders had a sword belted to their side. The trumpeter stayed with me to sound the alarm. Nehemiah 4:13-18 (NLT)

When we are under satanic attack, as was Nehemiah, we must be prepared to encounter mockery, fear, and intimidation without letting those things deter us from doing God’s will.

Later Israel’s enemies lied and falsely accused the Jews of rebellion to the Persian government, but that tactic was overcome, too. In 52 days, the wall was completed, an amazing feat.

We are not trying to rebuild a physical wall. Instead, followers of Christ today are working to build and extend God’s kingdom here on earth through preaching the gospel and making disciples. Satan works overtime to keep us from obeying God in these two areas. It is my firm belief that the devil will tolerate many things that churches do, such as fellowship, pray, worship, and teach the Bible.

However, when a local assembly makes the commitment to pursue obedience to the Great Commission, it can expect to encounter strong satanic resistance.

When this happens, a decision must be made whether that church will continue on course or abandon the quest to obey God.

Applying these principles to the national political scene, the COVID-19 panic has contained every element of a satanic attack.

We were lied to regarding the mortality rate of the disease, which induced us to fear and opened us to take draconian measures that limited our freedom and greatly damaged our economy. In other words, lies and fear led us to make self-destructive decisions. People who questioned the data and conclusions were mocked and cut off from having a platform to voice their dissenting ideas, which were labeled as “harmful disinformation” by Big Tech. Government officials used threats and intimidation to keep the populace at bay. They falsely accused dissenters of needlessly killing people by minimizing the deadliness of the virus. This is the most un-American thing I have ever witnessed in my lifetime – a stripping of our rights under the pretext of increasing our safety. Now the question is whether or not the people of this nation will continue to submit to such governmental tyranny and censorship by Big Tech.

The people of our nation have an opportunity to rebuild the walls provided by our Constitution that insure personal liberty. Our forefathers were willing to take on the most powerful nation in the world to establish this nation. They did it because freedom was better than life in bondage for them. Nehemiah was willing to endure the mockery, lies, threats, and even physical attack in order to rebuild Jerusalem. Restoring Jerusalem was more valuable than his own life. But we are part of something so much bigger – the kingdom of God, which will never be destroyed. Earthly kingdoms come and go, but God’s kingdom never ends.

But let us not forget that if the United States ever “flips” into totalitarianism, the church will come under intense attack. At that point, we will be tested in our willingness to stand up to every form of satanic attack all the way to martyrdom.

What do we value enough to fight for?

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How to Identify a Satanic Attack: Part 2 – False Accusations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the most revealing names given to Satan by the Bible is the “Accuser.”

Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, “It has come at last— salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth— the one who accuses them before our God day and night. Revelation 12:10 (NLT)

Satan began his assault on humanity by accusing God to Eve.

He claimed that God did not have her best interests in mind, could not be trusted, and should be disobeyed. It worked. Sinful people gravitate toward “dirt.” We more easily believe a lie than we do the truth in many cases. The closer to the truth we come with our accusation, the better it is. If Satan was not afraid to accuse God, he certainly will have no qualms about accusing us!

False accusations are violations of God’s command not to bear false witness.

Lying about people in order to convict them in court is called perjury, and carries a heavy penalty. Lodging false accusations against people is also a sin that carries a heavy price tag because it has the potential to destroy lives. God’s justice will see to it that liars are punished.

Modern politics is largely accusatory. Guilt or innocence is not the issue. Mud is thrown in the hope that some of it will stick in the minds of the voting populace. The current case of General Flynn bears this out. He was set up by President Trump’s enemies who framed him, bore false witness against him, ruined his sparkling military career, besmirched his character publicly, bankrupted him and his family, stole his freedom, and disrupted his life for years.

Jesus said that Satan is a “thief” whose goal is to steal, kill, and destroy. (John 10:10) False accusations are a tool to accomplish that end.

Being falsely accused is one of the most difficult of tests. Everything in us wants to set the record straight. It is a fundamental violation of our character, integrity, and our reputation. Jesus endured this test without feeling the need to retaliate because he fully trusted in God’s ability and promise to eventually vindicate him.

But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the LORD; their vindication will come from me. I, the LORD, have spoken! Isaiah 54:17 (NLT)

Waiting for God’s vindication is difficult, but the reward will be worth it.

Looking at the current political landscape in America, it is obvious that we are under a severe satanic assault in relationship to the use of false accusation.

The mainstream media has relentlessly accused Trump and his supporters for the last several years. Almost all of these accusations have been proved false, but this has not stopped the president’s enemies for continuing their railing against him. Accusing authority falsely will be punished severely. Keep your eyes wide open to watch this happen down the road. God will see to it.

So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment. 10  He is especially hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desire, and who despise authority. These people are proud and arrogant, daring even to scoff at supernatural beings without so much as trembling. 2 Peter 2:9-10 (NLT)

Lately in response to the COVID-19 shutdown, we are being encouraged to accuse our neighbors by reporting them to the authorities if they appear to violate the stay in place orders. Totalitarian societies use this tactic to keep their citizenry under their thumb.

Such accusation is a betrayal of friendship and breaks down trust in a society. It is a tool of the devil used to demoralize a populace. He uses it to steal our freedom, kill our joy, and destroy our lives.

When people begin to accuse one another, you can be sure the devil is hard at work. When leaders are falsely accused, our eyes should be wide open to his operations.

How Can We Defend Ourselves?

When Satan accuses us of being sinners, he is right. After following his rotten advice in the garden, mankind has been on a downward trajectory. We are born with a sin nature called the “old man” or the “flesh” whose natural desire is to rebel against God. Jesus came and died on the cross as God’s Lamb. He took the accusations, the guilt, and the punishment for our sins, so that we can walk free of all three.

“I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life. John 5:24 (NLT)

The first defense against Satan’s accusations is to accept what Christ did to free us from them. Now when Satan accuses those of us who trust in Christ n order to condemn us, he is a liar and engaging in false testimony.

Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34  Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Romans 8:33-34 (NLT)

In the courtroom of heaven, God is the judge, the defense lawyer, and the jury. When Satan falsely accuses us, the case is thrown out of court immediately. This was settled over 2000 years ago. On an individual basis, we have been set free from the power of false accusation in the spiritual realm.

But what about the natural world in which we live? How can we defend ourselves and our nation against the accuser of the brethren?

The first thing we can do is pray that God will expose this activity of the devil and cause it to backfire.

We can also point out when false accusation is being employed by those around us. This is similar to exposing the activity of a gossip. It needs to be brought to the light. Lastly, we can make sure we do not engage in the same.

There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you. James 2:13 (NLT)

False accusers show no mercy, and none will be shown to them. Let’s be mercy people. The Lord knows we need mercy; so, let’s sow it in order to reap the same.

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How to Identify a Satanic Attack: Part 1 – Lies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The more understanding we gain, the easier it becomes to navigate life. Knowledge relates to facts and information. Understanding assembles knowledge in a systematic way that gives insight. Wisdom uses knowledge and understanding to plot a prudent course of action. Satan undermines a society by sabotaging the flow of truthful information, which short circuits the ability to gain understanding and act with wisdom.

The Bible says that Satan is the “father of lies” and that “there is no truth in him.” (John 8:44) He overthrew Adam and Eve by lying to them about God’s character and motives.

A chief characteristic of a Satanic attack is deception.

Any person or organization that lies as a matter of course is satanically affiliated and is motivated and empowered by hell. (James 3:6) Over the past several years politics and reporting by the media has been characterized by deception and misinformation. You connect the dots. Many realize what is happening, which is maddening. Others, who have lost their ability to judge truth from falsehood, have no clue that they are being duped.

Booker T. Washington said it well. “A lie doesn’t become truth, wrong doesn’t become right, and evil doesn’t become good, just because it’s accepted by a majority.”

Since lying is satanic, those who give themselves over to lying become tools of the devil.

The scariest thing that can happen to a person is for God to give him or her over to the evil from which they refuse to renounce. (Romans 1:24, 26, 28) If that happens, there is no escape. Repentance is a gift from God, and if the Holy Spirit stops working in someone to influence them toward good, the evil present in them will gain mastery over them.

“Why are you so angry?” the LORD asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? 7  You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” Genesis 4:6-7 (NLT)

Sin mastered Cain because he refused to repent from his hatred and bitterness, resulting in his murder of Abel. This is what happened to Pharaoh when he repeatedly went back on his word and “hardened his heart” against God. When we refuse to respond to the Spirit’s promptings to turn away from evil, the Bible says that God “hardens our hearts.” (Exodus 9:12) The Lord gives some people over to their sin. He stops actively working to turn them away from their habitual disobedience, thereby allowing them to become captives to Satan to do his will. Paul wrote:

A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. 25  Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. 26  Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants. 2 Timothy 2:24-26 (NLT)

Abandonment of the truth leads to captivity by Satan. Large numbers of people in our government and the media have given themselves over to lying and have become active agents in a satanic attack on our country.

The purpose of satanic deception is to undermine our faith in God and human authority and cause us to make destructive decisions, thereby bringing upon ourselves God’s judgment.

This is how the first lie worked in the garden of Eden, and this is how Satan operates today. False information leads to bad conclusions which result in destructive actions. It should be obvious that this is happening all around us, especially in government, but also in society at large. Large numbers of people have swallowed lies regarding homosexuality, transgenderism, sex outside of marriage, abortion, and so on.

Believing lies results in disobedience to God, bringing upon ourselves the negative consequences associated with sin.

Nobody ever “gets away with” sin. We always reap what we sow, eventually.

How Do We Defend Ourselves?

The key to fending off satanic attacks is to first discern the nature of the attack, which allows us to respond appropriately. It should be obvious that the antidote for lies is the truth. Armed with the truth, we can make our stand against the lies and schemes of the devil.

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11  Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12  For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13  Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14  Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. Ephesians 6:10-14 (NLT)

Jesus is the Truth. He stands opposed to Satan’s lies. His truth sets us free from the power of the lie.

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32  And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 (NLT)

Once we embrace truth, it is like turning on the lights. The dark power of the lie simply goes away. It cannot survive exposure to the light.

Our job is to be proclaimers of truth, which starts with sharing the gospel. It includes a wholesale acceptance of the Bible as God’s written truth to us. God’s Word is truth. (John 17:17) But our responsibility extends beyond the confines of religion. We are to stand for truth in every area. We must be declarers of truth wherever we discover that lies are being propagated. In our day, this is nearly everywhere: government, education, medicine, the news media, television, the movies… the list goes on. Remember:

He [Satan, the anitchrist] will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. 11  So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. 12  Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 (NLT)
Steps to Freedom
  1. Confess that Jesus, who is the Truth, is your Lord. To follow Christ is to embrace truth.
  2. Read, think about, and put into practice the teachings of the Bible.
  3. Repent in any area where you have embraced deception.
  4. Become a truth teller.
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What Are We Waiting For?

 

 

 

 

The disciples ask Jesus to eat something, but he replied that he had food of which they knew nothing. As they wondered aloud what he meant…

Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. 35  You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. 36  The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! 37  You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true. 38  I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.” John 4:34-38 (NLT)

Principle: What Are We Waiting For?

The disciples were asleep to the opportunities for sharing the gospel that were all around them.

There is a joy that is associated with sharing the gospel and leading people to faith in Christ that is more satisfying than food. In another place, Jesus told his followers about this.

In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away! Luke 15:7 (NLT)

Most of the church seems to find their satisfaction in hanging around other believers. If you are reading this article, I hope it is because you feel the pull to be an ambassador for Christ who ventures out of the comfort and safety of the local church to search out those who are open to the gospel. If you are, be encouraged by Jesus’ words. Whether or not we are in the midst of an awakening, the harvest is ripe. There are people whom the Holy Spirit has prepared to hear and believe the Good News!

Being Christ’s ambassador is perhaps the most satisfying occupation in the world.

It was more important to our Lord than food. May the Spirit of God awaken us to the opportunities around us. May he give us the love and boldness to engage people. May he equip and inspire us to operate in the supernatural realm of the gifts of the Spirit, and may he give us success in effectively sharing the gospel. If all that happens, the only thing that remains is to disciple our converts to become just as we are – followers of Christ and fishers of men.

Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” Matthew 4:19 (NLT)
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