Luke 4:31-37
31 Jesus then went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee. He taught them on the sabbath,
32 and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority.
33 In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice,
34 "Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"
35 Jesus rebuked him and said, "Be quiet! Come out of him!" Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him any harm.
36 They were all amazed and said to one another, "What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out."
37 And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.
------------
How real is this episode in Christ's life to you? Do you believe in unclean spirits?
If we're to take this gospel at face value -- and I think we should -- we are to understand that unclean spirits exist, that they can have great influence on our lives, and that Christ can and does cast them out of people. Those witnessing were shocked, but it's interesting to consider WHY. Apparently they weren't shocked by the idea of an unclean spirit influencing a person. What amazed them was the command that Jesus had over the spirits.
In today's world, if I believe in unclean spirits (ie, demons), I'm crazy. Flat out nuts. But if we are to take the bible seriously (and as Catholics, we are supposed to), we should be aware that the Church's testimony is that they are indeed out there, and that they try to prevent us from having a relationship with God. Consider the "Armor of God" passage from Ephesians 6:
10 Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power.
11 Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil.
12 For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens.
13 Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground.
14 So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate,
15 and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace.
16 In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all (the) flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit.
I'll leave you with a movie quote: "The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist." It's a battle out there, but Christ gives us everything we need to win.
Showing posts with label - Resisting Satan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label - Resisting Satan. Show all posts
Monday, August 31, 2009
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Daily - 6/30/09
Matthew 8:28-34
28 When he came to the other side, to the territory of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him. They were so savage that no one could travel by that road.
29 They cried out, "What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?"
30 Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding.
31 The demons pleaded with him, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine."
32 And he said to them, "Go then!" They came out and entered the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea where they drowned.
33 The swineherds ran away, and when they came to the town they reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs.
34 Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.
--------------
So ... do you believe this reading? Do you believe that demons influence people, and can even inhabit them? If your answer is yes, you're in the minority. There's a great line in a movie called "The Usual Suspects" -- "The greatest trick the Devil ever played is convincing the world he doesn't exist." That's exactly what is going on in today's world.
In 1972, Pope Paul VI had this to say about him: "What are the Church's greatest needs at the present time? Don't be surprised at Our answer and don't write it off as simplistic or even superstitious: one of the Church's greatest needs is to be defended against the evil we call the Devil."
Link: Pope Paul VI - Confronting the Devil's Power -- READ THIS!
Fifteen years later, his successor Pope John Paul II said: "The battle against the devil, which is the principal task of Saint Michael the archangel, is still being fought today, because the devil is still alive and active in the world. The evil that surrounds us today, the disorders that plague our society, man's inconsistency and brokenness, are not only the results of original sin, but also the result of Satan's pervasive and dark action."
Link: John Paul II On The Devil
According to Christ, the Apostles, and the Church, the Devil is real, and he and his minions get involved in our lives on a regular basis. What can we do about it? The first step is to be aware that we are engaged in the battle. In the 1972 letter (link above), Paul VI addresses this point:
What defense, what remedy should we use against the Devil's action?--even though it remains difficult to put into practice. We could say: everything that defends us from sin strengthens us by that very fact against the invisible enemy. Grace is the decisive defense. Innocence takes on the aspect of strength. Everyone recalls how often the apostolic method of teaching used the armor of a soldier as a symbol for the virtues that can make a Christian invulnerable. The Christian must be a militant; he must be vigilant and strong; and he must at times make use of special ascetical practices to escape from certain diabolical attacks. Jesus teaches us this by pointing to "prayer and fasting" as the remedy. And the Apostle suggests the main line we should follow: "Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. "
With an awareness, therefore, of the opposition that individual souls, the Church and the world must face at the present time, we will try to give both meaning and, effectiveness to the familiar invocation in our principal prayer: "Our Father . . . deliver us from evil!"
28 When he came to the other side, to the territory of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him. They were so savage that no one could travel by that road.
29 They cried out, "What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?"
30 Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding.
31 The demons pleaded with him, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine."
32 And he said to them, "Go then!" They came out and entered the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea where they drowned.
33 The swineherds ran away, and when they came to the town they reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs.
34 Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.
--------------
So ... do you believe this reading? Do you believe that demons influence people, and can even inhabit them? If your answer is yes, you're in the minority. There's a great line in a movie called "The Usual Suspects" -- "The greatest trick the Devil ever played is convincing the world he doesn't exist." That's exactly what is going on in today's world.
In 1972, Pope Paul VI had this to say about him: "What are the Church's greatest needs at the present time? Don't be surprised at Our answer and don't write it off as simplistic or even superstitious: one of the Church's greatest needs is to be defended against the evil we call the Devil."
Link: Pope Paul VI - Confronting the Devil's Power -- READ THIS!
Fifteen years later, his successor Pope John Paul II said: "The battle against the devil, which is the principal task of Saint Michael the archangel, is still being fought today, because the devil is still alive and active in the world. The evil that surrounds us today, the disorders that plague our society, man's inconsistency and brokenness, are not only the results of original sin, but also the result of Satan's pervasive and dark action."
Link: John Paul II On The Devil
According to Christ, the Apostles, and the Church, the Devil is real, and he and his minions get involved in our lives on a regular basis. What can we do about it? The first step is to be aware that we are engaged in the battle. In the 1972 letter (link above), Paul VI addresses this point:
What defense, what remedy should we use against the Devil's action?--even though it remains difficult to put into practice. We could say: everything that defends us from sin strengthens us by that very fact against the invisible enemy. Grace is the decisive defense. Innocence takes on the aspect of strength. Everyone recalls how often the apostolic method of teaching used the armor of a soldier as a symbol for the virtues that can make a Christian invulnerable. The Christian must be a militant; he must be vigilant and strong; and he must at times make use of special ascetical practices to escape from certain diabolical attacks. Jesus teaches us this by pointing to "prayer and fasting" as the remedy. And the Apostle suggests the main line we should follow: "Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. "
With an awareness, therefore, of the opposition that individual souls, the Church and the world must face at the present time, we will try to give both meaning and, effectiveness to the familiar invocation in our principal prayer: "Our Father . . . deliver us from evil!"
Friday, April 24, 2009
Daily - 4/24/09
1 Peter 5:5b-14
5 Likewise, you younger members, be subject to the presbyters. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for: "God opposes the proud but bestows favor on the humble."
6 So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.
7 Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you.
8 Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for (someone) to devour.
9 Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same sufferings.
10 The God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory through Christ (Jesus) will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you after you have suffered a little.
11 To him be dominion forever. Amen.
12 I write you this briefly through Silvanus, whom I consider a faithful brother, exhorting you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Remain firm in it.
13 The chosen one at Babylon sends you greeting, as does Mark, my son.
14 Greet one another with a loving kiss. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
-----------------
We've visited this passage three other times, links to those messages are below. I will cheat and defer to statements already in evidence.
April 28, 2008 - three weeks after CRHP
http://matt-lifeinthespirit.blogspot.com/2008/04/daily-42808.html
Aug 19, 2008 - four months after CRHP
http://matt-lifeinthespirit.blogspot.com/2008/08/daily-81908.html
Jan 19, 2009 - nine months after CRHP
http://matt-lifeinthespirit.blogspot.com/2009/01/daily-11909.html
Tidbits:
1. I continue to be struck by the call to humility, and the exhortation to resist the devil. He wouldn't be saying resist if the devil didn't exist (hey, that rhymes, I've got a futue as a Petacostal).
2. Here's more on humility (Daily, Jan 13, 2009): http://matt-lifeinthespirit.blogspot.com/2009/01/daily-11309.html
3. Why this reading today? It is the feast of St. Mark the Evangelist, the author of the gospel of Mark. He is mentioned in v13.
4. 1 Peter - the first papal encyclical :)
5 Likewise, you younger members, be subject to the presbyters. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for: "God opposes the proud but bestows favor on the humble."
6 So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.
7 Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you.
8 Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for (someone) to devour.
9 Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same sufferings.
10 The God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory through Christ (Jesus) will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you after you have suffered a little.
11 To him be dominion forever. Amen.
12 I write you this briefly through Silvanus, whom I consider a faithful brother, exhorting you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Remain firm in it.
13 The chosen one at Babylon sends you greeting, as does Mark, my son.
14 Greet one another with a loving kiss. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
-----------------
We've visited this passage three other times, links to those messages are below. I will cheat and defer to statements already in evidence.
April 28, 2008 - three weeks after CRHP
http://matt-lifeinthespirit.blogspot.com/2008/04/daily-42808.html
Aug 19, 2008 - four months after CRHP
http://matt-lifeinthespirit.blogspot.com/2008/08/daily-81908.html
Jan 19, 2009 - nine months after CRHP
http://matt-lifeinthespirit.blogspot.com/2009/01/daily-11909.html
Tidbits:
1. I continue to be struck by the call to humility, and the exhortation to resist the devil. He wouldn't be saying resist if the devil didn't exist (hey, that rhymes, I've got a futue as a Petacostal).
2. Here's more on humility (Daily, Jan 13, 2009): http://matt-lifeinthespirit.blogspot.com/2009/01/daily-11309.html
3. Why this reading today? It is the feast of St. Mark the Evangelist, the author of the gospel of Mark. He is mentioned in v13.
4. 1 Peter - the first papal encyclical :)
Monday, February 23, 2009
Daily - 2/23/09
Mark 9:14-29
14 When they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them.
15 Immediately on seeing him, the whole crowd was utterly amazed. They ran up to him and greeted him.
16 He asked them, "What are you arguing about with them?"
17 Someone from the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed
by a mute spirit.
18 Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so."
19 He said to them in reply, "O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring him to me."
20 They brought the boy to him. And when he saw him, the spirit immediately threw the boy into convulsions. As he fell to the ground, he began to roll around and foam at the mouth.
21 Then he questioned his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" He replied, "Since childhood.
22 It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."
23 Jesus said to him, " 'If you can!' Everything is possible to one who has faith."
24 Then the boy's father cried out, "I do believe, help my unbelief!"
25 Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering, rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it, "Mute and deaf spirit, I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!"
26 Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out. He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, "He is dead!"
27 But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up.
28 When he entered the house, his disciples asked him in private, "Why could we not drive it out?"
29 He said to them, "This kind can only come out through prayer."
--------------------
This immediately follows the transfiguration in Marks's gospel, so the "they" in v 14 is Jesus, James, John, and Peter. This reading gives us a lot of information if we pay close attention:
· If you have any doubts on whether evil spirits exist, and whether they have the ability to inhabit people, doubt no more. One of Satan's greatest lies is his increasing ability to convince people that neither he nor any other demon exist. They do. It's a war out there. See Ephesians 6:10-17 for more info.
· There are different kinds of evil spirits.
· We are given tools to deal with them. Christ identifies faith (v23) and prayer (v29) as two such tools. Others are listed in the bible and have been described over time by saints. Among these are fasting, fasting, prayer, and almsgiving -- three things we are called to do during Lent.
· The boy's father sees that he doesn't have enough faith to deal with the spirit. He goes directly to Christ to give him more: "Help my unbelief!" It's a grace to realize that you don't have enough faith, and to ask Christ to increase it for you.
14 When they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them.
15 Immediately on seeing him, the whole crowd was utterly amazed. They ran up to him and greeted him.
16 He asked them, "What are you arguing about with them?"
17 Someone from the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed
by a mute spirit.
18 Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so."
19 He said to them in reply, "O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring him to me."
20 They brought the boy to him. And when he saw him, the spirit immediately threw the boy into convulsions. As he fell to the ground, he began to roll around and foam at the mouth.
21 Then he questioned his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" He replied, "Since childhood.
22 It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."
23 Jesus said to him, " 'If you can!' Everything is possible to one who has faith."
24 Then the boy's father cried out, "I do believe, help my unbelief!"
25 Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering, rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it, "Mute and deaf spirit, I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!"
26 Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out. He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, "He is dead!"
27 But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up.
28 When he entered the house, his disciples asked him in private, "Why could we not drive it out?"
29 He said to them, "This kind can only come out through prayer."
--------------------
This immediately follows the transfiguration in Marks's gospel, so the "they" in v 14 is Jesus, James, John, and Peter. This reading gives us a lot of information if we pay close attention:
· If you have any doubts on whether evil spirits exist, and whether they have the ability to inhabit people, doubt no more. One of Satan's greatest lies is his increasing ability to convince people that neither he nor any other demon exist. They do. It's a war out there. See Ephesians 6:10-17 for more info.
· There are different kinds of evil spirits.
· We are given tools to deal with them. Christ identifies faith (v23) and prayer (v29) as two such tools. Others are listed in the bible and have been described over time by saints. Among these are fasting, fasting, prayer, and almsgiving -- three things we are called to do during Lent.
· The boy's father sees that he doesn't have enough faith to deal with the spirit. He goes directly to Christ to give him more: "Help my unbelief!" It's a grace to realize that you don't have enough faith, and to ask Christ to increase it for you.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Daily - 11/21/08
James 4:7-10
7 So submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you of two minds.
9 Begin to lament, to mourn, to weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection.
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you.
1 Peter 1:13-16
13 Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, live soberly, and set your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
14 Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance
15 but, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct,
16 for it is written, "Be holy because I (am) holy."
James and Peter are speaking directly on the subject of submitting to God’s authority.
It isn't until one truly submits to God's authority that they even see the need for obedience. Until then, God’s commands are really just a list of good things to live by. Once one submits to God's authority, the light shines on the self, and you are able to see yourself (to the extent possible for a human) through God's eyes. And once that happens, the necessity of obedience becomes obvious – you can see with your own eyes how short you truly are of what can be, and the desire for obedience begins to grow.
Look at the verses from James. Submit to god, draw close to Him, and He will draw close to you. Purify your hearts, “you of two minds.” What are the two minds? For me, this is the state I was in when I was feeling God’s pull through scripture and prayer, but I wasn’t ready to make an “all in” commitment. I was beginning to see the truth, and “kind of” trying to follow God, but I wasn’t ready to put the flesh to death, and was holding on to the life I had.
I distinctly remember the day that I submitted to God’s authority. I was at Mass on a Sunday, and was really troubled about a couple of things. I knew that I had been resisting submission to God, and I knew that it was holding back my spiritual growth. But I also knew that submission meant obedience, and THAT meant letting go of some worldliness – habits and mindsets that were precious to me. I was afraid of letting go, because all I could think about was how much I was going to lose, of what I’d have to give up, of the fun I was going to miss, of the security I might miss, and of what people would think of me.
Submitting to God’s authority requires significant work on our part. It means knowing what the rules are, and committing to following them. Look at the verses above. Humble yourself. Do not act in the desires of your former ignorance. Live soberly. Cleanse your hearts. Purify your mind. That takes work, and it’s a lifelong process. I pray almost daily for God’s help along this road, and the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist are critical to this process for me.
It is a major spiritual struggle to take this step. But once I started, blessings flowed. I began to understand pieces of scripture that I just couldn’t comprehend before. Certain things that I’d been praying for months and even years started to happen. These daily emails changed from an intellectual exercise to something much more – an exploration of faith which has drawn me ever closer to God. I have developed a desire to make myself available to God, so that he can use me to share some of the things I’ve learned.
7 So submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you of two minds.
9 Begin to lament, to mourn, to weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection.
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you.
1 Peter 1:13-16
13 Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, live soberly, and set your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
14 Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance
15 but, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct,
16 for it is written, "Be holy because I (am) holy."
James and Peter are speaking directly on the subject of submitting to God’s authority.
It isn't until one truly submits to God's authority that they even see the need for obedience. Until then, God’s commands are really just a list of good things to live by. Once one submits to God's authority, the light shines on the self, and you are able to see yourself (to the extent possible for a human) through God's eyes. And once that happens, the necessity of obedience becomes obvious – you can see with your own eyes how short you truly are of what can be, and the desire for obedience begins to grow.
Look at the verses from James. Submit to god, draw close to Him, and He will draw close to you. Purify your hearts, “you of two minds.” What are the two minds? For me, this is the state I was in when I was feeling God’s pull through scripture and prayer, but I wasn’t ready to make an “all in” commitment. I was beginning to see the truth, and “kind of” trying to follow God, but I wasn’t ready to put the flesh to death, and was holding on to the life I had.
I distinctly remember the day that I submitted to God’s authority. I was at Mass on a Sunday, and was really troubled about a couple of things. I knew that I had been resisting submission to God, and I knew that it was holding back my spiritual growth. But I also knew that submission meant obedience, and THAT meant letting go of some worldliness – habits and mindsets that were precious to me. I was afraid of letting go, because all I could think about was how much I was going to lose, of what I’d have to give up, of the fun I was going to miss, of the security I might miss, and of what people would think of me.
Submitting to God’s authority requires significant work on our part. It means knowing what the rules are, and committing to following them. Look at the verses above. Humble yourself. Do not act in the desires of your former ignorance. Live soberly. Cleanse your hearts. Purify your mind. That takes work, and it’s a lifelong process. I pray almost daily for God’s help along this road, and the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist are critical to this process for me.
It is a major spiritual struggle to take this step. But once I started, blessings flowed. I began to understand pieces of scripture that I just couldn’t comprehend before. Certain things that I’d been praying for months and even years started to happen. These daily emails changed from an intellectual exercise to something much more – an exploration of faith which has drawn me ever closer to God. I have developed a desire to make myself available to God, so that he can use me to share some of the things I’ve learned.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Daily - 8/22/08
Philippians 3:12-14
12 It is not that I have already taken hold of it or have already attained perfect maturity, but I continue my pursuit in hope that I may possess it, since I have indeed been taken possession of by Christ (Jesus).
13 Brothers, I for my part do not consider myself to have taken possession. Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead,
14 I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God's upward calling, in Christ Jesus.
------------
I want to focus on the last half of v13, and v14. Paul is talking about attaining spiritual maturity. Look at his plan – forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, I continue my pursuit toward the goal.
It is inevitable that we will sin on our own journeys of faith. Paul knows that and he’s done it (ie, Romans 3:23 – all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and pretty much all of Romans 7). We are convicted by sin, but we are not to dwell on it. We are to seek absolution from God, then forget what lies behind, and continue on the journey.
Sometimes when sin occurs – Satan steps right in and showers us with guilt. This keeps us from the "pursuit of the goal." How can we project a life of light when sin lies on our conscious? I don’t know about you, but I get those thoughts. In fact, I’ve had some in the past week. We need to remember that our God is forgiving, and if we repent, confess our sins, and ask forgiveness, we will get it. We should have confidence in that, and not listen to the Father of Lies as he whispers in our ear about how we’re not worthy to seek God’s face.
12 It is not that I have already taken hold of it or have already attained perfect maturity, but I continue my pursuit in hope that I may possess it, since I have indeed been taken possession of by Christ (Jesus).
13 Brothers, I for my part do not consider myself to have taken possession. Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead,
14 I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God's upward calling, in Christ Jesus.
------------
I want to focus on the last half of v13, and v14. Paul is talking about attaining spiritual maturity. Look at his plan – forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, I continue my pursuit toward the goal.
It is inevitable that we will sin on our own journeys of faith. Paul knows that and he’s done it (ie, Romans 3:23 – all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and pretty much all of Romans 7). We are convicted by sin, but we are not to dwell on it. We are to seek absolution from God, then forget what lies behind, and continue on the journey.
Sometimes when sin occurs – Satan steps right in and showers us with guilt. This keeps us from the "pursuit of the goal." How can we project a life of light when sin lies on our conscious? I don’t know about you, but I get those thoughts. In fact, I’ve had some in the past week. We need to remember that our God is forgiving, and if we repent, confess our sins, and ask forgiveness, we will get it. We should have confidence in that, and not listen to the Father of Lies as he whispers in our ear about how we’re not worthy to seek God’s face.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Daily - 8/19/08
Job 1:6-12
6 One day, when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, Satan also came among them.
7 And the LORD said to Satan, "Whence do you come?" Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "From roaming the earth and patrolling it."
8 And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you noticed my servant Job, and that there is no one on earth like him, blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil?"
9 But Satan answered the LORD and said, "Is it for nothing that Job is God-fearing?
10 Have you not surrounded him and his family and all that he has with your protection? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock are spread over the land.
11 But now put forth your hand and touch anything that he has, and surely he will blaspheme you to your face."
12 And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand upon his person." So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
---------------
We talked about Satan a bit last night at CRHP. Here’s the opening of Job, which gives an interesting picture of Satan. He is out "roaming the earth and patrolling it."
1 Peter 5:8-9 –
8 Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for (someone) to devour.
9 Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same sufferings.
------------
It’s clear – Satan is out there wandering around, looking to cause damage. God ALLOWS him to do so. That can be a tough thought to wrap our minds around. God allows Satan to patrol the earth, and to mess with us. Sometimes, as is the case with Job, God allows it to happen for a purpose.
If you can sense Satan in your life, have confidence that Christ defeated the devil, and at the name of Jesus, EVERY knee – including Satan’s will bow. Also realize that the devil is on a leash – he is only here by God’s permission. Perhaps there’s a lesson attached to his presence.
6 One day, when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, Satan also came among them.
7 And the LORD said to Satan, "Whence do you come?" Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "From roaming the earth and patrolling it."
8 And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you noticed my servant Job, and that there is no one on earth like him, blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil?"
9 But Satan answered the LORD and said, "Is it for nothing that Job is God-fearing?
10 Have you not surrounded him and his family and all that he has with your protection? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock are spread over the land.
11 But now put forth your hand and touch anything that he has, and surely he will blaspheme you to your face."
12 And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand upon his person." So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
---------------
We talked about Satan a bit last night at CRHP. Here’s the opening of Job, which gives an interesting picture of Satan. He is out "roaming the earth and patrolling it."
1 Peter 5:8-9 –
8 Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for (someone) to devour.
9 Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same sufferings.
------------
It’s clear – Satan is out there wandering around, looking to cause damage. God ALLOWS him to do so. That can be a tough thought to wrap our minds around. God allows Satan to patrol the earth, and to mess with us. Sometimes, as is the case with Job, God allows it to happen for a purpose.
If you can sense Satan in your life, have confidence that Christ defeated the devil, and at the name of Jesus, EVERY knee – including Satan’s will bow. Also realize that the devil is on a leash – he is only here by God’s permission. Perhaps there’s a lesson attached to his presence.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Daily - 7/17/08
James 3:13-18
13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show his works by a good life in the humility that comes from wisdom.
14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.
15 Wisdom of this kind does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice.
17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.
One danger of the pursuit of wisdom (and I personally include "intellectualism" with that) is the development of selfish ambition. Per James, wisdom of this kind does not come from above and is earthly – even demonic. The Father of Lies has many weapons to use against us. One such weapon is to tempt our intellectual pride. If you feel like you are somehow better than someone else because of intellectual prowess, selfish ambition takes hold. Per verse 16, this can lead to bad things.
-----------------
Verses 17 and 18 describe "wisdom from above" as peaceable, gentle, compliant, and full of mercy and good fruits. Such wisdom is a gift from God, and is not the result of some intellectual greatness that resides within us. I’m not sure that I’ve ever experienced such wisdom, but if I ever do, I hope that I will remember where it comes from.
13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show his works by a good life in the humility that comes from wisdom.
14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.
15 Wisdom of this kind does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice.
17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.
One danger of the pursuit of wisdom (and I personally include "intellectualism" with that) is the development of selfish ambition. Per James, wisdom of this kind does not come from above and is earthly – even demonic. The Father of Lies has many weapons to use against us. One such weapon is to tempt our intellectual pride. If you feel like you are somehow better than someone else because of intellectual prowess, selfish ambition takes hold. Per verse 16, this can lead to bad things.
-----------------
Verses 17 and 18 describe "wisdom from above" as peaceable, gentle, compliant, and full of mercy and good fruits. Such wisdom is a gift from God, and is not the result of some intellectual greatness that resides within us. I’m not sure that I’ve ever experienced such wisdom, but if I ever do, I hope that I will remember where it comes from.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Daily - 7/11/08
1 Peter 1:17-25
17 Now if you invoke as Father him who judges impartially according to each one's works, conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning,
18 realizing that you were ransomed from your futile conduct, handed on by your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold
19 but with the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished lamb.
20 He was known before the foundation of the world but revealed in the final time for you,
21 who through him believe in God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
22 Since you have purified yourselves by obedience to the truth for sincere mutual love, love one another intensely from a (pure) heart.
23 You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and abiding word of God,
24 for: "All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of the field; the grass withers, and the flower wilts;
25 but the word of the Lord remains forever." This is the word that has been proclaimed to you.
17 Now if you invoke as Father him who judges impartially according to each one's works, conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning,
18 realizing that you were ransomed from your futile conduct, handed on by your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold
19 but with the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished lamb.
20 He was known before the foundation of the world but revealed in the final time for you,
21 who through him believe in God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
22 Since you have purified yourselves by obedience to the truth for sincere mutual love, love one another intensely from a (pure) heart.
23 You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and abiding word of God,
24 for: "All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of the field; the grass withers, and the flower wilts;
25 but the word of the Lord remains forever." This is the word that has been proclaimed to you.
-------------
This passage speaks of Christ’s atonement in clear terms – we are ransomed from future conduct with the precious blood of Christ. We are once again shown the difference between the flesh and spirit (ie, perishable vs. imperishable), and told that the wordly things pass away, while the word of God remains forever.
When you look at passages such as these, it’s really like God hitting us over the head with a huge baseball bat. We’re told repeatedly throughout the New Testament of new life in Christ, of the difference between life in the flesh and life in the spirit, and how to live that life (sacraments, scripture, obedience, prayer). Yet the flesh is strong, and there is an eternal spiritual struggle for each of us. Christ gives us victory in that battle, but we have to give ourselves to him to claim that victory.
The comforting thing is that at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow. This applies to the spiritual world as well. If you are able to discern that type of contact in your life, always remember that as a believer, you can call on the name of Jesus, and the spirit must obey the command.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Daily - 5/23/08
Ephesians 2:1-10
1 You were dead in your transgressions and sins
2 in which you once lived following the age of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the disobedient.
3 All of us once lived among them in the desires of our flesh, following the wishes of the flesh and the impulses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like the rest.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us,
5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
6 raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,
7 that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God;
9 it is not from works, so no one may boast.
10 For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.
-------------------
Check once again the difference between the world and the spirit. Also note the reference to the ruler of the power of the air ... this is Satan. He's out there and real.
Thank goodness Christ came -- and provided his grace, by which we are saved (ie, justified). It is important to understand that faith and obedience (ie, works) are one in the same. One who believes in Christ obeys his teachings. This means that works aren't a result of faith, they ARE faith, by Christ's own definition.
This is of course a dicey subject between Protestants and Catholics. :) Really all Catholics in my opinion should be crystal clear on this point. I recommend hitting the link below to see exactly what the Catechism says on this subject in detail.
http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p3s1c3a2.htm
1 You were dead in your transgressions and sins
2 in which you once lived following the age of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the disobedient.
3 All of us once lived among them in the desires of our flesh, following the wishes of the flesh and the impulses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like the rest.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us,
5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
6 raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,
7 that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God;
9 it is not from works, so no one may boast.
10 For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.
-------------------
Check once again the difference between the world and the spirit. Also note the reference to the ruler of the power of the air ... this is Satan. He's out there and real.
Thank goodness Christ came -- and provided his grace, by which we are saved (ie, justified). It is important to understand that faith and obedience (ie, works) are one in the same. One who believes in Christ obeys his teachings. This means that works aren't a result of faith, they ARE faith, by Christ's own definition.
This is of course a dicey subject between Protestants and Catholics. :) Really all Catholics in my opinion should be crystal clear on this point. I recommend hitting the link below to see exactly what the Catechism says on this subject in detail.
http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p3s1c3a2.htm
Monday, April 28, 2008
Daily - 4/28/08
1 Peter 5:8-9
8 Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for (someone) to devour.
9 Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same sufferings.
---------------
Satan is mentioned in the Bible more than 50 times by name, and as the devil another 100 or so times, depending on the translation. In 1972, Pope Paul VI had this to say about him: "What are the Church's greatest needs at the present time? Don't be surprised at Our answer and don't write it off as simplistic or even superstitious: one of the Church's greatest needs is to be defended against the evil we call the Devil."
Pope Paul VI - Confronting the Devil's Power
Fifteen years later, his successor Pope John Paul II said: "The battle against the devil, which is the principal task of Saint Michael the archangel, is still being fought today, because the devil is still alive and active in the world. The evil that surrounds us today, the disorders that plague our society, man's inconsistency and brokenness, are not only the results of original sin, but also the result of Satan's pervasive and dark action."
John Paul II On The Devil
Ephesians 6:10-17 speaks more about this battle, and the weapons at our disposal.
10 Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power.
11 Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil.
12 For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens.
13 Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground.
14 So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate,
15 and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace.
16 In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all (the) flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Keep quenching the flaming arrows!
8 Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for (someone) to devour.
9 Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same sufferings.
---------------
Satan is mentioned in the Bible more than 50 times by name, and as the devil another 100 or so times, depending on the translation. In 1972, Pope Paul VI had this to say about him: "What are the Church's greatest needs at the present time? Don't be surprised at Our answer and don't write it off as simplistic or even superstitious: one of the Church's greatest needs is to be defended against the evil we call the Devil."
Pope Paul VI - Confronting the Devil's Power
Fifteen years later, his successor Pope John Paul II said: "The battle against the devil, which is the principal task of Saint Michael the archangel, is still being fought today, because the devil is still alive and active in the world. The evil that surrounds us today, the disorders that plague our society, man's inconsistency and brokenness, are not only the results of original sin, but also the result of Satan's pervasive and dark action."
John Paul II On The Devil
Ephesians 6:10-17 speaks more about this battle, and the weapons at our disposal.
10 Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power.
11 Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil.
12 For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens.
13 Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground.
14 So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate,
15 and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace.
16 In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all (the) flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Keep quenching the flaming arrows!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)