"Rules of Engagement" - God's Desires

God’s Desires

In today’s society, it is much easier to be drawn into idolatry without realizing it. Everything from the media to false teachers encourage us to focus our affections on earthly things and self-awareness instead of keeping our focus on God and living a righteous life in order to make it into heaven.  So much of our focus is on who we are known by and what we can obtain.  1 John 2:15-16 tells us, Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. If we are not successful in reaching our desired goal, our desire for recognition through affiliations and possessions can produce major depression. Depression also opens us up to demonic infestation.  Depression can lead to desperation to obtain what our heart desires.  Demons are attracted to our pain because it makes it easy for them to tempt us with things that God does not desire for us.  This does not mean that we should not set goals for ourselves or achieve our dreams and/or obtain things. However, our goals should line up with God’s desires for His people.  When we are striving to “be somebody”, we cannot fulfill the simplest desire that God expects of His people:  humility.  Selfish ambition will keep us from ultimately living a pleasing life to God.  Philippians 2:3 instructs us to, let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  Many people devise their own life’s plan and try to force God to endorse their plan instead of really seeking God to know what His will is for their lives.  If we are not led by God, we are by default being led by the devil. Earthly success is NEVER an indicator that we are walking in God’s plan for our lives.  Proverbs 14:12 lets us know, There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.   If we are to obtain Godly success, we have to apply God’s standard to EVERY area of our lives.

"Rules of Engagement" - Halloween

Halloween

Halloween is a celebration of death and ungodliness. It began with the practice of ritual human sacrifice by Druids.  Druids were members of the educated and professional class of the Celtic people of Gaul, Britain, and Ireland.  They practiced sorcery and divination as part of their religion.  The Druids were able to obtain notable positions in society as witches and Satanists do today.  As an annual practice on Halloween, the Druids would participate in trick or treating.  They would go door to door requiring a virgin, child or acceptable food to offer as a sacrifice.  If they did not receive an acceptable gift or treat, they would perform magic to place a curse on the home as a trick. This holiday provides yet another way to open ourselves up to demonic infestation.  It is demonically inspired and any celebration of the day supports and accepts what it represents.  Many churches hold festivities to provide a substitute for the evilness and origin of the holiday.  Unfortunately, their alternative still celebrates and honors the holiday.  Some church leaders are fully aware of the wickedness of Halloween, yet they still choose to participate in giving out treats and candy because they desire to be relevant in this world according to society’s standards.  These leaders are ignoring what God says regarding our existence on this planet.  Romans 12:2 says,  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Either we will separate ourselves from the devices of Satan or his devices will separate us from God.  We cannot have God and the world.  If we choose the world, we have by default rejected God.   Joshua 24:15 says,  And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the river, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”   Some leaders may not be familiar with the history of Halloween but they are still without excuse.  It is their responsibility as leaders to be proactive in learning the devil’s tactics in order to properly lead and teach the people of God.   The origin of this unholy holiday proves that any observance of Halloween should be avoided by EVERYONE who names the name of Jesus as their Savior.  

"Rules of Engagement" - Intro

Intro

In order to be effective in spiritual warfare, we must be aware of Satan’s tactics.  Satan is crafty.  He sets traps and patiently waits for us to become ensnared.  He desires to destroy us and he will devise schemes specifically to put us in no-win situations.  The Bible makes it known to us that he transforms himself into an angel of light.  Satan will present things to us that appear harmless or good in order to draw us in for the kill.  Satan understands that there are Spiritual rules to govern everything; however, we must become familiar with these rules in order to avoid destruction at his hands.  There are several different ways that we can unknowingly invite demonic influence into our lives.  When we violate the rules of the spirit realm, we subject ourselves to the consequences that come as a result of that violation.   Horoscopes are written by witches who pray to Lucifer. Yet, many Christians read them daily.  Although these witches cannot cast a spell on true believers of Christ, the horror is that believers can speak curses into their own lives. Horoscopes are never written with the best interest of the readers at heart.  We must guard ourselves from the influence of things that will negatively affect our relationship with Christ.

Some professing Christians also get entangled with Ouija boards and other forms of sorcery which subjects them to demonic infestation.  Many of these people believe that if they possess the Spirit of God (the Holy Spirit); they have the liberality to participate in these types of demonic activities without any consequences.  However, the Bible instructs us to avoid all forms of evil.  We are even instructed to avoid people who profess Christ, yet live a sinful lifestyle.  Ephesians 5:11 says, And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. The Holy Spirit has the power to protect us from demonic spirits, but we can counteract that protection by unknowingly or intentionally indulging in activities that gives the devil legal access to us. Jesus said that He has come that we may have life and have it more abundantly.  That life includes freedom from demonic control and possession.  

The Devil’s Traps

Many people unknowingly pledge their allegiance to satanic organizations which puts them in direct conflict with their commitment to God.  Some of these organizations include but are not limited to:  Freemasonry, Eastern Star, Fraternities, Sororities, and Wicca (witchcraft).  Creating spiritual ties with anything that has been established around false gods limits our ability to have a close relationship with the one, true God.  Even the Israelites frequently tried to either replace God with the false gods of other societies or they tried to serve Him while they served these false gods. God commanded the Israelites, through Moses, to avoid ALL false gods.  Exodus 20:4 says You shall have no other gods before Me.   God has not changed His policies regarding false god worship or idolatry simply because we are living in a new day and time.

"Spirit of Offense" - Conclusion

Misinterpreted Intentions

One major cause for many of the offenses that occur is a lack of understanding behind the true meaning of a person’s actions or words.  In many instances, we believe that we do understand a person’s motives or intentions.  Sometimes, we may be correct.  However, there are times when we couldn’t be more wrong.  Proverbs (the book of wisdom) gives us clear instructions to get an understanding in EVERYTHING.  Understanding normally comes as a result of effectively communicating or conducting a dialogue with others.  If we take a moment to investigate a person’s motives and intentions, we may discover that there are many times that we have flawed interpretations of different events.  For example, in the United States, the “thumbs up” sign is a sign of approval or congratulations.  However, in some Middle Eastern countries such as Iran or Afghanistan, the same sign is viewed as an offensive gesture.  It has been said by some that perception is reality but perception is really assumption.  Things are NOT always as they appear. Gaining an understanding of each situation will alleviate unnecessary conflict and hurt feelings.

The Solution

To overcome and destroy the spirit of offense, one must practice humility and forgiveness. Many Christians profess to be servants of Christ but some have missed the main qualification of servitude.  Jesus said in Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  He made it clear that in order to be a follower of His, we must humble ourselves.  When we operate out of humility, we have the ability to view situations from the perspective of others.  We can see the turmoil that an individual is experiencing which causes the unhealthy behaviors.  Forgiveness is also essential in combating the spirit of offense.  Peter asked Jesus if he was only required to forgive his brother of seven offenses.  Jesus responded that he was required to forgive 490 offenses by one individual. When we forgive offenses, it places us in the position to minister the way that God desires us to: with love.  Then people can receive the necessary counsel to overcome their inadequacies and hidden pain that stem from the spirit of offense.

Matthew 5:23-24 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Matthew 5:44-45 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Luke 17:3-4 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”

"Spirit of Offense" - Intro

The spirit of offense has become very prevalent within the body of Christ. The permeation of this spirit within the church is responsible for the substantial amount of disunity among Christian brothers and sisters.  The spirit of offense is very strong and there are countless things which can bring about offense.  Typically offenses are brought about by wounded persons or individuals misunderstanding the actions or words of others.

Hurt People Hurt Others

“Hurt people hurt people”, this saying is true on many levels.  Many people experience tragic circumstances within their lives which make it extremely difficult for them to navigate their way through their lives normally.  As a natural line of defense, people will build emotional walls to protect themselves from further hurt or vulnerability against physical or emotional attacks.  For example, in cases where there has been some form of sexual abuse, the individual may exhibit a rough or unfriendly demeanor.  While this explanation is not for the purpose of minimizing a person’s negative actions, it is, however, aimed at shedding light on the possible causes of that person’s negative actions. People naturally respond negatively to negative situations because the mind has difficulty managing or processing what has occurred.  There is ALWAYS hurt at the root of the behavior of a hostile or angry person.  Anger is normally an immediate response to disrespect or an offense.  Sometimes the pain from the offense can prove to be more devastating than an individual can handle.  With growth and maturity, people will be able to look beyond the exterior of an offensive person and encourage them to change the interior.  

When we encounter people who exhibit traits that may be bothersome to us, we may find ourselves wondering why they do not seem to be aware of their issues and work to rectify them.  Many of our inadequacies are similar to a piece of lint resting on the back of the head.  Others can see it clearly, but it is invisible to us.  Even looking into a mirror, we do not see the lint unless we get a second mirror and do a complete inspection of the area.  Unfortunately, we do not always have a second mirror at our disposal.  Some of our major issues are recognizable to others but not to us.  If we were instructed to list ten negative things about ourselves, most of our lists would stop at number two or three. However, another person could quickly identify most or all of our negative traits.  It is difficult to adequately recognize all of our own positive or negative traits.  Frustration, as a result of an offense, will cloud our judgment and prohibit us from understanding this fact.  However, when we demonstrate the same level of patience with another individual as we would like for others to offer to us, our vision in regards to their issues as well as our own will become clearer.  

"Getting an Understanding" Conclusion

Understanding Family Relationships

People sometimes face problems in their marriage because they believe that making God number One is either being in church seven days a week or practicing certain traditions that they view as putting God first.  But the Bible explains how to put God first as singles; and it explains how to make God number One in a marriage.  In 1 Corinthians chapter 7, it lets us know that unmarried people are supposed to be concerned with the things of God; how we may please God.  That means that as singles,  all of our time belongs to God. When we give our time completely to God, He will show us the areas in ourselves that disqualifies us for marriage so that we can allow Him to make the necessary changes in us. Within a marriage, the Bible says that the married man and the married woman care for the things of the world, not caring about worldly things such as tangible luxuries.  It makes it clear that the main concern is to please their spouse.  People have traveled and preached all over the globe for years only to watch their spouse leave them after decades of marriage.  They felt that the breakup of their marriage was solely an attack of the enemy instead of the consequence of a lack of understanding.  God intends for married couples to spend quality time with one another because their relationship symbolizes the relationship that Christ has with the Church.

People have raised their children in church only to watch their children grow into adults and leave the church.  They believed that training a child up in the way that they should go simply involved bringing them to church to be preached to.  Unfortunately, in many cases, the parents did not live the same life at home as they did in church or the child did not receive adequate instruction and training at home.  Training a child involves spending a lot of time with them instructing them in life and what the word of God has to say concerning life and consequences.  Sometimes the mother spends too much time at conferences. Attending some conferences can be beneficial but if the woman has to be loosed EVERY year, she needs to be saved.  Some of the prices that people are required to pay for conferences include:  $75, $100, $125, and $200, just to attend a conference!  Someone needs to teach the word of God!  Bible class is free!  Good sound teaching is free.  Church programs have been used in many cases to unknowingly neglect children or not enough time was taken out with them to adequately teach them the word.  

God desires for us to receive the complete benefit package that He has prepared for us.  However, we have to understand the process to be qualified to receive what He has for us.  God qualifies us as we live in obedience to His word.

"Getting an Understanding" Part 4

Understanding How to Live Life

Romans 8:28 says that we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.  Sometimes there is the tendency to believe that this means that only the desired outcome will be felt.  But as parents should teach their children, everything good for you will not always feel good to you.  Sometimes God will allow us to be placed in tough conditions in order to bring us to a place of change that will enable us to receive everything that God has for us.  Everything that the Bible instructs us to avoid or give up comes with severe consequences if we are not willing to obey the commands.  If we research and study some of the consequences that the Israelites had to suffer as a result of their disobedience, we can get a better understanding of why we are instructed to abstain from certain things.  It is not for the sake of hampering our fun but for the sake of enabling us to live the best life that God has for us.  

When we are instructed to get married before we participate in sex, it is for our own good.  One of the consequences for disobeying this command is the broken heart that we get when we develop a sexual bond with someone that eventually separates from us.  This is so destructive for some people that they never recover from their broken heart.  They become hardened and unforgiving.  They have a hard time giving love and a hard time receiving love.  This is not what God desires for us because He wants us to experience the full magnitude of His love.  Another consequence of sex outside of marriage is the possibility of contracting a sexually transmitted disease.  Some diseases are deadly and will bring about an untimely death.  Other diseases will bring about various outbreaks or cause a great amount of discomfort.  Although we may be aware of the existence of these diseases prior to having sex, we tend to forget about or ignore the danger of getting a disease while engaging in sex.  Afterwards, when we decide to think logically, we tend to think:  if only I had not done it or I wish I could have that decision back.  

The most obvious consequence of premarital sex is the production of children.  In some cases the children were unplanned or there was no desire to produce children.  The most notable consequences are the realization that you will have to raise a child alone or face financial disparity as a result of making astronomical payments to the other parent of the child.  The non-obvious consequence is that every child who does not receive a balanced interaction from both parents will grow up with a deficit.  This creates major issues for them and those who will have constant contact with them as an adult.  When these consequences become a real part of our lives there is always the tendency, as a parent, to blame the other parent of the child for the state that we find ourselves in.  When there is a lack of desire to accept responsibility for our actions, there is the potential to repeat the destructive pattern of events that put us in the present state that we find ourselves in.  It also prohibits us from being healed from our hurt and moving beyond the place that we may currently find ourselves in.  In all our getting, get understanding.

"Getting an Understanding" Part 3

Understanding Godly Interactions

When we work to get an understanding, it will enable us to effectively interact with one another.  Sometimes we come in contact with people who we feel have major issues.  We all have issues, but our issues diminish the more we submit ourselves to God.  We may feel that a person who has been molested or subjected to some other form of cruelty should have gotten over it after a certain amount of time.  We may think to ourselves, isn’t 30 years long enough to get over that?  The old adage that time heals all wounds is simply not true.  A person will go to their grave with the same issue if they fail to confront and deal with it.  The Bible tells us that those of us who are strong should bear the infirmities of the weak.  In some cases, we need to empathize with what people have been through in their life.  Then you will need to understand the psychology and physiology behind their trauma in order to be familiar with the known effects of what they have experienced.  Then you can understand the reason why they behave the way that they do and can effectively minister to them.  Laying hands and sending people on their way will not solve most issues.  Something has to be done on the part of the individual in order to become free of their issues.  

In some cases, the individual has to be made aware that the trauma that they have suffered has had a severe negative impact on them and their behavior and they have to acknowledge it before they can begin to heal.  Various people will handle the same issue differently.  One woman who has been raped will develop a strong hatred for men.  No man regardless of how well he treats her will gain her trust.  Every man will have to pay for what one individual has done.  Another woman who is the victim of rape will become promiscuous because there may be a distorted sense of pleasure that is associated with the violation that has occurred.  Still, yet another woman will blame herself and believe that she was deserving of the mistreatment that she has experienced and that she should not expect to ever be treated with any amount of dignity and respect.  All of these women have responded negatively to the same act but each woman’s response was completely different.  Since people respond to the same things differently, we cannot use a generic solution for everyone.  We need to first pray concerning the person that we are dealing with and for the proper solution to effectively minister to them.  Then we will need to familiarize ourselves with the issue that the individual is dealing with.  A thorough understanding is needed to ensure that we give the proper attention to the person without making ignorant and damaging statements.  Although this journey through life is a personal one, we do not travel it alone.  We are constantly encouraged to fellowship with one another and come together in unity.  In all your getting, get understanding.

The Bible tells us that it is good when brothers dwell together in unity.  Science has proven that when we develop a bond and a strong relationship with people, we take on each other’s characteristics and traits.  You may notice that if you are around a person long enough, the two of you will utter the same sentence or words at the same time.  Some women who live together and have a strong bond have been known for their menstrual cycle to line up with one another.  Many times, we suffer from the can’t help its; either because of the things that we allow into our lives or the company that we keep.  I heard someone mention recently that whenever you are dealing with some issue in particular, take inventory of what you are watching on television and what music you are listening to.  In addition, you have to be cautious of ALL of your affiliations.  If none of your closest friends are saved, something is wrong with your salvation.  We draw closest to those with whom we have more in common with.  The PRACTICE of salvation is more important than the PROFESSION of salvation.  

"Getting an Understanding" Part 2

Understanding When God is Speaking

Another misconception that people have is that God will always speak directly to them.  But He won’t because some of the questions that we may ask Him are already written in His word.  Other times, He sends someone to give us His answer but we have rejected the answer because it may have been unfavorable to us.  God will not always speak directly to us because He does not want us to isolate ourselves from other believers.  Within the body of Christ we sing, “Long as I got King Jesus I don’t need nobody else.”  But the ‘nobody else’ is normally who God will use to give us what we need. If we need money, God does not rain down one hundred dollar bills from heaven.  He uses people who are obedient to Him and are in a position to give that money to us.  If we are dealing with suicidal thoughts, He will cause people to call us up out of the blue to talk to us or even stop by and check on us.  If we are feeling low, He is not coming down from heaven to embrace us, He sends someone to give us a hug and demonstrate the love of Christ even when they don’t understand why they are compelled to do so. 

Understanding the Importance of Godly Fellowship

It is essential that we create and maintain a bond with the people of God because the devil’s desire is to divide and conquer.  If he can get us alone, he can attack us in our minds and bombard us with negative thoughts.  Standing firm becomes even more difficult because we do not have the necessary support that is needed to combat him.  Even when Jesus sent His disciples out, they were sent out two by two.  Ecclesiastes 4:12 says though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. People decide to take extended stays from church and proclaim that God has called them away but His Word instructs us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together.  Every command that God has given us to follow is for our benefit.  When we remove ourselves from His umbrella of safety, whether out of ignorance or out of rebellion, we place ourselves in a vulnerable position.  We all make mistakes and have to deal with the consequences of the decisions that we make but we move beyond those decisions as we learn from previous mistakes and do things differently.  When you know better, you do better.  

God wants us to create and build effective relationships within the body of Christ. There are times when we may be tired on Sundays and want to go directly home after church but it helps for us to fellowship with other brothers and sisters in Christ.  It also helps to be in the midst of conversation that doesn’t involve profanity or corrupt dialogue. Proverbs 22:24, 25 tells us not to make friends with an angry or hot tempered man or you will learn his ways.  This does not just simply apply to angry people but it also applies to all manner of people.  Some affiliations need to be severed or diminished.  We may have unsaved people in our lives but they should not be our main source of companionship. Ephesians 5:11 tells us not to have any fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness.  And Paul was referring to the ones in the church.  So if you are to avoid those in the church who walk in darkness, you should definitely be cautious of your affiliations outside of the church.  Surrounding ourselves with Godly people will help us to please God.

"Getting an Understanding" Part 1

Intro

Proverbs 4:7 is one of the most important scriptures to guide us in living our lives. It states that wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom.  And in all your getting, get understanding. The application of this scripture will decrease the level of frustration that we experience in our lives.  Applying this scripture will help us please God.  It will also help us interact with one another better.  It will help us live the best life possible.  It will also help us treat our family the way God desires for us to.

Understanding How to Please God

When we get an understanding, we understand how to submit to God and make him number one in our lives as so many proclaim.  In short, we make God number one in our lives and please Him by doing exactly what His word instructs us to do.  The Bible gives us instruction in everything:  marriage, raising children, running a business, living a holy single life, giving, how to fast, dealing with untamed individuals, fellowshipping with others, edifying our spiritual lives.  God has allowed the instructions for pleasing Him to be written so that we would have a manual to follow.  Sometimes we may experience things in life that will confuse us, but the word of God contains the answer for everything.  

Understanding Relationship with God

It is important to know when God is communicating with us. God speaks to us in three different ways:  He speaks to us through His written word, He speaks to us directly, and He will give others a word for us.  However, if the any of the ways conflict with His written word, then it is not from God.  Lots of people declare that God has told them something.  But after searching the scriptures, we can’t find any validation for what God supposedly said.  Sometimes we may honestly feel like God is really telling us something; however, we may also be wrong.  It is possible that we may want something so badly that we feel a strong push in that direction OR, as the Bible says, Satan transforms himself into an angel of light and will make something sound so appealing or inviting that we think that it is from God.  Everyone has missed God at some point or another.  Even when we miss God, all we have to do is let go of our pride and repent when we become aware of it.  

Getting to know God is like getting to know a human being.  You have to spend time building the relationship. The more time that you spend with a person, the better you get to know him/her.  When you really know someone, you can just hear them cough and know that it is them without seeing them.  That is how it is with God.  The more time you spend studying His word and learning His characteristics, the better you will know Him.  If you don’t spend much time in His word, it is a good chance that you will get His word for you confused with your own thoughts or the devil’s words whenever you get the notion that God is speaking to you.  Now, it is possible to see someone on a regular basis and not know them at all.  You can work with an individual for years and not know them or anything about them because you don’t have much interaction with them.  You may only know their name.  And it is the exact same way with God.  You can come to church weekly but not spend individual time with God.  In that case, you will not know Him.  He uses His word to validate everything that He says.

Are You Unequally Yoked?

The Bible instructs us to beware of close relationships with nonbelievers of Christ.  This tends to be a difficult concept for many Christians to accept because many of these relationships were formed during their pre-Christ life.  Some will argue that they desire to lead their friends into the life with Christ that they have come to live.  However, as we get closer to Jesus and change our lives, the dynamics of these other relationships will change if our non-believing friends do not share the same passion that we have for Christ.  We may have acquaintances who have not accepted Christ as their Savior, but it is impossible for two people going in opposite directions to have a close intimate bond.  The very fact that they are going in opposite directions will cause them to separate over the course of time.

What is a Yoke?

A physical yoke was a wooden crosspiece used to connect two animals together in order to pull a plow or a cart.  These animals had no choice but to walk in the same direction because the yoke prohibited them from going in separate directions.  The yoke that 2 Corinthians 6:14 refers to, represents a strong bond between people.  In order to maintain the previous bond that was established between the two individuals, both people have to be of the same mindset.  Yoking can include a believer being married to a nonbeliever or a believer being close friends with a nonbeliever.  If there is a yoke between a Christian and a non-Christian, one person has to give up their point of view.  The Christian has to accept the way of the non-Christian, or the non-Christian has to accept the principles of the word of God.  When we fail to break unhealthy spiritual bonds, we decide to accept the punishment of God rather than the acceptance and love of God.

Scientifically Proven

Science proves that we can be influenced by the emotions of the people closest to us.  Even when we believe that we are in complete control of our thoughts, we discover that we are really vulnerable to the desires and will of others.  The nervous system in the human body is comprised of billions of nerve endings called neurons.  There are approximately 100 billion neurons in the brain and a similar amount throughout the rest of the body.  The neurons control thought and movement throughout the body by the process of transmitting, receiving and interpreting signals from the brain.  For example if you wanted to raise your right arm, the neurons from your brain would send an electrical signal to the neurons throughout your body.  These neurons will receive the signal, interpret the message and transmit the signal to the neurons controlling movement of your right arm; and your right arm will rise.  The electrical signals that are transmitted via the neurons create an energy field or a magnetic field.  This magnetic field is also produced when electrical current runs through a metal wire.  When a magnetic field is created by electrical current running through a wire, it can produce an electrical output through a different metal wire.  This is known as magnetic induction.  In simple terms, electrical current through one wire has the ability to affect a separate piece of wire.  The electricity flowing through the human body causes the heart to create a magnetic field which is strong enough to affect other people in close proximity.  This means that we have the ability to be affected by the emotions and intentions of people that we are in close fellowship with.  I don’t know if the men that God used to contribute to the Bible understood any of this but God knew how we were constructed because He made us!  There is a direct correlation between some of the instructions that God has given us to follow and what science has to say about how we interrelate with one another.  James 4:4 says, 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.   Will our friendships make us enemies of God?  We must ensure that our relationships are not steering us away from God.  Even as we acknowledge how electrical current running through one metal wire can manipulate the electrical output of another metal wire, we understand the powerful influence that one individual can have in the life of another person.  This should caution us even the more against being unequally yoked.    

Conclusion

It is essential that, as Christians, we live by the standard that God has created for us.  In order to maintain that standard, our relationship with unbelievers must be placed in its proper perspective; we should show love and respect towards them.  While we should allow ourselves to be approachable and inviting to lead people to Christ with love, the most intimate relationships should be reserved for other believers.   Only then will we live the quality of life that God has prepared for us.  In today’s society, many people believe that it is not necessary to live our lives by the Word but God has already made it clear that it will be His way or no way at all.  He will NOT accept any compromise on our part.  There is only ONE WAY:  GOD’S WAY!

Proverbs 12:26 The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray.

2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?

"The Consequences of Fatherlessness" The Conclusion

Conclusion  

Children are a product of the environment created for them by their parents.  God intends for sex to be reserved only for marriage.  It is extremely important for parents to choose their mates wisely. When children are raised by a single parent, the child grows up with some sort of deficit.  The behavior of children is generally a direct result of the situation that their parents have subjected them to.  When boys who are raised by a single woman experience behavioral problems, it is the effect of one underlying issue:  fatherlessness.  When they lack the ability or vocabulary to articulate how they feel, it is expressed in other irresponsible ways.  These issues will be resolved when people decide to return to God’s way of doing things.  Children are meant to be raised by God’s definition of a married couple: one man and one woman.  Today society has attempted to redefine the family structure and some children are being raised by same sex parents, two men or two women.  This family structure is wrong theologically and presents major psychological and physiological issues.  The presence of an earthly father teaches children how to have an appropriate relationship with their heavenly Father.  When they receive discipline from their natural father as children, they understand the discipline of God and His requirements for us to be accountable for our behavior.  Proverbs 3:12 tells us that “For whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights.”  As the natural father makes provision for his children, they will find it easier to trust that God will be the Provider that He has promised to be.  The Word of God makes it clear that if we seek His kingdom and its righteousness, ALL of our needs will be met.  (Matthew 6:33)  When children understand that their natural father will protect them to the point of death, they will develop the assurance as adults that God has the power to protect them and will protect them.  Psalms 27:1-3 says The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell.  Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident.

"The Consequences of Fatherlessness" Part 3

Lack of Identity

Fathers provide identity.  We hear a lot about women with daddy issues but rarely about men with daddy issues.  When the father is missing in action, both men and women will develop daddy issues.  Women with daddy issues normally lack the affirmation that they need.  As a result many live promiscuous lives because any man who approves of them is entitled to have sex with them.  In many of these cases, any attention is accepted whether positive or negative.  Women will also exhibit anger and hatred toward men as a result of their father’s inactive and/or negative role in their lives.  Normally, the label of daddy issues is assigned to women.  However, many men are also plagued with daddy issues.  Many times, the effects of a missing father include a high level of sensitivity, causing their feelings to be easily hurt.  Insecurity is common where fatherlessness is present.  God considers fathers to be such an integral part of providing identity that even though He did not allow a man to participate in the creation of His Son Jesus, He assigned a suitable man to be the provision for the protection and early identity of Jesus.  People identified Jesus as the son of Joseph.  They identified Jesus as a carpenter which is the occupation that Joseph taught Him.  They identified Him as the son of David who is in Joseph’s bloodline.  Finally, we identify Jesus as the Son of God after God proclaimed that Jesus is His Son and He is well pleased with Him. Some people will pursue notable positions or financial security with the expectation that it will give them identity and soothe their feelings of insecurity.  The attainment of tangible things reveals one undeniable horror: things will never provide you with identity.

In Biblical days, people were identified by their father.  For example:  David was referred to as David son of Jesse, Solomon as Solomon son of David, and James and John as James and John sons of Zebedee.  In contrast, today many people seek identification through their occupation or abilities.  Some parents even seek to be identified by the talent and abilities of their children.  As a result, many children are forced to participate in sports, the arts, and even specific occupations that they may not desire for themselves.  In an attempt to please their parents, these children sacrifice their own happiness and desires in order to support their parent’s search for identity.  In cases such as this, the roles are reversed and the child becomes the provider of identity instead of having identity provided for them by their parents.  The role of the father was established by God to provide identity for the family.  Fatherlessness has greatly corroded the family structure. Even when fathers are physically present within the home, fatherlessness can and may still exist.  If a man lives with his children and decides to be a nonparticipant in the hands-on raising of his children, this situation presents a more hazardous environment than a home without a father present.  According to researchers at Columbia University, “Children living in two-parent households with poor relationships with their fathers are 68% more likely to smoke, drink, or use drugs compared to all teens in two-parent households. Teens in single mother households are at a 30% higher risk than those in two-parent households.” God has given fathers an essential role in the development of children and when this role is not fulfilled, it produces children who grow into adults who are deficient in some area.

"The Consequences of Fatherlessness" Part 2

Ignoring Consequences

Another devastating effect of fatherlessness is the ignorance of the consequences of an individual’s action.  A previous neighbor had a nephew who attended the celebratory parade of the Baltimore Ravens’ Super Bowl victory against the San Francisco 49ers.  The young man, however, was not a Ravens fan.  He was a 49ers fan.  As an act of defiance, he chose to show his support for his team by wearing their jersey during the parade.  Unfortunately, as a result, Ravens fans took offense to him wearing the 49ers’ jersey and responded with inappropriate remarks.  The young man responded in the same manner which resulted in a physical altercation.  The altercation, ultimately, led to this young man being killed during an event that should have been celebratory.  On the surface, it may appear that he was simply tragically targeted for his right to choose to support the team of his choice.  However, one of a father’s duties is to teach his children to think before they act.  He is responsible for ensuring that they understand that some actions may have serious consequences.  When it comes to sports teams, many fans have been known to behave in inappropriate ways.  Even though everyone has the right to choose the team of their liking, in instances like this you have to use wisdom and recognize that you may be soliciting unwanted behavior.  Knowing that people have the propensity for inappropriate responses, you have to understand the consequences your actions may produce.  Unfortunately, instances such as this tragic murder prove that the absence of a father to provide discipline and teach their children about consequences has contributed to the demise of our society.  

Sadly, we have become a nation of people who refuse to accept responsibility for our actions.  Many people lose their lives because they do not stop and consider the consequences before they act.  Others are serving lengthy jail sentences because by the time they realized that their actions could produce major consequences; they were standing before a judge.  The discipline of the natural father prepares you for the discipline of God, our heavenly Father.  Many in the Church are out of order because they do not understand that God is a God of order.  He does not approve of irresponsible behavior, and He does not accept a life of sin accompanying the work that we say we are doing for Him.  

While everyone sins, there is a difference between acts of sin and a life of sin.  David committed acts of sin.  When it was brought to his attention, he immediately repented of his actions.  Solomon lived a life of sin after he chose to marry women from cultures that God instructed His people to avoid.  As a result of disobeying God, Solomon built altars for the false gods of his wives.  Many people will use the “everyone sins” response as a defense when confronted about their sin.  While that statement is true, when a person commits acts of sin they will feel remorse and approach God humbly with a mind to repent.  However, when a person lives a life of sin they continue to commit sin while making excuses for it.  We have been taught that we are now under grace and many people believe that grace gives us a pass to sin and live as we choose without being accountable for our actions.  Grace does not give us a pass to sin, it was established so that we have the ability to continue a relationship with God when we error as a result of being flawed individuals.  However, God is NOT ok with sin and He HATES it!  He expects for His children to become mature sons and daughters who OBEY His word.

"The Consequences of Fatherlessness" Part 1

 Fatherlessness directly affects how children grow into adults and how those adults interact in society.  There are 3 key consequences that can result from the lack of an interactive father within the home.  These inadequacies are developed in people as children and they are carried well into adulthood.  The absence of a father in the home or the lack of proper interaction from a father who is present in the home leads to:  a lack of respect for authority, ignorance of the concept of consequences of one’s action, and a lack of identity.

No Respect for Authority

The lack of respect for authority is an effect of the lack of a father’s interaction.  A father is supposed to provide discipline for his children.  The absence of a father’s discipline eliminates or diminishes the element of respect towards authority within a person.  In many cases, people associate disrespect for authority only with criminal behavior.  However, criminal activity is only one aspect of resentment for authority.  If an individual has issues with following instructions from employers, pastors, and others who are in positions of authority, this qualifies as a lack of respect for authority.  Some will even develop an attitude of antipathy against these leaders.  One common comment that has been made by many is, “I’m a man like him.”  Although everyone has a choice in who will hold some of the positions of authority in their lives, people who have problems with authority will respond negatively toward the figure of authority that they have chosen for various situations.  People choose their place of employment.  However, many believe that they can alter or reject rules that have been established by the leadership of that particular job.  People choose a church yet will contend with the pastor of the church concerning the instructions or rules that have been put in place.  In many cases, people do not even realize that they are being rebellious.  They have become so accustomed to their resentment toward authority that they will not obey even the simplest of instructions.  This is simply because, even as adults, people will display delinquent behavior which eventually becomes rebellion.  

God has established the role and presence of a mother and a father in the lives of children.  Any modification of this arrangement will ALWAYS produce negative effects.  Even in the animal kingdom, animals that are not solitary animals will suffer negative effects with the removal of fathers.  Young male elephants at a national park in South Africa began exhibiting delinquent behavior by killing rhinos that were at the national park.  The elephants were left fatherless by poachers who hunted the adults for their tusks.  The only thing that the park rangers had to do to cause the young males to deviate from their destructive behavior was to transport adult males to that location.  The presence and leadership of the adult males immediately brought the young males in line.  Our present society believes that fathers can be replaced or eliminated without consequence.  That fallacy is disproved on a daily basis.  Gangs are comprised of a lot of young men and young women who come from homes where the father is missing or inactive.  Every plan that strays from God’s original plan leads to destruction.  

Satanic Strongholds- "Pharmakeia"

Beware

The majority of the devil’s strongholds are not tangible.  However, these strongholds are designed to have an indelible mental effect on us.  But his most dangerous stronghold is pharmakeia.  Pharmakeia is the Greek word for pharmacy which involves practicing and making medication, spell giving potions, or elixirs believed to have transforming powers.  It is also translated as witchcraft or sorcery. This stronghold is so dangerous because even if a person has progressed to the place of submitting themselves to God, it can still create a breach between where God desires the person to be and the current position that the devil may have him or her in.  

Medication & Its Effects

Every medication on the market has been genetically engineered to have negative effects on us.  These effects are known as side effects.  We have been trained to expect and accept side effects to come with medications.  Some side effects include damage to internal organs.  Some include illness. Others include hallucinations and other mind altering symptoms.  Even strong-minded individuals are susceptible to the effects of medication.  Many times, the stronger the person’s mind, the more adverse the effects can be.  The body begins to fight against the foreign substance and as a result, the assault against the body takes its toll on the body.  There is a misconception in our society that our health is tied into whatever medication is on the market. Medications are available to aid sleeping, to stay awake, to thin your blood, and to increase or decrease testosterone.  Medication in layman’s terms is drugs.  Drugs can be broken down into two categories:  legal and illegal.  The side effects of both legal and illegal drugs are very similar.  The difference between legal and illegal drugs is that doctors prescribe legal drugs which have been regulated and endorsed by the government while illegal drugs have been publicly condemned by the government.   

It is not by accident that drugs have the type of negative influence on us that they do.  They are intended to impair our thought processes and alter our judgment.  The devil wants our minds clouded so that we will experience the opposite of what God wants us to experience:  a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.  In the presence of a sound mind, we can comprehend the concept of being endowed with love and power.  In the absence of a sound mind, we will become double minded and waver between what the Bible says and the opinion of the world.  Then we will lack the ability to accept the wisdom of God, the judgment of God, and the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Paul declared in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 but even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.  Some cannot receive the Word of God because their mind has not been renewed.  Others cannot receive the Word of God because foreign substances taken into the body either orally or intravenously have captivated their minds, preventing them from being able to receive and hold on to the truth of the Word. 

The Devil’s Deception Tool

The devil is very familiar with our physical and mental design.  He understands how our bodies respond to certain stimuli and he understands how various substances and actions affect our bodies and minds.  Deception is a tool that he uses frequently and effectively.  We reject illegal drugs because they are illegal and they have such a negative effect on us.  However, we accept legal drugs because they are legal, even though they have the same negative effects on us.  People strive to avoid illegal drugs while simultaneously being led into addiction of legal drugs.  Some legal drugs are so deadly that they require stepping down to a lower dosage before completely discontinuing their use. Some fruit cannot even be eaten while taking certain drugs.  That is how deception works.  It offers an apparent safe solution to counter an adverse situation.  However, the solution actually turns out to be a deadly trap.  In ancient times, the use of drugs was implemented by witches and sorcerers to manipulate the thinking and actions of people.  Today, the use of drugs is encouraged for the sake of improving health issues.  This does not mean, however, that if taking drugs for a health related issue that one can simply discontinue the use of these drugs without being responsible.  If taking medication to regulate blood pressure, one needs to first maintain a healthy diet and implement exercise into daily activities in order to bring health issues under control BEFORE deciding to discontinue drug use.  In addition, it is important to get the approval of a medical doctor.

Some of the drugs that we take can produce some unbelievable effects.  Take birth control pills for an example, studies have shown that there have been cases of modified development of sexual organs in infants.  This occurs in about 3 out of 1000 cases of women who reported taking oral contraceptives shortly before or after conception.  Birth control pills have also been linked to the masculinization of female infants.   

It has now become common practice for children to be medicated.  They are now medicated for displaying the same attributes that children have displayed for millenniums. Four common medications administered to children are Adderall, Dexedrine, Ritalin, and Strattera. These medications have side effects that produce depression, mood disorders, suicidal ideation, and hallucinations.  One important thing to understand about medications that have suicidal side effects is that the effects generally don’t make suicide appear to be suicide.  The medication may be hallucinogenic and encourage you to do things that may be detrimental to your safety.  Some examples include:  jumping from a bridge or building because the ocean is inviting you to come on in.  You may be prodded to jump from a balcony because the grass below is plush and inviting.  You may be encouraged to swallow your entire bottle of pills so that no one will steal them.  Or you may experience depression, not normal depression.  It is a heightened form of depression triggered by something that has been concocted to control and destroy you. In 2004, suicide was the third largest killer of people ages 10-24.  When the FDA began requiring “black box” warnings on commonly prescribed antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs, amazingly, there was a 22% decrease in pediatric prescription. These drugs are not designed for our benefit but for our destruction. Jesus said that the thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

1 Peter 1:13-16 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

Satanic Strongholds- "Low Self-Esteem"

What is Self-Esteem?

Self-esteem is an individual’s emotional evaluation of their self-worth.   Psychologist Albert Ellis was extremely critical of the concept of self-esteem.   He believed that the act of rating and attaching a specific value to people was irrational and unethical.  The philosophy of self-esteem, according to Albert, was unrealistic and proved to be self- and socially destructive.  In his opinion, the healthier alternative to self-esteem is unconditional self-acceptance and unconditional other acceptance.  The unconditional acceptance of others is an important attribute to possess.

Low Self-Esteem

In the case of low self-esteem, a person has negatively evaluated themselves as being incompetent. There are many traits that identify the presence of low self-esteem: envy, extreme self-criticism, fear of mistakes, pessimism, hypersensitivity to criticism, and feelings of being attacked.  Having low self-esteem will cause people to seek outside sources in order to boost self-worth or validation. The search for validation will place many people on a dangerously destructive path or cause them to become vulnerable candidates to be taken advantage of.

Two cognitive biases support low self-esteem:  biased perception and biased interpretation.  When people have a poor perception of themselves, they view each error that they make as a major violation.  This will also increase their negative self-image.  Self-criticism in these cases is extreme.  Low self-esteem has the propensity to cause people to become perfectionists because they have little or no tolerance for imperfection within themselves.  Mistakes are viewed as totally unacceptable.  As a result of negative experiences which may have occurred during the early years of their life, many people who suffer from low self-esteem are extremely pessimistic.  The negative episodes in their lives have molded their minds to the extent that even when they come in contact with positive people or experience positive events, they still exhibit a suspicious attitude or expect a negative outcome.  Many times, they are unaware of this flaw because it has become a defense mechanism to aid them in managing or avoiding disappointment.  One of the most dangerous traits of low self-esteem and the biggest liability is a hypersensitivity to criticism which causes them to resent others because they believe that they are under attack.  Sometimes this will cause them to go into denial concerning their self-esteem issues and seek to overcompensate even more.  The devil uses the very thing that caused him to be evicted from heaven to discourage people from seeking help and being delivered: PRIDE.  People will believe that they are the only one struggling in a particular area.  They have either forgotten or are unaware that the Bible instructs us to encourage one another and bear one another’s burdens.  When we cease to be self-seeking, we will no longer be overcome by feelings of low self-esteem.  

The Solution

God’s answer and solution to the self-esteem issue is self-denial and to esteem others above yourself.  God has repeatedly given us the validation that is essential for us to live healthy righteous lives.  The Bible assures us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.  We also understand that there is no new thing under the sun.  That means that there isn’t anything going on in our lives that has not been experienced by someone else at some point in history.  As human beings, we are all flawed and we each have inadequacies.  When we begin to understand how unique God has made each of us, we will see that we do not have to achieve earthly success or perform some great act in order to obtain some form of self-worth.  When we learn to humble ourselves and deny ourselves, we will attain the necessary confidence to be productive in the kingdom of God.  We will then become who God desires us to be.

Psalm 139:14  I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.

Psalm 8:4-5 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor.

Satanic Strongholds- "Fear"

Fear Torments Us

In 2005, a Gallup poll was conducted in the United States. Adolescents between the ages of 13 and 15 were questioned regarding their fears.  The top 10 fears among this group were compiled from the answers that were given.  They were terrorist attacks, spiders, death, being a failure, war, criminal or gang violence, being alone, the future, and nuclear war. In many cases, fear comes from the perception of danger not necessarily the presence of danger.  Fear can be classified in two categories:  rational and irrational.  Irrational fear is also known as a phobia.   Traumatic experiences may also trigger a fear response in people. Rational fear due to imminent danger will trigger a fight or flight response.  All of our fear responses initiate in our brain whether rational or irrational.  The five parts of the brain that process this information are the thalamus, sensory cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, and the hypothalamus.  The thalamus determines where to send the data that is received from our senses.  The sensory cortex interprets this data. The hippocampus stores and retrieves conscious memories.  The amygdala decodes emotions, determines possible threats, stores fear memories.  The hypothalamus activates the fight or flight response.  

In the absence of a sound mind, fear has the freedom to take up residence within us.  Fear can be crippling because it is such a strong demonic force.  The spirit of fear can open the door to other demonic forces such as bitterness and jealousy.  It is difficult to feel the love of God or accept the love of God in the presence of fear.  Fear will not voluntarily leave us.  We have to address the spirit and cast it out.  Many times in order to effectively do this, we may have to search out and revisit the origin of the fear.  When we understand the root of the fear, we can address it and pray specifically against it.  The spirit of fear counts on our avoidance and tolerance of it in order to keep its hold on us.  The longer that we permit it to reside within us, the deeper the roots settle.   We must present our requests to God with thanksgiving; His peace will go beyond all levels of understanding and guard our hearts and minds in Jesus to counteract the fear.

Deliverance is the Solution

For many years, the devil has enjoyed our ignorance of many things and has used it to his advantage to keep us in bondage. The Bible declares that therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. (John 8:36)  It also states that if we abide in the word of God, we will know the truth and the truth shall make you free.  (John 8:32)  Many times in churches it has been taught to shout our issues away or dance our issues away or even praise our issues away instead of confronting our issues.  Praise is essential in our lives and we are instructed by the Word of God to offer praise unto God.  But when it comes to our issues, we must deal with them instead of attempting to apply a quick fix.  The devil wants us to search out temporary fixes or ineffective resolutions with the hopes that we will never focus on the root of the problem, thus enabling him to maintain his grip on us.  The Bible teaches us about the gifts of the fivefold ministry that are given to us to improve us.  It also teaches us that God has placed many ministry gifts within the body of Christ for our benefit.  We have everything that we need within the body of Christ to aid us.  We only need to become proactive and seek out as well as pray for guidance to locate the individuals who will be able to provide us with the specific help that we need.   Action is required in order to overcome the spirit of fear.  Its grip can be broken but we have to be proactive.  Pro means (for) and Active means (action, doing something).  The word only works through application.  Satan will recycle events and negative ideas in order to keep us stagnant and immobile.  As long as he can cloud our judgment, he can keep us from recognizing the authority that has been given to us by God.  The only thing that he needs to do is keep us distracted.  He doesn’t have to overpower us; he only needs to make us believe that he can and that he has.  

Many people live with fear daily.  But understanding the truth means that they can escape their fears by accepting Christ.  This is why 2 Timothy 1:7 (For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind) is such an essential scripture in bringing deliverance to them. The love of Christ will nullify and eradicate any amount of fear that we can experience.  Complete trust in God and in His word will bring us to the place where we will be free of fear.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

Satanic Strongholds- "Rejection"

Romans 8:31, 38-39

³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  ³⁸ For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

According to Fritz Springmeier and Cisco Wheeler, “Rejection is a tool of Satan across the board in the world.  Rejection creates a sine wave of hills and valleys.  When a person (or nation) is rejected they will often shift to one of two extremes:  either they will try to perform to meet up to expectations or they will retaliate against rejection.  Both are extremes.”  When dealing with spiritual strongholds, deliverance is twofold. There has to be understanding by those who are involved with the person dealing with rejection and there has to be accountability by the rejected individual for their thoughts, speech, and actions.  When dealing with people who have been rejected or are feeling rejected, we have to understand that this is an extremely strong spirit.  It will be followed by the need to validate oneself or it will be followed by anger which is a cry for attention.  

It is very important to understand the effect that rejection may have on an individual.  Rejection may result in social isolation, loneliness, aggression, depression, feelings of insecurity and a heightened sense of future rejection.  When teaching, I address things from a spiritual perspective but I do not disregard or ignore the natural or human side of the issue.  It is essential that we learn to be more understanding of one another.  Even if we aren't experiencing the effects of rejection, we are probably experiencing other issues which require the patience of others.  Longsuffering is one of the fruit of the Spirit that we are required by God to possess.  With rejection being a satanic stronghold, many times we become impatient with those dealing with rejection. We may feel as if they should be ‘over’ it by now. This is exactly what the devil desires.  As long as we do not have the patience to endure one another’s issues, it enables them to either remain in the same position or digress.  However, as stated previously, deliverance is twofold.  The individual has to make a decision to release these feelings.  

Freedom

Freedom comes from letting go.  Many times as humans, our emotional inadequacies transition from an emotional pain to an emotional security blanket.  We become comfortable with these feelings because they are familiar to us.  Many times there is a fear of the unknown.  If we release the hurt that we’re feeling, what hurt will it be replaced with?  But Jesus made it clear that He came so that we would be able to have life and not just life, but abundant life.  He came so that we could live and not just exist.  

Social isolation is an extremely dangerous effect of rejection.  For Christians, this isolation presents spiritual atrophy as well as natural consequences. The Bible tells us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together.  When we come in contact with one another, we draw strength from one another.  Social isolation can be identified with loneliness but loneliness is an emotional disorder, while social isolation is a voluntary removal of oneself from social interaction.  Epidemiologist Andrew Steptoe researched 6500 individuals over a twelve year period.  He came to the conclusion that many of the subjects died as a result of social isolation rather than loneliness.   

Depression is another ramification of rejection.   Depression affects us physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.  People may lose or gain weight as a result of depression.  Depression can produce one of two extremes.  One extreme is the tendency to avoid food because the body does not respond to feelings of hunger.  The other extreme happens when certain foods cater to the reward system in the brain.  Pleasure chemicals such as the neurotransmitter dopamine are released when we indulge in devouring some foods.  Excessive food consumption is used to attempt to satisfy the internal pain that the individual is feeling.  Insomnia as a result of depression will have a negative mental effect on us.  As we rest, our brain which is a self-repairing organ has the ability to regenerate itself.  Old or dead cells are released and new cells are formed.  When we fail to get sufficient sleep or rest, our brain does not have an opportunity to properly restore itself.  Lack of sufficient rest will also distort your perception or viewpoint on life’s occurrences.  The inner turmoil that we may be trying to navigate our way through will cause us to focus on the negative aspect of everything.  There are also times when we convert positive events into negative ones.  Depression will also stunt our spiritual growth.  Having a sober and sound mind is essential in our development as Christians.  In the absence of clouded judgment, it is easier to believe and accept the instructions of God.  Even when we experience rejection in life, we receive assurance that nothing has the ability to separate us from God’s love.

Moving from Defense to Offense Part 2

We are in a war.  The war is in the spirit for the soul of man.  In Acts chapter 2, the disciples began to preach the gospel of Jesus in other languages after they received the Holy Ghost.  The Israelites who were from other nations were amazed. They realized that the disciples were from Galilee but they were able to speak the native languages of the visiting Jews because the Holy Ghost had given them the ability to do so.  As a result, about 3000 souls were saved.  This was the greatest offensive attack that the devil and the kingdom of darkness had experienced.  The attack was so great that the devil had to completely change his strategy for warfare against the people of God.  Prior to Jesus’ arrival, Satan’s opposition to God was to alter God’s creation or present the opposite of everything that God is and represents.   God performed miracles.  Satan performed magic.  God used prophets.  Satan used psychics.  Jehovah is the true God.  Satan created false gods.  God used procreation to honor Him.  Satan used homosexuality to direct worship to himself.  Satan knew that Jesus was coming so he feigned his own virgin births with Buddha and Maya as well as other false deities.  However, after the disciples were filled with the Holy Ghost and began to assault his kingdom, the devil had to alter his strategy of total opposition to incorporate mimicking what God has given us.  

God gave us His Holy Spirit to comfort us and guide us into all truth.  Satan has given the kundalini spirit from yoga which causes people to pass out and lose consciousness and make strange noises and bark like dogs.  We have Christianity so that we can become Christ-like.  Satan presented us with Catholicism which is a merger of Christianity and pagan practices.  Satan used men who were very charismatic to deceive people.  God used ordinary men to do His will.  Since these men were willing to humble themselves and become obedient to the will of God, God was able to use them to go on the offensive and shake up the devil’s kingdom.  They totally disturbed his organization.  

In Acts chapter 3, we see Peter and John going on the offensive once again.  They were going to the temple to pray: offensive action.  They saw a lame man and used the power given to them by Jesus to heal him: offensive action.  When the people in attendance who witnessed the miracle ran up to check out the miracle, Peter preached the gospel of Jesus to them and as a result, 5000 men believed in Jesus: really offensive action.  

As soldiers in this army, God has been preparing us to stand in the midst of all kinds of adversity.  Romans 8:28 says and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  But many times our interpretation of this scripture is that everything is going to work out for us the way that we desire it to.  God expects us not to fold in uncomfortable situations.  He expects us to push on in spite of.  Nothing takes the fight out of an opponent like seeing their enemy continuing to push forward when they are hitting them with all they got.  Whenever you get discouraged, the devil says, “Whew!”  However, when you go on the offensive and the devil is doing his best to deter you and you keep coming, he has no idea what to do from there.  He has to go back to the drawing board to find out what to attack us with.  Our preparation is what pushes us to drive on in spite of what comes our way.  

Moving from Defense to Offense Part 1

As Christians, we know that our enemy is the devil.  We know that his purpose is to steal, kill and destroy.  We also know that in order to combat him, we have to submit to God, resist the devil and then he will flee from us.  But in order to go on the offensive against the devil, we must have  power.  Power comes from the Holy Ghost.  In order to receive maximum power from the Holy Ghost, we need an effective prayer life and fasting.  Jesus told His disciples that some demons would only become subject to them because they practiced prayer and fasting.  We’ll talk a little bit about sports.  Boxing is different from other fighting styles because every boxer is taught the same four punches:  the jab, the cross, the hook, and the uppercut.  I’ve heard some people say that anyone can get in the ring and throw punches but boxing measures strength, speed, reflexes, and endurance.  Boxing is more mental than it is physical.  In a boxing match, if there is no knockout, the fight will generally go in the favor of whoever is the most aggressive.  We have to be on the offensive to be aggressive.  We cannot win staying on the defensive.  When we are on offense, we dictate the course of the fight.  When we are on the defense, we are only reactive.  Praise confuses the devil and it takes us from retreating or being on the defense to going on the offense.  In boxing, the jab can be used offensively or defensively.  God wants us on the offensive.  We have the Word of God which is our sword to fight with.  Jesus defeated the devil using the Word of God.  When we don’t know the Word, we are defenseless.  We must know our Bible in order to go on the offensive.  When we know what is in the Word, we understand why the devil is no match for us.  God needs us to be on the offensive because there is a battle for the lost souls of the world.  If we don’t know the Word, we can’t believe the Word!  

Sometimes it seems as though the devil is doing a number on us.  But not only do we need to know our enemy, we also need to know our ally.  Our enemy really could care less about our money, our cars or our jobs.  He wants our souls.  God is not just simply an ally.  He’s our protector.  So we never need to be concerned in this war.  He is never caught off guard and everything goes according to how He has planned it.  The things that we go through have been designed for us because they don’t have the power to destroy us.  If someone else went through what you have gone through, it would destroy them.  And if you went through what some others have gone through, you wouldn't be able to handle it.   When we go on the offensive, both our front and rear are protected.  Since so many things go on in the spirit realm and we can’t see it with our natural eyes, we have a hard time believing how protected that we really are.  

I listened to the testimony of Curtis Kelly, a Christian who was formerly a participant in voodoo.  He told a story of how some of his neighborhood friends who were brothers had gotten saved.  They began to witness to others in the neighborhood.  Curtis became upset because he didn't want the brothers to cause others to get saved because he would lose his customers.  He was accustomed to people coming to him to receive spells to protect them or to heal them.  One night he called up a small imp and told him to go and make trouble for the family.  The imp went off and when it returned it said that they were protected and he couldn't touch them.  Curtis became angry with the imp and said, “I told you to go and destroy them.”  So the imp left again and returned and said, “I told you I couldn't touch them.  They’re protected.”  So Curtis sent the imp away and called for a bigger imp and sent him out to tear the house and cars up, set the house on fire and do everything the other imp couldn't do.  After a few days, this imp returned.  He asked the imp if he did what he told it to do.  The imp said, “It’s just like the other imp told you, we can’t touch them.  They’re protected.”  Curtis got angry and sent the imp away and astral projected to their house.  When he arrived, he saw two eight foot tall angels with flaming swords.  He said, “They looked like they had been working out in the gym.  They were tough.”  He stood behind a telephone pole and peeked out at them and said, “Man, I see why those imps couldn't do anything.”  So he went back into his body and said to himself, “Wow, they have some serious power. They have some power behind them.”  Part of going on the offensive is learning how to strategize.  We don’t just rush headlong into the battle.  The devil strategizes against us and we learn to strategize against him.  When we learn his tactics, we learn how to fortify ourselves and seal the weak areas.  As we go on the offensive, we need to ensure that we cover all vulnerable areas.