Personal Year's End Reflection

But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden.

(Galatians 6:4-5 KJV)

It seems fitting at this time of year to examine in one’s own heart those things which have proved to be areas of strength and areas of weakness in our life. Therefore, I write this on a personal level, not as teaching, but as a sharing of myself to encourage others to do the same. Perhaps in my honesty I can urge others to be vulnerable, if not with others, at least with themselves.

As I move along the road of sanctification, being conformed to the image of God from glory to glory, there are times of growth toward that goal and times where I seemingly lose ground.  I am going to personalize what Peter says concerning the church, in 1 Peter 2:5. “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”  God is building me as a spiritual house and not only needs, but desires, my cooperation in the process. The fancy term is spiritual formation.  We all have strong points and weak points in our lives. This is not to say that the strong points are currently as strong as they should be or that the weak points are beyond repair, for we know that the process is not yet finished. And that, my friends, is a good thing. So with that as an introduction, I want to share several strengths and several weaknesses in my own life with you.

On my birthday several weeks ago, I asked my wife, Jan, to prophesy over me what the Lord was telling her about me. One of the things she said was that God was giving me a new name and as I reflected on that I heard within “Faithful and True.” So I will start my strengths list with what God said about me rather than what I see in myself. If God says I am faithful and true, then who am I to argue with Him? (Moses and Gideon just came to mind) This was a big deal to me. Life has challenges that can bring us, and me specifically over the last few years, to the point of feeling like Gideon when the angel of the Lord came to him as he was threshing wheat by the winepress to hide it from the Midianites: “And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house (Judges 6:15 KJV). But I rejoice that as my wife and the Lord were faithful to speak, I will rejoice in the next verse, “And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man (Judges 6:16 KJV).” Am I as faithful and true as I will ultimately be? No, but He’s given me a vision to grow into concerning myself. This is something both He and I can build on.

Another strength I recognize is the ability to focus. Once I get locked onto a subject or task, it seems impossible to break my attention. Because of this, I can be highly productive in the areas I focus on. I am a good student because of my focus. On the flip side of this coin, focus can also be a weakness in me, but that comes later.

This has been a year of allowing God to work true humility in me and I see that as strength.  I know the work is not complete yet, but I am happy to see a deeper level of humility now than I have before. We all need those around us for accountability. I have many people I look to for counsel and to keep me accountable. I know God is the agent in this, but He uses those around us to assist. Jan and others have been lovingly faithful to me in not allowing me to go unchallenged in certain areas of thought and action. This, at times, has been very hard for me. But the fruit produced has been worth all the pruning.

Change is hard for me and yielding to change gracefully is one of my greatest weaknesses. So when change is thrust upon me I usually respond in an ungraceful way, sometimes hurting those around me. I am much happier in the familiar and in control.  As I yield to the humility being worked more and more within me, I believe the resistance to change and the need to control will be eradicated. I believe this one area has hindered me from entering into all the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Control causes hardness. Blessedly, I live and work with those who have been gracious and forgiving, correcting me and giving me time to seek the Lord concerning it. This is grace at its best.

Although focus is a strength, aspects of it can be a weakness; this certainly being the case with me. I get so locked into what I’m doing at times that the slightest interruption, again, causes an ungraceful, ungrateful reaction in me. Although I could chock it up to having a one track mind, I might as well just identify it as a character fault and allow the Lord to tear it down and rebuild grace in its place. I know He has begun the work, as I can see improvement in that area over the last year. My prayer is to yield more to His hand and His chisel as the work of formation continues in me.

               Another area of weakness can be my tendency to intellectualize too many things. I am an avid reader, which I believe is a good thing. It keeps my wheels turning on many different levels. The downside of that is learning can become an intellectual exercise that misses the higher learning experience of the Spirit. This, luckily, is not a major weakness, just something I become aware of from time to time.

So there you have it. So rejoice with me in my strengths and stand with me as I allow God’s grace to help me minimize my weaknesses. Take some time and create your own list. You don’t have to share it, but the honesty in creating it can be the first strength on your list. Happy New Year to you, my friends. 

Lessons to Learn From Mary

As we enjoy this most magical time of the year, I’d like to share with you what I consider the true meaning of Christmas. I want to look at what happened before the star, before the stable, before the shepherds, before the wise men, and therefore, before the baby. The following verses from Luke reveal things that sometimes we miss or take for granted. Read it with me afresh and allow the Holy Spirit to bring forth something new in your thinking.

Luke 1:26-56 KJV  And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,  (27)  To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.  (28)  And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.  (29)  And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.  (30)  And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.  (31)  And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.  (32)  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:  (33)  And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.  (34)  Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?  (35)  And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.  (36)  And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.  (37)  For with God nothing shall be impossible.  (38)  And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.  (39)  And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;  (40)  And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.  (41)  And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:  (42)  And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.  (43)  And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  (44)  For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.  (45)  And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.  (46)  And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,  (47)  And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.  (48)  For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.  (49)  For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.  (50)  And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.  (51)  He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.  (52)  He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.  (53)  He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.  (54)  He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;  (55)  As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.  (56)  And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

The above passage of scripture comprises 3 distinct elements known as The Annunciation, The Visitation, and The Magnificat.  It’s important to remember that this all precedes the birth of Jesus on that first Christmas morn. What can we learn from this to help us in our Christian walk? Let’s look at several lessons as we deconstruct the story.

First of all, who is Mary? We know that Mary was a young virgin teenage girl from the town of Nazareth, in Galilee, engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. But what about the social and political ramifications of what we know? Mary was one of the least important persons in her social structure. She was female, she was young, and she was Jewish. Rome ruled over them, tolerating their religion only so much as it helped them control the populace. She had low social status, low family status, and her parents most likely arranged for her marriage to Joseph, who at least had a good trade as a carpenter. Mary was the most unlikely candidate for a visitation from an angel of the Lord. But visit the angel did. And as with many angelic visitations recorded in scripture, the circumstances and timing were not the best. Barely into puberty with her marriage and life ahead of her, here comes Gabriel with a message on behalf of God that would majorly complicate her plans.

And Gabriel wasn’t very subtle in his approach. “Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.” As we read what happened, it wasn’t the presence of the angel had shook Mary up as much as what he said. She wondered what kind of greeting this was and it troubled her. Often when God uses an angel in the guise of an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, or teacher to bring us a word of the Lord it troubles us. We look at ourselves, our circumstances, our social status and think, “Is he talking to me?” Look back at Abraham, Moses, Jeremiah, Gideon, and others, who when the word of God came, were a bit troubled in their minds about it. We, along with Mary, can be so glad that God knows our fears and is always ready with a word of comfort. “Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.”  The favor of God can take us where money, status, and all the rest the world has to offer can never take us.

But Gabriel didn’t stop there. He dropped the bomb. “And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:  And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” Now we must remember Mary wasn’t schooled in the scriptures, she was schooled in keeping a home and becoming a good Jewish wife. She had to take Gabriel’s words at face value without scriptural reference. So we really can’t blame her when she asks, “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” The girl knew where babies come from and this wasn’t making sense.  But patient Gabriel had that covered, too. “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.  And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.  For with God nothing shall be impossible.” So not only is this new paradigm of conception explained to her, but the news of her cousin’s pregnancy in her old age continues to mess with Mary’s knowledge of reproductive propriety. In the natural, neither of these occurrences could have happened, but with God all things are possible.

How often do we look at why something can’t happen? If we are focused on the natural facts of a matter, we will oftentimes miss the supernatural truth that God wants to reveal.  Mary knew, that for different reasons, neither she or Elisabeth could conceive. But even in her knowledge of the natural facts, a little encouragement from Gabriel in telling her of Elisabeth’s condition and saying, “For with God nothing shall be impossible,” opened up the realm of possibility for her. God unwrapped this revelation in such a way that faith arose within her. To me, her next statement stands as the most important in this entire passage.  “And Mary said, ‘Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.’”  

Mary knew what her decision would mean. She knew the questioning that would come, the remarks and gossip that would follow. She also knew that her life could be taken by stoning for her “offense”. She hadn’t talked this over with Joseph or her parents, although she must have considered what this would do to them. No, we see that in spite of Mary’s fear and questions, when the word of the Lord came to her, it was her turn to bring an annunciation, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord!” Oh, if faith would rise up in us to face the fears and ask the questions, and then say, in spite of them, “Behold the servant of the Lord.”  But the second half of Mary’s statement is as important and revealing as the first; “be it unto me according to thy word.”  Because in making that declaration, Mary was embracing her cross. Her son, the one she would bear, would have His own moment of decision and faith in the Garden of Gethsemane years later and say, “ nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done (Luke 22:42).” It is one thing to say we are His servants, quite another to submit according to His word.

The church in the United States has been so slow in responding in faith to God’s word. If something is going to cost us in God’s unveiling of kingdom principles and practices, we draw the line and flatly refuse, or half-heartedly agree, knowing that for God to ask that of us, surely He will rapture us out of here so we won’t have to face the consequences of our choice. Oh, Lord, give us the grace to see our hard, backslidden hearts and come clean with you in repentance.

Although the Annunciation is full of splendor, the Visitation sublime, and the Magnificat beautiful in so many ways, this simple yes that Mary uttered is the true Christmas story to me. Everything else comes after heaven coming to earth and earth responding in faith. 

The Incarnation

With Christmas just weeks away, I have been thinking about the incarnation, the first coming of the Lord Jesus to earth as a human being. We have allowed so much sentimentality to invade our acknowledgement and celebration of such a momentous event. I live in Oregon, a Northwestern state in America. Here most people feel that the perfect Christmas must include snow on the ground, eggnog in the cup, and presents under the tree. I know every locale has its own tokens, remembrances, customs, and celebrations surrounding Christmas.  I’ve spent three Christmases outside of the Pacific Northwest. One in Alexandria, Virginia; one in London, England; and one in Brisbane, Australia. My favorite was in London, where on Christmas Day the streets are virtually empty. No cars, no noise, a surreal, eerie quietness that so wonderfully preceded my entering St. Paul’s just as the evening Vespers carols began to ring through the vast edifice.  As delighted as I was with this experience, and the fond memories I still hold years later, there is still the danger of letting that experience define for me what the perfect Christmas is.  Yet, I guard myself to not do that because the fact of Christmas far outweighs the outward, cultural aspects of Christmas.

The preparations for the first Christmas excluded black Friday shopping madness, decorating of hearth and home, sending cards, and all the rest. The unwrapping of that first Christmas revealed a much simpler, if not more complex, series of events. As we read in Matthew:

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

(Matthew 1:18-20 KJV)

Before the birth of Christ could be accomplished through Mary, there needed to be a seed planted within her. Now the Bible is quite clear that this seed was not planted in a natural act by Joseph, but rather “that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.” I know we know the story, perhaps too familiarly at times to consider with proper import the process behind the birth of the baby. In the natural when we see a woman with child, we do not- as it should be- imagine or dwell on the act that brought about the conception. In the back of our minds we know, as my first pastor, Norman Clear, used to say, “They did more than say ‘Howdy’.”  The natural act of conception is eclipsed in our thinking by the product of that act, the child within the womb soon to come forth. But when we read the account in Matthew above, we must examine the process with more than a cursory nod. To miss the process in Mary is to miss the process in us, as well.

Jesus, some 30+ years after His birth was clear about the process and distinction between natural and spiritual birth when He spoke to Nicodemus in John chapter 3:

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

(John 3:3-6 KJV)

Water and Spirit here both speak of God’s grace as an agent of regeneration. Not the natural waters of baptism, but spiritual washing that must precede baptism. As the apostle Paul says in writing to Titus:

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

(Titus 3:5-7 KJV)

But this process of spiritual conception, this seed planting, is not a singular event. The sowing of seed in our lives is a continual and perpetual grace of the Spirit, from glory to glory.  As 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” Paul tells us just previously that in Christ the vail of the heart is taken away. In the natural, conception can only take place after the vail, or cover, of the womb (hymen) is taken away in intercourse. Spiritually, in Christ there is no longer a separation, a barrier to the Spirit planting seed within us. However, as in the natural, the womb of our heart must be in a receptive state to receive the sowing of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit, poured out on the day of Pentecost, initiated a process of spiritual intimacy, seed planting, filling, that continues time and again in the life of every believer. The story of Christmas is not only the story of Jesus coming to earth through a Jewish virgin by the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ was conceived in Mary of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is conceived in us of the Holy Spirit. The incarnation began with Jesus but continues in us as we are conformed to the image of God’s Son in the earth.               

Architecture of the Heart

My wife, Jan, and I love architecture. Lately we have been watching You Tube videos and doing photo searches of Gothic style cathedrals from around the world. The architectural designers behind these masterpieces built with enthusiasm because they truly believed these structures would house God. Many are inspired in proportion by the measurements of Solomon’s temple. I visited England and Scotland several times in the very first years of this century and was awed at the sight of Bath Abbey, York Minster, and Westminster Cathedral, among others.

As much as I was and am inspired by these “house of God,” they pale in comparison to the true tabernacle of God, the heart of man. I’ve compiled here 30 positive, spiritual architectural features of the heart from the Psalms and Proverbs. Of course, there are many duplicates to these within the respective books and also throughout scripture. There are many negative examples of heart architectural, as well. But if we cultivate these positive traits, we can largely avoid the negative. There are 30 entries here, so a monthly devotional could be “built” around them. God bless.  

Ps 4:4 Aware heart
Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

Ps 4:7 Glad heart
Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.

Ps 7:10 Upright heart
My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.

Ps 9:1 Whole heart
I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.

Ps 10:17 Prepared heart
LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:

Ps 13:5 Rejoicing heart
But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.

Ps 15:2 True heart
He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

Ps 17:3 Proved heart
Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

Ps 19:14 Meditative heart
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Ps 24:4 Pure heart
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

Ps 27:14 Strengthened heart
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Ps 28:7 Trusting heart
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

Ps 34:18 Broken heart
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Ps 40:8 Devoted heart
I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

Ps 45:1 Expressive heart
My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

Ps 51:10 Clean heart
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Ps 51:17 Contrite heart
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Ps 57:7 Fixed heart
My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.

Ps 78:72 Innocent heart
So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

Ps 86:11 United heart
Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

Ps 101:2 Perfect heart
I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.

Ps 119:32 Enlarged heart
I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.

Ps 119:80 Sound heart
Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.

Pro 3:3 Imprintable heart
Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

Pro 4:23 Governed heart
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Pro 8:5 Understanding heart
O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

Pro 10:8 Wise heart
The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.

Pro 14:30 Sound heart

A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

Pro 15:13 Merry heart

A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

Pro 18:15 Prudent heart
The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge

Does America Have a Covenant With God?

Several weeks ago as I was pondering the happenings in our nation and world, the Holy Spirit spoke to me, reminding  me that Israel was the only nation of people who has a national covenant with God.  As much as most Americans would like to believe that our nation has a covenant with God, it simply is not true.  Those Americans who have received Jesus Christ as savior and Lord do have a personal, relational covenant with God, as those grafted into the tree, and in fact, a much better covenant. But the nation, as a whole, does not. If this is true, it means that any Gentile nation whose population has become more and more secular over the decades, as ours surely has over the last 60 years, has the probability of losing favor with God.

In October of this year at The Missional Holiness Conference, Wesleyan pastor Dwight Mikesell brought out the fact that we have already lost God’s favor. In fact, we are already experiencing His judgment. He correlated political and social direction away from God over the last 60 years to Romans 1:21-32. He divided the decades between 1950 up to the present into 4 blocks with the accompanying judgments of God. Let me present them here in abbreviated form.

In the 1950s and 60s, evolution was promoted as the correct view of human origin, taking God the Creator, out of the equation. Since God was gone, we need not speak to Him, so prayer in public schools was eliminated. The corresponding verses in Romans 1:21-23 say:

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

In the 60s and 70s we came into the sexual revolution which brought with it unchecked immorality, increased pornography, STDs, and legalized abortion.  We continue to read in Romans 1:24-25:

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

In the 70s and 80s, homosexual rights became an ever increasing political and social power play between traditional morality and liberal agendas. The correlation continues in verses 26-27:

For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

From the 80s to our current time, political correctness has morphed into political corruption as we see in verses 28-32:

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

I don’t think it possible to ignore what Mikesell brings out as a true assessment of a nation under judgment, not because of the sin, but given over to the sin.

 The other day I read an internet post on a popular prophetic site by an honored, veteran prophet. I will not mention his name. It really doesn’t matter who it is. What matters is that he was, in my humble opinion, so wrong in his assumptions about America. If he thinks the intent of our founding fathers can sustain us, if he feels Kate Smith’s singing of “God Bless America” will turn our hearts, if he thinks our stellar support of Israel will stay God’s hand, I cannot agree with him. He goes on to talk about America blessing God, but here again, who can do that? Only those serving God can bless God. It will take the bride within the church interceding and repenting for the church at large to start the ball of revival rolling again.

Is it not obvious that our economic, political, and religious systems are in shambles before us? We cannot rest on the laurels of our founders, a patriotism that honors country over God, or a quasi-coziness with Israel. It is only the kingdom of God made manifest by the true people of God directed by the Spirit of God that is going to give America a fighting chance.  

Witchcraft in the Ranks

When you think of witchcraft, what comes to mind? The Halloween imagery of black hats and broomsticks? People or objects being levitated through the air? Appearances being transformed into something new before your very eyes? You may have different thoughts when it comes to witchcraft, but let’s look at what witchcraft looks like in the midst of God’s people. Could there be witchcraft in the ranks at your church or home group meeting?

            The apostle Paul pointedly confronted the Christians of Galatia in his epistle bearing their name:

O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

(Galatians 3:1-3 KJV)

Certainly if the witchcraft in their midst had been overtly manifested, they themselves would have recognized it. But as it is so many times in the church, subtlety (a distinction that is difficult to make but is important) wins out in the congregations of Galatia. Here is what John Gill’s Exposition of the Whole Bible says about this witchcraft at Galatia:

“Who hath bewitched you? some false teacher or another had, or it cannot be conceived how their heads should ever have been turned this way; which must be understood, not in a literal and proper sense, as Simon Magus bewitched the people of Samaria with his sorceries, but in a figurative and improper one; that as sorcerers and enchanters cast a mist before people's eyes, or, by some evil arts or juggling tricks, deceive their sight, and make objects seem to appear which do not, or in a different form than they really do, so these deceitful workers, who had transformed themselves into the apostles of Christ, as Satan sometimes transforms himself into an angel of light, had set this doctrine in a false light before them, thereby to corrupt their minds from the simplicity that is in Christ. Though the apostle reproves the Galatians for their folly and weakness in giving in so easily to such deceptions, yet he imputes the chief fault unto, and lays the greatest blame on the false teachers; whom he represents as sorcerers and enchanters, and their doctrine, particularly that of justification by works, as witchcraft; it being pleasing to men, a gratifying of carnal reason, and operating as a charm upon the pride of human nature.”

I’d like to expound on several things Gill’s brings out about this witchcraft and then make some closing remarks.

            First of all, there were teachers in their midst that were, in effect, setting doctrines before them in a false light. Jesus says in Matthew 6:22-23, “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” A false light is darkness. It may look the same on the surface, but the illumination it brings is deception. These two verses are set in the middle of a text dealing with treasures and motivations of the heart, the inability to serve two masters. False teachers have a false light coming from lust for false treasure and false motivations. Sometimes their treasure is control over people. Their motivations oftentimes revolve around building their ministry, their kingdom, and of course collecting subjects to do their bidding. This is not the Mosaic Law but it is legalism none the less.

            Secondly, this deception comes about by the subtle exercise of the sorcerer’s art. Not upfront and blatant, as with Simon Magus, but nevertheless seeing the same outcomes. Let’s look first at juggling tricks. The scriptures are, in our days, being juggled to bring about any outcome one may desire. Safeguards are being thrown aside in the name of one “new revelation” or another. Hell is no longer really hell or eternal separation from God, but a place of refining. Homosexuality is no longer an abomination to the Lord and those who stand against it are “haters.”  Out of balance doctrinal stances are no more than juggling acts, mesmerizing the people of God. When one follows the lift of the juggler’s hand releasing the newest, hottest trend in Christendom, it’s easy to forget the foundational truths that keep us grounded in truth. And how about deceiving their sight, making objects seem to appear which do not, or in a different form than they really do. Is this no more than distortion of the truth? Can we not see this in soul-based prophetic words, and dreams and visions that call not to the hidden things of the heart, but to the earthly things of the soul? Find what people want and then “prophesy” to that want and of course tell them that you are their gateway to fulfilling that want. This is sorcery at its finest and it happens all around us, not just on Christian television.   

            Lastly, can we see witchcraft as “it being pleasing to men, a gratifying of carnal reason, and operating as a charm upon the pride of human nature”? Here again is that soul connection; the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. Paul speaks in his second letter to Timothy, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables (2 Timothy 4:3-4 KJV). Charismatic witchcraft will always play in the soul realm. Soul-based prophetic words do no more that reinforce that soul-based lust in the hearer, bringing it front and center, displacing the spiritual desires of God for one’s life. Many lust after a word from God rather than the Word of God. I’ve known and counseled people who could not receive counsel unless it was given in a prophetic word. Good, sound scriptural counsel (The Word) was rejected in place of “the word”, usually spoken through someone willing to connect to them on a soul-based level.

            In closing, as Gill says, “Though the apostle reproves the Galatians for their folly and weakness in giving in so easily to such deceptions, yet he imputes the chief fault unto, and lays the greatest blame on the false teachers…” The apostle Peter has a final word on this as related in 2 Peter 2:1, saying, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”

            Are you with leaders that stroke your carnal desires? Do they tell you what you want to hear rather than what God says in His word? Do they counsel you out of a motivation of control, manipulation, and witchcraft? Are they out to build their kingdoms of sand or are they equipping you to be a builder on the Rock? Don’t waste your time, effort, finances, and peace of mind following the sorcerers. Only Godly counsel, firmly based on the Word, and delivered with no hidden motives, can bring you to wholeness.