I'm Not Surprised the Devil is a Distractor!
I am a part of a program that essentially reveals to people the basics of the biblical faith. It's the ABCs/123s of the bible. It's a program that bypasses the bright light - big show kind of grandeur that we see in many churches today which honestly is a huge distraction from Whom we should be focused upon to begin with. In addition, it can be hard to find the real Jesus in many churches today because of all these BIG distractions. At this church, Jesus can be found working in this program. Men and Women keep coming back because they are finally hearing what they have been searching for.....the Truth! As a result real change is happening in these peoples lives and it's not easy because in many ways the Truth is setting these people free from lies and deception, unforgiveness and anger, depression and selfishness, pride and self righteousness. These are the strong parts of our sin nature. Being seperated from these things by believing in the truth found in the bible hurts initially but brings real life sooner then later. Usually, where God is working you can expect unusual things to happen.
With that said, on Monday night I was a part of one man's most unusual experience as He was seeking after God with a true heart. I had met this man only three times before and had in only three sessions seen his radar for God hone in on Him and the key issues that would allow him to become truly free. On this particular night he decided to pray to God alone in the desert about all that he had been learning. The really cool thing about this man is that he has not been hardening his heart towards God as he is learning about who God is and who he is as a man, but instead he has responded with sincerity and is really seeking after what the Devil apparently wants to distract him from. Whether you're a Christian or not the Devil will do whatever is necessary to distract you from this one critical piece of the salvation process. Satan says, "You can do everything else, even play your religion, but don't you dare ______________!" Do you know what that blank is? I'll tell you in a minute...
So he was up on the hill praying before the cross and thinking about his guilt and what it really means to give his life to Jesus Christ. He came to realize that he is not to control those things that God is in control of --- namely everything including his own life!, he came to realize that he is not his flesh when once he enters into faith in Jesus Christ, he came to realize what it means to really be IN CHRIST. And now he was working it all into his heart through prayer. So he's praying at the cross and it is dark out and he begins walking down the hill back to class. And along the path he can see the signs of encouragement. He happened to stop at the sign that spoke of REPENTANCE and he stood in front of that sign thinking about what that really meant. And as he was thinking and praying he was lead to remove his hat and bow his head to the Lord and he began to pray in the heart of REPENTANCE and WHAM!!! He was hit in the back hard enough to make him fall to the ground. He turned around in that split second and it was dark and he saw nothing. He heard nothing........................So he runs down the hill and grabs me as we are breaking out into groups and says, Hank, I have to tell you what just happened to me. We went outside and He described what happened and lifted up his shirt to show me where he was hit, and to our surprise there were four claw marks on his back that had broke his skin. The first thing I thought was the verse in Ephesians Chapter 6 Verses 10-12 that says, " A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all the strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places." I saw the concern on his face as he was realizing the truth that there is a spiritual realm. We prayed together and asked the Lord to continue to work the life of Repentance into his spirit. And he began reading the book of John that night.
Satan says, "You can do everything else, even play around in your nice religion, but don't you dare ______________ to Jesus Christ!" Friends, the word is REPENT. This man was about to REPENT of his sins before the Lord and WHAM!!! What does that tell you! Even if it was an owl or hawk whatever it was that slammed into him without a trace was right at the time of his faithful and sincere moment to get right with the Lord!!! I am not surprised! Are you? Even if you don't believe in Jesus are you surprised? The devil is a distractor. He even wants us to emphasize the fact that this man got nailed in the back hard enough to leave claw marks. He even wants us to watch the latest shows that emphasize ghosts and spirits and psychics and magic arts. The paranormal. Are you being distracted by the things of this world! Do you realize that Satan is putting on a big show for you .... EVEN IN THE CHURCHES!!!! Satan masquerades as an Angel of Light so that he can bring you down with him.
The ABC's/123's of the Christian Fundementals are childlike and require real faith. The fundementals/basics of biblical faith are dangerous because believing in them produces the kind of change that God is pleased with. Jesus said, "The Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who does not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter into it." I can tell you this man has been receiving a gift from God and I have been witnessing it. It's a powerful childlike faith that speaks through his eyes and the humble actions of prayer and repentance.
There's going to be more of this kind of thing happening around us. Whether you are a Christian or not do not be taken by these paranormal incidents. The God who loves you faithfully demonstrated his love for you by breaking himself on the cross for you. Think of all the sins you have committed with your hands...is it stealing, violence, angry gestures, sexual impurity? Because Jesus loves you and does not want you to go to that place prepared for the devil and his demons, He pierced his own hands instead of yours. Think of all the sins you have committed in your mind...Is it lustful adulterous thoughts? Jesus said that if you have lusted after another person that you have already committed adultry in your heart with them. Is it prideful self righteouse thoughts? I am better then everyone else! Is it angry murderous thoughts? Jesus said that if you are angry with someone that you have already murdered them in your heart. Because Jesus loves you he wore the crown of thorns on his head so that the punishment for mental sins would be paid in full. If you are reading this you must understand that you put Jesus on the cross. No one else is to blame but you. In the same way, I put Jesus on the cross. I am to blame because of my personal sins! Jesus' love is so great that even while we were in the act of sinning he took the beating that we all deserved. He died a naked and humiliating death for the pornographer so he or she would not have to. He died a brutally violent death so the terrorists, and murderers wouldn't have to. He died a mocking and unfair death so the thief and liar and fool would not have to. Can't you see God's love!!!! Can't you see God's Justice!!! Don't be side tracked by Satan's big shows and tricky lies. Jesus PAID IT ALL IN FULL ALREADY! You are not being invited by God to do anything to earn this gift of free life in His Son Jesus, because you can't do enough. You are are not good enough and never will be. If you've lied, stolen, cheated, lusted, or hated even once in your life you are guilty because God is Holy. If you choose to put your faith in Jesus Christ and his love for you He will make you Holy. There is no other way you will meet God's standard of Holiness because only Jesus Christ lived that life of perfect Holiness. Praise God that there is a way of escaping what we all deserve. We deserve what Jesus got. Get it? I praise the Lord that he has helped me get it! It's about getting repentance. It's about turning away from ourselves, our wills, our reasoning, our good actions, our SELF and entrusting our SELF to God. Only he can make you truly live! GIVE HIM PRAISE!!!!
God bless you as you sincerely approach God in a repentant spirit!!!
Love your brother in Christ
I am a part of a program that essentially reveals to people the basics of the biblical faith. It's the ABCs/123s of the bible. It's a program that bypasses the bright light - big show kind of grandeur that we see in many churches today which honestly is a huge distraction from Whom we should be focused upon to begin with. In addition, it can be hard to find the real Jesus in many churches today because of all these BIG distractions. At this church, Jesus can be found working in this program. Men and Women keep coming back because they are finally hearing what they have been searching for.....the Truth! As a result real change is happening in these peoples lives and it's not easy because in many ways the Truth is setting these people free from lies and deception, unforgiveness and anger, depression and selfishness, pride and self righteousness. These are the strong parts of our sin nature. Being seperated from these things by believing in the truth found in the bible hurts initially but brings real life sooner then later. Usually, where God is working you can expect unusual things to happen.
With that said, on Monday night I was a part of one man's most unusual experience as He was seeking after God with a true heart. I had met this man only three times before and had in only three sessions seen his radar for God hone in on Him and the key issues that would allow him to become truly free. On this particular night he decided to pray to God alone in the desert about all that he had been learning. The really cool thing about this man is that he has not been hardening his heart towards God as he is learning about who God is and who he is as a man, but instead he has responded with sincerity and is really seeking after what the Devil apparently wants to distract him from. Whether you're a Christian or not the Devil will do whatever is necessary to distract you from this one critical piece of the salvation process. Satan says, "You can do everything else, even play your religion, but don't you dare ______________!" Do you know what that blank is? I'll tell you in a minute...
So he was up on the hill praying before the cross and thinking about his guilt and what it really means to give his life to Jesus Christ. He came to realize that he is not to control those things that God is in control of --- namely everything including his own life!, he came to realize that he is not his flesh when once he enters into faith in Jesus Christ, he came to realize what it means to really be IN CHRIST. And now he was working it all into his heart through prayer. So he's praying at the cross and it is dark out and he begins walking down the hill back to class. And along the path he can see the signs of encouragement. He happened to stop at the sign that spoke of REPENTANCE and he stood in front of that sign thinking about what that really meant. And as he was thinking and praying he was lead to remove his hat and bow his head to the Lord and he began to pray in the heart of REPENTANCE and WHAM!!! He was hit in the back hard enough to make him fall to the ground. He turned around in that split second and it was dark and he saw nothing. He heard nothing........................So he runs down the hill and grabs me as we are breaking out into groups and says, Hank, I have to tell you what just happened to me. We went outside and He described what happened and lifted up his shirt to show me where he was hit, and to our surprise there were four claw marks on his back that had broke his skin. The first thing I thought was the verse in Ephesians Chapter 6 Verses 10-12 that says, " A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all the strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places." I saw the concern on his face as he was realizing the truth that there is a spiritual realm. We prayed together and asked the Lord to continue to work the life of Repentance into his spirit. And he began reading the book of John that night.
Satan says, "You can do everything else, even play around in your nice religion, but don't you dare ______________ to Jesus Christ!" Friends, the word is REPENT. This man was about to REPENT of his sins before the Lord and WHAM!!! What does that tell you! Even if it was an owl or hawk whatever it was that slammed into him without a trace was right at the time of his faithful and sincere moment to get right with the Lord!!! I am not surprised! Are you? Even if you don't believe in Jesus are you surprised? The devil is a distractor. He even wants us to emphasize the fact that this man got nailed in the back hard enough to leave claw marks. He even wants us to watch the latest shows that emphasize ghosts and spirits and psychics and magic arts. The paranormal. Are you being distracted by the things of this world! Do you realize that Satan is putting on a big show for you .... EVEN IN THE CHURCHES!!!! Satan masquerades as an Angel of Light so that he can bring you down with him.
The ABC's/123's of the Christian Fundementals are childlike and require real faith. The fundementals/basics of biblical faith are dangerous because believing in them produces the kind of change that God is pleased with. Jesus said, "The Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who does not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter into it." I can tell you this man has been receiving a gift from God and I have been witnessing it. It's a powerful childlike faith that speaks through his eyes and the humble actions of prayer and repentance.
There's going to be more of this kind of thing happening around us. Whether you are a Christian or not do not be taken by these paranormal incidents. The God who loves you faithfully demonstrated his love for you by breaking himself on the cross for you. Think of all the sins you have committed with your hands...is it stealing, violence, angry gestures, sexual impurity? Because Jesus loves you and does not want you to go to that place prepared for the devil and his demons, He pierced his own hands instead of yours. Think of all the sins you have committed in your mind...Is it lustful adulterous thoughts? Jesus said that if you have lusted after another person that you have already committed adultry in your heart with them. Is it prideful self righteouse thoughts? I am better then everyone else! Is it angry murderous thoughts? Jesus said that if you are angry with someone that you have already murdered them in your heart. Because Jesus loves you he wore the crown of thorns on his head so that the punishment for mental sins would be paid in full. If you are reading this you must understand that you put Jesus on the cross. No one else is to blame but you. In the same way, I put Jesus on the cross. I am to blame because of my personal sins! Jesus' love is so great that even while we were in the act of sinning he took the beating that we all deserved. He died a naked and humiliating death for the pornographer so he or she would not have to. He died a brutally violent death so the terrorists, and murderers wouldn't have to. He died a mocking and unfair death so the thief and liar and fool would not have to. Can't you see God's love!!!! Can't you see God's Justice!!! Don't be side tracked by Satan's big shows and tricky lies. Jesus PAID IT ALL IN FULL ALREADY! You are not being invited by God to do anything to earn this gift of free life in His Son Jesus, because you can't do enough. You are are not good enough and never will be. If you've lied, stolen, cheated, lusted, or hated even once in your life you are guilty because God is Holy. If you choose to put your faith in Jesus Christ and his love for you He will make you Holy. There is no other way you will meet God's standard of Holiness because only Jesus Christ lived that life of perfect Holiness. Praise God that there is a way of escaping what we all deserve. We deserve what Jesus got. Get it? I praise the Lord that he has helped me get it! It's about getting repentance. It's about turning away from ourselves, our wills, our reasoning, our good actions, our SELF and entrusting our SELF to God. Only he can make you truly live! GIVE HIM PRAISE!!!!
God bless you as you sincerely approach God in a repentant spirit!!!
Love your brother in Christ
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