Be not overcome of evil but overcome evil with good.

The devil is never loyal to his own. Those who are captivated by the enemy will come to nought. The spirit of evil is to steal, to kill and to destroy. Evil destroys and eats its own. Evil will ultimately implode upon itself… Therefore be not overcome evil, but overcome evil with good. God has called his men to stand in the gap against the evil of this world. We have been called to stand amidst the darkness of the world in the righteousness of Christ. Men in whom the spirit of the Lord resides are God’s fingers in the dike, holding back the evil of this world.

God is loyal to his men in the spiritual battle. He will never leave us or forsake us. According to EM Bounds, humility is the essence and the vitality of prayer. Pride and vanity cannot pray. Our selfish sin nature has an aversion to prayer. Our flesh will remind us that we are unworthy to enter into the presence of God. The sin in our heart reminds us of our unworthiness. However, the Word says, come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give thee rest. Our rest is not in the righteousness of the flesh but in the spirit of God in Christ in us. In him we live and move and have our being. We must remember who we are in Christ and whose we are in Christ In order to find rest and peace in him. When we align our hearts with his heart and acknowledge our righteousness in Christ, the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

We are bombarded by incessant incoming bombs… fiery darts launched by the adversary in the spiritual warfare. These laser guided bombs target our weaknesses in the flesh. The paradox is not to fight back in my own power but in the power of the holy spirit. Therefore we must take up the shield of faith that we may be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the powers and dominions of spiritual wickedness in high places.

Humility is a rare quality… the world loves humility because it’s rare and refreshing. Pride goeth before the fall. Vanity cannot pray. Humble thy heart therefore under the mighty hand of God. He hath showed thee O Man, what is good. And what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. Humility is the first response to the holy spirit. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ… who humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even unto the death of the cross.

According to Psalm 31 David prayed, “my times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.”

Proverbs says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life.” The “Keep is the innermost chamber of the medieval castle. This is where the treasure of the kingdom was kept. When the castle was under attack, all the king’s horses and all the king’s men, kept the King and Queen protected inside the “keep.” Likewise, the heart is the innermost chamber of the soul… it is God’s dwelling place, his Holy of Holies. To guard our hearts we must guard the gates of our minds… We must guard our eye-gate, our ear-gate, our taste-gate, and our feeeling-gate. Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

Moderation according to the word, is self control. Humility is power under control. A wise man once said that a million wild horses cannot drag me away. For power to be effective, it must be harnessed, guided, and controlled. Harnessing the power of God only comes with humility. I must give up the right to myself… Jesus said in Matthew 16:25, For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. The requirement for salvation is to turn from myself and my own pride and unto Christ. Therefore, set your affections on things above, not on things of the earth… Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth shall grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.

In the trials of our life, our prayer should be, Lord what are you teaching me through this trial? O Lord, mold me and make me after thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still. In the white-hot crucible of life, with the onslaught of fiery darts in the heat of the battle and the transforming pressure of this life, my prayer is, “Lord, mold me and make me after thy will… while I am malleable, that I may not be conformed to this world’s mold, but that I may be transformed by the renewing of my mind… that I may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Pride prevents us from acknowledging that we need help. Pride says, “I can make it on my own.” Humility says, in myself I can do nothing. Prayer is the response of a humble heart. Prayer is aligning my heart with Gods heart. Humility says, delight thyself also in the Lord and he shall give the desires of thine heart. Only then can God work within you to will and to do of his good pleasure… when our delight is his delight and when our good pleasure is his good pleasure.

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.

May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Humility

Humility is not to think of myself above others. It is having a spirit of submission and deference and to honor others above myself. Humility is to think of myself as a servant of others, to know and understand Jesus’ message that “in that ye have done it unto the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” This is the attitude of Jesus Christ himself, who made himself of no reputation and was made in the likeness of men. He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even unto the death of the cross.

Paul, like Jesus, saw himself not as a leader of men, but as a slave, and a servant of those whom God had called him to minister. As a bond slave of Jesus Christ our greatest blessing is serving our master from the bond of love. Jesus said, he that is chiefest among you must be servant and slave of all. A slave does nothing except that which his master commands. His heart’s desire is to do his master’s will… Not my will but thine be done… thy wish is my command.

After Jesus had been in the desert fasting for forty days, he was tempted by the devil. The adversary confronts men of God at their weakest point. Humility to God is the key to resisting the devil. According to E.M. Bounds, humility retreats from public gaze and never exalts itself in the eyes of others… there is no self praise in humility, but humility prefers to praise others… humility is characterized by a modest heart, a heart that lives to serve others and in so doing, to serve his master… Blessed are they who humble themselves. According to Matthew 5:3, Blessed are poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The Lord opposes the proud but gives grace unto the humble. Why is God opposed to pride and those who are boastful in themselves? A proud heart is the motivation that caused satan himself to fall, having been lifted up with pride. This was how the adversary deceived Eve in the garden of Eden… His lie to her appealed to her pride: “Ye shall be as God, knowing good from evil.”

In God’s presence, Isaiah saw his own shortcomings and was humbled when confronted with the holiness of God. He said I am a man of unclean lips… Isaiah 6:3

Humility is the prerequisite to entering into the presence of God. The Pharisee thought that God would hear him for his boasting and his eloquence of speech. However, God resisteth the proud and gives grace to the humble. The Pharisee prayed, “God I’m thankful that I’m better than those sinners over there.” However, The tax gather, hated by the world, prayed “Lord have mercy on me a sinner.” Whose prayer did God hear? Humility is the requirement before God can hear my prayer. Therefore, Lord, humble my heart under the mighty hand of God… Not my will, but thine be done.

Humility is required before repentance. I must first turn from myself in order to turn unto God. The wisdom of the Word is the opposite of the wisdom of this world. The goal of life is not self aggrandizement… it is not the profit motive to enrich myself at the expense of living for him in whom I live and move and have my being. Competition and winning in the eyes of the world is the exact opposite of victory in the eyes of God. Victory is only in Christ… to be not overcome of evil, but to overcome evil with good. Victory is to glory in him and not in my own vain glory. The essence of love is to think no evil… to rejoice not in iniquity, but to rejoice in the truth.

To change a culture, we as men of God must humble our hearts and submit ourselves under the mighty hand of God. As a band of brothers, we must walk hand in hand with our Lord Jesus Christ, whose hand was pierced by the nails of my sin and iniquity… Wherefore God has exhaulted him, He having paid the price for your sin and mine. He who knew no sin was made the perfect sin sacrifice for us, that we who were dead in trespasses and sins may be made the righteousness of God in him.

Humility is to humble myself… The sacrifice unto the Lord is a broken and a contrite spirit. O Lord, Thou art the potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me after thy will, while I am broken, yielded and still.

May God richly bless you,
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

God’s Valentine

Jesus Christ was God’s valentine gift of love to fallen man. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life… He was given to those in bondage to release them from the prison of sin and iniquity. The devil’s purpose is diametrically opposed to to the gift of God. The purpose of the world and the of devil is to keep man in the bondage of sin which separates man from God… to keep men relegated to a position of dishonor, disrespect, and insignificance. The accuser will remind you of your sin nature, of your having fallen far from the righteousness of God. However, no pit is so deep that God is not deeper still. No matter the darkness, there is always hope in the light of the world, our Savior Jesus Christ. The darker the night the brighter the light shines.

If we look at the darkness and depravity of the world around us, we will be distressed. If we look into the darkness of the carnal nature of our own souls, we will be discouraged. However, repentance is turning from darkness to light. Bowing our hearts before the light of the Lord in prayer is the key to defeating the darkness of sin… Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his wondrous grace.

Shackled by a heavy burden, ‘neath a load of guilt and shame, then the hand of Jesus touched me, and now I am no longer the same. Lord, create in me a new heart… to make of me the man that thou hast created me to be. Teach me O Lord, that my hope is not in the things of the world… Not in my family, my strength, my intellect, my job, my accomplishments, my wealth, my trophies and praise of other men. Break my heart, O Lord, that I may be a vessel broken for you so that you can mend me and reconcile me back to you… a vessel fit for your use, holy and acceptable unto you.

Men of this world experience post traumatic stress through the battles and shattering of the trials and tribulations of this world. The root cause of despair is the sin that has broken our relationship with our heavenly father. Even when we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly. He who knew no sin, became the sin sacrifice on our behalf, that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.

When the rich young ruler saluted Jesus as “good master,” Jesus replied, “why callest thou me good? There is none good (in himself.)” Good only comes from God. There is none good in the carnality his own sinful flesh. Goodness is only in the spiritual nature of God himself. In my flesh dwelleth no good thing. Jesus Christ came to rescue us from our carnal sin nature… To deliver us from the sin of self centeredness… from confusion, the lust of the world, the pride of life and the lust of the eyes.

As in the days before Nazi Germany, the Church today is sleepwalking toward a precipice of falling into the abyss of the darkness of the political correctness of the world’s culture. Developing a craving for the junk food of the world is an acquired taste. It does not overtake us in one fell swoop. Living near Sodom causes the values of Sodom to gradually influence our tastes. Our conscience is seared with a hot iron one thought at a time until we have an insatiable craving for the things of the world. A “range of acceptable behavior” today used to be considered “wacko” in yesterday’s culture. When the culture and values of Sodom become the values of political correctness, Sodomy becomes a virtue and not a vice. The devil’s redefinition of truth calls evil good and good evil. The new morality is nothing but the old immorality. Once Communism walked in the shadows. However, yesterday’s Communism has been redefined by the Politically Correct as today’s Social Progressivism.

If you look at others you will loose hope. If you look in the mirror, you’ll be depressed. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he not being a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. For we all with open face beholding as in a glass, the glory of the Lord, are changed from the glory of the flesh to the glory of the spirit, even by the spirit of the lord. And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

In this world there is no peace. Peace is only available through the Prince of Peace. According to Romans Chapter 5: Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulation also. Knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy spirit which is given unto us.

Sometimes God pulls the props of this world out from under us. This is so that we can stand by faith in him alone. As God said to Paul after he had prayed three times for God to remove the thorn from his flesh “my strength is made perfect in thy weakness… my grace is sufficient for thee.” As John the Baptist said to his followers when he introduced them to Jesus, I’m not the bride groom, I’m just the man who introduces the Bridegroom to his Bride. I must decrease that he may increase…. For God has extended his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly… that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.

May God richly bless you!

Your brother in Christ,

Michael

John Piper a pastor in the Midwest gave a message about the present times in the United States and the spiritual warfare that surrounds us. Although men of God may not have changed, the world has changed around us. The Church in America has awakened from a “distortion” of 350 years of dominance in America. For most of history, the Christian church has not been dominant in worldly affairs. A dominant American Christian Culture has created a distorted Christian mindset of “being at home in the world.” Distortion means that the true meaning has been twisted and perverted from the truth of the Word of God. Throughout most of history, true followers of Christ have been the outcast of the world… They have been the poor, the persecuted and the afflicted. These Christians know and understand what it means to suffer for the faith of Jesus Christ. The blood of the martyrs flows through the pages of Christian history. However, being a Christian in America implied the exact opposite of human suffering. The promise of “prosperity” and “easy believism” has distorted and changed the true biblical meaning of Christianity. In most of the history of the church, followers of the truth of the word of God have personified Jesus’ message: blessed are they when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake, for great is your reward in heaven… In this world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world.
America, however, has been the exception to the rule. Many of our founding fathers conceived of a new nation founded on the biblical ideal of a land blessed by divine Providence… a land where citizens are free to exercise their God-given inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (biblical virtue.) This nation was founded on the belief that righteous godly men would stand in the gap against the evil deeds of unrighteous men to uphold the virtuous precepts of the Word of God… a nation built on the Christian charity of men in whom the spirit of the Lord is. God has blessed this nation with a brief and shining moment of material prosperity and material abundance. For most of American history, American Christians have been respected, emulated, and held in high regard.

However, the devil has been working behind the scenes to undermine our Christian culture and the biblical foundations that the founders and previous generations of Americans have held dear. Hebrews Chapter 10 was written to Christians in a time similar to ours where the Christians were alienated and persecuted. A time similar to ours where the culture deteriorated and became opposed to the values of biblical virtue.

Secular world history teaches about “the age of enlightenment.” However, Matthew 5 talks about a different type of enlightenment. Jesus said, “ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.” This is also the theme of Matthew 24 regarding the signs of the apostasy… of a time when the church and the culture has fallen away from fellowship in Christ and the light of the Word of God.

The disciples in the book of Acts, when they were commanded not to speak in the name of Jesus, said to their persecutors, “if we don’t speak, the rocks will cry out.” The declaration of a man of God in the face of adversity is “choose ye this day whom ye will serve, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” This scenario is playing out today all over the world outside of the United States where believers have taken a stand against the clear and present danger of the onslaught of evil men.

Most American Christians have never truly seen the godly purpose of suffering and affliction. Americans have come to value the comfort of the flesh above the comfort of the holy spirit in the midst of the tribulation of the spiritual battle. Christians must have a right heart in order to respond righteously when confronted by the evil of the world. In God’s divine design, suffering and deprivation is the antidote to the worship of the flesh through the comfort of the world and of material things. As the Apostle Paul said, I count it all joy to suffer affliction for Christ… the darker the night the brighter the light shines. For this light affliction worketh a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Jesus said, in this world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. For our citizenship is in heaven and our allegiance is to the Lord of our Heavenly homeland in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation among whom we shine as lights in the world.

In the midst of the encroaching darkness, let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven. This world is not my home, I’m just a-passing through… My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. For our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven, from whence we behold the Lord Christ. Therefore, amidst the onslaught of the spiritual battle, our battle cry is “give ’em heaven!”

May God richly bless you.
Your brother in Christ,
Michael