War of Ideas

Dr. Mike 2024 , , , ,

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.   Ephesians 6:12

Spiritual warfare is real. This is not a fantasy played out within virtual reality. Instead the battle is happening every day in every way around you and me.

The ability to discern and walk humbly with our God will keep us relatively safe. Though there will be days we may walk away with heavier scars and cuts than preferred. This is the cost of following a King who is considered a threat to the enemy.

The enemy is not necessary people. But they are the pawns of evil forces. It is the ideas, thoughts, and values bombarded at you by ignorant and rebellious children of God. They are the dark side of the family. The ones who for some reason are hurt from some past offense. They are now taking out their anger at God Almighty through their attitude and behavior.

They are following the passion of their heart which is void of God’s love and joy.

Their weapons of destruction include anti-God characteristics. Whatever God Almighty stands for, they oppose. What they practice is the antithesis of God’s Word.

The basis of their warfare begins in the mind. The battle is a mental push to confuse the mind. It is a war of ideas. The more confused they can make you to doubt and question God’s character, the closer they are to defeat you. Their purpose is to separate you from the Father. To remove HIS place and purpose from your life.

Satan, God’s adversary, is the perpetual spirit behind this push. He knows his time is short. His goal on earth is to raise an army of activist to fight against everything good. To cut God’s name, purpose, and instructions from the minds of HIS future family members. Satan and his demonic spirits seek to abort as many of God’s children currently residing in the womb of the Church.

The battle starts in the mind. But ends in the soul. The one who battles through the junk, fighting with our Lord and HIS Spirit in HIS armor (Eph. 6:10-18), will be rewarded with a seat in HIS House (Rev. 3:21). They will be guaranteed a place in the first resurrection. This is the better of the two resurrections.

The battle is between God’s Kingdom and every other form of government. This is one reason why world governments seek to dismantle the family. The nuclear family centered in Christ is the foundation of God’s government on earth today. His Church is built from communities centered around families. Thus governments who allow Christianity to flourish, allows God’s way to flourish. This is the reason why those who practice Marxism or communism are so destructive of God’s way and purpose.

This is why it is also important to be grounded in the foundation of God’s Word. To know the eternal values Almighty God and Lord Jesus exemplify every day. To know HIS purpose and your part in HIS macro plan for humanity. When your person-hood is built on solid rock instead of sifting sand, you will survive the storms of life. In fact, you will become strengthen through them and learn to thrive God’s way. You will reflect HIS character. You will be a witness of what the good life really means.

Yes, the enemy will hate you. But God’s love more than replaces anything or anyone who tries to destroy you with their stupidity. Be smart. The battle is yours to win through Jesus Christ who already has defeated the enemy. They just don’t have the wisdom of knowing when to quit. May God grant them repentance.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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My Sabbath Rest Journey

Dr. Mike 2024 , , ,

“So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest…”   Hebrews 4:9-11

After I surrendered to a God I didn’t know, the process of discovery began. My first source was the Christian Bible. I purchased a paperback version and began to read. You may say I started out as a Bible fundamentalist. I was seventeen and ignorant of the entire Christian message. So what I read, I put into practice. At the time, I had no understanding of how to study the Bible. I was ignorant of context, hermeneutics, Hebrew/Greek, and the bias of translations. I simply read and implemented.

The issue of the Sabbath is one prime example of how God’s Spirit led me through life. It probably took over one-third of my lifetime to arrive at this place today. But yes, there is a Sabbath rest. But for me, it is not a day on a calendar. It is an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ. My rest is found in the God-Man who took away the Sin of the world for you and me.

My initial understanding began with the Ten Commandants. The fourth command refers to keeping the Sabbath. The period was from Friday evening to Saturday evening. It was a time of rest. It was also a time to take part with your faith community worshiping God. This was my initial understanding.

I practiced this way for over twenty-five years. In the process, God was with me. God blessed me. I was at times discriminated for my belief. But God directed my steps and taught me to trust HIM through the faith HE had given me.

Then one day, one of those spiritual slaps occurred. My eyes were open. I gain better understanding of the relationship between the Old and New Testament. There is the law given to the Jewish people. This included circumcision, commandments, ceremony rituals, and 613 other decrees. All these was a tutor until Jesus fulfilled its requirements. He did the work and took these acts upon HIMSELF. All these religious activities pointed to HIM. They reflected HIS heart, mind, and soul. Today, HE, is the embodiment of all the dots and t’s that needed to be marked to live the perfect life.

In regards to the Sabbath, what changed was my understanding of Scripture. For Jesus did not abolish the Sabbath rest. He introduced a deeper rest than the Sabbath day. HIMSELF.

Matthew 11 & 12 finds Jesus speaking about this rest. His words “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Mt.11:28). Is HE not proposing something better than the rest one gains from keeping the Sabbath day?

Then later HE makes this claim. “For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath” (Mt. 12:8). Doesn’t being Lord of the Sabbath give him the authority over its meaning and practice?

We later find the apostle Paul writing about the keeping of certain days. In Romans, Paul writes to Gentiles. “One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind” (Rm. 14:5). A Jewish convert would find this blasphemy to consider all days alike. But here Paul writes to the Gentiles to follow your conscience. Whichever way you choose, do so in worship to God.

Also Paul writes in Colossians (2:16-17). “Let no one pass judgement on you in question of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.” Here Paul combines the Sabbath with food laws and Jewish festivals. All these he stated are a shadow pointing to the coming of Jesus. Since HE is alive in heaven, we now look to HIM.

In Hebrews 4, we are reminded that the Sabbath day of creation always pointed to a future period. A time when humanity could rest from all their work. That this rest is now available through salvation in Christ. That as Christ-followers, we abide in Christ and taste HIS rest on a daily basis. Whether you set aside one day of the week to rest as a discipline to capture God’s grace upon you, or no day, your choice. The rest you and I truly want is found in a deep, abiding relationship with Jesus Christ.

This is the short-version of my journey in regards to discovering the Rest found in Christ. Today, I kneel under HIS amazing grace knowing God looks at us through the prism of Jesus Christ. We are HIS royal priesthood (2 Pt. 2:9). That everything done from creation and into the future was made by Jesus Christ for Jesus Christ. HE, in HIS grace, included you and me into this process.

Yes, life is a learning process preparing you and me for eternity. Every lesson learned strengthens our faith and trust in HIM. We may not get it right at first or ever get it right. But being on Jesus’ side is all you need to begin your journey. HE will lead you and discipline you for your benefit. In the process you will find rest in HIM.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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Celebrating Days

Dr. Mike 2024 , , ,

“One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord.”  (Rom. 14:5-6)

Which day of the year is most important for you? Is it Christmas or Easter? Is it your wedding anniversary or birthday? Or is it Passover or Atonement? Is it the first day or last day of the school year? Is it your annual Ferris Bueller day off? Or the day you visit your favorite aunt?

What makes one day more important than the other?

Isn’t that between you and your Lord?

I had a discussion some time ago with a person who looked forward to certain days of each year. He was shocked to discover that I didn’t have any favorite days. The days on my calendar most highlighted are days that are important for those closes to me. I guess you may consider them my favorite days. Not because there is something special about these days. But because the event they represent is important to someone I love. This mostly includes the anniversaries and birthdays of family members. The twenty-four hour time slot on its own is not important for me. But the event which occurred on this day in the past is a reminder of something special in our lives.

Take the resurrection of Jesus. This is an important event in the life of humanity. The religious community selects one day per year to remind us of this life-giving event. I though celebrate this event every day; not just this one day. I rejoice daily for this blessing.

Take the day I was born. When I became an adult I would call and wish my mother happy birthday. Why? Because she gave birth to me. It’s her birthday. She did the work. I only participated through the event. In fact, it reminds me of much more. It isn’t the one day. But everything she and my father did each day sacrificing for their family.

So if you want to celebrate a certain day because it reminds you of something important in life, so be it. That is between you and your Lord. But, if I choose not to celebrate the day as you do, don’t panic. It is not because the event isn’t important, but in my world I celebrate it in a different way.

I rather rejoice and celebrate every day. God makes each day so we can live with meaning, purpose, and thankfulness in HIS presence. In my book, all important events are reminders to celebrate each day. For the fact is there are not enough days in a calendar to rejoice over everything God has done, is doing, and has yet to do. So I choose to celebrate HIM through Jesus each day.

In Christ, everything worth celebrating and rejoicing over is already included in HIM. HE is the center and core of all important events. Thus, I rejoice in HIM. Yes, it makes keeping a calendar of important events easier to maintain. But HE is the reason for each season, each person, and each event worth rejoicing over.

So, celebrate your days unto the Lord. God approves. And for those who choose not to celebrate certain days unto the Lord, God also approves. It is between you and your Lord. Meanwhile, let’s keep celebrating Jesus on a daily basis.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

Books By Dr. Mike:

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