Saturday, December 15, 2012

Fight For Them


I didn't sleep well last night. That is strange for me. I usually have the events of the day settled before bed so I sleep fitfully and uninterrupted.

Yesterday was different. An evil of such magnitude, of such force, invaded my community. When all was said and done, 26 innocent lives were taken. Twenty of them, yes 20, were children. 

I hesitated to count the perpetrator, which makes it 27, but as I struggle with the entire issue, I realize he was a victim of the same evil.

The shooter took his own life. In doing so he robbed the victims families of their ability to channel their anger and get closure. There is no one to express their anger toward. There will be no trial and sentence. He took his own life and left people to only shout out at an image. A spirit. An evil spectre.

Or God.

In my semi-sleepless state last night, Jesus comforted me with song and scripture.

"Jesus loves the little children..."

I had images of twenty little people standing before a smiling Jesus as He squatted down to greet and embrace each one. The look of absolute joy and serenity was all over their faces. They are home. Eternally. They will long be mourned and missed here, but for them the struggles they never had to endure is over before they ever began to be burdened by them. 

"...all the children of the world."

They say there was a knife attack upon innocent children in China yesterday. Jesus was busy.  So was the enemy.

The verse that Jesus gave me last night was from Paul.

Ephesians 6:12 (AMP)  - For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.

This might not be a verse that particularly comforts anyone, but it is truth nonetheless, and in the present moment does provide a tangible source to deposit our anger, frustration, sadness, and overall feelings of helplessness.

"What can I do?", you may ask. "How can I help?" 

Channel every emotion and feeling you have toward the ones who are ultimately responsible. This ancient evil that has been replicating itself over and over for milleniums now has come to our door. There is no longer even a warm body of a guilty perpetrator we can shake our fist at through the TV screen.

Paul says it was never really about that anyway. The shooter is as much a victim, maybe even moreso, as he was the chosen tool of Satan to carry out this misery. His ultimate price began yesterday. The venegeance of God will be properly carried out. Twenty six others will never know such evil ever, ever again.

The true perpetrator, the mastermind of such perfect evil, has been doing this for a very long time. From the war room of hell he sent his demons to enter into a perfect dupe. An obviously disturbed young man who by the time he carried out his task was probably no longer in his right mind. Perhaps even completely possessed. It stands to reason that it would almost have to be that. This type of tragedy ranks with 9/11 at least in impact upon the human race.

The verse provides and answer and an avenue. It tells us from whom and from where it came from. It tells us we can fight back.

Great powers unleashed this evil from places few of us realize even exists. They are not people. They are evil angels, demons, and the master planner himself, Satan. This is not flesh and blood we wrestle with.

But we do wrestle. Oh yes, we wrestle. We who are puny by any standard when measured up against evil powers such as these, would crumble at their sight. Fear would grip us and we would collapse in a heap. Yes, we are weak by comparison in our flesh.

But as we do not wrestle with flesh and blood, we neither fight in our own flesh and blood either.

We fight this battle in the Spirit! We fight this battle in the authority given us by Jesus Christ Himself! We do not shrink. We do not collapse. We do not fear. When Jesus said the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church He meant that we should be taking it to those gates, not waiting for hell to come to our door!

OK. It appears that hell has encroached a bit into our territory. All the more reason to awaken from the momentary lapse we have suffered.

Assemble. Assemble quickly. Assemble often. Assemble in your churches. In your homes. How about a real "Flash Mob" at the Mall where hundreds would stand up and declare that we are mad at Hell and we won't take it anymore! How about walking your neighborhood and claiming every step for Jesus? How about each and every morning waking up and taking spiritual authority over your schools? "Satan, in the name of Jesus, you keep your distance from my school, my town, my home, my workplace."

This is not "passive resitance", this is hard swingin', give the devil a black eye resistance.


James 4:7 (AMP)  - So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you.

I will say this. The Church had better wake up from its peaceful slumber. Believer, you had better get your mind right and be submitted. Stop your whining about how your life sucks. Stop making Church your second choice. Place nothing in the way of getting your rear end to a pew because that is where the battles are taking place in force and strength. Every church that is weakened by non-commited whining part timers is giving Hell the strength to move forward. Pastors, make your backbone strong. You will need it. Confront hell, but first you just might have to confront your people. Don't worry about your "job". Jesus will have your back.

There are hundreds of people who are deeply and personally affected by what happened yesterday. Even if they do not realize it, they need us. The future of every community needs us on the wall standing watch. 

"...be they yellow, black, or white,
they are precious in His sight,
Jesus loves the little children of the world."

And so do we. Fight for them.

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><
www.reallifect.com

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