Light A Candle....Let God Throw Some Gasoline On It
It seems to me, that the darkest of all places on this place called Earth, are sometimes within ourselves, deep down in our very own hearts. Sometimes it feels like the darkness within us threatens to suck us down kicking and screaming, crying out for help with a silent voice, untill eventually we give in and we go willingly into the pitch black area of our inner most prison and all light is just....gone. This is where we find despair, and hate, and all manner of dark emotions. And although we strive to break free from our chains and escape the walls that enclose us, we just can not! No manner of help from our closest friends and family can help to pull us out and eventually we lose all hope. No one can save us. Or so we think at the time...
God can hear us and help us no matter how far down we fall into the dark, and no matter how strong the chains that bind us, and no matter how thick and empenetrable the wall surrounding us. A simple prayer to God from someone can light that candle within our darkest corner and that light can grow! And if we ourselves cry out to God with all our hearts, truly seeking Him, that little light can burst forth and illuminate our entire being.... our entire soul. Seek Jesus, if you are in a dark place. Cry out to Him and He will help. He loves us and wants to help us in our time of need. And if you know someone who is struggling in a dark place, pray for that person. Light a candle within them, that they know they are loved.
God bless,
Tony
Monday, June 29, 2009
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Battlefield Earth
When we think of war, we picture tanks, rifles, explosions... death. Throughout the history or mankind, we have seen many wars and we have seen man's ability to invent new ways of dealing death to his enemies, from sticks and spears to biological and nuclear weapons. It seems that as long as there has been man, there has been war. It has become such a part of mankind that we cannot open a history book without reading of the countless wars in our history. When we watch the news, we see war. When we watch movies, or read books, we see war. People throughout history have written songs about wars. War is everywhere. What we tend to forget however, is that not all wars are physical wars, in fact there is a spiritual element behind every war, the spiritual battle between good and evil that has been existent since Lucifer rebelled against God. It was from the fallout of this rebellion that Lucifer was cast out of Heaven and later tempted man to sin against God, Genesis 3:1-24, which brought sin into this world and ultimately lead to all of our wars.
Earth is indeed a battlefield, both physically and spiritually, and with all the wars and rumors of upcoming wars in the world today, what should we as christians be doing? Well, I find that question easily answered. Regardless of whether or not we are involved in any of the countless physical wars all over the world, we should be rising up as christians, as soldiers of Christ 2 Timothy 2:3 in the spiritual wars. Should we not, as christians, feel a sense of duty towards fighting against Satan and furthering the Kingdom of God? When war could break out at anytime, and at any place, should we not be trying to win souls for Christ? If we had an opportunity to witness Christ's love to someone today, yet decided to wait untill tomorrow, but our nation came under attack and that someone died an unbeliever in our Lord and Savior, wouldn't we be somewhat responsible for that persons soul? As christians in a spiritual war, we should be praying for unbelievers, we should be witnessing to them. We should also be doing ANYTHING we can to live more like Christ and being apart from the world. Romans 12:2
Basically, for us christians, we should be taking a stand against evil, against the sinful ways of the world by praying, preaching, teaching, witnessing, rebuking sin and illness and demons. We should be standing up strong in Christ, unafraid, even knowing that the closer we come to Christ, and the harder we fight the spiritual wars of the world for Christ, that Satan is going to come at us with stronger and more frequent attacks. It shouldn't matter, and we shouldn't be afraid of Satan's spiritual attacks against us. We should feel a sense of duty to fight a spiritual war against evil. We should feel a sense of duty as christians to be christians.
A physical war takes men's and women's lives... the spiritual war determines thier souls.
Ephesians 6:11-18
11Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.
12For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.
13Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].
14Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,
15And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the [a]firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness [b]produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.(B)
16Lift up over all the [covering] shield of [c]saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].
17And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit [d]wields, which is the Word of God.
18Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people).
Earth is indeed a battlefield, both physically and spiritually, and with all the wars and rumors of upcoming wars in the world today, what should we as christians be doing? Well, I find that question easily answered. Regardless of whether or not we are involved in any of the countless physical wars all over the world, we should be rising up as christians, as soldiers of Christ 2 Timothy 2:3 in the spiritual wars. Should we not, as christians, feel a sense of duty towards fighting against Satan and furthering the Kingdom of God? When war could break out at anytime, and at any place, should we not be trying to win souls for Christ? If we had an opportunity to witness Christ's love to someone today, yet decided to wait untill tomorrow, but our nation came under attack and that someone died an unbeliever in our Lord and Savior, wouldn't we be somewhat responsible for that persons soul? As christians in a spiritual war, we should be praying for unbelievers, we should be witnessing to them. We should also be doing ANYTHING we can to live more like Christ and being apart from the world. Romans 12:2
Basically, for us christians, we should be taking a stand against evil, against the sinful ways of the world by praying, preaching, teaching, witnessing, rebuking sin and illness and demons. We should be standing up strong in Christ, unafraid, even knowing that the closer we come to Christ, and the harder we fight the spiritual wars of the world for Christ, that Satan is going to come at us with stronger and more frequent attacks. It shouldn't matter, and we shouldn't be afraid of Satan's spiritual attacks against us. We should feel a sense of duty to fight a spiritual war against evil. We should feel a sense of duty as christians to be christians.
A physical war takes men's and women's lives... the spiritual war determines thier souls.
Ephesians 6:11-18
11Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.
12For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.
13Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].
14Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,
15And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the [a]firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness [b]produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.(B)
16Lift up over all the [covering] shield of [c]saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].
17And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit [d]wields, which is the Word of God.
18Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people).
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