“We do not believe any group of men adequate enough or wise enough to operate without scrutiny or without criticism. We know that the only way to avoid error is to detect it, that the only way to detect it is to be free to inquire. We know that in secrecy error undetected will flourish and subvert.” –J. Robert Oppenheimer
God spoke . . . and there was creation God spoke . . . and so appeared the light God spoke . . . and then still became life God spoke . . . and from dirt arose man
We speak “Trust God in our nation” We speak “Shun the dark, seek His Light” We speak “Seek the Truth and the Life” We speak “Praise our God and His Plan”
God Speaks
In Eden, God spoke to Adam and Eve And then to Cain, for a curse to receive God spoke to Noah to build Him an ark Then scolds Job – he made God’s counsel dark
God spoke to Abraham to leave his land And for Isaac to settle, all His plan God told Jacob to return in His care And Moses, in Egypt, to leave from there
After Moses, God spoke to His prophets To pass on His Word, just as He saw fit Then, as a voice from heaven or a cloud Heard by disciples and even a crowd
Some say “God never speaks now. Not today.” Though we all know that He speaks every day God speaks through other things, all by His choice Through people, events, music – not His voice
God speaks through His Word; there for us to read And then through His Son, by both words and deeds God speaks by His Spirit, our Teacher and Guide To us through prayer, our small voice inside
God’s creation and nature speak, clearly seen And the learning from music, visions and dreams Other believers speak with wisdom in words And events teach lessons not audibly heard
God is not silent, He speaks to us all For sinners to believe, God makes the call For believers to grow, give thanks and sing All for God’s glory and the joy it brings
Do we need to be listening for God’s voice to speak to us outside the Bible?
I am going to say something positive here and not just negative. In fact, most of what I have to say is positive and the first and main thing is to say: God really has spoken. And this word is living and active. It is not a dead word. He really speaks today through the inspired Scriptures. He really, really does. He really does. Not just with information, but with himself by his Spirit.
The Word Speaks
“The Lord appeared again at Shiloh, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord” (1 Samuel 3:21). That really happens. God stands forth from his inspired word as we read it prayerfully and dependently. And, I would add this: the word in the Bible is more sure than anything you can hear outside the Bible. I base that on 1 Corinthians 14:37–38: “If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.”
That is amazing. Paul is saying you can call yourself a prophet and get messages from God. You can call yourself spiritual and be tuned in to God, but if anything you say doesn’t accord with what I say, you are not recognized, which means that outside the Bible we have fallible, uncertain impressions and messages. Inside the Bible we have rock-solid, dependable messages. So there are treasures and wonders and glories and dimensions of God to be seen in the Bible that we have scarcely seen.
It seems to me to be folly to crave the lesser authority and the lesser riches outside the Bible than the riches and the greater authority that we have barely tasted, let alone digested, inside the Bible.
Now having said that positive thing about the Bible that I love — I just love the Bible so much and I know that after, what, sixty years of reading my Bible I have barely scratched the surface of its glories — I kind of get ticked, frankly, at myself and others who are craving stuff outside the Bible as though there is something better to be had out there.
Having said all that, I don’t see anything in the Bible that would say God can’t communicate with us in extraordinary ways outside the Bible. He can. And if he does, we should test it by his infinitely authoritative risen word and we should commend it to those whose lives show a deep, long wisdom in Christ. There is this community dimension to testing all things like Paul said. Don’t despise prophecies. Test all things. Hold fast to what is good. That is just not a private thing. That is something we do with others as well.
Don’t Seek Signs
But I will close with this. Beware of craving the sensations of a voice. Jesus warned against those who seek a sign (Matthew 12:38–39). So here he is. He is standing there in front of the Pharisees and scribes speaking and they say: Give us a sign. What does that mean? It means that the voice of Jesus Christ the Son of God wasn’t adequate. They needed something more. They needed to feel more, touch more, see more. They wanted more. And Jesus wouldn’t give it to them.
And I think we are in a situation today not unlike that. We hear more of the Son of God than anybody in Jesus’s day ever heard, because we have all four gospels and those people got it in snatches. Therefore we have the wholeness of the revelation that Jesus meant to communicate, and it is speaking to us every time we read the Bible. And if we turn away from that and say: But I need a sign. I need a voice. I need a tree to fall down in the woods when I am talking. I need something. We are putting ourselves in the position of those who demanded a sign.
As Christians, we know the greatest commands, “Love our God with all our heart, mind and soul” And then “Love your neighbor as yourself” These fulfill the Law and Prophets of old.
To fully love is impossible to do, Our innate nature is not in this way. We understand what is right in God’s sight, But that’s not what we do, day after day.
Those who Christ loves, He’s sure to rebuke, And those He rebukes, He counsels and calms. Once he has shown us that we were wrong, He holds us close in His loving arms.
How can we live with this weakness of ours? Our spirit is ready, but our flesh is weak. To avoid temptation, watch and pray, For God has all the strength that we seek.
When our souls are weary with failures, To renew our strength, we hope in the Lord. He’ll stand by us, no matter our troubles, And see us home safe to our final reward.
Human beings were not created to be alone. We all need one another. We need each other for support, for encouragement, and for all the learning and development that are necessary for a fully human existence.
Without loving parents, children wither and become emotionally underdeveloped. Without teachers, we would know far less. And without mentors, we would not develop the skills and the creativity that benefit the world around us.
However, we must listen and respond positively to all that is good that our teachers and mentors share with us. Sometimes this takes real faith and trust on our part. We must walk with our mentor through the various stages of the process that results in the desired outcome. This walk will take courage and commitment; it will have its struggles and missteps. And yet there is great satisfaction when we, at last, accomplish all that we set out to do!
Our life with God is very much like what I have just described. God has much to teach us. God will use parents, teachers, and mentors to help us on our journey to Him. It also helps to have others around us who are on the same journey. However, sooner or later, we will be on our own with God alone, because our particular journey is unique and special to us!
Abraham was someone who was called by God to something far greater than he ever dreamed. God made promises to him that required blind faith and trust in an outcome that went far beyond his lifespan. Although Abraham believed and trusted, he also made mistakes. He doubted and he complained to God. At times he did things in his own way with troublesome results. But he learned from his mistakes and he, gradually, became a great blessing for all the world!
Jesus was taught and mentored by Joseph and Mary. Moreover, he listened to God throughout his life. We don’t know all that Jesus foresaw about his future; but, like many of us, he probably had hints or intimations about the future and how it would unfold.
Jesus was, no doubt, led by the Holy Spirit when he took Peter and the Zebedee brothers up on the mountain. There, a marvelous encounter took place! He spoke with Moses and Elijah! Moses was God’s lawgiver of the Old Testament, and Elijah was one of God’s great prophets. They became mentors for Jesus on his own journey and for his own passover from this life!
The disciples must have felt blessed at first, as they witnessed the encounter with Moses and Elijah and the divine light emanating from Jesus. But they were overcome with fear at the voice of God. They were told, in no uncertain terms, that they must listen to all that Jesus would say in the future. This also meant that they would have to implement his words in their own lives! This would be a daunting task for the disciples just as it is for us today!
Even though we have teachers, mentors, and fellow travelers – even though God is calling us – we still experience hardship as part of our life in this world. Today, St. Paul teaches us that we must bear hardship for the sake of the good news, the gospel, that Jesus brought to the world. Living as a disciple of Jesus will always take courage and commitment. But God will give us the strength and the grace to face whatever we encounter.
Paul goes on to say that God has saved us through Jesus. He also calls us to a holy life – a life that is a blessing for others in the love and the kindness we bear toward them. This is not something we can achieve without God’s grace and power – for we are weak and prone to make mistakes!
Brothers and Sisters, because we were created for God and on a journey to God, we all need teachers and mentors – we, also, need each other. Yes, there is a part of us that must walk alone with God. Yet, it is comforting to know that others are doing likewise – along with us and often beside us – as part of the community of disciples which is church!
So, let us pray, today, that we draw closer to Jesus, who is our ultimate mentor – May we hear and listen to the voice of God in the many ways it can come to us – May we assist one another on our mutual journey – And may we always be faithful to the Gospel as true disciples of Jesus!
Amen.
March 8, 2020 Msgr. Russell G. Terra Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Redding, CA *http://www.stjosephredding.org/parish-homilies.html
This Superlative Sanctuary Sunday Open Thread, with full respect to those who worship God on the Sabbath, is a place to reaffirm our worship of our Creator, our Father, our King Eternal.
It is also a place to read, post and discuss news that is worth knowing and sharing. Please post links to any news stories that you use as sources or quote from.
In the QTree, we’re a friendly and civil lot. We encourage free speech and the open exchange and civil discussion of different ideas. Topics aren’t constrained, and sound logic is highly encouraged, all built on a solid foundation of truth and established facts.
We have a policy of mutual respect, shown by civility. Civility encourages discussions, promotes objectivity and rational thought in discourse, and camaraderie in the participants – characteristics we strive toward in our Q Tree community.
Please show respect and consideration for your fellow QTreepers.
Before hitting the “post” button, please proofread your post and make sure you’re addressing the issue only, and not trying to confront the poster.
If you feel the need to bare your fangs, we have a companion site – called The U Tree – where you can run wild and free with the Wolfpack where all legal free speech is allowed.
But NOT HERE in The Q Tree. Personal attacks, name calling, ridicule, insults, baiting and other conduct for which a penalty flag would be thrown are VERBOTEN.
In The Q Tree, we’re compatriots, sitting around the campfire, roasting hot dogs, making s’mores and discussing, agreeing, and disagreeing about whatever interests us. This board will remain a home for those who seek respectful conversations.
Please also consider the Important Guidelines, outlined here. Let’s not give the Internet Censors a reason to shut down this precious haven that Wolf has created for us.
The Storm is upon us. Please remember to Pray for our President.
AND WHAT TIME IS IT? TIME TO DRAIN THE SWAMP!!!
Our movement is about replacing a failed and CORRUPT political establishment with a new government controlled by you, the American People. ~ Candidate Donald J. Trump
Also remember Wheatie’s Rules:
No food fights.
No running with scissors.
If you bring snacks, bring enough for everyone.
On this day and every day –
God is in Control . . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . . Keep Looking Up
Hopefully, every Sunday, you can find something here that will build you up a little . . . give you a smile . . . and add some joy or peace, very much needed in all our lives.
“This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.” . . . “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Not Of This World
John 17:14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.
John 17:14 . . . for they [we] are not of this world . . . Philippians 3:20 . . . we are citizens of heaven . . . Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world . . . Ephesians 5:7 . . . do not associate with them . . . 2 Corinthians 6:17 . . . be separate from them . . .
So, is that it? As Christians we need to isolate ourselves from this fallen world and all of its evil influences?
Of course not.
We are in this world. To be more specific, God has placed us in this world. And we are to let our light so shine among men that they see our good works (that God prepared beforehand for us to do) and thereby glorify our Father in heaven. (Ephesians 2:10, Matthew 5:16)
John Bunyan was right. We are pilgrims here, poor wayfaring strangers traveling through this weary land, until we take up our eternal citizenship in heaven.
How does this “in the world but not of the world” thing really work? What does it mean to follow Christ in a fallen world?
Anyone who says he is a Christian must live as Christ did. (1 John 2:6)
Does this mean we all must become itinerant teachers and preacher’s of God’s Word, wearing sandals and working our way through the countryside gathering disciples and trying to convince people to trust in God?
Again, of course not!
Jesus was raised, along with His brothers and sisters, by His mother, Mary and father, Joseph, a tekton by trade, a laborer or workman, possibly a carpenter or builder. He was raised, probably among similar class families, in Nazareth, a region of Galilee, two thousand years ago. Jesus and His family undoubtedly worshiped God at the local synagogue and observed the Jewish holy days of the time.
After the start of His ministry, Jesus was constantly among the people, mostly Jews, but, occasionally, gentiles. He did eat and drink with sinners (Luke 5:29-30), attended at least one wedding (John 2:1-11), and was an invited guest in the homes of several people (Luke 7:36). Undoubtedly, there were many other of such instances.
At times, Jesus would get away from the press of the crowds with His closest disciples. And, I would believe, during those times He would rest and relax a bit, enjoying the fellowship of those around Him. I also believe at those times, and others, He would appreciate the warmth of the sun, a cooling breeze, the smell of newly plowed ground, the sounds of the birds around Him, and, perhaps, the unexpected pleasure of some honey, or seasonal olives, grapes, dates or figs with His normal staples of gritty bread and fish.
Jesus was definitely in the world. But, of the world? That’s entirely another matter.
Jesus is the embodiment of His Father in heaven, having the overarching characteristic of perfect love, agapé love, that permeates His thoughts, words and actions.
So, how does agapé love manifest itself in the world? In many ways, as evidenced by God’s Word: by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Agapé love does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Agapé love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Agapé love never fails.
Jesus had friends . . . His disciples . . . but they, all of them, were more than just friends. They were His family: “For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”(Mark 3:35)
Jesus associated with sinners and tax collectors and the like because “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17) He loved them, agapé love, love that seeks their best welfare . . . but He was not, in our customary usage, their friend, even though He is the best Friend a sinner will ever have.
And so Jesus, our Savior, our Great Example, shows us how to be in the world but not of the world. It’s the difference between physical location and purpose of action.
Paul and Peter follow up with their teachings on Christian behavior in our fallen world-
Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that . . . you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; (Philippians 1:27)
Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. (Colossians 4:5-6)
Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former desires which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; (1 Peter 1:13-16)
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. (1 Peter 2:12)
Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)
One of the most difficult lessons to learn in life is how to become unselfish. We all need food, clothing, and shelter – Most of us have to work hard to acquire and keep these necessities of life. If we have a spouse and children, then we must provide these things for them as well. Consequently, having a spouse and children requires great personal unselfishness. Sadly, some spouses and parents never learn unselfishness – and marriage and family dysfunction are always the result!
We are selfish whenever we are lacking in consideration for someone else. We are being selfish when we love our neighbor less than ourselves – And we are selfish whenever we choose ourselves over the Lord God – when we make anything in our life or our world more important than God, His commandments, His will, and His plans!
Few people commit sin because they want to do something just because it is evil. We sin because something is good or attractive in itself. However, it is forbidden to us in the way we want to use it or possess it. There is some pleasure, some material thing, or some power or control that is not ours to have or to take. Nevertheless, we choose it because of its attractiveness. Furthermore, it becomes even more desirable if the culture endorses the choice we are about to make – This is especially true if someone else is complicit – and enables us in what we are about to do.
The tree of knowledge, in the Garden of Eden, was symbolic of much that God is in Himself. In eating its fruit, Adam and Eve, selfishly, chose themselves over the Lord God who created them. They rebelled, by wanting to be the equal of God. They listened to satan and were complicit with one another. What is tragic is that they lost the very grace that God had given them as a sharing in His own divine life and love!
Adam and Eve were selfish – They passed on this selfishness to all the children who came from them – Furthermore, they could do nothing to correct what they had done! Only God could correct everything – And the Father sent the Son in the person of Jesus to bring about this wonderful restoration!
In St. Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus prepares for his ministry and for his ultimate gift of unselfishness by going into the desert for 40 days. In the desert, he spiritually contended with the devil and emerged victorious.
When confronted by satan, Jesus did not use his power to quell his hunger by serving himself. Instead, he accepted his hunger as part of the human condition and did not change stones into bread. Next, Jesus refused to jump from the parapet of the temple to show power and to gain the adulation of the masses who would follow him for the wrong reasons. Finally, Jesus rejected the wealth and the kingdoms of this world for what was promised in God’s kingdom: eternal life and joy and bliss and love in the presence of God Himself!
There are three things with which we must deal if we are always to choose unselfishly. We must first realize that no created thing or pleasure will ever completely satisfy us or fulfill us. We were created for God alone – and only in God can we find that for which we incessantly search to possess.
The second thing we must learn is that our habits of sin and our addictions stem from our failure to deal with the hurt and the pain we must face as part of our life here. We must deal honestly with the challenges we face and the wounds we all carry to be able to deal with them externally – or heal them in our deepest selves. We must also break from those people or things which, invariably, get us into the sin which alienates us from God.
The third thing required of us is prayer – on-going prayer. This is the kind of prayer that keeps God before us – or, at least, close by in everything that we do!
Brothers and Sisters, we cannot save ourselves. We need God’s grace and we need the power of Jesus about which St. Paul speaks in today’s reading from Romans. Although our sinfulness stems from Adam – our salvation comes from Jesus!
So, let us pray that during these 40 days of Lent, we avail ourselves of all that Jesus unselfishly continues to do for us!
Amen.
March 1, 2020 Msgr. Russell G. Terra Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Redding, CA *http://www.stjosephredding.org/parish-homilies.html
This Superlative Sanctuary Sunday Open Thread, with full respect to those who worship God on the Sabbath, is a place to reaffirm our worship of our Creator, our Father, our King Eternal.
It is also a place to read, post and discuss news that is worth knowing and sharing. Please post links to any news stories that you use as sources or quote from.
In the QTree, we’re a friendly and civil lot. We encourage free speech and the open exchange and civil discussion of different ideas. Topics aren’t constrained, and sound logic is highly encouraged, all built on a solid foundation of truth and established facts.
We have a policy of mutual respect, shown by civility. Civility encourages discussions, promotes objectivity and rational thought in discourse, and camaraderie in the participants – characteristics we strive toward in our Q Tree community.
Please show respect and consideration for your fellow QTreepers.
Before hitting the “post” button, please proofread your post and make sure you’re addressing the issue only, and not trying to confront the poster.
If you feel the need to bare your fangs, we have a companion site – called The U Tree – where you can run wild and free with the Wolfpack where all legal free speech is allowed.
But NOT HERE in The Q Tree. Personal attacks, name calling, ridicule, insults, baiting and other conduct for which a penalty flag would be thrown are VERBOTEN.
In The Q Tree, we’re compatriots, sitting around the campfire, roasting hot dogs, making s’mores and discussing, agreeing, and disagreeing about whatever interests us. This board will remain a home for those who seek respectful conversations.
Please also consider the Important Guidelines, outlined here. Let’s not give the Internet Censors a reason to shut down this precious haven that Wolf has created for us.
The Storm is upon us. Please remember to Pray for our President.
AND WHAT TIME IS IT? TIME TO DRAIN THE SWAMP!!!
Our movement is about replacing a failed and CORRUPT political establishment with a new government controlled by you, the American People. ~ Candidate Donald J. Trump
Also remember Wheatie’s Rules:
No food fights.
No running with scissors.
If you bring snacks, bring enough for everyone.
On this day and every day –
God is in Control . . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . . Keep Looking Up
Hopefully, every Sunday, you can find something here that will build you up a little . . . give you a smile . . . and add some joy or peace, very much needed in all our lives.
“This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.” . . . “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Principalities and Powers
Eph 6:12: For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
The Apostle Paul instructs us to put on our spiritual armor because our battle in this world is a “spiritual” one. A warfare that involves the trickery and power of the devil, as opposed to a human battle. Even though human beings will certainly play a role in line with the schemes of the devil, but they are being used by these entities for the purposes of accomplishing evil. Evil spirits are the true power behind those who oppose the things of God (knowingly or unknowingly). We read,
Our Spiritual Warfare is Against “Principalities”
Principalities are ruling devil spirits possessing executive authority or governmental rule in the world. As we will see, this ruling power usually involves a particular nation, people or race. There are evil angels ruling the kingdoms of the world that oppose the truth of God, and of which Satan is the chief prince or ruler, of both the world system and its organization of demons, as noted in the gospel of Matthew.
In Matthew 12:24, the devil is called “Beelzebub” meaning lord of the dwelling, in which these wicked spirits are subject to and operate under Satan’s dominion. They, like their chief prince, direct, control, rule and carry out the present darkness of this world.
The idea of prince devil spirits ruling or controlling a region is supported in the Old Testament book of Daniel, chapter 10. Daniel is visited by an angel in response to his prayer to God. This angel, who was sent by God to answer Daniel’s prayer, was delayed for 21 days because of a battle that took place between God’s angel and “a prince of the kingdom of Persia.”Daniel reveals the angel’s message Dan 10:12-13.
The spiritual battle, for this angel, was of such magnitude that Michael, the archangel of God and designated prince of Israel, assisted the angel in battle. Another enemy of God, the prince of Greece, is also mentioned in Dan 10:20-21.
The book of Daniel gives us an excellent example of how these unseen spiritual entities fight to increase and maintain their realms of influence and control in order to hinder God’s purposes. In addition, as previously stated, these princes are named after the nations or rather their principalities in which they rule.
It is Satan’s purpose to deceive these nations and to keep them from obtaining a knowledge of God’s truth and salvation through His Son Jesus Christ. In the book of Revelation, chapter 20, Satan is depicted as a deceiver of nations.
Satan’s major success, in deceiving a nation, is due to a lack of discernment on the part of the people. The people are blind to the invisible forces of supernatural evil that are operating and influencing their visible human agents of political, social, religious and philosophical programs. Satan’s greatest victory would be to convince the world that he just doesn’t exist. However, God signifies the devil as the author of sin, sickness and death, and warns us to be alert and vigilant because the devil, as a roaring lion roams about seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8).
The devil controls the kingdoms of the world and we are not to underestimate his influence and power, nor believe that this is the will of God. God is telling us to “stand” against these evil forces by equipping ourselves with the power of God, and looking unto Christ as our example.
Luke 4:5-7: And the devil, taking him (Jesus) up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered (to surrender or yield up) unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
There will also come a day in which we are told in the book of Revelation, Rev 11:15: And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
However, until this Scripture is fulfilled we can only conclude, as the Apostle Paul instructs, that our wrestling involves principalities or peoples or regions under the influence and deception of Satan. Satan is the prince or ruler of the kingdoms of this world, also described in the Bible as the “kingdom of darkness,” in which we have our spiritual warfare. In addition, let us not be fooled, because Satan can and does prosper evil people in the world.
Our Spiritual Warfare is Against “Powers and World Rulers of Darkness”
Although the word “powers” is left unclear as to Paul’s precise meaning in the verse, this expression is used elsewhere in scripture to infer the powers that be in authority. In keeping with the context of this verse, this would include all high-ranking, evil supernatural powers and the power of sin and evil in operation in the world. The fruits of this type of evil can probably be seen in drug cartels, gross poverty, plagues, terrorism, and other heinous crimes against humanity, even toward the animal kingdom.
Some Christian authors also associate “world rulers” with magic and demonic pagan gods such as the Ephesians’ Artemis and seems to be in line with the pagan culture of ancient times, in which temples were dedicated to these demonic pagan deities. And let us not forget “Molech,” the national god of the Ammonites’ in Old Testament history. The priests would place the sacrificial children into the brass hands of the image, in which these helpless victims would slip into the fire below. This is described in Scripture as the “abominations of the nations” (2 kings 16:3 ASV).
Our Spiritual Warfare is Against “Spiritual Wickedness in Heavenly Places”
The Greek word for wickedness is ponēria and means depravity and particularly in the sense of malice and mischief, plots, sins, and iniquity (Strong’s Gk. Dict.).
Satan is also depicted as the prince of the power of the air
Since Satan is the prince of the power of the air, these wicked spirits, in high places, are often understood to be the collective organization of all of Satan’s devil spirits. These malevolent spirits work evil and mischief and operate in our atmosphere. They operate as close to the very air we breathe, and reach to realms beyond. All kinds of spiritual filth are propagated , in these realms, for the purpose of humanity’s deception and subsequent destruction.
As Christians we are delivered from the power of the prince of the air, and from the sinful nature that once ruled our path in life. When we received God’s Holy Spirit, at the moment of our conversion to Christ, we were translated from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of God’s light, in which we now have God in Christ in us. We are continually delivered and empowered by God as we walk according to His Word and Spirit that He has given us.
Jesus is also called a Prince, He is called the Prince of Peace and of Life (Isa. 9:6 and Acts 3:15) Whose kingdom plays no part in this present world system of darkness. Prior to His arrest, Jesus said to His disciples,
John 14:30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
John 18:36 “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.”
Please note: Jesus is not speaking against the Jews, for Jesus and His followers were Jewish. He is speaking against the hypocritical religious authorities who would have Jesus killed versus lose their sphere of control over the people of God, in which their own belly was their god.
The details of God’s plan, His provision of escape from Satan’s kingdom of darkness through faith in Christ, was kept a mystery from the beginning of time. It wasn’t until the revelation of the Son of God on earth, and His complete victory in His death and resurrection for the salvation of humanity, that the mystery of salvation through Christ is revealed to us. The Apostle Paul states,
1Co 2:7-10: “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory. Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”
In other words, if God’s enemies knew that the Lord’s death would bring the Kingdom of God and His power into the hearts of every believer, with His gift of Holy Spirit, and thus bring God’s light into the world, they would not have crucified Him.
Who is your prince?
For the Christian, Jesus Christ is our Prince of Peace and Life, and we will reign with Him forevermore.
Excerpted and paraphrased from -*https://battleinchrist.com/principalities_powers_world_rulers_of_darkness_spiritual_wickedness_in_spiritual_warfare.htm
Protection Comes from God
Paul warns that our real battle here on earth is spiritual, in our minds, our beliefs, and worship. We not only should live a clean life, eating proper and clean foods for physical health, keeping the Sabbaths and Holy Days, but also be alert to other influences that affect our emotions, attitudes, and thinking.
Make no mistake, Satan uses all available resources to take advantage of us. Through avenues like advertising, a form of mind control, he creates a desire for the pleasures of this world.
The demonic forces are also trying to sell their wares of pleasure, excitement, thrills, ego-building or whatever it takes to “sign you up” as one of their initiates. Twisting your mind to accept what they have to offer is the name of their game.
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph. 6: 12).
We are promised that if Yahweh’s Spirit abides in us, we have nothing to fear from the spirit realm, for: “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world” 1John 4:4.
Draw near to Yahweh in prayer. “Submit yourselves therefore to Yahweh. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
We are in a spiritual battle. The Evil One is ramping up his efforts against this world and Yahweh’s people. We need all the defenses Yahweh provides to the faithful who seek to serve Him, including regular prayer. https://yrm.org/the-spirit-realm-explained/
Leviticus 19:1…18 1 Corinthians 3:16-23 Matthew 5:38-48
My Brothers and Sisters in the Lord –
One of the most difficult human responses to control is not to retaliate when someone deliberately does harm to us. When we are hurt, we want to strike back. When those we love have been hurt, we want to retaliate! However, then, more retaliation becomes the objective of the one who hurt us in the first place. At that point, things usually escalate beyond control.
This scenario is also the case between families, larger groups, and even nations. And the result is usually warfare of some kind – with great damage and harm to others who are innocent of any wrong-doing!
At the root of most deliberate harm to others is hatred – And hatred, by definition, seeks the destruction of the one who is hated. I mention all the foregoing because the scriptures for today have much to teach us about dealing with hatred and revenge.
In the Book of Leviticus, God commands us to be holy, for He, the Lord our God, is holy! We are made in God’s image – as is every other human being who has ever lived. We should and must reflect God’s goodness and His Glory. We cannot have hatred in our minds and hearts and be able to do this. Consequently, revenge is forbidden and so are the grudges that lead to hatred and revenge. In fact, whenever we get back at another with hatred in our heart, we become godless ourselves and no different than those who did evil to us!
4000 years ago the Chosen People were very limited in their moral development. God had to bring them, gradually, to a higher sense of moral consciousness. Thus, they understood that God’s command to love extended only to family, neighbors, and other members of the Hebrew nation. Enemies were outside this prohibition!
It’s no wonder, then, that Jesus created such a stir with his contemporaries. In St. Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus tells us that we must love our enemies and pray for those who do us harm. The Law of the Talion which permitted retaliation, but only equal in kind, was not permitted from a true disciple. A disciple must turn the other cheek – go the extra mile – give even more than what is demanded! Because only by this kind of loving response, to whatever others do to us, can they be changed – and the seed of love planted in their hearts!
The moral development of the human race has taken centuries to evolve to where it is today. However, it is still far from being universal. Some are still at stage #1, which endorses unlimited revenge. Some are at stage #2, which is the limited revenge of the Talion – “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”. Some are at stage #3, which is the Silver Rule of not doing to others what we do not want them to do to us. Some are at stage #4, which is the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” And, since the time of Jesus, some are at stage #5, which means loving even our enemies as the children of God which they truly are!
However, loving our enemies does not mean that we do not try to do what we can to change them, their thinking, and their behavior. If they are at a lower stage of moral development, then we might be forced to bring pressure on them at a level they can, at least, begin to understand. But we must never do so with hatred or the spirit of revenge!
Finally, Brothers and Sisters, St. Paul reminds us that we are all temples of God. Unfortunately, too many today don’t know this – or if they do, they don’t take it seriously. If we take it seriously, we will focus upon doing all that Jesus asks of us in his Gospel – and on what the Holy Spirit reveals to our hearts. This is how we can change – This is how we can help others change – And if enough others change – then will our world, itself, be changed!
So, let us pray, today, for God’s grace and for God’s wisdom – May we bring God’s love and life into a world that has known hatred for far too long!
Amen.
February 23, 2020 Msgr. Russell G. Terra Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Redding, CA *http://www.stjosephredding.org/parish-homilies.html
More Like The Master
More like the Master I would ever be, More of His meekness, more humility; More zeal to labor, more courage to be true, More consecration for work He bids me do.
More like the Master is my daily prayer; More strength to carry crosses I must bear; More earnest effort to bring His kingdom in, More of His Spirit, the wanderer to win.
More like the Master I would live and grow; More of His love to others I would show; More self-denial, like His in Galilee, More like the Master I long to ever be.
Take Thou my heart, I would be Thine alone; Take Thou my heart and make it all Thine own. Purge me from sin, O Lord, I now implore, Wash me and keep me Thine forevermore.
This Superlative Sanctuary Sunday Open Thread, with full respect to those who worship God on the Sabbath, is a place to reaffirm our worship of our Creator, our Father, our King Eternal.
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The Storm is upon us. Please remember to Pray for our President.
AND WHAT TIME IS IT? TIME TO DRAIN THE SWAMP!!!
Our movement is about replacing a failed and CORRUPT political establishment with a new government controlled by you, the American People. Candidate Donald J. Trump
Also remember Wheatie’s Rules:
No food fights.
No running with scissors.
If you bring snacks, bring enough for everyone.
On this day and every day –
God is in Control . . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . . Keep Looking Up
Hopefully, every Sunday, you can find something here that will build you up a little . . . give you a smile . . . and add some joy or peace, very much needed in all our lives.
“This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.” . . . “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Alone with God
And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. –John 6:3
Just prior to this miraculous multiplying of the bread and fish, Jesus “went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples”(6:3). That fact is noteworthy. It seems plain that Jesus withdrew purposely from the great press of people who had been pursuing Him.
There are some things that you and I will never learn when others are present. I believe in church and I love the fellowship of the assembly. There is much we can learn when we come together on Sundays and sit among the saints. But there are certain things that you and I will never learn in the presence of other people.
Unquestionably, part of our failure today is religious activity that is not preceded by aloneness, by inactivity. I mean getting alone with God and waiting in silence and quietness until we are charged with God’s Spirit. Then, when we act, our activity really amounts to something because we have been prepared by God for it….
Now, in the case of our Lord, the people came to Him, John reports, and He was ready for them. He had been quiet and silent. He had sat alone with His disciples and meditated. Looking upward, He waited until the whole hiatus of divine life moved down from the throne of God into His own soul. He was a violin tuned. He was a battery recharged. He was poised and prepared for the people when they came. Faith Beyond Reason, 130,133. “Lord, I’ll spend a lot of time in the company of people today, but just now I come in quietness and silence to wait for You to fill me. Amen.”
A.W. Tozer
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10
Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near. Zephania 1:7
In The Garden
I come to the garden alone, While the dew is still on the roses, And the voice I hear, falling on my ear, The Son of God discloses.
And He walks with me, and He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own, And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other has ever known.
Charles A. Miles 1913
Be Still And Know
“I believe in God, though He is silent.” These are the words that some of us say. “But I keep my faith and go on living, Hoping to hear something every day.”
Busy days go by and turn into weeks We keep thinking that He’ll speak to us soon Our thoughts now turn to things that we’ve done And His discipline, the vines that He prunes
Busy days and more, running to and fro Time rushes by with more thoughts, too Life and distractions fill up all our time And we don’t give God the respect he’s due
Now is the time to stop and think Is God now silent with nothing to say Or is it us who aren’t listening Far too busy as our lives run astray
God never leaves us, He promised us so Though we don’t listen, He’s with us still God promised us good, a future and hope He’ll deliver, no doubt that He will
We may not listen, and that to our shame But God is speaking to us every day He’s everywhere and all around us Speaking to us in so many ways
God is Creator, He made everything Earth and heavens show His mighty power The beauty in nature, the sights and sounds The oceans speak as do fields of flowers
The Patriarchs, Psalms and the Prophets, too Their words in the Bible speak loud and clear Christ and His Apostles all spread the word If we take time to read, then we’ll hear
The music we hear, praise, worship and thanks All have messages for us to regard Music makes us feel, words make us think The rhythm and rhymes of musical bards
Other believers, events of the day May carry meanings for us to heed Listen for His voice and check with His Word There may be wisdom that we sorely need
God’s Spirit within us speaks in our minds Teaching and guiding us along our ways God’s Spirit nudges, but may push and shove To give us His guidance, day after day
We come to God, our heads bowed in prayer As we speak to Him, He speaks to us, too Our prayers will be answered: yes, no or wait We may not hear it, but He’ll guide us through
In all of these ways, God speaks to us But we need to listen to hear His voice Be consumed with the world through all our days Or “Be still and know” – we must make that choice
Be Still
Did you decide to make the choice To slow down and listen for His voice? Or was the decision made for you – It just happened out of the blue
Some say that God’s voice is very small, We must be still to hear it at all Some fill their days with so much to do That I suppose for them that’s true
I think God’s voice is loud and clear But man has chosen not to hear The heavens declare it from above God will be heard; it’s part of His love
Be Still . . .
As we go from day to day, To here and there along our way, Always busy and so involved, But is it that for which we’re called?
Two meetings here, lunch over there, Two more tonight, what will I wear? Pick up the kids, calls on the phone, Just three quick stops, and then we’re home.
Someone’s been wronged, I must speak out. My help is needed, there’s no doubt. We’ll make a plan to fight this thing And not be stopped by anything.
We’ll find problems, expose them all And make the guilty take their fall. We’ll be vigilant day and night And fight for what we know is right.
But . . .
We must not fail to see God’s plan, To trust in Him and not in man. Do we take time for what God said, Wait for Him to work in our stead?
Seek His face, be still and know He is God, and learn to let go, To trust in Him to win the fight, Dispel the darkness with His Light.
Be still before Him, and so wait With patience, for God controls fate. Vengeance is His, and judgment just, Acknowledge Him, give Him your trust.
So as we go from day to day To here and there along our way, Let’s all slow down and know His grace, Seek His kingdom and see His Face.
“The Peace of Meditation”
So we may know God better And feel His quiet power, Let us daily keep in silence A meditation hour . . . For to understand God’s greatness And to use His gifts each day, The soul must learn to meet Him In a meditative way . . . For our Father tell His children That if they would know His will They must seek Him in the silence When all is calm and still . . . For nature’s greatest forces Are found in quiet things Like soft falling snowflakes Drifting down on angels’ wings, Or petals dropping soundlessly From a lovely full-blown rose, So God come closest to us When our souls are in repose . . . So let us plan with prayerful care To always allocate A certain portion of each day To be still and meditate . . . For when everything is quiet And we’re lost in meditation, Our soul is then preparing For a deeper dedication That will make it wholly possible To quietly endure The violent world around us, For in God we are secure.
Sirach 15:15-20 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 Matthew 5:17…37
My Brothers and Sisters in the Lord –
As human beings we have to make decisions everyday. Our work, our relationships, our leisure and recreation are constantly dependent upon our choices and decisions. People who are mature usually make decisions based upon what is right and good, best, most effective and efficient, and beneficial to everyone involved.
However, sometimes we do not choose this way. We want to take the easy way out, the short-cut – any selfish way that serves ourselves. Perhaps we even choose a way that we know is the wrong way. Unfortunately, we always pay a price when we make a bad decision. Things go awry; someone gets injured; we receive a bad report; someone we love is hurt; or a relationship is damaged!
The Book of Sirach counsels us always to choose the godly way of doing things.
Being able to know what is good and right and true is why God gave us a conscience and an inherent moral sense. God even went a step further when He gave Moses the Ten Commandments which cover everything – if we read between the lines and ask for the Spirit’s guidance!
But God also gave us free will. We can decide or choose contrary to what God wants and expects from us. We can jump into water or fire; we can choose eternal life or death, by our decisions in the here and now for good or for evil. Moreover, what is tragic is that choosing evil always puts us on a slippery slope. One bad choice often leads to another and to another – until we can feel hopelessly lost and beyond change or salvation.
Fortunately, God never gives up on us as long as we are alive. God is merciful and forgiving. God is lavish with His grace. He gave us a conscience to begin with – He allows us to experience shame and guilt to get our attention when we have done wrong. It remains for us to repent of our sins, change our ways, and begin to make up for all of our wrongdoing.
Of course, we always suffer in some way for the sins and the mistakes we have made – because there are natural consequences to our bad choices. Children can learn this at an early age, if their parents allow them to suffer the consequences of their misbehavior and mistakes. Good parenting always sets limits for children and is not afraid of tough love when children test or exceed those limits.
In St. Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus expands upon the letter of the law in the Ten Commandments. He teaches us the way to real honesty and authenticity as disciples and children of God. We can’t be like the Pharisees who bent the Commandments to serve themselves – and to excuse truly reprehensible behavior.
Murder is wrong, but so is anything that hurts the body, the soul, or the psyche of another! Adultery is forbidden, but so is anything in our minds or hearts that violates the opposite sex for our own selfish pleasure! Even divorce should be rare – and only when the marriage was a sham from the beginning and devoid of covenant love and commitment.
Jesus also tells us how important it is to break with those people or things which are instrumental in our downfall. We must make the tough decision to cut ourselves off from whatever leads us into sin and away from God.
Finally, in the New Testament reading, St. Paul warns us not to be taken in by the current culture. The wisdom and the ways of God are never those of the world.
The faithful Jews had to resist and reject all the pseudo-wisdom of the pagan Greek culture which had spread everywhere. Likewise, we must resist all that the media, the entertainment industry, and many politicians have to say about what is good and moral and right!
We must stand against and work to repeal some of our laws that go against the natural law and the order that God established for the human person!
Brothers and Sisters, it is a daunting task to stay faithful to God and to all that God asks of us in our world today. But with God’s grace we can face and live through whatever we encounter on our journey to the Kingdom.
So, let us pray today, that we always make truly godly choices in all that we do – And may we inherit the eternal life that Jesus has promised!
Amen.
Msgr. Russell G. Terra, Parish Homilies, February 16, 2020 Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Redding, CA
The heavens declare Thy glory, Lord, in ev’ry star Thy wisdom shines; but when our eyes behold Thy Word, we read Thy Name in fairer lines.
The rolling sun, the changing light, and nights and days Thy pow’r confess; but the blest volume Thou hast writ reveals Thy justice and Thy grace.
Sun, moon, and stars convey Thy praise round the whole earth, and never stand: so when Thy truth began its race, it touched and glanced on ev’ry land.
Nor shall Thy spreading gospel rest till through the world Thy truth has run, till Christ has all the nations blest that see the light, or feel the sun.
Great Sun of Righteousness, arise, bless the dark world with heav’nly light; Thy gospel makes the simple wise; Thy laws are pure, Thy judgments right.
Thy noblest wonders here we view in souls renewed and sins forgiv’n; Lord, cleanse my sins, my soul renew, and make Thy Word my guide to heav’n.
This Superlative Sanctuary Sunday Open Thread, with full respect to those who worship God on the Sabbath, is a place to reaffirm our worship of our Creator, our Father, our King Eternal.
It’s also a place to read, post and discuss news that’s worth knowing and sharing. Please post links to any news stories that you use as sources or quote from.
Please show respect and consideration for your fellow QTreepers.
In other words . . .
. . . and when it’s time to not be nice, we have a companion site – called The U Tree – where all legal speech is allowed and where you can run wild and free with the Wolfpack.
Please also consider the Important Guidelines, outlined here. Let’s not give the Internet Censors a reason to shut down this precious haven that Wolf has created for us.
My apologies, if due. I’ve reduced the size of the salad because of the size of the entrée. Bon appétit!
Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done
If you have been born again through faith in Jesus Christ by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, then I have one question for you my friend: Do you hunger and thirst for more of God’s presence and power to saturate your soul and your sphere of influence? If so, then you would be blessed to continually offer up this simple prayer in faith to the Lord: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.”
Jesus presented those two powerful petitions to His disciples when He gave them “The Lord’s Prayer.” (Matt. 6:9-13) And it provides us with a beautiful template for all of our prayers. For example, here are some requests that cover key areas of our daily life and witness: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in my family.” “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in my church.” “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in the lives of those I am seeking to reach for Christ.” “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done as I use the gifts you have given me to serve others.”
The kingdom of Jesus is established in every heart that receives Him as Savior and Lord. Christians are never called to build their own little kingdom, but rather, we are called to be willing vessels and loving agents of God’s grace and mercy in a world where many are deceived by the darkness rather than in love with the light. And since none of us are immune to the spiritual darkness of this world with its agenda and desires, we need the Lord to deliver us whenever darkness seems to be creeping into our own experience.
Man naturally strives to build his own kingdom, and each one of us naturally seeks to have “my will be done.” On the other hand, man by the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit longs to see Christ’s kingdom advance and the Lord’s will be done. This is part and parcel of receiving a new nature when you are born again through faith in the Messiah. And if you are born again, then you are also saved, justified, forgiven, and redeemed. As a child of the living God, it was definitely the Lord’s will for you to be saved from your sins. Likewise, “God wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4)
The strong desire to do God’s will is a gift in itself. A.W. Tozer said, “I am Thy servant to do Thy will, and that will is sweeter to me than position or riches or fame, and I choose it above all things on earth or in heaven.” Chuck Swindoll said, “God doesn’t work on our timetable. He has a plan that He will execute perfectly and for the highest, greatest good of all, and for His ultimate glory.” In order to “keep in step with the Spirit,” (Gal. 5:25) we need to pray often and believe that God hears us and will answer us according to His will. Everyone who trusts Christ as Savior belongs to the family of God, (John 1:12,13) and has the privilege of boldly approaching the throne of God’s grace with confidence and expectancy. (Hebrews 4:16)
Would you say that your life today is under the full control of Christ your King? Or have one or two areas slipped into the realm of darkness and deceit? Now is the time to renew your commitment to the King of Kings. Turn to Christ today as you pray: “Wash away my sin Lord Jesus. Fill me once again with the Holy Spirit. May thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in my life, my heart, my thoughts, my attitudes, my speech, my behavior, and my decisions.”
The more a believer loves the Lord, the more he or she wants God’s will to be done in their life. The Holy Spirit fans into flame not only our faith in Christ, but also our love for Christ and our heartfelt desire to do His will. “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire.” (1 Thess. 5:19) That is to say, do not say things or do things or dwell on things that grieve and quench the Holy Spirit’s work in your life as a Christian. “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.” (Eph. 4:30)
Scripture instructs believers: “Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” (Romans 12:9) This is a lofty calling, and can only be carried out when the Holy Spirit guides our thoughts, speech, and behavior. We are called to confess our sins to the Lord, and also to renounce them. (Prov. 28:13) We are to place anything that is dark in our life under the blood of Jesus that was shed for us 2000 years ago. By confessing our sin to the Lord and turning away from it, we experience renewal in our determination to work for God’s kingdom as we seek His will in everything.
How strong is your desire today to walk closely with God and continually converse with Him in prayer? If left to ourselves, we would have no motivation for this noble pursuit. But with Christ in our life through faith and with the Holy Spirit filling us with power, we find ourself being motivated daily to please the Lord in everything we do. God not only forgives our sins when we are born again, but He also gives us a new heart that desires to serve the One who saved us by His blood shed on the cross. What a loving and mighty God we serve!
We are invited by our gracious God to pray: “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” As we pray these words, we trust in our heart that the Lord will indeed answer us according to His will and in His perfect time. As we wait patiently upon God to fulfill His purpose for our life, our hearts are stirred as we meditate on Scripture and serve those God allows us to serve. Holy decisions bring about even more holy desires, whereas dark decisions produce even more darkness in our soul. The Christian life cannot be lived in neutral. If you are not going forward, you will begin to slide backwards. Spiritual darkness promotes disobedience and unrest, while the light of Christ enables us to see clearly and to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5)
Christ’s kingdom and God’s will are foundational for living the Christian life. Without the Lord, you and I would be lost in a sea of sinfulness and doomed for destruction. Thankfully, “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him!” (Romans 5:8,9) At the cross, the kingdom of God ushered in eternal salvation for “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord.” (Romans 10:13) “He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13,14)
And so you see my friend, it is definitely God’s will that you repent of your sin and trust Christ alone for salvation. It is the only way to be forgiven, saved, born again, justified, and redeemed. And once you are in God’s family through faith, you begin to do God’s will “on earth as it is in heaven.” One day, “you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:11) In heaven, you will experience things you didn’t know were possible, and you will be filled with a joy that exceeds your wildest imagination. (Psalm 16:11; 2 Cor. 12:1-4)
This is why it is foolish and reckless for anyone to underestimate or ignore God’s eternal kingdom and God’s perfect will. After all, “The wise in heart are called discerning,” (Prov. 16:21) and, “It is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” (Prov. 19:21)
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Romans 8:26
This Superlative Sanctuary Sunday Open Thread, with full respect to those who worship God on the Sabbath, is a place to reaffirm our worship of our Creator, our Father, our King Eternal.
It’s also a place to read, post and discuss news that’s worth knowing and sharing. Please post links to any news stories that you use as sources or quote from.
Please show respect and consideration for your fellow QTreepers.
In other words . . .
. . . and when it’s time to not be nice, we have a companion site – called The U Tree – where all legal speech is allowed and where you can run wild and free with the Wolfpack.
Please also consider the Important Guidelines, outlined here. Let’s not give the Internet Censors a reason to shut down this precious haven that Wolf has created for us.
My apologies, if due. I’ve reduced the size of the intro because of the size of the topic.
The Storm is upon us. Please remember to Pray for our President.
Prayer
The Problem with Prayer
For many, there appears to be a problem with prayer. “It’s a one-way conversation.” “It doesn’t seem to work.” “God takes too long to answer.” “God does what He wants anyway.”
Crushed between the mortar and pestle of life, it’s easy to think there’s a serious problem with prayer: God. When God doesn’t answer according to our will, we can get frustrated. We can feel like our prayers are just floating around the galaxy, too insignificant to catch the Creator’s attention. In the midst of this disappointment, we’re often too slow to accept that the problem with prayer is not God, but us. The Problem of Misunderstanding Prayer I used to think that life would be a lot easier if God answered a few more strategic prayers — just a couple key petitions to remind us that He’s listening. I was convinced that a profound healing here and there would add spice to the life of the church.
Then God healed Karen.
Our Sunday school class gathered for desperate prayer the night before the surgery to remove a tumor from Karen’s brain. The surgery would probably render her unable to speak for a long time. Leading the prayer, I asked God to comfort her husband, daughter, and family at this time of crisis, to help the surgeons, to speed her recovery, and — if He willed — to miraculously heal her.
Of course, that last part was just for show. Although I believed God could heal Karen, I was certain He would use less glorious means. As we drove home, I even told my wife, “Karen will probably never be the same again.”
The next morning the tumor had disappeared.
I assumed Karen’s response would be just as profound as God’s answer to prayer. After all, when a person experiences the awesome intervention of the Almighty God, we should expect an explosive revival, right?
Less than a year later, Karen left the church and divorced her husband.
I had always thought answers to prayer would strengthen faith and ignite thanksgiving. Disappointed in Karen’s response, I was reminded that even the Israelites grumbled and rebelled in the midst of powerful answers to their requests (Numbers 11:1-4).
You see, the problem with prayer is not God, but us. The Problem of Abusing Prayer When I was a new Christian, I mistakenly followed the “prosperity gospel,” the “name it-claim it” theology that overwhelmed Christian television and bookstores — and continues to overwhelm today. “Don’t make negative confessions,” I was told. “If you’re sick, confess that you’re healed!”
On one occasion, I mentioned to a self-proclaimed “prophetess” that I was going bald. Instantly, she placed her hand on my head and shouted, “No you’re not — in the name of Jesus!” That “prophetess” treated prayer like a credit card she could whip out at any time to make major purchases.
We may not be as extreme as that woman, but we can all fall into the trap of abusing prayer. While we may tack on a halfhearted “Thy will be done,” deep down we think, “No! My will be done!” Yes, Christ said, “Ask, and it will be given to you” (Matthew 7:7), but his brother James reminds us, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives” (James 4:3).
Once again, the problem with prayer is not God, but us.
Correcting the Problem with Prayer After a dozen years in Bible college, seminary, and Ph.D. studies, I’d hoped to finally have a handle on prayer. I don’t. In fact, the more I pray, the less I understand its profound mysteries. However, I’ve come to several conclusions that might help correct our perceived problems with prayer.
First, we need to understand that the purpose of prayer is not for God to please us, but for God to change us. If a father constantly gives in to a little child’s whiny demands, we’d take him for a lousy parent. Why, then, do some think God’s a stubborn God when He doesn’t give us everything we want? We need to trust that God is wise and powerful enough to answer rightly — and right on time. 1 John 5:14 says, “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” That is, God won’t jump at every loose-lipped confession. Prayer offered up in true faith submits to His will — our sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:3). God’s will is to change us, not please us.
Second, we need to accept that the power of prayer is perceived in even the smallest response. I’m convinced that humans don’t fully comprehend how little we deserve God’s love and grace. Consider that what we regard as “crumbs” of answered prayer may really be bountiful feasts once we realize that God owes us nothing (Genesis 32:9-10; Luke 7:6-9). When we adjust our attitude about our own unworthiness to receive God’s favor, we’ll never regard “small” answers to prayer as insignificant.
Finally, we need to acknowledge that the process of prayer is not as important as the attitude of prayer. When God chose in His sovereignty to heal Karen, He did so even though none of us expected it. Our feeble prayer was a simple act of faith — turning our worries over to God’s care (Philippians 4:6; 1 Peter 5:6-7). Christians can get hung up on method, worried that they haven’t said the right words, haven’t prayed hard or often enough, or haven’t believed deeply enough. That’s hocus-pocus, not prayer (Matthew 6:5-8). If you’re concerned about not praying with the right words or for the right things, memorize Romans 8:26 — God’s Spirit even helped Paul pray!
Of course these reminders are easy to read, but they’re not easy to live. To our finite human minds, we’ll always perceive “problems” with prayer. Are you struggling with your prayer life, not seeing results, wondering if God is listening? It might be time for an attitude change. It might be time to finally accept that the problem with prayer is not God, but us.
Adapted from Michael J. Svigel, “The Problem with Prayer,” Insights (October 2005): 1-2.
I realized that the deepest spiritual lessons are not learned by His letting us have our way in the end, but by His making us wait, bearing with us in love and patience until we are able to honestly pray what He taught His disciples to pray: Thy will be done.
