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.

Train Disciples to Cast Out Demons

In order to fulfill the Great Commission, disciples need to be competent to share the gospel and possess ministry skills. Disciple making churches believe that the five-fold (or ascension gift) ministries of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher (Ephesians 4:11-12) exist to equip and launch the rest of the church into ministry, which includes competency in sharing the gospel, healing the sick, and casting out demons.

Jesus gave his followers authority to set people free from demonic oppression.

And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:7–8 (NKJV)

The Lord taught that casting out demons is one of the signs of the coming of God’s kingdom on earth.

But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. Matthew 12:28 (NLT)

Although the Bible does not give us conclusive information on the origin and identity of demons, it makes it abundantly clear that they exist and pose a very real danger.

Any serious Bible-believing disciple must acknowledge that demons exist and come to terms with his or her responsibility to help people be released from their oppression.

Materialists usually dismiss the supernatural out of hand. Even those who profess to believe the Bible may find it “difficult to swallow” that people have demons. In Jesus’ day their were no asylums for those suffering various forms of insanity and torment. They had to be cared for by family or were simply abandoned, as in the case of the Gadarene demoniac. (Mark 5:1-20) Today we usually hide and medicate the most severely demonized. The less severely affected probably don’t even know what their problem is.

Demon oppression is misunderstood, thanks to how it is presented in the movies, lack of proper teaching, and our general fear and avoidance of the supernatural. Many conceive of demon oppression as “possession,” which is unfortunately how some versions of the Bible translate the Greek word daimonizomai.

To be biblically accurate, we should say that people are “demonized,” not possessed.

Possession infers ownership; whereas, demonization communicates the idea of being oppressed, which can take place at various levels.

Using the false notion of “possession,” some argue that it is not possible for a Christian to have a demon, since we are owned or “possessed” by God’s Spirit. When we properly translate the word as demonized, we see that believers can be demon oppressed, and, in fact, many are. (If you wish to read more about how people become demonized, click here.)

Once we believe that individuals can be and are demon oppressed, if we are to be effective at setting people free from them, it is important for us to be able to discern the presence of demons when we encounter them.

We should not assume that demons are behind almost every sin, sickness, and bondage issue, as some do. I think the Bible makes it clear that our main problem is our “flesh,” that part of us that is still connected to the Adamic body. The “flesh” cannot be saved or reformed. It only wants to oppose God.

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:1–8 (NASB95)

This will be the case until we are raised from the dead and receive new spiritual bodies. Nevertheless, we are not in bondage to the “flesh.” We have the ability to “walk in the Spirit” and experience freedom. Many who profess Christ, however, still struggle mightily with the fleshly side of their being. Until they learn to walk in the Spirit, that will be their exprerience. If we try to cast out the “flesh,” we will fail, since that is an impossibility. If people think their “flesh” is a demon, they will be greatly discouraged to find that it did not leave when told to do so. That is why we need spiritual discernment to distinguish between the “flesh” and a demon. Demons must always obey our commands to leave. I never assume that demonization is the problem, unless it is blatantly obvious.

Unconfessed sin is another primary source of oppression, especially when it is bitterness or past involvement in the occult.

Jesus warned us that people who refuse to forgive will be turned over by God to “tormentors.” (Matthew 18:33-35) These are likely evil spirits. The quick way to be set free from them is to repent of holding offenses. (You can read more about this by clicking here. To learn more about how occult involvement opens doors to demon oppression, click here.)

Another source of oppression and bondage is what some people call generational sins or “curses.” These are sins that one can see being passed down family lines. One generation after another gets impacted by the consequences of sins committed by family members who lived before them. This is especially true when the successive generations involve themselves in the same sins, perpetuating the cycle. Although, demonization can be associated with generational devastation, the problem should first be addressed as its own issue. I have written extensively on this subject in my series on “Biblical Healing and Deliverance.” If you are interested in learning more, click here. Two other frequent sources of bondage are lies people believe and unhealed traumatic pain. Once again, you can read what I have written about this in the aforementioned series.

After we address these potential roots of oppression, we sometimes find that demons have attached themselves in areas where we have practiced sin, held on to bitterness, been involved in the occult, believed lies, experienced traumatic pain, or been victims of generational devastation handed down to us.

Thankfully, one of the gifts of the Spirit is discerning of spirits, which enables us to detect the presence of demonic spirits.

Diagnosing the presence of demons is the most challenging part of liberating people from them.

The Holy Spirit will help us in this area.

Once we detect a demon, I believe it is important to address how and why it gained entrance into the person’s life.

Demons cannot simply “hitch a ride” whenever they want. We generally have to open a “door” to give them entrance. Once a person repents and renounces whatever opened the door, it becomes a simple matter to cast out the evil spirit.

The authority of the risen Christ is the key to casting out demons.

When Jesus rose again, he completely defeated Satan and all demonic powers. He has given us his authority to speak in his name. When we command demons to leave, they must obey. The Holy Spirit will enforce our words. He is the power behind Christ’s authority. You can read more about the details of casting out demons, by clicking here.

Of all the ways people get into bondage, probably the easiest to deal with is demonization, IF we first deal with what opened the door to oppression.

This is why I advocate for a broad spectrum approach to setting people free from bondage in my Biblical Healing and Deliverance series. If we fail to shut the door to oppression by first dealing with unconfessed sin, bitterness, past occult involvement, unhealed traumatic pain, lies people believe, and generational devastation, we may cast demons out the front door, only to see them reenter through the back entrance. (Matthew 12:45) If we handle things properly, our simple command in Christ’s name will require demons to leave.

To properly train disciples to be effective in this ministry, it is important to teach them what is contained in this article and to demonstrate the ministry in their presence. Once they understand their authority in Christ and the other principles in this article, they are ready to operate in this ministry. I suggest having an experienced person be present to give counsel and feedback until the disciple becomes competent and confident to operate alone.

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Chapter 88: Having Done All, Stand

Standing our ground is perhaps the most important aspect of spiritual warfare.

For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand.  Ephesians 6:13 (NET)

Paul uses an analogy from ancient warfare when he wrote that we should put on spiritual armor by faith, which is described in the passage following the above verse. Even though he lists each piece of armor in Ephesians Chapter Six, we should not think of it as individual pieces acquired separately.

Every aspect of our armor comes as a package when we receive Christ.

We simply need to recognize what we have and consciously arm ourselves with the same. This is the same as “putting on Christ,” which is mentioned elsewhere. (Romans 13:14 and Galatians 3:27) We are complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10), having all that we need for life and godliness. (2 Peter 1:3) In other words, God does not dispense grace or gifts piecemeal. Rather, he gives us all things in Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,  Ephesians 1:3 (NKJV)

Understanding that Christ is our spiritual armor enables us to stand against the enemy.

Standing firm positions us to experience God’s fighting on our behalf. During Jehoshaphat’s rule, when Israel faced a vast horde of enemy soldiers, God instructed his people to trust completely in him.

You will not fight in this battle. Take your positions, stand, and watch the Lord deliver you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Don’t be afraid and don’t panic! Tomorrow march out toward them; the Lord is with you!’ ”  2 Chronicles 20:17 (NET)

Ultimately every battle is the Lord’s.

When David faced Goliath, he proclaimed (prophesied) that God would defeat the giant.

And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”  1 Samuel 17:47 (NLT)

David had to fight, but he understood that really the battle was being waged by God himself, who gave David the victory. The rest of the army of Israel stood back in fear, but David stood firm in faith. His stand of faith resulted in his being willing to enter battle with the giant enemy warrior.

Standing firm results from our knowing that God is with us to give us the victory.

Somewhere along the line, David wrote the beautiful song we know as Psalm 23. Perhaps it was before his pivotal defeat of Goliath.

David understood that his strength was found in God’s presence.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.  Psalm 23:4 (NASB95)

Moses was able to stand up against Pharaoh because he too knew that God was with him.

But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.”  Exodus 3:11–12 (NLT)

It took a while for Moses to be convinced, but eventually he came to believe that God was indeed with him, which enabled him not only to confront Pharaoh but also to lead Israel for forty years through the desert.

If God is with us, it is enough for us to stand up against any force of evil and fulfill our calling.

Standing against the wiles and onslaught of the enemy also requires courage on our part. The devil seeks to convince us that God has abandoned us, and we are on our own.

Faith in God’s faithfulness allows us to shield our hearts against these lies.

In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.  Ephesians 6:16 (NLT)

Jesus guaranteed that the enemy cannot ultimately harm us.

Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.  Luke 10:19 (NASB95)

But this promise does not preclude that we may suffer threats and harm to our physical bodies through persecution.

The tests and trials of life are used by Satan to make it appear that God cannot be trusted.

These contradictions to God’s benevolent promises to keep us from all evil, are tests of our ability to stand by faith in his faithfulness. Jesus withstood these contradictions, and so must we.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.  Hebrews 12:1–3 (NLT)

Sometimes God grants us a magnificent deliverance in answer to our faith. Other times he may allow us to suffer contradiction, giving us the opportunity to demonstrate our courage and faith in the face of adversity.

And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; 36 and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated 38 (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. 39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.  Hebrews 11:32–40 (NASB95)

Whether we experience glorious victory over the things that challenge our faith, or God allows us to suffer contradiction, we must stand by faith.

When we make up our minds to give God thanks in every circumstance because we fully believe that he will work all things out for our good and his glory, we become overcomers by faith.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.  Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

Whether we receive the object of our faith in this life or not, we overcome because of our faith stance.

Such faith glorifies God because it is God-centered rather than man-centered.

Standing by faith is rooted in the conviction that God is loving, faithful, and always with us. Our part is to remind ourselves of these things by remembering to pray, study the Word of God, share the gospel with others, and worship. This allows us to be fully clad in God’s protective armor, which protects every part of our being from head to foot. As we learn to stand on the promises of God, his Word becomes a spiritual sword in our hands by which we can defend ourselves and inflict damage on the enemy of our souls.

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—  Ephesians 6:14–18 (NKJV)

The belt of truth holds everything in place through our conviction that every word of God is true. The breastplate of righteousness guards our heart from the onslaught of condemnation. Our feet or walk with God is protected and strengthened as we fearlessly share our faith with others. Our faith acts as a shield to protect our hearts from Satan’s fiery darts of doubt and fear. The helmet of salvation guards our minds with the hope (firm conviction) of God’s complete faithfulness. Knowledge of God’s Word put into practice enables us to properly defend ourselves and even attack. Finally, prayer is how we stay in a proper attitude of complete reliance upon God for ourselves and others.

Click here to see all the articles in this series.
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Time to Tear Down the “High Place” of Heliocentrism

I believe we are in a time of reformation. God is exposing ways in which we followers of Christ have made accommodations to paganism so that we can repent.

High Places

When the Israelites conquered the land God promised to give them, he commanded them to destroy all forms of pagan worship to protect the people from their deceptive allure.

Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When you cross over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 52 then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their figured stones, and destroy all their molten images and demolish all their high places; Numbers 33:51–52 (NASB95)

High places were usually elevated locations where various forms of pagan worship took place. Elevation made people feel closer to God, whose throne is above the firmament. That is why he is often called the Most High. Prior to the construction of the temple of Solomon, God allowed himself to be worshiped at such high places. It was a traditional way to worship with which the people were quite familiar and comfortable.This was genuine worship of the true God, but was not meant to last beyond the building of the temple.

The people were still sacrificing on the high places, because there was no house built for the name of the LORD until those days. 1 Kings 3:2 (NASB95)

After the construction of the temple, it alone was designated as the God’s authorized place of worship and sacrifice.

But you shall seek the LORD at the place which the LORD your God will choose from all your tribes, to establish His name there for His dwelling, and there you shall come. 6 “There you shall bring your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the contribution of your hand, your votive offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock. 7 “There also you and your households shall eat before the LORD your God, and rejoice in all your undertakings in which the LORD your God has blessed you. 8 “You shall not do at all what we are doing here today, every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes; Deuteronomy 12:5–8 (NASB95)

It is important for us to understand that there are four aspects to God’s will – the right thing, the right way, the right people, and the right time.

The right thing was to worship God. The right way was at his authorized location. The right people were the priests and Levites, and the right time, with respect to the temple, was after it was built. We can do the right thing the wrong way, which makes it wrong. God has a right way to do things. Refusing to follow his prescribed way is sinful.

Worshiping God is a good thing, but to disobey him by doing so at high places instead of the temple was a sin.

Solomon dedicated the temple in grand fashion, but it did not take long for him to veer off course. David’s son unwisely and disobediently married foreign (non-Israelite and pagan) wives, who turned his heart away from an exclusive devotion to Yahweh. He consequently built unauthorized high places used to worship other gods.

The high places which were before Jerusalem, which were on the right of the mount of destruction which Solomon the king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Milcom the abomination of the sons of Ammon, the king defiled. 2 Kings 23:13 (NASB95)

It is difficult for us to understand how someone so wise could do such a thing, but such is the allure and deception of sin. Even though very few of us feel a pull toward bowing down before a statue or other idol, we should not assume that we are immune to idolatry.

Today we have other forms of idolatry that are quite pervasive and highly esteemed by God’s people.

God is jealous for our exclusive devotion (James 4:5) and warned Israel that he would punish them unless they removed the high places.

For they provoked Him with their high places And aroused His jealousy with their graven images. 59 When God heard, He was filled with wrath And greatly abhorred Israel; Psalm 78:58–59 (NASB95)

I then will destroy your high places, and cut down your incense altars, and heap your remains on the remains of your idols, for My soul shall abhor you. Leviticus 26:30 (NASB95)

Over the years, evil kings of Israel and Judah were noted for their worship of false gods and devotion to the high places. Even many of the so-called “good” kings of Judah, who loved God, failed to get rid of the high places. For example, Jehoshaphat, a godly man in many ways, was such a ruler.

He walked in all the way of Asa his father; he did not turn aside from it, doing right in the sight of the LORD. However, the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burnt incense on the high places. 1 Kings 22:43 (NASB95)

Why would otherwise devoted servants of God accommodate evil in this way? Were they ignorant? Did they view this transgression as a minor thing? Were they intimidated by the people who were greatly devoted to such unauthorized worship? We can only guess.

The Bible notes three kings who more fully obeyed God by eliminating the high places: Asa, Hezekiah, and Josiah. These men had the courage to oppose the opposition of high-place-loving citizens in order to please God.

God is looking for wholehearted devotion from his people. Our Lord does not want us to accommodate anything that tends to corrupt that devotion.

Instead of looking for some sort of physical idol, today we should think in terms of allowing our hearts to become enamored with the ways of the world, which are hostile to the ways of God.

Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? James 4:4–5 (NKJV)

Anything that the world loves should be immediately suspect in our eyes. The people of the world are devoted to that which is hostile to God because they are of the “flesh,” the old Adamic nature.

because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:7–8 (NASB95)

All of us who have been born again still have a connection to the flesh, as long as we live in these mortal bodies.

It is easy for us to be swayed into loving what the world loves, unless we have our guard up, understand the truth, and resist the pull. This is a very real danger.

Paul wrote…

But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:3 (NASB95)

So what does this have to do with cosmology?

The High Place of Heliocentrism

For the first 5500 years since creation, most people believed the Bible’s version of cosmology. Christians up until the time of Copernicus had a geocentric view of the heavens and earth as described in Genesis Chapter One. Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, and Newton led a revolution that changed the way people look at the cosmos and all of life. They revolted against relying on God’s Word as the guide into greater understanding of our world. They believed that the pursuit of truth and “science” had to free itself from religion and, in particular, the Bible. From that time until the present, secular scientists generally scoff at anyone who uses the Bible to guide them in any sort of scientific inquiry.

The world rejoiced at this deliverance from being bound to God and his Word. The devil inspired Adam and Eve in the beginning to cast off the restraint of obedience to God’s words and launch out on a journey of self-discovery. Ever since then, this has been the default mode of humanity.

The world loves going its own way in contradiction to God and the Scripture. The sad thing is that, generally speaking, especially when it comes to cosmology, the church has gone along for the ride, seduced by the siren song that we can figure out things on our own, thank you. We don’t need the Bible to guide us.

Many, probably most at this point, well-intentioned Christians have gone along with the world and accepted the heliocentric lie. In fact, many are absolutely devoted to it to the extent that they will attack and belittle anyone who dares challenge it. This is confusing because generally they are devoted to Christ and have a love for God’s Word. Nevertheless, many unwisely give God credit for creating a false version of the cosmos.

Heliocentrism is an unauthorized and untrue version of God’s creation. To say that God made the cosmos after this fashion is unbiblical, untrue, and God-dishonoring.

We should never say that God did something that he did not do. As I see it, this is akin to worshiping God in an unauthorized high place. Both were outside the bounds of Scripture and dishonored God.

In a previous article, I showed that heliocentrism is rooted in the occult and is a form of sun worship.

I realize that this is a “hard pill to swallow” for those indoctrinated in modern astrophysics. We have been taught that the Big Bang expanding universe which contains our solar system is irrefutable science, but, sadly, it does not agree with what the Bible teaches.

This places us in a crisis of obedience. Will we accept what modern science teaches or what the Bible declares?

Adam and Eve failed their test in the garden when they believed the serpent’s lies above God’s truth. We dare not make the same mistake!

Rather than believing the biblical account of creation and the cosmos that is found in Genesis and elsewhere in the Scriptures, many Christians today have adopted the widely accepted Copernican-Newtonian view of the universe, which posits that the sun is central in our “Sol”-ar system. It is believed to be quite immense (400 times larger than the earth) and amazingly distant (93 million miles away). Most of us have simply accepted this version of reality without giving it much thought. If the sun were really that far away, would it even be visible to the naked eye? (Here is a link to evidence that it would not be.) NASA and modern astrophysicists are banking on our mindlessly accepting their theories.

This pagan philosophy holds that mighty “Sol” or “Helios” (another name for Satan) controls the earth, keeping it locked in an obedient orbit by means of a mysterious unproven force called universal gravitation. This theory has its roots in ancient hermeticism practiced in Egypt.

Modern astrophysicists declare that the earth is insignificant with respect to the sun and most of the other so-called “planets,” to say nothing of the immensity of the “universe.” Not surprisingly, we are taught that to think we on earth are something special is the height of ignorance and arrogance.

Nothing could be farther from what is presented in Genesis Chapter One, which states that God first created the earth, making it absolutely central.

On the fourth day he created the sun, moon, and stars, placing them in the immense crystalline structure called the firmament. Nothing is said about other so-called planets. God only made the earth, sun, moon, and the stars. You can read more about this in another article I wrote about the Genesis testimony. 

This means that the sun, for example, serves the earth, rather than the other way around. It also means that the sun runs a “circuit” around the earth (Psalm 19:6), rather than the earth revolving around the sun. Consequently, the sun is much smaller and much closer than we have been led to believe.

We must either believe the Bible and reject modern astrophysics or accept modern astrophysics and consign Genesis to the realm of scientifically meaningless “poetry.” However, once we start down the road of deciding which words of God are true and which can be safely disregarded, we are in dangerous territory.

There is nothing in the Genesis account that allows us to classify it as poetry, except our determination to cling to heliocentrism.

In my opinion, this is loving a pagan philosophy more that the Bible.

When Christians put their trust in the dictates and pronouncements of modern astrophysicists instead of in God’s Word, it is a form of idolatry.

Here is a simple syllogism.

  • If God’s Word is true and Jesus is the truth personified (John 14:6),
  • Then, any time we value and honor a lie over the truth (the Bible and Jesus), we commit idolatry.
  • Therefore, if we believe the lie of heliocentrism instead of God’s Word, it is idolatry.

If this line of reasoning is correct, and I believe it is, then many Christians are inadvertent idolators.

One of the high places destroyed by Josiah was devoted to the sun god.

He did away with the idolatrous priests whom the kings of Judah had appointed to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah and in the surrounding area of Jerusalem, also those who burned incense to Baal, to the sun and to the moon and to the constellations and to all the host of heaven. 2 Kings 23:5 (NASB95)

He did away with the horses which the kings of Judah had given to the sun, at the entrance of the house of the LORD, by the chamber of Nathan-melech the official, which was in the precincts; and he burned the chariots of the sun with fire. 2 Kings 23:11 (NASB95)

When Copernicus published his book that theorized that the sun was the focal point of supposed planetary orbits, he paid homage to the sun god.

When the United States supposedly sent astronauts to the moon, they named the entire mission after Apollo, the sun god. His horses and chariot were part of the mission logo. This is no accident. NASA’s origins were steeped in the occult, and nearly every mission or undertaking is named with pagan allusions. But that is another topic.

I realize that most of us Christians who ascribe to heliocentrism are not conscious idolators. In fact, we are repulsed by such an idea. Nevertheless, heliocentrists inadvertently honor Satan with their pagan beliefs. To claim that God created a heliocentric solar system is misguided at best. No artist would want credit for creating something that is totally contrary to his values and intent.

The Bible says that the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament his handiwork. (Psalm 19:1) Even Christian heliocentrists are able to glorify God when they consider the heavens, but they are doing so despite the godlessness connected with Big Bang cosmology. As I wrote elsewhere, the Big Bang – Heliocentric Worldview is essentially atheistic by design. Jesus said we can know a bad tree by the fruit it produces. It is no accident that most leading proponents of modern astrophysics are atheists.

The Genesis version of cosmology requires us to recognize the handiwork of God. There is no way that we live within the protection of the firmament unless God created it that way. It could never have happened via the chaos of an explosion. Just as surely as the turtle pictured on the left did not get on top of the fence post by himself, neither did the firmament create itself. It is extremely difficult to be an atheist when God’s true version of creation is recognized, and that is exactly why it is so important for the church to abandon pagan heliocentrism and embrace the truth. Biblical cosmology can help people turn to God. We need to be different from the world system. We need to stand for God’s truth. The world may laugh at us for holding to our conviction that the Bible is true, but perhaps they will respect us for being steadfast to what the Bible teaches.

I think the world laughs at us when we try to blend modern astrophysics with the Bible. They know it is a contradiction and an accommodation.

My prayer is that God will lift the veil of deception. May the Lord remove the “scales” from our eyes so that we can finally see the truth about his glorious creation and tear down the high place of heliocentrism. The good news is that the Bible is 100% trustworthy and true regarding everything it says, even cosmology. How gloriously comforting it is to know that God is looking down on us from his throne above the firmament. He is very near indeed. One day that firmament will be rolled back like a scroll, revealing Christ in all his glory. The entire earth, this terrestrial plane, shall see him all at once! Come, Lord Jesus!

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Our Cosmology Affects Our Worldview

Our cosmology significantly affects our worldview.

Many do not realize that believing in a different version of the heavens and earth from what is presented in the Bible will skew our interpretation of creation and our way of looking at the various aspects of life connected to our worldview.

Our worldview determines how we view our origins, value, purpose, and destiny.

The biblical cosmology found in Genesis Chapter One and elsewhere in the Scripture reveals the truth about each of these things. The satanically inspired Big Bang theory of the “universe” inspires us to believe lies about God, creation, ourselves, our origins, purpose, value, and destiny.

The Big Bang – Heliocentric World View (BB-HWV) is evolutionary at its core.

It states that the universe created itself from a pinpoint through an inexplicable explosion through which incomprehensible energy and matter were released, expanding outward from the blast site, producing everything in the heavens and the earth, including life and humans. God is not in the picture, unless, as believers, we see him orchestrating these events and being the source of the energy and matter, for which atheists cannot account. This account of creation is diametrically opposed to what the Bible tells us.

Big Bang – Heliocentric World View
  • Origins – The chaos of an explosion produced order and complexity, which violates the law of entropy. There is nothing beyond material matter, which denies the spiritual side of things. Everything can be explained materialistically and “scientifically.” There is no room for God or the miraculous.
  • Value – Humans, being an accident of evolution, have no inherent value. What worth we might be given by others is measured by our productiveness and what we might contribute to the evolutionary process. If we negatively affect evolution or our “fragile ecosystem,” we become something to be eliminated. Human life can be snuffed out without concern. This thinking is behind abortion, euthanasia, genocide, etc.
  • Purpose – Humans exist only to experience a very brief physical life and continue the species through reproduction. This is the basis of the philosophy of existentialism: there is no reality beyond what we personally experience. This leads us to conclude that there is no such thing as “absolute truth.” Such phrases as “my truth” or “your truth” derive from this false belief. Consequently, the experience of being in power and having pleasure are life’s greatest purposes. This worldview produced such dismal outcomes as Nazism and Stalinism.
  • Destiny – There is nothing after physical life; therefore, we have no eternal purpose and no destiny beyond the grave. Therefore, we should strive to  experience every pleasure now, while we have the opportunity. There is no worry about facing the consequences of our actions when we stand in judgment before the Creator.

Denying that God is the Creator and refusing to glorify him is one of the worst sins possible. When a people do this, it causes the entire society to descend into the chaos of lawlessness and rebellion.

And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, Romans 1:28 (NASB95)
Biblical Worldview

Biblical cosmology recognizes that everything around us, the heavens and earth and all forms of life, were created in six days by God. Order sprang from God’s creative genius.

  • Origins – God is the Creator. Everything begins with him. We see the complexity of our being and glorify God. (Psalm 139:14) God is a spirit. The spiritual world existed before the material creation.
  • Value – Everything has value because it was made by God. Being the Creator, he alone has the right to assign value. For humans, being created in God’s image gives us incredible intrinsic value. After mankind’s fall from grace, Jesus shed his precious blood for us, telling us what our value is in God’s sight. We have no right to wantonly destroy what God made.
  • Purpose – God made everything with a divine purpose. We humans were made to know, love, enjoy, and serve God for eternity. Knowing God is the greatest thing in life.
  • Destiny – God’s wants to share his life and rule with people. That is why he made us and why he sent his son to die for our sins and rise again. When we put our trust and allegiance in Christ, our destiny is to co-rule with him forever while we revel in his glorious and loving presence.

The evolutionary BB-HWV dispenses with God and reduces humanity to a cosmic accident. Those who fully embrace it often become atheists, thus destroying their opportunity to share in God’s life and rule forever.

Those who embrace a biblical cosmology, recognize God’s handiwork in his creation and are led to seek and find him through Christ. They will more easily be able to glorify God as the Creator.

The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Psalm 19:1 (NKJV)

 

Many Christians have adopted aspects of the Big Bang theory without realizing that it contradicts the clear teaching of Genesis and other passages of Scripture.

Our accommodation of a non-biblical explanation of the the cosmos hinders our ability to properly understand what God means for us to derive from viewing the heavens.

I have noticed that believers who ascribe to the modern astrophysics view of the “universe” conceive of heaven as being merely a “spiritual place somewhere out there,” rather than the physical location above the firmament which the Bible describes.

As they stood with wings lowered, a voice spoke from beyond the crystal surface above them. 26 Above this surface was something that looked like a throne made of blue lapis lazuli. And on this throne high above was a figure whose appearance resembled a man. Ezekiel 1:25–26 (NLT)

I wrote another article about this, if you are interested in learning more.

Modern astrophysics also introduces a slew of extra-biblical ideas to confuse the mind and induce unwarranted fear – aliens, asteroids, solar flares, climate change, etc., as we supposedly hurtle through “outer space” at incredible speeds that nevertheless cannot be perceived in any way. This leaves us feeling small and insignificant, having to comfort ourselves with the belief that despite the vastness of the cosmos and our relative insignificance, God still cares about us and is present with us.

Biblical cosmology teaches that the earth is the center of God’s creation, protected by the firmament, and carefully watched over by the “Most High.”

It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. Isaiah 40:22 (NKJV)
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Knowing God Better, Life’s Greatest Blessing!

In the Old Testament on several occasions God revealed something about his character and nature by using a compound name for himself. What the Lord allows us to go through in life are opportunities for us to know him better. No matter what comes our way, God will work everything for good (Romans 8:28). If we seek him, every test and trial we face will be an opportunity for us to get to know him in a deeper way.

Knowing God better is the greatest blessing in life.

Jesus said:

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3 (NKJV)

If we approach life with this mindset, we will be overcomers by faith.

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 1 John 5:4 (NKJV)

We sometimes think that going through life without encountering difficulties is the best possible thing, but having no troubles may cause us to miss a chance to know God better.

God wants us to embrace difficulties as  opportunities to grow in faith.

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:2–4 (NLT)

Psalm 23 is one of the most beautiful and most quoted passages in the Bible and reveals a lot about God and the gospel. It was inspired by the Spirit of God and written and sung by King David, who was an accomplished musician and poet. It has endured for three millennia and will continue forever because it is the unchangeable word of God. This short psalm is packed with revelation about God’s heart and nature. In it we find the first compound name of God that I will cover

The Lord Is My Shepherd
The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. Psalm 23:1 (NLT) —

Here the Spirit revealed through David that God the Lord is our shepherd, who provides, guides, and protects. David called him Yahweh-rah, the Lord my shepherd.

If we know and rely upon him to be our shepherd, we always have everything we need.

Jesus is the ultimate Good Shepherd who gave his life for his sheep. (John 10:11) He did this to bring us back to the Father by providing forgiveness for our sins, setting us free from all that enslaves us, giving us life eternal through the Holy Spirit, and making us children of God through the new birth. Ultimately we will co-rule with Christ over his creation. This is what Jesus called “abundant life.” Once we come to know Jesus as our Shepherd, life will never be the same.

Another aspect of the shepherd ministry is reflected in another name of God, Yahweh-shamar, the Lord our Keeper.

The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. 8 The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore. Psalm 121:5–8 (NKJV)

Gospel Hint: If we encounter a person who feels lost, abandoned, fearful or who generally needs a “shepherd,” we should present Christ as the one they seek. He proved his love for us at the cross and his ability to take care of us at the resurrection.

The Lord Who Provides

Another Old Testament compound name for God was revealed to Abraham when God tested him regarding his willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac. At the last moment, when the angel restrained his hand from carrying out the deed, Abraham saw a ram caught in the thicket that he could sacrifice in Isaac’s stead. He named that place Yahweh-Jireh – the Lord who Provides. 

Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, “In the mount of the LORD it will be provided.” Genesis 22:14 (NASB95) —

In the hour of Abraham’s testing and obedience, God’s provision became apparent. When we truly get to know God, we discover that providing for his people is part of his nature. It is who he is. We should never doubt his kind intention to provide for our every need, especially when we step out in faith to obey him.

Gospel Hint: Is we find someone who is afraid that they will not have what they need, we should introduce Jesus the Good Shepherd and provider. He is our shepherd. We shall not lack. We can always count on God to provide. If we surrender our lives to him, he graciously extends his care to us.

The Lord Our Peace
He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. Psalm 23:2 (NLT) —

Green meadows and peaceful streams are part of God’s provision for his sheep – peace and rest. Jesus promised that he will give his disciples peace that passes natural understanding. God revealed himself to Gideon as Yahweh-shalom, the Lord who is our peace, on the day he commissioned him to fight for Israel against seemingly insurmountable odds.

Now Gideon perceived that He was the Angel of the LORD. So Gideon said, “Alas, O Lord GOD! For I have seen the Angel of the LORD face to face.” 23 Then the LORD said to him, “Peace be with you; do not fear, you shall not die.” 24 So Gideon built an altar there to the LORD, and called it The-LORD-Is-Peace... Judges 6:22–24 (NKJV)

Peace does not depend on our circumstances, but on God’s promises and his presence in our lives. 

Jesus said that he will give us peace in the midst of the storms we encounter in life.

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. John 14:27 (NASB95) —

Peace is one of the defining characteristics of those who know God.

It is a fruit or result of God’s Spirit inhabiting and transforming us on the inside. The more we trust and rely on our Good Shepherd, the greater our peace.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6–7 (NASB95) —

Gospel Hint: When we encounter someone who is afraid, we should tell them about the Good Shepherd who relieves us of our fears and imparts peace that passes understanding. His perfect loves displaces or casts out fear.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 1 John 4:18 (NASB95)
The Lord Our Healer
He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Psalm 23:3 (NASB95) —

One important ministry of the Good Shepherd is that he restores and heals our bodies and souls. When we are born again, God makes our spirits brand new, but our souls still need a lot of work.

The new birth is once for all, but the restoration of the soul takes a lifetime. This is part of Jesus’ ministry as healer.

Everywhere Jesus went he healed and restored people. He still does today, but now he uses his Spirit-filled people to accomplish the work.

Before we can help others, we need to experience his healing and restorative work in our own lives.

One of the compound names of God in the Old Testament is Yahweh-raphah, the Lord who heals.

and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.” Exodus 15:26 (NKJV)

Healing is part of God’s nature or character.

Under the Old Covenant, healing was promised to those who kept the law. Under the New Covenant, it is a benefit for those who put their faith and allegiance in Jesus, who perfectly kept the Law on our behalf. It is not something we have to wrestle from him.

It flows from his kind heart to hurting people.

Healing and deliverance from demonic oppression accompanied the preaching of the gospel in Jesus’ and the apostles’ day. Nothing has changed in God’s plan. God wants his people to experience his healing and restorative touch today, too. 

Gospel Hint: If we encounter someone who has physical, emotional, or spiritual pain or disease, we should offer to pray for them as we tell them that Jesus still heals. We never know what God may do.

The Lord Our Righteousness

Right paths and paths of righteousness are different phrases for essentially the same thing. God revealed himself as our righteousness in the Old Testament, the Lord our righteousness, Yahweh-tsidqenu.

In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell securely; And this is His name by which He will be called, ‘The LORD our righteousness.’ Jeremiah 23:6 (NASB95) —

When Jesus died on the cross and rose again, he provided a right relationship with God or “justification” for those who put their faith and allegiance in him. By taking our sins upon himself and exchanging our sin with his right standing with God, we became righteous before God. (2 Corinthians 5:21) We are not self-righteous, but righteous in Christ. Apart from him we have nothing.

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV)

This imputation of right standing with God paved the way for our heavenly Father to reconcile us with him completely and adopt into his family through the new birth.

Now that we have right standing with God, he is working his righteousness into us on a daily basis. In other words, the Holy Spirit is transforming us on the inside so that we more and more think, speak, and act like Jesus. This allows us to “walk” as Jesus did in “paths of righteousness.” When we live like this it brings honor to God and blessings to us.

Gospel Hint: Sometimes we encounter people whose lives are a mess because of their sins and failures. We can introduce the Good Shepherd to them as the one who can restore them and set them on a path to blessings and success. It starts with their surrendering everything to Jesus the Lord and receiving all he has to offer, which is mainly himself and his right standing with the Father.

The Lord Who Is Always With Us
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. Psalm 23:4 (NLT) —

We all go through a dark places. This can be very scary, especially when we feel alone. One of the most repeated promises in the Bible is “Do not fear. I am with you.” (Genesis 26:24, Deuteronomy 31:8, 2 Chronicles 20:17, Isaiah 41:10, Matthew 14:27, and John 6:20) God revealed himself in the Old Testament as the ever-present One, Yahweh-shammah.

All the way around shall be eighteen thousand cubits; and the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE. Ezekiel 48:35 (NKJV)

Psalm 139 is another place where King David expressed his faith in the ever present one.

Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me; 12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You. Psalm 139:7–12 (NKJV)

Jesus also is known as the One who is present in his name Emmanuel, God with us.

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’ ” Matthew 1:23 (NLT)

Our Lord also promised that the Holy Spirit, his executor here on earth and our helper, will always be with us.

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; John 14:16 (NASB95)

The Spirit’s presence in our lives is a most precious gift.

Nothing compares. Because Jesus died and rose again, when we put our faith and allegiance in him, God comes to live inside us forever! We will never be alone again.

Gospel Hint: Abandonment is one of our greatest fears. Many people feel rejected and alone. Ultimately this is because our sin separated us from God. Jesus fixed this problem. All who put their faith and allegiance in him never need to be alone again.

The Lord Who Transforms Us
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. Psalm 23:4 (NLT)

The rod and staff represent the shepherd’s commitment to protect and guide his sheep.

One of God’s compound names in the Old Testament is Yahweh-Mekoddishkem – The Lord who sanctifies you.

Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. Exodus 31:13 (NKJV)

God is committed to transforming us into Christ’s image as we navigate this life with his help.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:28–29 (NKJV)

God’s protection from savage wolves and his loving discipline are represented by the rod. His discipline protects us from continuing on sinful paths to our own destruction. God disciplines all his children because he loves them.

For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” Hebrews 12:6 (NKJV)

Gospel Hint: God accepts us just as we are, but he doesn’t leave us in that condition. Most of us would like to be better than we are. Only God can get us there, as we learn to cooperate with the Spirit of God as he transforms us on the inside without condemning us for our many failures along the way. (John 5:24, Romans 8:1)

The Lord Our Banner
You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Psalm 23:5 (NLT)

God revealed himself in the Old Testament as Yahweh-nissi, the Lord our banner in battle.

And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-LORD-Is-My-Banner; Exodus 17:15 (NKJV)

Sometimes we think that peace means that we have been delivered from the threat or presence of our enemies.

God, however, prepares a feast for us right in front of our enemies. He wants us to ignore the enemy and focus on him.

The Bible teaches us the the battle is the Lord’s.

And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 2 Chronicles 20:15 (NKJV)

God has already defeated Satan and his evil allies. All authority in heaven and earth has already been given to our Lord Jesus. Nothing can happen to us without the permission of our Lord, and he promises to work out everything, even the bad things, for our good. (Romans 8:28)

God wants us to learn how to stand against evil. 

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. Ephesians 6:13 (NKJV)

We do this by understanding that we are protected by God. We are seated with Christ in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 2:6)

Our enemies must go through God to get to us.

This does not mean that we will never encounter tests, trials, or danger, but God is always with us as we go through these things. He is our victory. Our faith makes us overcomers in everything.

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 1 John 5:4 (NKJV)

Gospel Hint: When we talk to people who are in the midst of some kind of spiritual battle, we can show them that God promises to be with us in the struggle and has already overcome the enemy. If we trust in him, he will give us peace in the midst of our warfare.

Conclusion

One of the most exciting things about being a follower of Christ is participating with him in helping others find freedom through our Lord and Savior! When Jesus launched his earthly ministry, he quoted Isaiah 61:1 and said that God’s Spirit rested upon him, anointing him for ministry.

The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, Luke 4:18 (NLT)

The anointing, which represents the Spirit’s power and presence operating in and through us, is what we need to effectively minister to others.

God honors us by allowing us to participate with him in this ministry.

God is not stingy. He overflows with blessings and has more than enough for all those who trust in him. This ties into God’s being our Shepherd and provider. As we are blessed by God, we can pass these on to others.

Gospel Hint: Many people live outside of God’s blessings because they have never surrendered their lives to Jesus. The gospel promises God’s richest blessings upon all who trust and follow Jesus.

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:6 (NLT)

Instead of being hounded by the curse associated with sin, Jesus opened the door for us to be pursued relentlessly by God’s goodness and mercy as long as we live.

When we die, we have the promise of being with God forever.

Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. John 14:1–3 (NLT)

Gospel Hint: Jesus provides his followers with blessings here on earth and eternal life with him in heaven. Who would not want this?

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Teach Disciples How to Pray for Others

Churches are responsible to teach disciples the important ministry skill of how to pray for others.

Prayer is a spiritual weapon, a conduit for God’s power and love, and a door opener into people’s hearts for the gospel.

Over the years, I have found that most people welcome prayer. Some have never experienced someone praying over them personally, even some who have regularly attended a church. “Hands on” prayer (when we touch the one for whom we pray, with their permission, is very different from being promised that we will remember to pray for them later. My experience is that the only people who resist an offer for prayer are religious people, who have their guard up, and hostile atheists, who adhere to their beliefs, even when they desperately need God’s help. We will find, if we try it, that the great majority of people will allow us to pray for them, if asked.

The first step in praying for others is to ask permission.

When people give us permission, often they think we mean sometime later when we leave their presence. We can surprise them by asking, “What about right now?” Almost always the response will be affirmative. I like to lay my hand on the shoulder of the person for whom I am praying, which is biblical; so, I ask if this will be acceptable. It almost always is.

We never know how God is going to show up when we pray for a person.

I remember once when the person for whom I prayed afterward asked, “Did you feel that?” They experienced a physical manifestation of God’s presence; even though I did not. God did that to encourage that person’s faith.

Prayer is a contact point with God for the person for whom we pray.

When we pray for people, they may experience some sort of a very personal “touch” from the Lord that makes them realize that he is present in their lives and cares about them. When God answers prayer, it is a demonstration of his love.

When we pray for people, it opens a door into their hearts and provides a spiritual bridge over which we cross. From that moment forward we almost always will have permission to talk with them about God.

Prayer bypasses the logical arguments people have erected in their minds that resist God and goes right to the heart. It also gives us a reason to reconnect with them later. We can ask them about the person or situation for which we prayed. We want to try to keep the conversation going.

If we are given permission to pray, it is important not only to pray for the thing or person requested, but also to listen to the Holy Spirit, who may show us other things to lift up to God in their behalf.

I have found that praying in the Spirit (tongues), usually silently to avoid provoking unnecessary questions or causing offense or confusion, unless I know they are Spirit filled, is a way for me to effectively listen to God. It is like tuning into God’s radio frequency. If you are unfamiliar with the amazing benefits of speaking in tongues, i encourage you not to dismiss this important gift. Praying in tongues allows us to pray 100% in the will of God for others. This promise is found in Romans 8:26-27.

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.  Romans 8:26–27 (NASB95)

The word translated as “helps” comes from the Greek word “sunantilambanomai,” which literally means to “take hold against together with.” When we pray in tongues, the Holy Spirit takes hold of the situation together with us to fight against that for which we are praying.

You can read more about the amazing value of this spiritual gift by clicking here.

The other gifts of the Spirit often begin to operate as we pray in the Spirit and listen to God with our hearts. We may receive prophetic insight, discerning of spirits, a word of wisdom or knowledge, or a gift of healing or miracles. This is part of what makes prayer so very special. Below is a verse that should encourage us all to pray for physical healing for ourselves and others.

And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.  Matthew 10:7–8 (NKJV)

When we pray, it is vital that we understand and use the authority we have in Christ to intercede for people. We represent Christ as his ambassadors here on earth. We have been given the authority of the kingdom of God to confirm the truth of the words we speak.

Specific prayer for healing is a topic in its own right. I encourage you to click here for more teaching on this.

Let us not sell God short by failing to give him the opportunity to show himself strong in someone’s behalf!

Many of us are uncomfortable praying out loud in front of others. If we are going to use prayer as an outreach and ministry tool, rather than just for personal benefit, it is important for us to overcome our reluctance, pride, and fears.

Praying aloud has many benefits.

It allows others to agree with our prayer. It can strengthen the faith of the one for whom we pray, as they hear our words. If we make any faith commands, it makes them more effective, especially if we command evil spirits to leave or release the person from some kind of bondage.

Prayer needs to come from the heart.

There is no need to flowery or technically perfect. God simply wants us to be conduits of blessing for others, even if we don’t pray as wonderfully as someone else. We must come to realize that our halting attempts to obey God will likely inspire others to venture out in a similar way. We only get good at something by practice. That being the case, I encourage you to pray for someone today if you get the opportunity. Take the initiative if someone shares a need. We can even offer to pray a blessing over someone as we depart his or her presence. Any excuse will do! Do the previously unthinkable. Ask a someone if you can pray for him or her. Ask for their top two prayer requests and go for it. We will not be disappointed, and neither will the person for whom we pray.

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Training People to Share the Gospel

One of the church’s primary responsibilities is to train people to share the gospel.

Every follower of Christ should be “gospel fluent”.

The gospel is much more than a “plan of salvation, “the “Roman Road,” or “Four Spiritual Laws.” Despite how handy these gospel summaries are, the gospel is more than that. We short change ourselves by trying to reduce the good news to a few steps or points. The first apostles never did this, and neither should we.

The Book of Acts is a wonderful place to examine how the early church presented Jesus. We can learn a lot by studying the gospel presentations of those early disciples. In fact, I wrote a series of articles to help you with this, entitled, The Gospel in a Minute. I encourage you to take a look at it. It contains many insights and tips on how to effectively share the good news. I also recommend a couple of books that powerfully influenced me: The King Jesus Gospel by Scot McKnight and Salvation by Allegiance Alone by Matthew Bates. The links will take you to my summaries of these two important works.

The gospel is the proclamation of the true story of who Jesus is, what he has done, what he is going to do, what it all means, and what we need to do in response.

We have four gospels recorded in the Bible. Each contains lots of information about Jesus. John’s starts in eternity past. Matthew’s begins with Abraham, the father of the Jewish people. Luke introduces his gospel with the birth of John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin, who was the forerunner of the Messiah. Mark also begins with John’s ministry and shows how it set the stage for Jesus. Each gospel includes information about how Jesus fulfilled ancient prophecies, ministered healing and deliverance in the power of the Spirit, modeled how to live in dependence on the Spirit, taught the truth, proclaimed the good news of his coming kingdom, died for our sins as the Lamb of God, rose from the dead in power as Lord of lords, revealed himself with many convincing proofs, commanded us to fulfill the Great Commission, ascended into heaven, poured out his Spirit to equip and empower the church, and will return again one day as the glorious Son of Man to raise us from the dead and judge all mankind. His is an eternal kingdom. That is the gospel.

The proper response is to repent from our sinful way of living and declare allegiance to Jesus, the risen  glorious Lord.

Water baptism is our formal and public declaration of allegiance the Lord Jesus. When we believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead and confess him as our Lord, we are saved. (Romans 10:9-10) All the benefits of his death and resurrection become ours – forgiveness, justification, redemption, reconciliation, and sonship. When are born again we become children of God. The greater challenge is to become a follower, a disciple, whose mission if to fish for people and make other disciples.

Every believer needs to understand the gospel and be able to share it competently. Imparting this knowledge and charging disciples with their responsibility for sharing the good news is the work of the local church. (Click here to learn more about the gospel.)

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Teach Disciples to Follow the Spirit

Teaching disciples how to hear, obey, and partner with the Holy Spirit is one of the most important parts of the disciple making process.

God poured out his Spirit upon the church on Pentecost to launch the church age, initiate the Great Commission, and to fulfill Jesus’ promise to empower his disciples to be his witnesses.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NLT)

The risen and ascended Lord of the harvest knows that his church needs the power of God to accomplish his mission, and this is only available through his Spirit.

Jesus, the incarnated Logos, God’s own Son, understood from the beginning of his ministry that he personally completely depended on the power and operation of the Holy Spirit to fulfill his ministry.

The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, Luke 4:18 (NLT)

Jesus demonstrated what it looks like to be dependent upon God.

So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. John 5:19 (NLT)

We desperately need the Holy Spirit’s guidance and power simply to engage life on a daily basis. How much more do we need him to carry out the Great Commission!

Paul said it is one thing to “live” in the Spirit and quite another to “walk” in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25) The Holy Spirit lives in every born-again person, but that is not the same thing as “walking” in partnership with him and being “anointed” by the Spirit for ministry.

The baptism in the Spirit is the gateway to effective empowerment for ministry.

This is too large a topic to cover adequately in this short article, but if you want to read more about this amazing promise and gift of the Father, click here.

Once we receive the baptism in the Spirit, we need a daily re-filling of the Spirit, because, as someone put it, we leak. This is available through a daily re-engagement with the Spirit through spending time with God in worship, thanksgiving, and prayer, which ought to include times of listening to anything God may wish to communicate to us. He also connects with us as we read the Bible.

The Bible and the Spirit are in agreement. They speak with one voice.

Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19  singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20  And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:18-20 (NLT)

Jesus promised us that his “sheep” can and do hear his voice. (John 10:27) The voice of Christ is mediated by the indwelling Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is our interface with God. Through him we connect with God.

All followers of Christ are able to hear and communicate with God, but many do not know how or even believe they can.

Teaching followers of Christ how to hear the voice of the Spirit is a top priority in the disciple making process. (For more on this, click here.)

Once we begin to discern what the Holy Spirit is saying to us, the next step is to gain confidence, so that we will routinely obey.

When we hear God, but disobey, it effectively shuts down our ability to hear.

God is not playing games. As Henry Blackaby taught in his important series, Experiencing God, when God speaks, it places us in a crisis of belief. Are we willing to make the necessary adjustments to overcome our fear and resistance in order to obey him?

I do not think that it is hyperbole to say that teaching followers of Christ to take the plunge into obedience to the Spirit is a top priority in disciple making. (Click here to read more.)

Once disciples gain faith and experience in hearing and obeying the Holy Spirit, we can help them develop another very important “skill” – learning how to operate in the gifts of the Spirit as the Spirit directs. Jesus’ ministry would have been very different had he not used the gifts of the Spirit on a regular basis.

God wants us to follow Christ’s example and use the gifts of the Spirit to bless people and open their hearts to the gospel. (You can read more by clicking here.)

When we share the gospel, teach the Bible, and counsel others, disciples should rely upon the Spirit for revelation and the ability to minister with a power and authority that impacts lives. Some people call this the “anointing,” which is simply a succinct way to describe the operation of the Spirit in and through his people.

In conclusion, a huge part of the disciple making process is to teach disciples how to hear, obey, and partner with the Holy Spirit in every aspect of life, including ministry and the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

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Teach Disciples to Interact with the Bible

Churches develop disciples by teaching them how to properly interact with the Bible.

Jesus taught his followers that being faithful to his teachings is a core principle.

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)

In order for us to continue in the Word or remain faithful to it, we first need to read and study it.

It is impossible to be a proper disciple without making the study of the Scriptures a top priority.

But our interaction with the Bible cannot stop with acquiring knowledge: God wants us to become what James called “doers of the Word.”

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. James 1:22 (NLT)

Obedience to Christ’s teachings is the crossroad where the wide path mere churchgoers follow diverges from the narrow path pursued by true disciples.

It is a form of self-deception when we hear or read the Bible, agree in principle with it, but fail to put it into practice.

Conversely, Jesus promised that those who do obey his teachings will gain even more understanding of the meaning of what the Bible teaches.

Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own. John 7:17 (NLT)

One of the unique things about the Word of God is that it can only be properly understood by those who practice it.

Disciples have a reverence for the Bible and its teachings.

Revelation from the Holy Spirit is the key that unlocks its contents and makes it “come alive” to us.

The Holy Spirit is the author of the Bible and the conduit of revelation. Since he is the Bible’s behind the scenes author, he alone knows what it really means, and he has the power to open hearts and minds to its life changing power. Disciples have the Holy Spirit living within them as our personal tutor.

But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ. 1 John 2:27 (NLT)

The Bible is not just a book to read and study. It is a living document, whose author indwells all disciples.

We have been given permanent access to the Holy Spirit, who works to open our hearts and minds to the truth and help us to live it out.

There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. 13  When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. 14  He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. 15  All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’ John 16:12-15 (NLT)

Followers of Christ need to be taught how to interact with the Bible under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

This living relationship with God’s Word allows the Bible to transform us on the inside.

There are basic principles of interpretation called “hermeneutics” that can be useful tools, as long at they do not become hard and fast man-made rules that eliminate our reliance upon the Holy Spirit. The Bible’s meaning sometimes transcends our current understanding. Although principles of interpretation are good, the Holy Spirit is not bound by them. We should make our disciples aware of general principles of interpretation to guard them from “going off the deep end” into error, while insisting that we remain open to the Holy Spirit, our teacher.

God speaks to us directly through the Bible via the Holy Spirit, making it truly alive and powerful.

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Hebrews 4:12 (NLT)
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Satanic Scientism

I call the pagan evolutionary heliocentric view of the “universe” satanic scientism. I believe it derives from Satan and wears the clothing of acceptability because it is supposedly based on proven science, rather than religious speculation. For those brainwashed into its core beliefs since childhood, biblical cosmology seems absurd.

Sir Isaac Newton effectively created a new worldview, called scientific. From his time forward, there has been a separation of religion and science, much the same as another Enlightenment division between church and state.

The devil was hard at work in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries laying the groundwork for casting aside the Bible and Christianity in both the scientific and political realms.

Copernicus got the ball rolling in the 16th century. The Copernican Principle, as it has come to be called, holds that mankind and the earth are small and insignificant, just the opposite of the Bible’s teaching. He was followed by Johannes Kepler, who “stole” his mentor’s (Tycho Brahe’s) research and changed his findings to say that the heliocentric view is correct and the planets have elliptical orbits. Galileo supposedly invented the telescope and verified Copernicus’ and Kepler’s findings. Newton came up with the math and name for the force that made all these theoretical motions possible – gravity. Newton was not a Christian. He denied the Trinity, the divinity of Christ, and the infallibility of the Bible. He also did extensive work in alchemy, regarded a occult practice. It is said that he was also a Master Freemason.

Below is an excellent video on this topic that I highly recommend.

When the heliocentric view first appeared, there was much opposition, especially from Protestant church leaders, such as Luther and Calvin,but over time these opponents died out and the younger generation fell for the lie. Nevertheless, much controversy continued into the early 20th century.

In 1871, George Airy conducted an experiment to show whether the earth is moving or the stars. It proved that the earth is not moving and is called Airy’s Failure because he did not support the already accepted theory that the earth is in motion orbiting the sun.

In 1887, Michelson and Morley set up a very accurately measured experiment to detect any motion of the earth. It showed that the earth is at rest. This experiment was redone many times with the same result. Below is a very short explanation. I am not sure why the apparent antisemitism is displayed, for which I apologize.

In 1913, Georges Sagnac conducted an experiment that proved that the ether exists and abolished Einstein’s theory of relativity.

Einstein sought to uphold heliocentrism by devising the theory of special relativity, doing away with the ether and declaring that all motion is relative; therefore, we cannot measure whether the earth is moving or not… but we know it is. Talk about “begging the question” (principia petitii) – attempting the use a premise as the conclusiona!

Rather than being enclosed in a solid firmament, we have been taught to believe that the sky above us is a relatively thin and fragile atmosphere held in place by a force called gravity against the unfathomable power of the vacuum of “outer space.”

Maintaining a pressurized atmosphere without a container is a physical impossibility and violates the law of entropy, but that does not seem to bother people who have been brainwashed to believe in the globe model of the earth.

When challenged as to the reality of the globe, most people appeal to the multitude of NASA’s supposed actual photographs of the spherical earth suspended in the void of space, not realizing that NASA was started by satanists for the purpose of galvanizing the deception of the spherical earth and outer space. Go to 5:42 to begin section on NASA’s history.

Robert Simmon, NASA’s “Mr. Blue Marble,” created the iconic computer generated image that was automatically installed on many iPhones. Every year new versions come out, each one showing the continents having differing sizes from the previous year. There is also clear evidence of using Photoshop.

Those who claim that they have been to “outer space” and observed first-hand the suspended spherical earth, often use the word “fragile” to describe it. I believe this is by design to conjure fear for our continued existence, which is all part of Satan’s grand scheme of deception. Those who do Satan’s bidding do not want us to know that we are safely enclosed in the firmament and watched over by our Creator.

He is the one who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; the one who stretches out the heavens like a veil and spreads them out like a tent to live in, Isaiah 40:22 (LEB)

Genesis Chapter One’s claim that God created  the firmament confronts us with an unavoidable crises of faith. Will we believe what the Bible says or not?

Did God really say that the firmament is a very real structure above the earth in which the sun, moon, and stars are located? If we choose not to believe what God says, we make the Bible out to be an archaic per-scientific fable.

Satan deceives the nations by means of sorcery. Speaking of Mystery Babylon, the Bible says:

The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. The happy voices of brides and grooms will never be heard in you again. For your merchants were the greatest in the world, and you deceived the nations with your sorceries. Revelation 18:23 (NLT)

It is important to understand that deception is empowered by satanic witchcraft, which is why it has such power to blind people to God’s truth. We ask God to release his children from the fog of satanic deception. If you wish to learn more about the occult origins of heliocentrism, I recommend the following video. I will discuss these occult origins further elsewhere.

Now that I understand and believe that Genesis Chapter One should be taken literally and that the firmament is an actual physical structure, the Bible has come alive with new insights into the nature of the world in which we live, God’s throne, heaven, and the Second Coming of Christ – the Apocalypse. I have written about this in another article.

Passages that left me “scratching my head” in the past, now make sense. Sometimes God’s truth lies right under our noses, but we just cannot see it because we have been preconditioned by devilish lies to reject truth. Every lie of the enemy is designed to alienate us from God, steal blessings from us, and transform us into fools who are easily led astray and to the slaughter. I believe the devil laughs at us every time we choose his lies above God’s Word.

The more deceived we are, the stranger the truth seems.

Jesus told the Jewish leaders who were blinded to the truth of his identity by their false expectations regarding the Messiah:

Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. John 8:43–45 (NKJV)

When we embrace satanic deception, the truth seems like a lie.

The pagan Copernican heliocentric system is a lie designed to make us think that Helios (Satan) controls us (through “gravity”), instead of our being under the loving care and protection of our Creator. Because heliocentrism and the globe earth has been drummed into our heads from childhood, it seems plausible and real, but, once God opens our eyes to the truth, we will see the contradictions and absurdities of that position and wonder how we ever fell for it.

The devil specializes in presenting us with false versions of reality. He does so to condition our minds to reject God’s revealed truth, blinding us spiritually and locking us up in prisons of deception.

Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. 2 Corinthians 4:4 (NLT)

Not only does the devil blind unbelievers to the gospel, he also does his best to keep Christians from seeing and believing other glorious truths in the Bible.

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 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 10:4–5 (NKJV)

Believing a lie is a kind of idolatry that influences us to put more confidence in what the devil says than we do in the Word of the One called the Truth. (John 14:6) Spiritual darkness has enveloped much of the world. Because of our enthusiastic acceptance of what is called science, we have a huge problem of spiritual blindness and deafness.

Science has become a secular religion some call scientism, whose high priests, the experts, are regarded as the source of truth.

We dare not risk being called a “science denier,” a epithet almost as devastating as being labeled a racist, hater, or homophobe.

Sadly, many of us who call ourselves Christians seem to love the “scientific” view of the universe more than we love God’s Word.

True scientists are the ones who perform empirical experiments and discover actual truth. Nicolai Tesla was a preeminent example of a true scientist. Another group of so-called scientists, such as astrophysicists, astronomers, evolutionary geologists, and paleontologists, merely observe what they study from afar and devise elaborate, fantastical, unprovable theories to try to explain our origins on the basis of godless evolution. Nevertheless, their pronouncements come to be considered confirmed facts over time.

What such “scientists” produce is more science fiction than true science.

They devise incredible (literally: unbelievable) fictions that requires vast eons of time for the universe and living beings to self-create and self-improve through random chance, violating the Second Law of Thermodynamics called Entropy.

They have fashioned a worldview, in which the Creator is superfluous, to deceive the naive . They seek to influence people away from believing in God, calling such a belief foolish and un-scientific.

They claim that people who believe in divine creation know nothing at all and hinder the forward progress of the species.

The science fiction creators arrogantly assert that their theories are facts and God’s Word is worthless.

Below is an example of this uttered by Neil deGrasse Tyson, a chief public spokesperson for modern astrophysics.

I cannot decide if he is ignorant of the definition of the word “theory” or if he assumes his listeners are. A theory cannot be a fact; otherwise, it would no longer be a theory. Anything that cannot be empirically proven must remain a theory and should never be promoted as a fact. I find it extremely revealing that Tyson connects faith in evolution with faith in gravity, and Richard Dawkins connects faith in heliocentrism with faith in evolution.

Satan’s lies interconnect and depend on one another. Evolution is the thread that holds it all together.

Contrary to current popular opinion and scientific “consensus,” evolution, universal gravitation, heliocentrism, and the globe are all mere theories that have not been and cannot be empirically proven. Every attempt to do so has failed.

Once we discard the computer generated images of a globe earth suspended in outer space which are pawned off on us by NASA and other space agencies , we are left with only empirical evidence, which all stands opposed to the science fiction of modern astrophysics.

Outer space does not exist: only what the Bible calls outer darkness.

If you wish to investigate this claim in greater depth, I have collected quite a few resources to assist you. Here is the link.

With regard to the cosmos, Satan’s scheme is to undermine our confidence in the truthfulness of the Word of God relating to the Creator and the design and nature of the heavens and earth in order to blind people to the glory of God and set them up to believe that God does not even exist, which opens us to a vast array of other lies. (Psalm 19:1, Romans 1:20)

The Big Bang – Heliocentric Theory misrepresents God’s creation and testifies that there is no God. Not surprisingly, its primary exponents are mostly atheists who mock those who believe that the Bible is literally true.

It is time for us who believe that God’s Word is completely trustworthy with regard to science and every other topic to make a stand.

 

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