Setting the Table of Truth (Part 2) by Michelle Holderman

By Michelle Holderman
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Christians are being persecuted and murdered. This has always been so to a degree, but it has now gone to new evil levels. Or at least it has in our lifetime.
 
Many people, from all walks of life, have endured severe persecution and suffered at the hands of evil people with evil hearts. Our Native American and Jewish brothers and sisters have endured this for decades upon decades.
 
The true root of all this is spiritual.
 
The same spirit that controlled Hitler during the Third Reich is now controlling ISIS and all other terrorist groups worldwide. It's the same spirit that controlled Haman in Esther's day. There are wicked principalities and powers at work. It's one of the "rulers of darkness of this age" Paul laid out in Ephesians 6.
 
But, we have the power to overcome through Christ.
 
This is an ancient battle that has long raged on. It is a battle of kingdoms. A battle between the Kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness. A battle which Jesus ultimately won. He secured the victory.
 
In no way am I being caviler. However, I am speaking truth.
 
Most of us are deeply concerned about what is happening in the world today. Absolutely we care. It is heart-wrenching to see such brutal evil unfold. It's heart-wrenching to see the pain and suffering of people for any reason, but this kind of atrocity is something the majority of us witness from a fairly safe distance.
 
Yes, we must go on living our lives, taking care of our families and our personal responsibilities, as well as what we each deal with or the circumstances we find ourselves in. And for many of us, our circumstances are just as heart-wrenching and life-changing albeit in different ways.
 
There is no sugar-coating the depths of human suffering. And there is no good thing that comes out of comparisons either (i.e. this is worse than that; be glad you don't have to deal with what they do; my pain is worse than yours, etc.). Gratitude is definitely good and needed, but no one's suffering is necessarily easier than another's.
 
Getting Serious About Our Authority
 
However, as people of God, we must start getting serious about how we pray and operate in our God-given authority; if we aren't already. Perhaps that will be a first for some. And perhaps that also means getting serious in our relationship with God in a way we never have before. 
 
This isn't cotton candy Christianity. And yet many have ingested, or been fed, copious amounts of sugar and not nearly enough spiritual sustenance or real nourishment. Paul referred to it as milk versus meat. Too much milk and not enough solid food creates serious imbalances and deficiencies. And the truth is, many are spiritually malnourished for this very reason.
 
Sugar highs are dangerous; both in the natural and in the spirit. Sure, it gives you a quick boost, and may even have you bouncing off the walls with energy for a period of time, but just as quickly, you'll come crashing down feeling much worse than you did before. This is why it's called a sugar crash.
 
We're having too many "sugar crashes" in the Body of Christ. And just as we suffer physically when we don't get good, proper, healthy nutrition, so do we spiritually. It can severely stunt our growth.
 
Our Heavenly Father is not a Sugar Daddy
 
Jesus is not an action figure to mold into whomever we want Him to be.
 
The Holy Spirit is not a mystical fairy tale nor is He a bird.
 
And this faith is not some kind of game to download and remove at will. It's not a smooth pill we swallow to permanently ease our consciences or make us look cool. It is not a free pass to do whatever we want and then expect God to back us up. It isn't a grace license to willfully sin, or act elitist and self-righteous.
 
The truth is, those who know more are held more accountable.
 
Conversely, God is not an angry drill sergeant with a big stick just waiting to whack us over the head when we mess up or make mistakes. He isn't a selfish, egotistical deity who forces people to worship Him.
 
He's not a pimp, a smokescreen, a genie, a buzzword, a scheme, or a figment of weak people's imaginations.
 
He's not pie in the sky. He's not a gravy train. And He isn't a fortune cookie.
 
He's not your abusive father, mother, or spouse. He's not your biased, sanctimonious neighbor. He isn't your flawed pastor, priest, rabbi, or spiritual guru.
 
Don't mistake Him with imperfect people, which we all are.
 
He is the Creator of the Universe.
 
He is love.
 
He is light.
 
He is holy.
 
And He cares about people. All people. So much so, He died for the whole world.
 
He didn't come to condemn us but to rescue us. He didn't come to say I told you so, rather He came to say I love you.
 
Jesus is the True Revelation of God
 
He doesn't ask us to kill for Him or earn our way into His good graces.
 
He freely offers himself and His sacrifice to us; to whoever will receive Him. He is a personal God who wants to have a very real relationship with us. But He also gives us free will to choose, even about Him.
 
In this age of advanced technology and philosophy, it can be easy to dismiss our need for Him. It can be just as easy for those on the outside looking in to scoff at our desire for Him.
 
All of our collective intellect and reasoning can never comprehend our true need of Him.
 
Intellect and reasoning have their place, but they will argue, debate, and analyze spiritual matters all day long. And miss it.
 
Only our spirits and our hearts can receive this, which really brings me back to the beginning of this post.
 
Good and evil will continue warring against each other in the days to come. But we are not without hope. We are not without empowerment. Christ is our hope and we have power through His victory over the enemy. We don't pay back evil for evil. We overcome or conquer evil by doing good.
 
Darkness cannot cast out darkness. Jesus put it this way: "How can Satan cast out Satan?"
 
Only light can do that. Specifically "the Light of the world," which we carry on the inside of us. So what are we doing with it?
 
Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. And because He is the highest power and
 
authority, both in Heaven and Earth, He has given us all power over the power of the enemy.
 
Not some. ALL.
 
Act Like Jesus
 
We, as believers, need to understand how to rightfully exercise our power and authority in Christ. We don't fight against flesh and blood (people). Our fight is against spiritual (demonic) principalities, powers, rulers, wickedness, and strongholds.
 
Satan is real. Evil is real. But neither are greater than God or His Kingdom.
 
God is all-powerful. Omnipotent. God is all-knowing. Omniscient. God is ubiquitous. Omnipresent. 
 
And He has entrusted the stewardship of this earth to us. So what do we do?
 
We are to occupy. We are to be salt and light. We must be Jesus where we're planted.
 
We must speak like Jesus.
 
Think like Jesus.
 
Pray like Jesus.
 
Love like Jesus.
 
Forgive like Jesus.
 
Shine like Jesus.
 
And walk in true authority and obedience like Jesus.
 
If we do that, we'll start seeing the darkness diminish in our communities, cities, and nations.
 
But it starts with us.
 
We cannot allow ourselves to fall into the trap of hopelessness, fear, or apathy. Neither can we stay offended or attack each other. We must guard our hearts.
 
Redemption is a grace-laden gift from Christ alone. He is the doorway to new life. And this new life is what makes overcoming evil possible, first in our own lives, and then in the world.
 
The Church is destined to overcome. I believe she is rising into her finest hour. However, we have lost sight of some vital things. But Christ can and is restoring our vision. He is at work. It might not look like what we think or expect.
 
Nevertheless, the Head, the chief cornerstone, knows how to rightly care for and purify His body.
 
He knows how to bring the change we are in need of.
 
And that is why the Gospel is such good news - even for believers.
 
Michelle Holderman

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