Jesus- Dragon Slayer

In the last week or so I have heard several sermons on the radio and in my own church about Satan and demons.  I have had multiple conversations on the topic in recent days. I think this is interesting because it is not a topic I typically talk a lot about.  Again and again though, it has come into my path.

The Bible is not unclear that Satan exists.  He is described as the liar, murderer, accuser, deceiver, dragon.  He is obviously engaged in a spiritual battle that we can't see but effects us every day.  I want to share just a few words today to acknowledge that we as Christians need to embrace the reality of this truth without shame.  This is another of those places where secularists in our society would rather laugh at our "foolishness" than actually talk about reality.  Christians as a result find themselves apologizing for believing in such a foolish notion.  We mustn't feel that way.  Again, the wisdom of God, the Bible, is not unclear on the issue.

On the other hand, many Christians begin to look for Satan everywhere and attribute to him God-like qualities.  I have heard Christians praying to Satan, yes praying to Satan, as they "bind" him cast him away.  This is also unhealthy and dangerous, and blasphemous.  So how should we think about the devil?

I like to think of him in the terms of David and Goliath.  What?  I don't mean we are David and we will slay the giant.  No, I mean that Goliath represented Satan and David was fulfilled in Jesus.  When David had taken off the head of Goliath he took his armor back and hung it up for display in his tent.  (I assume it was for display...hard to use the armor of a giant on oneself.)  1Sam 17:54  And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent.  Where is Satan's armor?

Well, when Adam and Eve fell and God's curse was brought against them, he pointed to the seed of woman who would have his heel struck by the serpent but he would crush its head.  Jesus came and did just that.  He was bruised, but he crushed the head of the serpent.  The thought that Satan is defeated and his armor is in Jesus tent gives me a great hope.I do not tremble at the thought of Satan or his legions.  I rely on the one who has defeated them.  He may strike out like a wounded animal now, but the chains have already been prepared for him.

Let me encourage you to find your peace in the dragon slaying Jesus Christ as well!

Are you a radical or disobedient?

"Jesus calls us to a radical life, so you are either living radically or disobediently."  This was a statement I made teaching Acts chapter 4 in Sunday School last week.  Ever make a statement while teaching and then think about whether it is a true statement or not?  I hate that feeling.  Little late to be working that out now...should have asked that before the lesson.  Sometimes though, things just come unscripted, and there they are.  That is what this statement was to me.  I still think this statement is true.  Luke 9:23-24:  And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  (24)  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

The thing that made me question the first statement I made is the fact that it seems to be a condemnation on the christian walk for myself, many friends and family, and millions of church goers.  Am I living in disobedience to Jesus call on my life if I am not living radically?  Yes!  This was understood by those who walked with Jesus...read Acts chapter 4.  (all of Acts actually) James said it this way, "friendship with the world is enmity with God."  If we are not living counter culturally, then we are living counter Godly.  It's not just James, read Paul's charge: 


1Co 4:9-16  For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.  (10)  We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute.  (11)  To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless,  (12)  and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;  (13)  when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.  (14)  I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.  (15)  For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.  (16)  I urge you, then, be imitators of me.

He is exhorting the Corinthian believers who are living wise, strong, honored lives.  They have plenty to eat and drink and wear.  They have homes to live in and protect them from the elements.  Their work provides for themselves and their families needs.  They face little persecution for the sake of Christ and when someone speaks ill of them there is a level of indignation.  They are not really treated all that badly by the unbelieving world.  What in that description does not apply to me and to you?  Paul acknowledges that they have a lot of teachers telling them a lot of things.  There are some who teach that this is the way you should live.  "You are a child of the king so live like a prince."  These teachers failed to see the Prince, and hear his call.  Paul says imitate me!  Be like me, be thought foolish, weak, and with a bad reputation.  Go where you may not have food and drink and clothes.  Let your work provide for the needs of ministry not just blessing your family.  Be persecuted and slandered and all the while bless and pray for those mistreating you.  Don't be a friend of the world

but a friend of God.

Imitate Paul as he imitates Christ.  That is the life Christ chose.  Chose!  He didn't have to live that way.  Neither did Paul, or James or anyone else.  They chose to follow Jesus.  He told them up front that to follow him would mean self denial and taking up death. I don't want to just accept this hard life if it comes upon me, I want to choose it.  Lord please rescue me from the disobedience of living like I can love God and mammon.  Let me love you!  Free me to live a radical life!  

Can there be mercy still reserved for me?

Depth of Mercy


"Depth of mercy! Can there be
Mercy still reserved for me?
Can my God His wrath forbear,
Me, the chief of sinners, spare?

I have long withstood His grace,
Long provoked Him to His face,
Would not hearken to His calls,
Grieved Him by a thousand falls."

The hymn asks the question.  How can God possibly love me?  How can there possibly be any way that God could respond to my repeated revolts against his holiness with anything but unbridled wrath?  If you rightly understand your own heart you might ask the same question.  I love the answer.

"There for me the Savior stands,

Shows His wounds and spreads His hands.

God is love! I know, I feel;

Jesus weeps and loves me still."

Jesus gave himself that God would be just and yet we would be justified.  It is beautiful and gracious and exalts Christ above every name!!!  So where do I go from here?   Is Jesus sacrifice a get out of jail free card?  Should I go on sinning that grace may abound.

"Now incline me to repent,

Let me now my sins lament,

Now my foul revolt deplore,

Weep, believe, and sin no more." 

Lord let my sin not go unseen by me.  Let me turn from it.  Let it break my heart that I would mourn. Let me hate the life that would pull me away from your best and from you.  Let me believe and be set free.

I am arrogant

I am pretty arrogant.  Sometimes it even spills over onto my blog.  Using the word "sometimes" is probably my pride masking the fact that I should say "usually" or "always."  I don't want to be that way.  I just want the Lord to receive glory in my life.  So, I am sorry.


1Pe 5:5-11  Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."  (6)  Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,  (7)  casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.  (8)  Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  (9)  Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.  (10)  And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.  (11)  To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

I hope to share tomorrow.  Hope I can do it humbly.

Does dirt make soap dirty, or does soap make dirt clean?

When grimy hands touch a bar of soap, why do we assume the hands become clean, instead of saying the soap is now dirty? Silly question I know.  Technically I guess the soap does take on some of the dirt, but we still use the same bar the next time we want to be clean.  Consider this passage about uncleanness touching the pure one.

Mat 9:20-22  And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment,  (21)  for she said to herself, "If I only touch his garment, I will be made well."  (22)  Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well." And instantly the woman was made well.

This account is found as Jesus is on his way to raise the dead daughter of a ruler who has come to ask Jesus for help.  Jesus is on his way to accomplish a great spiritual miracle.  This woman was suffering. Not only did she suffer from this physical condition, but this condition must have had an isolating effect on her life.  She was perpetually ceremonial unclean.  She could not go to the temple.  She couldn't be touched by those going to the temple.  She must have been avoided in large part, and for twelve years.  Then an amazing thing happens.  She considers Jesus.  She thinks she can be healed if only she can touch the fringe of his garment.   Wait, this could be disastrous.  A Jewish man like Jesus gave great significance to the fringe of his garment.  God had commanded in the law:

Num 15:37-40  The LORD said to Moses,  (38)  "Speak to the people of Israel, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a cord of blue on the tassel of each corner.  (39)  And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after.  (40)  So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God.

The fringe of Jesus garment would have had these tassels which were a reminder to obey the righteous requirements of the law.  They represented a setting apart, a holiness before God.  Some of the Pharisees would extend the length of these things out of pride and self exaltation.  "They were really holy!" So this unclean woman thought she could be made clean and whole if she could be connected, even slightly, to the righteousness of Jesus.  And she was right!

It is an amazing thing when uncleanness touches Jesus.  Any other person she touched would have been left ceremonial unclean and need to begin the regimen of washing.  Not Jesus.  Her uncleanness touched Jesus righteousness and she was cleansed.  Her bleeding stopped.  This is an obvious picture of sin.  We all carry an isolating uncleanness that keeps us from approaching God.  The way to be brought close is to be made righteous, clean and whole by the righteousness of Jesus Christ.  Let us reach out to Him today.

God has no hands but our hands...say what?

"God has no hands but our hands.  God has no feet but our feet."  I heard this phrase in a sermon I was listening to on the way in to the office this morning. The preacher was Liam Goligher, but in his defense, he was being as critical of that statement as I intend to be in this post.  Liam made a statement as he is preaching out of 1 Samuel, "when you make this statement you are saying your god is no bigger than Dagon."  I have to agree.  Many in the church today seem to have adopted the self reliant attitude of our humanistic society.  This statement goes further than saying "I can rely upon myself" and moves to "God must rely on me too."  


I appreciate the desire to find us as God's people serving and not just talking.  I appreciate that we are the body of Christ and need to be actively involved in missions and serving and all that God would have us be a part of.  But we must be careful not to approach God with such a heart as to picture him as dependent upon us.  (Act 17:24-25  The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,  (25)  nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.)  Our lives are wrapped up in him, not the other way around.


In Psalm 50 we read of God coming to judge his people Israel.  He draws powerfully and impressively before the people and renders his verdict: Psalms 50:7-15  "Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God.  (8)  Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before me.  (9)  I will not accept a bull from your house or goats from your folds.  (10)  For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.  (11)  I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine.  (12)  "If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine.  (13)  Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?  (14)  Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High,  (15)  and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me."

He does not rebuke them because of failure to sacrifice and serve him.  This they are doing.  His rebuke is that in serving him, they have thought they were providing for God.  They saw God as dependent upon their sacrifice and work.  God points out that everything they bring to him was already his and says, "offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving."  This removes the focus from us doing for God and lets us realize that God is the one who we call upon in the day of trouble, it is God who delivers us.  This is the sacrifice that gives God the glory instead of elevating ourselves.  

So go be the hands and feet of Christ...but realize he could use a rock or stone.  Thank Him for the privilege of serving him and receiving all that we need from Him.

From suicide to life giving faith!

Please pray for the freedom and abundant life that comes through Jesus to be seen and sung throughout the world!