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Ministry Encouragement Podcast – Episode #062 – 9-3-13 – Rev. Jim W. Hollis, your Host and the Executive Director of Proactive Ministries, the Sponsor of our weekly podcast
Hello and welcome to the Ministry Encouragement Podcast, Episode #062. This week in the United States is a post-holiday, short week of work. Perhaps the location or country you are in has not had a holiday weekend. Thank you so very much for taking your time to join me in this week’s Episode. I am going to be focusing on a topic that is discussed and taught on in varying degrees throughout Christianity across the globe.
In some nations and regions, this topic is addressed, discussed and shared about openly. In other countries, it is reluctantly acknowledged but passed over quickly and avoided as something that may be on the boundary of superstitious.
Hollywood here in the United States has no problem in putting this topic on the big screen with movies and popular television shows, like:
The Exorcist, Chainsaw Massacre, Reservoir Dogs, The Shining, Game of Thrones, Scandal, and Grey’s Anatomy. The list is extensive and the message is clear: evil is intriguing, adventuresome and to be desired. The conclusion is, “You can handle it. Some can’t but you can!”
And then the commercials that glamorize all the temptations. Commercials about affairs (never calling them adultery); alcohol – the legal drug that supposedly everyone does: (using the coolest people and funniest storylines) and hundreds of others which millions of dollars have been invested in under the flag of “harmless entertainment.” And let’s not forget the violence.
Today I am going to discuss the topic of:
Evil’s Top Mission – the destruction of our lives
As with all serious topics for Christ-followers, we turn to the Bible to gain some opening insights to this topic. I want to start with a couple of texts, which will help us focus on the reality of the destructiveness of Evil.
Evil is not a strange or rarely addressed topic in the entire Bible. It begins to be addressed in Genesis with temptation and the choosing of disobedience to God over choosing God’s goodness to humankind. It runs through the Old Testament like a major red thread permeates an entire garment while helping us understand that God hates evil but loves people.
Then throughout the New Testament Evil becomes even more visible and transparent as Jesus is hunted, confronted and tempted by Satan – the leader of darkness & evil. Confrontations with the forces of Evil by Jesus and his Disciples are consistently present in the text.
We readily recognize as readers of the New Testament the reality of Evil, the ruler of Evil, demons and demonic forces, legions, and the ultimate mission of Evil: the eternal destruction of our lives.
In light of this, let us consider two texts that in many churches are kept pretty quiet today:
Ephesians 6:11-13 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
11 Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
What truths or spiritual facts are given to us from this scripture passage which we can apply daily?
1) There is a supreme enemy of our souls and lives – the devil, Satan, the prince of darkness, Lucifer, or the evil one.
2) The idea of “the wiles of the devil” is his primary methodology to accomplish the mission of destruction.
3) The Holy Spirit offers us “the whole armor of God” in order for us to be able to stand against the attacks of evil on our lives and the lives of those we love.
4) “Our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
A bit of a wake up call, wouldn’t you say fellow Christians? You may have been going to church for decades and never heard a sermon or homily on this. You may have been to hundreds of Sunday School classes or small groups and if this came up it was covered quickly in an academic way.
So if you’ve come this far in the podcast and you’re wishing you could say to me, “Jim, you’re getting a little out there with this Episode – I mean isn’t this bordering on extreme theologically or bumping against the limits of fanatical?”
My response is absolutely not. And why would I give that response? Because across 38 years of ministry I’ve had the holy privilege of ministering to persons and families who have found themselves sitting in the rancid filth of fully grown sin as described in the Bible plainly, in the Book of James:
14 But one is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured and enticed by it; 15 then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved. (James 1:14-16, NRSV)
We all face the barrage of temptations and spiritual attacks. The more we are engaged with the mission and ministry of Christ, the more forces come against us. Like any army, the leaders of the army of evil have to prioritize what targets (people, lives and relationships) to assign more firepower against, since those targets represent a greater threat against the ultimate mission of evil taking place.
Those who are living out their walk with Christ daily and working consistently to lead others to Christ will be tops on the “hit list.” Even if they are diligent in asking for a hedge of prayer protection and coverage – be careful, for their family members will come into the cross-hairs of the weapons of darkness next, in order to disable the main target.
With all that being said, there is much Good News and Hope:
1 John 4:4 – New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
4 Little children, you are from God, and have conquered them; for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
How then, can we make this verse become strong and effective in our lives today?
1) Assess honestly our own spiritual relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
2) Are we leaning into the love, the power, the grace and the discernment of the Holy Spirit who is with us – rather than solely relying on our own strength, talents, and judgments?
3) Have we done serious study and research on spiritual warfare gaining understanding on how it is seeking to attack us and our families?
4) Are we sharing in Christian Community at a level that brings open honesty, sharing and prayer support for the needs present in all our lives?
5) We can always come against Evil by calling on the name of Jesus Christ and asking Christ to take power over any attacks against us or those we love. Prayer changes all things.
6) Do we let our family, friends and fellow Christ-followers know that we are available if they ever need someone to listen and pray with them, regardless of the time or day?
7) Do we have a close enough friendship with a Pastor, Spiritual Leader, Evangelist or other Clergy that we would feel comfortable calling on them to talk with us at 4:00 a.m. in the morning when we’ve run out of hope and words to pray?
8) We can involve ourselves in a group or groups of Christians that will allow us to share our stories, journeys and struggles – knowing that there is trust in the group and we will have opportunities to minster to one another.
9) We can give more time to our personal and family prayer life starting now.
10) We can spend more time daily in God’s Word – the Bible – perhaps digging into the Gospel of John, the Psalms (for incredible medicine when stressing or struggling), the Book of James (for a “cut-to-the-chase” clarity on discipleship), or the book of Nehemiah to learn how God can bring victory against all odds and opposition.
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Well, that’s it for this week’s Episode my friend. I’ve been through a season over the last several months where the enemy has come after our ministry leaders, our Staff, my family and me with a vengeance. It’s been as though he was “saving up the arsenal” and suddenly let it rip.
There have been some spiritual break-throughs but also some very dark nights of the soul in which the only thing to cling to was prayer. I appreciate your prayers. I thank you for being part of this community around this podcast.
I encourage you to carefully and joyfully consider how you can finish strong the remainder of your days in this old world, living them out to the fullest for Christ and the Good News of God. Jesus can use you to touch others in profound ways. You know this in your heart. But you may not have stepped up and out to claim it.
Please share the Ministry Encouragement Podcast with others in your circle of friends, acquaintances and work contacts. Just by having them become aware of these Podcasts by emailing them a note with the following address can be a way to touch their lives:
Email them this Podcast Blog address: www.ministryencouragementpodcast.com
You can always email me personally at: jim@ministryencouragementpodcast.com
Or contact our Staff and me with your prayer requests: (770) 803-9988
You can “Friend” me on Facebook: Jim W. Hollis
You can “LIKE” our Proactive Ministries Page: facebook.com/proactive-ministries
Connect with me on LinkedIn: Jim Hollis
Until the next time you join me on the podcast, I hope to hear from you personally. Go out and live with joy in the love and power of the Holy Spirit – discovering what awesome things God has for you to accomplish in this life and world.
In Christ’s Grace,
Jim
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