Enemy-occupied Territory

"Enemy-occupied territory—that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage. When you go to church you are really listening in to the secret wireless from our friends: that is why the enemy is so anxious to prevent us from going." 

(from Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis*)

Why does CS Lewis say that our world is "enemy occupied territory?"  Well, would a merciful and gracious God who is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness really cause all the horrible things we see in this world? 

No.

The evil and horrible things we see in this world are the work of the enemy of our souls, the one whose first twisting questions in the Garden of Eden have led to so much death and destruction.   The Garden's first seemingly no-big-deal conversation is like a leaking bathroom water line that drips, drips, drips and eventually leads to wet plaster, mold, and a full-blown mess.  The only way to get rid of such mess is to gut the entire affected area, dry it out, and rebuild with new supplies.

And that's what Jesus did on the cross.  His death, resurrection, and ascension were God's way of gutting the entire sin-soaked earth and rebuilding with new supplies of love, grace, mercy, peace, joy, and hope. 

When King Jesus landed on earth in the form of a baby in a manger, it was as the rightful King who landed in disguise ready to sabotage the enemy's work in this world.  The enemy knew what Jesus's life would be - that's why he tried to take out the baby while still in the womb, by having King Herod kill infants around Bethlehem, and later by tempting Jesus in the desert and in the Garden of Gethsemane.  The enemy has always known he can't win over God.  But, he can create a lot of pain, hurt, destruction and carnage.

That's why being a Jesus-follower means living a life that sabotages the enemy's plans.  We could easily slide into the easy life of this world - accepting whatever ideas come along and living whatever way we want, even participating in the destruction and carnage. However, when we live life as Jesus-followers, we purpose, we plan, we work to become more like Jesus. We go against the grain of our wider culture and we sabotage the enemy's desires to keep us from God.  

We read our Bibles faithfully, we pray faithfully, we meet together regularly with other believers for worship, study, prayer, and fellowship.  The writer of Hebrews calls us to "provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another..." All this leads to transformation in our lives - and sabotage of the enemy's plans. The Apostle Paul writes, "[W]e are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him."  (2 Cor. 3:18)

What are you doing today that participates in the sabotage of the plans of the enemy and strengthens your relationship to God? 

God of Mercy and Grace,

We bless your name and thank you that you are slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and continually calling us into deeper relationship with Jesus.  Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness to never fail or abandon us. Give us courage and strength; remind us that we don't need to be afraid because you go before us.  Keep us always in your Word, Prayer, and Fellowship with other believers so that we can be transformed into the image of your Son Jesus Christ and so that we can counter the attacks of the enemy of our souls.  Holy Spirit, lead us and guide us in your righteousness and make our ways straight on the paths you have for us.  In the powerful name of Christ we pray, Amen. 

"But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness." (Psalm 86:15 NRSV)

"And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching."  (Hebrews 10:24-25 NRSV)

"And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him." (2 Corinthians 3:18 MSG)

"So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before [your enemies]. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT)

"Lead me, LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies— make your way straight before me." (Psalm 5:8 NIV)

  

*Mere Christianity. Copyright © 1952, C. S. Lewis Pte. Ltd. Copyright renewed © 1980, C. S. Lewis Pte. Ltd. 

Day 20 - Intense Treatment - Working through our past and unlocking doors to our future

Alluring God,

Thank you for calling us to a place of rest when we are in Christ.  Thank you that while we have to "work out" our salvation, we don't have to "work for" our salvation, because the grace of Christ has already provided for that.  Thank you that your Word is alive, active, sharper than a two-sided sword, and penetrating to a person's inmost being.  Thank you that your Word judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart, leaving us to not judge others but trust in you for judgement.  Thank you that because Jesus is our great high priest, we can hold firmly to the faith we profess and approach your throne of grace with confidence.  

Thank you for alluring us when we go astray.  You are the one who makes places of disappointment in our lives into places of new opportunity and hope for a new future.  So, help us to confess, receive forgiveness, and move forward from the past and its regrets and bitterness.  Help us to allow you to prune us so we are a sweet, not bitter, offering to you.   We receive mercy and find grace to assist us in our time of need.  Help us to throw off everything that hinders us - especially the sin that so easily entangles us - so that we can run with perseverance the race marked out for us as we fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.  We know that running the race of life means you will discipline us for our good, in order that we may share in your holiness and produce a harvest of righteousness and peace.  Help us to make every effort to be at peace with everyone and allow you to do that disciplining, so that we can be holy and see God.  Do not let us fail to lay hold of the grace of God.  Do not let bitter roots of pride, animosity, rivalry, or anything else harmful to others grow up and cause trouble within and around us.  

Unlock the doors of hope in our lives.  Give us mercy as you renew your covenant with us.  May we be connected - betrothed - to you forever in righteousness, justice, love, compassion, and faithfulness as we acknowledge you as Lord.  Plant us in the land of covenant blessing you have for us.  Flow through us the new wine and oil of your Spirit as our lives come into agreement more fully with the Abundant Life you have for us.  Since we are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken, may we be thankful and so worship you acceptably with reverence and awe, for you, our God, are a consuming fire.  With the empowerment of Holy Spirit and in the fiery name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, we pray, Amen!

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. (Philippians 2:12-13 NIV)

A Sabbath-Rest for the People of God

4 

Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.[a] 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,

“So I declared on oath in my anger,

    ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”

And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works." 5 And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”

6 Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, 7 God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted:

“Today, if you hear his voice,

    do not harden your hearts.”

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Jesus the Great High Priest

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.  (Hebrews 4: NIV)

12 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  

God Disciplines His Children

4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,

    and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

6 

because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

Warning and Encouragement

14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.

The Mountain of Fear and the Mountain of Joy

18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19 to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”

22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”  (Hebrews 12 NIV)

“Therefore I am now going to allure her;

    I will lead her into the wilderness

    and speak tenderly to her.

15 

There I will give her back her vineyards,

    and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.

There she will respond[b] as in the days of her youth,

    as in the day she came up out of Egypt.

16 

“In that day,” declares the Lord,

    “you will call me ‘my husband’;

    you will no longer call me ‘my master.’

17 

I will remove the names of the Baals from her lips;

    no longer will their names be invoked.

18 

In that day I will make a covenant for them

    with the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky

    and the creatures that move along the ground.

Bow and sword and battle

    I will abolish from the land,

    so that all may lie down in safety.

19 

I will betroth you to me forever;

    I will betroth you in righteousness and justice,

    in love and compassion.

20 

I will betroth you in faithfulness,

    and you will acknowledge the Lord.

21 

“In that day I will respond,”

    declares the Lord—

“I will respond to the skies,

    and they will respond to the earth;

22 

and the earth will respond to the grain,

    the new wine and the olive oil,

    and they will respond to Jezreel.[g]

23 

I will plant her for myself in the land;

    I will show my love to the one I called ‘Not my loved one.’

I will say to those called ‘Not my people,’ ‘You are my people’;

    and they will say, ‘You are my God.’”  (Hosea 2:14-23 NIV)

Idea from:  https://www.elijahlist.com/words/display_word_pf.html?ID=25704 

Some notes from:   NIV Study Bible (c) Zondervan, 2011

Psalm 81 - Praise for rescue

Rescuing God,

Lord, singing about you makes us strong, so we shout for joy to you, our Champion!  You have given us these seasons of joy, celebration, and rejoicing to remind us of your triumph over sin and death when Christ went to the Cross to wage war.  You have freed us from the backbreaking burdens of sin and shame through the gift of grace through Jesus.  You heard your people calling out in times of trouble and you came down from your secret place to save and rescue us.  For that and so much more, we give you thanks and praise. You are our only God, the living God, who breaks our strongholds and raises us up out of bondage.  Yet we struggle to listen and yield to you; we stubbornly live according to our selfishness. Remind us that we should never worship any other god besides you.  You open our mouths, give us your word, and then fulfill it - your words we speak will be!    Help us to listen to you and walk faithfully in your footsteps, following your ways. Feed us with spiritual bread; satisfy us with the honey-sweet fullness of your revelation-truth.  In the sweet name of Jesus we pray, Amen. 

1 Lord, just singing about you makes me strong!

    So I’ll keep shouting for joy to Jacob’s God, my champion.

2 Let the celebration begin!

    I will sing with drum accompaniment and with the sweet sound

    of the harp and guitar strumming.

3 Go ahead! Blow the jubilee trumpet to begin the feast!

    Blow it before every joyous celebration and festival.

4 For God has given us these seasons of joy,

    days that the God of Jacob decreed for us to celebrate and rejoice.

5 He has given these feasts to remind us of his triumph over Egypt,

    when he went out to wage war against them.

    I heard the message in an unknown tongue as he said to me,

6 “I have removed your backbreaking burdens

    and have freed your hands from the hard labor and toil.

7 You called out to me in your time of trouble, and I rescued you.

    I came down from the realm of the secret place of thunder,

    where mysteries hide.

    I came down to save you.

    I tested your hearts at the place where there was no water to drink,

    the place of your bitter argument with me.”

Pause in his presence

8 “Listen to me, my dear people.

    For I’m warning you, and you’d better listen well!

    For I hold something against you.

9 Don’t ever be guilty of worshiping any other god but me.

10 I am your only God, the living God.

    Wasn’t I the one who broke the strongholds over you

    and raised you up out of bondage?

    Open your mouth with a mighty decree;

    I will fulfill it now, you’ll see!

    The words that you speak, so shall it be!

11 But my people still wouldn’t listen;

    my princely people would not yield to me.

12 So I lifted my grace from off of their lives, and I surrendered them

    to the stubbornness of their hearts.

    For they were living according to their own selfish fantasies.

13 O that my people would once and for all listen to me

    and walk faithfully in my footsteps, following my ways.

14 Then and only then will I conquer your every foe

    and tell every one of them, ‘You must go!’

15 Those who hate my ways will cringe before me

    and their punishment will be eternal.

16 But I will feed you with my spiritual bread.

    You will feast and be satisfied with me,

    feeding on my revelation-truth like honey

    dripping from the cliffs of the high place.”  (Psalm 81 TPT)

February 12, 2021 Prayer - Word, Silence, Melodies, Speaking, Ears to Hear God's Voice

Word of Life,

Thank you for your Word in the Bible and through Jesus Christ so that we can know you and your ways.  Thank you that you have given us sound minds, moldable spirits, and great freedom as individuals; help us to use these things well.  When we are worrying, remind us that worry is meditating on the negative and we need to turn our minds and hearts to your Word.  When we are speaking, cause our words to speak life to us and to those around us.  Give us a hunger to read, to know, and to speak your Word over our circumstances and this world in general.   We know that if we don't have our minds, hearts, and spirits set on you, the enemy of our souls will make sure we set it on anything else.  Our enemy uses the "noises" of this life - adversity, strife, struggle, calamity, fears, confusion, etc. - to distract us from your Voice and the beautiful silence, music, and melodies of Holy Spirit. Good Shepherd, tune our spiritual ears to ponder on your goodness, grace, mercy, and hope, especially in this world that wants to shout down your Voice.  Tune our hearts to hear your voice, your beautiful silence, and your melodies.  Draw us to you, to find your salvation, and to live your abundant and full life.  In Christ's name we pray, Amen. 

"Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." (Eph. 6:11-13 NIV)

"Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life,and have it to the full." (John 10:7-10 NIV)

"So come, let us worship: bow before him,

    on your knees before God, who made us!

Oh yes, he’s our God,

    and we’re the people he pastures, the flock he feeds.

Drop everything and listen, listen as he speaks:

    “Don’t turn a deaf ear as in the Bitter Uprising,

As on the day of the Wilderness Test,

    when your ancestors turned and put me to the test." (Psalm 95:6-8 MSG)

[The demon Screwtape writes:] Music and silence—how I detest them both! How thankful we should be that ever since our Father entered Hell—though longer ago than humans, reckoning in light years, could express—no square inch of infernal space and no moment of infernal time has been surrendered to either of those abominable forces, but all has been occupied by Noise— Noise, the grand dynamism, the audible expression of all that is exultant, ruthless, and virile—Noise which alone defends us from silly qualms, despairing scruples, and impossible desires. We will make the whole universe a noise in the end. We have already made great strides in this direction as regards the Earth. The melodies and silences of Heaven will be shouted down in the end. But I admit we are not yet loud enough, or anything like it.

From The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

January 26, 2021 Prayer - Speak the Word

Word of God,

Thank you that you spoke the universe into being and said, "It is good."  Thank you that you have spoken with and through your men and women of faith throughout the generations - from Abraham and Moses, to Esther and Mary, to Paul and Peter, to Martin Luther and Billy Graham.  Thank you that your Word is living and powerful, sharp, piercing, and discerning. Thank you that your Word continues to go forth in power, to shine your light in the darkness of this world and to help us to know you and your ways.  God, we know that when we become believers in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, you begin to renew us from the inside out.  We pray that, as Holy Spirit moves within us, you would purify our hearts from all unrighteousness.  Cleanse our spirits/hearts/souls so that the words of our mouths and meditations of our hearts are pleasing to you, our Rock and our Redeemer.  We cry out to you today asking that you would impart your Truth into our minds, wills, and emotions and then guide us in our purposes. Just as a large ship is steered by a tiny rudder, guide our hearts and our tongues so that our words are not idle, hurtful, or evil, but so that our words build ourselves and others up.  Bring to our minds scripture verses that we can speak aloud to bless others and change the spiritual atmosphere of our world.  We know that our words have power, especially when we are connected to the Spirit of God, so we pray that your Spirit of Life would come out of our mouths.   May your Word go forth from us, accomplishing what you desire and succeeding in the matter for which you sent it.  May your Word transform our hearts, our words, and our world.  In the strong name of Christ we pray, Amen.

"He shall cry to Me, 'You are my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.'" (Psalm 89:26 ESV)

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9 NIV)

"Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things." (James 3:4-5 NKJV)

"For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12 NKJV)

"But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." (Matthew 12:36-37 NKJV)

"So will My word be which goes out of My mouth;

It will not return to Me void (useless, without result),

Without accomplishing what I desire,

And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it."

(Isa. 55:11 AMP)

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

Be acceptable and pleasing in Your sight,

O Lord, my [firm, immovable] rock and my Redeemer."

(Psalm 19:14 AMP)

"The [intrinsically] good man produces what is good and honorable and moral out of the good treasure [stored] in his heart; and the [intrinsically] evil man produces what is wicked and depraved out of the evil [in his heart]; for his mouth speaks from the overflow of his heart." (Luke 6:45 AMP)

September 18, 2020 A New Year

 “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there."  (2 Chronicles 7:13-16 NIV)

God, your Word says that when we are believers we become Temples for your Holy Spirit.  Since you have chosen and consecrated us to be your Children, we come to you in prayer, knowing Your eyes and heart are always with us.  Thank you for hearing our prayers.  With believers in every place, today we seek You and call on You for the furthering of your Kingdom.  You word calls the thirsty and hungry to your Living Waters and we cry out to you for an even greater hunger to fall upon your People and your Church.  Revive them for this day.  And cleanse and renew us; align our thoughts and our ways to seek and follow Your thoughts and ways. We speak and declare your Word so that it is fruitful in our families, our communities, the churches, our nation, and the world.  May your Word accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which You sent it.  Help us to speak with discernment, intention, courage, and faith the Truth that you have revealed to us about your Love and Grace. May Your People go about life with your Spirit's JOY in their hearts, may they be led in Your PEACE.  And may Your renown endure forever. We pray in the strong name of Christ, Amen. 

1 “Come, all you who are thirsty,

    come to the waters;

and you who have no money,

    come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

    without money and without cost.

2 

Why spend money on what is not bread,

    and your labor on what does not satisfy?

Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,

    and you will delight in the richest of fare.

3 

Give ear and come to me;

    listen, that you may live.

6 

Seek the Lord while he may be found;

    call on him while he is near.

7 

Let the wicked forsake their ways

    and the unrighteous their thoughts.

Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,

    and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

8 

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.

9 

“As the heavens are higher than the earth,

    so are my ways higher than your ways

    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 

As the rain and the snow

    come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

    without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,
    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

11 

so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

12 

You will go out in joy

    and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills

    will burst into song before you,

and all the trees of the field

    will clap their hands.

13 

This will be for the Lord’s renown,

    for an everlasting sign,

    that will endure forever.”  (Isaiah 55 NIV)