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

Where Does the Power of The Blood Of Christ Come From?

Something is influencing you! What is it that you are allowing to influence you? Is it the Truth? Do you even know what is true anymore? It's very easy to become confused in this time we live and it will become more and more confusing as time passes. So watch out dear friends!! Do you remember who Pontious Pilot was? He was the Roman Governor who asked Jesus, "What is Truth?" Here's what happened in context:

Jesus before Pilate

Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.
Therefore Pilate went out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this Man?"
They answered and said to him, "If this Man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him to you." So Pilate said to them, "Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law." The Jews said to him, "We are not permitted to put anyone to death," to fulfill the word of Jesus which He spoke, signifying by what kind of death He was about to die. Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?" Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm." Therefore Pilate said to Him, "So You are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say correctly that I am a king For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice." Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, "I find no guilt in Him. "But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release for you the King of the Jews?" So they cried out again, saying, "Not this Man, but Barabbas." Now Barabbas was a robber.

Are you a Pontious Pilot? Is Truth stairing you in the face and you can't see it anymore. My dear friend if so, SNAP OUT OF IT! I say this with all the compassion and love that is running through me right now. In Proverbs it says "Better the rebuke from a friend then kisses from your enemy." I am your friend. And I am not afraid to rebuke you because there is so much at stake. I am at risk of being deceived if I will not deal with what is naturally inside of me that wants to run away from the truth. I am a man as you and we have the same problem...namely pride. If we don't deal with our pride it will deal with us. So much of what I am trying to convey can only be understood if that stiff necked attitude is dealt with. My sincere question to you is, Do you have a stiff -neck, or an angry spirit, or a rebellious heart toward the One who is trying to show you the one way to live that will make you truly fulfilled and complete. I hope the following excerpt will help you see that living in the Truth will truly set you free!

The Way of The Cross:

"Let us look at the book of Revelation. in this book the blood of Christ is described as the "blood of the Lamb." (Revelation 7:14). These words give us part of the answer to our question: Where does the Power of the Blood of Jesus Christ Come From? It was not the blood of the Lion or the Fighter, but the blood of the Lamb. The power of the blood comes from the lamb-like nature of the One who shed it. That is why it is so powerful with God for men. It was in His death that the Lord Jesus showed most completely His lamb-like nature.

Why is the Lord Jesus described as the Lamb? First of all, it is a description of His work. He came to be the Sacrifice for our sin. What did an Israelite do when he knew he had sinned and needed to get right with God? He would bring a lamb (or goat) as a sacrifice. The animal would be killed and it's blood sprinkled on the altar. The Lord Jesus, the Son of God, was the One who showed the true meaning of all the lambs which man had sacrificed. "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." (John 1:29)

But the name " the Lamb" has a deeper meaning as well. It shows us His nature. Like a lamb, He is gentle and humble in spirit (Matthew 11:29) He did not take revenge. He Himself said, " I have come down from heaven to do the will of Him who sent me, NOT MY OWN WILL" (John 6:38). He came so that men might be blessed and saved. If his nature had not been that of the Lamb, He would have had hard thoughts when men treated Him badly. But "He was humble and walked the path of obedience even to death--His death on the cross." (Philippians 2:8) He loved His Father and He loved us, and so endured it all to save us. Men did what they wished to Him. For our sakes He gave Himself into their hands. " When He was insulted, He did not answer back with an insult; when He suffered, he did not threaten." ( 1 peter 2:23) He did not claim His rights. He did not hit back. He had no hard thoughts. He did not complain. He was very different from what we are! When He knew it was God's plan that wicked men should put Him on the cross, He bowed His head to death. He was put to death like a lamb. Isaiah prophesied about Jesus as the Lamb: "He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He stood silent before the ones condemning Him" (Isaiah 53:7) men flogged Him with a whip. They laughed at Him. They spit on Him. They pulled the hair from His beard. They laid the cross on His back and made Him carry it to Calvary. There they nailed Him to the cross. he was lifted up to die. After he died a soldier pierced His side with a spear, and His blood flowed out. All these things happened because the Lord Jesus was the Lamb. He did all this to pay the price of my sin. It is true that He was the Lamb because He died on the cross, but it is also true that He died on the cross because He was the Lamb.

Let us always remember this fact about the blood. Jesus' blood shows us the humbleness and self-sacrifice of the Lamb. This is what gives the blood its wonderful power with God. Look at Hebrews 9:14. There the writer links together the blood of Christ and His offering Himself as a sacrifice to God. "How much more is accomplished by the blood of Christ! Through the eternal spirit He offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice to God." This is why the blood has such power with God. God the Father places great value on that which is offered to Him. He wants to see in men the nature of the Lamb. He want men who will humbly obey Him. He wants men who will give up their will to do His will. That was why God made man in the first place. Man sinned when he refused to walk in the path of obedience to God. This has been the real heart of sin ever since. The Lord Jesus came to earth as a Man to live in obedience to God. When the Father saw His Son always obeying Him He said, "This is my dear Son, with whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17) In obedience to the will of the Father, Jesus shed His blood on the cross. This is why His blood is so precious to God. This is why His blood can wash away all the sins in our hearts." p84-p87

I pray you can understand this, and I pray you will want to get to know Jesus by reading the Bible. More than that I pray that you would ask Jesus Christ to save you from yourself and your sin nature. What a wonderful act of love he performed for you!!! He proved His love for you by going to the cross even while you were sinning against Him. He knew that if He did not die for you that you would not have a chance to choose Him and His forgiveness. The Lord Jesus is not willing that anyone should perish, but that all might have eternal life in Him. I have written about Hell, a most unpopular subject, because it is becoming the eternal reality for all those whose sins have not been covered by the blood of Jesus. It is real place and people are falling into Hell right now. One by one souls are falling into this aweful place forever. It is beyond words and not one of us could withstand the sorrow that God feels for these souls especially when He has provided a way of escape. The alternative is true as well. Right now souls are entering into the presence of God because they have received His free gift of eternal life found in His Son Jesus. They will be in paradise forever.