​As I get older (note I did not admit to being old!) my personal physician encourages me to make an appointment with him for an annual physical exam.
 
My doctor wants me to check in with him for a check-up so he can check out my health.
 
Quite frankly, I do not look forward to medical examinations. You know the drill. The wait and the weight! Annoying and often convicting lifestyle questions. The poking and probing in a cold room, on a steel table with a backless gown! Then the battery of tests. Needles, specimen cups, X-rays and CAT scans. While enduring the endless examinations, my mind is wondering what kind of a bill I am wracking up in the process.
 
Exam over, my doctor sits down with me to discuss the state of my physical body.  He lets me know the good things happening inside me. I like that part. And of course, he points out what needs to be addressed for me to remain healthy. He recommends a plan for what I need to do. After grudgingly paying the bill, it is my responsibility to carry out what he has suggested as a result of his examination.  
 
Physical health is important. An annual medical exam is necessary because life and our bodies change. The trained professional can find things in my body that I cannot. A doctor’s expertise will pinpoint issues that need addressed and advise me how to adjust my lifestyle for optimum health and productivity in life. No exam and I will not know what is going on inside of me.
 
Spiritual health is even more important than bodily health.
 
Man’s spirit is eternal. Our earthly body is a temporary tent. With age it is collapsing. One day we will receive an immortal, glorified body when we are with Jesus in heaven. I look forward to my new body that will never age and never ache again!   
 
I love the Psalmist David because of his heart for God and his honesty. Writing in Psalm 26:2, David asks the Lord to examine, test his mind and heart. “Examine me, O Lord, and try me; test my mind and my heart.” 
 
Not afraid to seek God, David humbly, courageously, and faithfully presents Himself to the Great Physician for a spiritual examination. Test me God.  Examine me. Check out my mind and heart.  Poke and prod. X-ray me with the Holy Spirit. Take a good look at my spiritual life.  
 
Similarly, David asks God to search his life. Psalm 139:24 reads “Search me, O God, and know my heat; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me and lead me in the everlasting way.”
 
SEARCH ME O GOD. Try me and point out what is going in my heart. Show me what is good. I will continue to do the good things and work to excel in these areas. And of course, most importantly, reveal to me anything that hinders my walk with You and my witness to this lost world. Pinpoint what is hurtful. Search me and show me how I can be more like You and walk with you in the everlasting way.  
 
In 2020, are you seeking to be a better Christian? Do you desire to experience more of God’s love and be used by Him to help hurting, lost people receive His love and forgiveness of sins through faith through Jesus Christ? Do you desire to make a difference for God’s Kingdom on earth in 2020?
 
If this is the desire of your heart, ask God to search your heart.
 
Go to your place of prayer. Take your Bible. Remove distractions. Humble yourself. Then sincerely utter David’s words “Search me, O God”. Tell your Heavenly Father you are reporting for a spiritual examination. You want to know the state of your spiritual life. You want the Lord to do the exam. You trust Him to examine you carefully, thoroughly, gently, and lovingly.  
 
It takes intestinal fortitude (guts!) to leave the ruts in our lives. The unexpected, life-altering challenges ed of 2020 and uncertain days ahead, call you and me to wait on the Lord, asking Him to search our hearts.  
 
Let me ask you some probing questions.
 

• Are you humble enough to acknowledge that you need some work in your spiritual life? Will you submit yourself to the Lord to show you what that work is?

 

• Do you have the courage to open up every area of your heart and life to the Lord for examination? A no holds barred checkup. Will you take your hands off and allow every aspect of your life to come under the scrutiny of God’s search light?  

 

• Are you ready to receive whatever the Holy Spirit reveals to you? Whatever God points out to you that needs correction, will you accept it graciously, go out and make the adjustments you need to make?

 
To continue to grow in grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ, we must go, check in with God and ask Him to check us out. When is the last time you made an appointment with the Lord for a spiritual examination? If you are overdue, the thing to do is to schedule an exam right away. Get alone with the Lord and let Him examine your life.
 
 Do not be anxious or afraid for God to look you over. Check in with Him for a check-up. It is for your good!
 
“Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves. Of do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you, unless you indeed fail the test?”        II Corinthians 13:5
 
“Thou hast tried my heart; Thou hast visited me by night; Thou hast tested me and have found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.”    Psalm 17:3
 
A Word For Your Week: Revival and renewal starts when we ask God to search our heart.

​Ever feel like a Zombie? Alive but dead?  Or is it dead but alive? Either way, you are alive but not really living. You know, Zombie like.
The popular, long running, science fiction television thriller “The Walking Dead” is about Zombies…. living, dead beings who feast on human flesh. I have not watched the show because the creepy commercials are enough to totally freak me out! I have asked myself what kind of a warped mind envisioned a program like this? Maybe a Zombie!
My topic today is about being a Zombie spiritually. There are two categories of “The Walking Dead” in real life

1. Non-believers in Christ. Lost souls. Men and women, boys and girls, alive in the flesh but dead in their spirit.  Peer into empty eyes of the walking dead. Study their blank, sad, hopeless countenances. Observe their bounce-less strides. Listen carefully to their depressing, cynical, despairing words. Soul-dead men and women, spiritual Zombies, surround you and me every single day.
   
2. Believers in Christ. Sadly, the walking dead includes some Christians. They dutifully sit in church services, often forcing fake smiles, hoping others will think that they are spiritual giants, holy saints, mature Christians who have their act together. But unfortunately, even though they profess Christ, their actual lifestyle suggests their residence is a lifeless tomb in the cemetery. Daily faith is dead. Numb. Indifferent, Calloused. Unmoved. Disinterested. Dispassionate for the things of God.  Spiritual Zombies.

You Might Be A Spiritual Zombie If…….

• You have not been born-again into the Kingdom of God by receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. You are physically alive, but your soul is dead. You are lost spiritually.  
• As a believer in Christ, your passion and zeal for the Lord and being His witness is lukewarm to cold. You claim to be alive in Christ, but you speak and act like the world that has lost its way. Your professed faith has little or no significant impact on the people in your life.
• You neglect personal Bible study, prayer, regular worship, and fellowship with positive, victorious believers who encourage you in the faith. You isolate yourself from the body of Christ. You are a spiritual loner, hiding out under cover of your shallow commitment to Christ. As a believer in name only, you are not active in the faith game.

• You are joyless. Peace of mind and heart eludes you. You walk around like a sour puss, looking like you were baptized in lemon juice. No wonder people avoid you.
• You have thrown in the towel on the vision and dreams the Lord has given you. You have settled for nightmares instead of dreaming new dreams for God.  
• You are in grave danger of becoming a spiritual Zombie if you have left your first love. (Revelation 2:1-7). If Jesus is not the most important person in your daily life, you are losing your way and heading for the spiritual boneyard

So how can you and I as Christians stay out of spiritual Zombie land? Paul has a specific word for us in Ephesians 5:14-16.
“For this reason it says, “Awake sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Therefore, be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, redeeming, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.”
Here is what Paul is saying to you and me.
 Wake up spiritually. Stop sleep-walking  through life. Arise from the dead. Get up from the grave. Come alive in Christ.  Get going. Let His light shine on you to  scatter the spiritual darkness you have dwelt in
Pay attention to life around you. The days are evil. Times are dark. Spiritual Zombies need God’s people to show them His love. Watch how you walk. Be wise, not unwise. Make the most of every day. Our time is limited. Time has a way of slipping away if we are not vigilant.  Redeem, buy back, purchase back the days when you walked as a spiritual Zombie.
Walk in God’s wisdom. Be His victorious, life-filled witness. Share your faith in the power of the Holy Spirit during these last days. Stop sleeping at the witnessing wheel. Dump the doldrums. Defeat depression. Beat back burnout. Sack the thumb sucking. Burn your pity-poor-me blankie. Bury your bitterness. Reject resentment. Cease coddling cynicism. Die to dead dreams. Come alive to new ones!
You and I cannot redeem the time if we are dead like a Zombie. Rekindle your spiritual fire. Be inspired. Seek a fresh anointing. Dream again. Witness again. Influence people for the Kingdom of God again.
I love what Oswald Chambers said in My Utmost For His Highest. “When the inspiration of God comes, and He says, “Arise from the dead” we have to get up. God does not lift us up. Our Lord said to the man with the withered hand “Stretch forth thy hand” and as soon as the man did so, his hand was healed, but he had to take the initiative. If we will do the overcoming, we shall find we are inspired of God because He gives life immediately.”
Jesus did not die on the cross, rise from the dead, ascend to heaven, and promise to return take spiritual Zombies to heaven!
Is the Holy Spirit calling to you to arise from the dead today?
“And this do; knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.” Romans 13:11
A Word For Your Week:  Being a spiritual Zombie is not scriptural.

​A spirit of fear, bordering on hysteria and paranoia is sweeping mercilessly across America.
 
Fear-mongering by some has caused others to feel a sense of hysteria, panic, confusion and uncertainty during these challenging times. The hysteria is affecting people spiritually as well as emotionally, mentally and relationally. .
 
Daily Breaking News bombards our citizens over-stimulated brains with Covid 19. Social, emotional and relational distancing, economic slowdown and shutdown, unemployment, hateful rhetoric, violent, life-threatening civil unrest, political elections and who knows what else is pressuring Americans to push the proverbial panic button.  
 
According to Webster, to be hysterical means “unmanageable fear, emotional excitability, emotional excess, highly emotional, explosive.”. To be hysterical means that emotions are out of control. Run-a-way fear is calling the shots in life.
 
So what are folks supposed to do? /Especially Christians who confess that they trust in the Lord during trying, troubling times to take care of our life?  
 
Sometimes a word or phrase strikes deep in our soul.
 
Christian author Oswald Chambers coined a two-word thought that struck a chord in my spirit. In his devotional My Utmost For His Highest (which every Christian should read) he said “Wait on God and He will work, but don’t wait in spiritual sulks because you cannot see an inch in front of you! Are we detached enough from our spiritual hysterics to wait on God? To wait is not to sit with folded hand, but to learn to do what we are told.”
 
“Spiritual hysterics”. What a vivid picture. Looking back, I can see myself coming unglued, acting hysterical at times. Life happens, as it will, and hysteria takes over. You and I panic, aimlessly pacing back and forth as worry, doubt and fear race through our heart and mind. We sulk, sucking our spiritual thumbs as we whine “Woe is me!”
 
The Word of God comes to the rescue when hysteria is knocking on our heart’s door. David provides a scriptural remedy for spiritual hysteria.
 
“My soul waits in silence for God only, from Him is my salvation; He only is my rock, and my salvation, my stronghold: I shall not be greatly shaken.” Psalm 62:1-2
 
David (note the use of the personal pronouns I and my six times) declares he waited on God, God only, with a silent soul. He personally confessed, smack dab in the middle of spiritual upheaval, that God alone was his rock, his salvation, his stronghold. Therefore, no need to be shaken!
 
The key word for David is “my soul waits in silence”. How about you and me? Do we know how to be silent before the Lord? To wait on Him without being hysterical? To settle down, take a deep spiritual/emotional breath before the Lord?
 
Maybe waiting in silence looks something like this: Sit down. Shut up. Be quiet. Settle down. Chill out. Stop throwing a hissy fit. Quit sucking your thumb. Stop dragging your pity-poor-me blankie around. Stop expecting people to hold your pitiful little hand while you whine and lament over your situation.
 
Get real. Face facts with faith. Buck up. Suck it up. Grow up. Stop acting like a spiritual baby. Quit falling apart at the seams. Life is not over. Wait without sulking. Pull up your spiritual bootstraps. Wait on the Lord with a calm, cool, collected disposition.
 
Waiting on God Without Being Hysterical
 

• Do not push the proverbial panic button. DO NOT PANIC!
• Wait without worrying and wondering what God is up to.
• Do not act like a drama king or drama queen before the Lord.
• Refuse to pout, sulk, whine, complain, grumble or grovel while you wait.
• Remove all distractions while you wait on the Lord. Focus your faith on Him, and Him alone.
• Wait with a spirit of hope, expectancy and anticipation as you seek the Lord.
• Wait with a peaceful, thankful, joyful spirit.
• Waiting time is never wasted time. Waiting on the Lord with the right spirit is worth the wait.
• When you have settled down, share what the Lord revealed to you with someone who is being hysterical like you used to be!  

 
Bottom line: There is no room for spiritual hysteria when our faith is grounded in Almighty God.
 
So how do you wait on the Lord…hysterically or quietly and calmly? Be honest with yourself. If you are prone to panic and hysteria, rebuke it, reject it, release it and resolve to wait on the Lord with a silent spirit when troubles arise.
 
Heavenly Father, please forgive us, your blood-bought children when we act hysterically instead of calmly.
 
“Be still (cease striving KJV) and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10
 
A Word For Your Week: Wait before the Lord without acting hysterical.

​Military boot camp. Uh Rah!
I believe I just heard some guttural groans from some of my military veteran readers who had the wonderful experience (I might be being facetious!) of an all-expense paid excursion, courtesy of Uncle Sam, to military training.  
When the drab green bus carrying me and a load of fresh meat, I mean new recruits,  arrived at the United States Naval Training Center in San Diego, California  in the twilight of evening,  the first thing the Dark Side Of The Force  drill sergeants did was to yell at us, calling  us come names I will not repeat here.
Second, they cynically shaved off our 1970s’ hippy-style hair, beards, and mustaches. Third, they issued us our new wardrobe: Kaki, pea green, and camo colored dungarees and shirts. The powers in charge dumbed us down to all look like a ragtag band of baldheaded, green clothed aliens.
 Fourth, we were issued our equipment. Utility belt, canteen, ammo magazines, battle helmets, thick, heavy black boots, which were always to be spit shined, and a firearm. Off we went to torture, I mean training, then maybe a war zone. Of course, our superiors screamed and cussed at us non-stop, reminding us that they had become our new mommas!
A soldier without weapons and training is doomed to defeat.  
Imagine a soldier, under sudden attack by the enemy, running out of his barracks in his skivvies (underwear for you civilians) to repel those sent to kill him. Preposterous you say. Of course.
But how often do professing Christians, good soldiers of Jesus Christ, attempt to battle Satan and his demonic forces without their spiritual weapons. No wonder the faith of many fails in the heat of battle.
Good news! You and I need not be weaponless. In Ephesians 6:10-20 (I encourage you to read it) Paul describes in detail the “whole armor God”, the weaponry God issues/equips us with for victory over the enemy of our souls.  
Your and my responsibility is to wear the armor. Paul exhorts us to “put on the whole armor of God.” Note: “put on” is my responsibility. I am to put on all the armor, not some of it. 
Observations About Spiritual Armor

• Spiritual weapons are God Issued, not government issued.
• Weapons must be maintained, cared for, kept in operating order to be effective in battle.
• Weapons are most effective when soldiers practice with them. Training matters.
• Partial armor is not whole armor. Partial armor can get a soldier killed.
• Armor is not shared. Each soldier has his own weaponry.

Paul was thinking about the Roman soldier and his weapons when he wrote about spiritual armor. Here are the pieces of our spiritual armor Christians are to put on, to take up, when battling  
Loins girded with truth. The belt the Roman warrior wore around his waist connected the other pieces of armor. He also carried essential battle items in it. For Christians, truth from the Word of God is the belt that holds our faith life together. Truth protects us from lies, falsehood and deception.  
Breastplate of righteousness. The Roman soldier’s chest was protected by an armor-plated vest that covered his vital organs front and back.  A hit to the heart meant curtains for a Roman soldier. God’s righteousness is a Christian’s fiery dart proof spiritual vest that protects our heart which belongs to the Lord. God “looks on the heart” so it must always be protected.
Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. A Roman soldier could not fight effectively barefoot. His sandals fortified his feet in battle, assisting him to advance against the enemy. Our boots as Christians are the Gospel of peace that we share with the lost. Remember, spiritual warfare is a battle for souls.  We advance with peace because of the Prince of peace.
Helmet of salvation. A Roman soldier’s helmet protected his head from a mortal wound.  A head blow could result in death. A Christian’s “helmet of salvation” guards his mind. His thinking, his attitude and actions are based on his/her faith relationship with Christ who they confess as their personal Savior and Lord. Salvation through Christ saves us from Satan’s onslaught. 
Sword of the Spirit. The Roman soldier’s sword was a wicked weapon. Razor sharp and double-edged, it could easily slice through an enemy combatant. Paul identifies our spiritual sword as the Word of God. Hebrews 4:12 says our sword is two-edged and sharp. The Word of God is one of the most effective offensive weapons in our spiritual arsenal. Your Bible is your sword! If you do not know the Word, you are a sitting duck for the enemy. Satan fled from Jesus in Mathew 4:1-11 because Jesus said three times ‘It is written”.    
Pray at all times in the Spirit. The Roman warrior probably prayed to someone or something in the heart of a firefight. Paul exhorts Christ’s followers to be prayer warriors. To pray to the One, True, Living God in the name of Jesus, through the power of Holy Spirit.  I believe with all my heart that Satan and hell trembles when Christians pray. 
There you have it. Spiritual warfare fought by spiritual soldiers equipped with spiritual weapons.
My friend, in a war zone, soldiers are on twenty-four-hour alert. The enemy does not care if a soldier would like to take a nap, play cards, or send a text to his sweetheart. On alert means be ready to rock and roll with full armor when the enemy attacks.
How is your spiritual armor? Is it on twenty-four seven, three sixty-five?
“Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”  Ephesians 6:10
A Word For Your Week: Put your spiritual armor on every single day.

​January 7, 1973. I remember that date well.
I enlisted in the military.
Upon hearing of my enlistment, my non-Christian friends thought I had a screw loose! The Viet Nam war was still being fought. My draft number had not been called. So I would not have to go to war.
As a brand-new Christian, the Holy Spirit directed me to enlist in the United States Navy and become a Hospital Corpsman, with hopes of going to medical school through the service to become a doctor. I served four years in the Navy, two of them with the 3rd Division Fleet Marine Force. I would not pursue becoming a physician as God called me to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ.  
At the Spokane, Washington Federal Building, I voluntarily took the solemn oath to uphold, defend and protect the Constitution of the United States of America from enemies both domestic and foreign. I also swore (not profanity!) to obey the orders of my Commander in Chief, the President of the United States.  I, like millions of patriotic Americans, became one of Uncle Sam’s soldiers, a GI (which means government issue).  
In my lifetime I have enlisted in two fighting forces.
When I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior on October 6, 1972, I enlisted in God’s holy army. Paul writes in II Timothy 2:3-4 “Suffer hardship with me as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.”
Guess what, fellow believer in Christ? You and I are in the army now! Now what?
Paul states that a Christian is “a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” Soldiers leave civilian life to dedicate themselves full-time to being a warrior who battles Satan and his demonic forces in the name of the Lord.  Soldiers suffer hardship, make sacrifices. Being a soldier fighting in a war is not like being home sitting in a comfortable recliner, watching a ballgame, eating Nachos!  
 Soldiers defend freedom and the ones they love. Christians leave the unbelieving world behind to serve in God’s Kingdom. As God’s good soldiers, they proclaim the love of Jesus Christ and the righteousness of God.    
Soldiers follow orders. As good soldiers of Christ, who is our Commander in Chief who enlisted us, we serve to please Him. Christians get their marching orders from the Lord. Our mission, orders, duties and lifestyle are clearly laid out in the Bible. You and I who confess Christ please Him when we obey Him.  
 God’s good soldiers fight the good fight of faith.
 I Timothy 6:12 reads “Fight the good fight of faith, take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” The faith fight is about eternal life. God’s good soldiers fight to contend for their faith in Christ that they confessed before many other people.  
God’s good, faith fighting soldiers put on the whole armor of God. We will detail the pieces of spiritual armor from Ephesians 6:10-20 next week.  
God’s faith fighters war a good warfare.
Ii Corinthians 10:3-5 states “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” Through prayer, the Word of God, the armor of God, the name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ’s good soldiers take down, demolish, and destroy everything that Satan attacks our faith with.
At times, life feels like a war, doesn’t it? Spiritual warfare is real, and so are Christ’s good soldiers.  As the blood-bought sons and daughters of God, we choose to fight the good fight of faith, war a good warfare and win the spiritual battles confronting us.
My friend, ff you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, you are a soldier in God’s holy army.
God’s counting on every soldier in His spiritual army to be on active duty, fighting off Satan, living a Christlike life and witnessing to lost souls so that they would be saved through faith in Jesus Christ.
One of my all-time favorite hymns of the church is Onward Christian Soldiers. I can hear congregations belting it out with Christian enthusiasm!
“Onward Christian soldiers! Marching as to war, with the Cross of Jesus going on before. Christ the Royal Master leads against the foe. Forward into battle, see His banners go.”     
Onward Christian soldier, marching as to war. With the Cross of Jesus, going on before.”
Are you faithfully fulfilling your enlistment in God’s army as a good faith soldier, with the Cross of Jesus going before you?
A Word For Your Week: War a good warfare as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

​Imagine If you and I could pull back the cosmic curtain, the spiritual veil separating earth from heaven and take a sneak peek at what our natural eyes cannot see. Our finite minds would be blown away with what is going on upstairs. Unbelievable, breathtaking battle scenes would make Star Wars look like a picnic in the park!
Spiritual war is happening in the heavenly places right now.
Heavenly warfare is a spiritual rumble, a super-heavyweight fight between the forces of God and good and Satan and evil.  
The war is fought over the eternal souls of men, women, boys and girls.  
Have you ever wondered why some things happen and you have no natural, rational, reasonable, earthly explanation or clue as to why? You scratch your head in bewilderment at what is going on. What’s happening doesn’t make sense. Or does it?
Spiritual warfare is not fantasy. It is real.
A distraught Christian lady I was counseling, with tears streaming down her face, lamented “Pastor Steve, our marriage and family is under attack.” I responded “Mam. you are correct. Christians are always under spiritual attack. Some battles are fiercer than others. Spiritual warfare is real. Believers in Christ must fight back with the whole armor of God, push back the gates of hell and defeat Satan in Jesus’ mighty, victorious name.”
How do we know about spiritual warfare?  The Bible tells us.
Paul gives us a glimpse behind the holy curtain of heaven in Ephesians 6:10-12.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly places.”
I get spiritual goose bumps reading those words. Let’s summarize what Paul teaches.

• You and I are exhorted to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might.
• The devil is a schemer, a strategist who opposes all of humanity.
• Followers of Christ can stand firm against Satan’s schemes. Three times in verses 10, 13, and 14 we are exhorted to stand firm.
• Human struggle is not against humans. Our fight is not with each other.
• Our battle is with rulers, powers, world forces of darkness, and spiritual forces of wickedness. The Evil One, evil forces and evil are our arch enemy.
• Christians are to put on the whole armor of God to stand firm against the devil.
• In two weeks I will lay out the whole armor of God and how to put it on. (Ephesians 6:14-18)

Too many people, some Christians included, don’t believe in spiritual warfare. Not believeing in its existence does not negate it. Those who deny the reality of spiritual warfare often fight the wrong fights in life.
They pick fights with people, government, institutions, business, political opponents, the church, religious leaders  and even mother-in-laws! Those who pick the wrong battles fail to realize and recognize that behind their fights is a bigger fight going on, spiritual warfare.  
The Apostle Paul instructed Timothy, his son in the faith and soon to be a minister of the Gospel, concerning what fight to fight. ”Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (I Timothy 6:12).
The right fight is the faith fight. The faith fight is all about eternal life. Next week we will discuss being spiritual warriors, good soldiers of Jesus Christ, who fight the good fight of faith.
Stop picking fights with people. Instead, pick your fight with spiritual forces in wicked places through faith in Jesus Christ.
A few things I have learned about spiritual warfare in forty-eight years following Jesus.

1. Satan and his evil, demonic forces hate me. I am not real fond of them either!
2. I am covered by the blood of the Lamb and my testimony in Christ is unshakable. The devil cannot touch my life when I stand firm in my confession of faith in the Lord.
3. The devil battles, but he has lost the war. He knows it. His forces battle in vain. He is a sore loser who harasses Christians by trying to discourage them in their faith and seeks to keep unbelievers from coming to Christ.
4. Satan cannot penetrate the whole armor of God. God’s spiritual armor that I am to put on every single day is impenetrable.
5. Spiritual war is real indeed. So is the overwhelming power of God to defeat Satan and the forces of evil because of His Son’s death and resurrection from the dead! l
6. I have red my Bible from cover to cover many times. The conclusion of the matter is: GOD’S SIDE WINS!!!

Keep fighting the right fight against evil and see the goodness of God prevail!
 “The battle is the Lord’s…” I Samuel 17:47
“But victory belongs to the Lord.” Proverbs 21:31
 A Word For Your Week: Walk by faith in the victory Jesus has won for you over Satan.

​American society is confused, conflicted concerning what to do with people who choose to do evil.
Fact check: Evil exists. Evildoers really do evil things. Evil needs to be dealt with.
Some gutless, spineless, fearful folks propose and purpose to appease, excuse and even endorse evildoers. Evil only increases when not confronted.
Others with moral backbones and courageous hearts demand and expect from authorities that those who practice evil pay for their actions. Serious consequences for doing evil stops evildoers in their tracks.  
Many goodhearted, righteous, reasonable people are praying and hoping that evildoers might have a change of heart. Changed hearts lead to changed behavior.
Why is a changed heart a big deal? What would a change of heart look like?
According to God’s Word, the Bible, life flows from the heart.
 Proverbs 4:23 states “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” You and I are exhorted to carefully guard, set a watch over our heart because good and evil can spring forth from our hearts.  
The Bible also says God looks at our heart.
I Samuel 17:7 reads “God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.” Jesus said that our words, whether good or evil, come from our heart. (Matthew 12:34-35, Luke 6:45). Attitudes and actions originate in our heart, not our head.   
The bad news is that our hearts, without God, are wicked. Jeremiah 17:9-10 declares “The heart is more deceitful than all else, and is desperately wicked; who can understand it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds. The truth is that our hearts are evil without God. The Bible says so and we know our heart well enough that evil lurks there from time to time.
The good news is our hearts, with Jesus Christ, are good.  Ezekiel 36:26-27 states “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.”  II Corinthians 5:17 declares “Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away, behold, new things have come.” New heart. New spirit. New creature. New life. Sounds really good to me!
You, me and every human being ever created needs a spiritual, moral heart transplant!
Evil heart. Evil words. Evil behavior. Good heart. Good words. Good behavior.
Thanks be to God that an evil heart can change and become a good one. If an evil heart cannot become good, we are all in a world of hurt!
Let’s cut to the chase. Evildoers need a new heart. Genealogy, pedigree, history, education, economics, politics, communities, movements or anything else man proposes cannot change a human heart.  Our culture is fooling itself if we think anyone’s heart and subsequent behavior will change without the love of Christ in their heart.  
So, back to the question as to what to do with those who do evil in our culture.
Christians must lead them to a saving knowledge and personal experience of salvation through faith in God’s Son Jesus Christ. Only Jesus can change hearts.
I will say it again: only Jesus can change hearts. His sacrificial death on the Cross where He shed His precious blood for our sin cleanses us from evil, making us good in God’s eyes.
A hateful heart becomes a loving heart when Jesus resides there.
It is not that difficult my brothers and sisters in Christ. Change a person’s heart, their life changes! Reaching the unsaved is the mission of His witnesses (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8). Evangelism, reaching and winning the lost to Christ, is our primary mission.
What you and I can do to reach out to evil people to help them have a change of heart.

1. Pray for the salvation of evildoers. That evil people will repent of evil and turn to Christ.
2. As the Lord leads, share your Christian faith with those who do evil instead of good.
3.  Show evildoers a good heart. Jesus said to never return evil for evil, but good for evil. The Apostle Paul taught “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.” Romans 12:17. Tough to do sometimes isn’t it?
4. Rejoice when an evil person becomes good through the love of God and faith in Jesus Christ! Celebrate their new heart and new life in the Lord.
5. Encourage fellow followers of Jesus to do good to those who do evil. Serve evildoers when possible. Jesus’ love never fails and always wins heart!

It is high time for the body of Christ, the church, to sincerely seek the Lord, to humble ourselves before God, repent of our sins, seek God’s forgiveness, be healed  (II Chronicles 7:14) then rise up with His love, mercy  and grace to reach those who are enslaved by the Evil One and do evil.  .
A word of warning for our day. The prophet Isaiah’s Holy Spirit inspired words serve as a dire, ominous warning to all of us that must be heeded to avoid destruction in our lives and the lives of others.
“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and clever in their own sight. Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink, who justify the wicked for a bribe and take away the rights of the ones who are n the right.” Isaiah 5:20-23
What do you think about God’s WOES in this scripture? I think of not so good things! When God says “Woe”, you and I had better wake up and pay strict attention!
Do you call evil evil and good good? Do you in any way support anyone who justifies the wicked and takes away the rights of those who are right?
Search your heart my friend. Make sure your heart lines up with God’s Word. Then share your good heart in Christ with someone whose heart is hurting because of evil. 
A Word For Your Week: A good or evil heart is our choice.  

​Authority.
Authority simply means that someone is in charge.
I need not tell you that lawful authority and law enforcement is under attack across America.
 Rebellious, disrespectful, disobedient, antagonistic, anti-authority thugs and violent criminals are attempting to dismantle our laws and give law enforcement a bad name.
 Lawlessness is a sign of the last days (see II Timothy 3:1-5). Law defying, law breaking elements have orchestrated events to discredit lawful authority. The liberal, anti-law and order media is drinking the poisonous Kool-Aid that police officers are evil and out to hurt the public.  As a patriotic American who loves his country, I am offended by such ignorance and insolence.  What is happening alarms, concerns, frustrates, enrages and grieves me. 
I have been, am and will always be a law-abiding citizen who respects, honors and supports lawful authority. 
I have relatives and friends who serve as police officers. I have been with them on “ride alongs” in the middle of the dark of night when most of you are sleeping. The dedicated officers protect the good guys while going after the bad guys. I must admit the little boy in this aging elder man gets a spine-tingling thrill when the light bar flashes and the siren blares as the police cruiser shifts into light speed in pursuit of evildoers.  
I have had a bird’s eye view of what really happens on the street. Law enforcement is an extremely dangerous and often thankless job. Every single day when law enforcement officers put on their badge and uniform to “protect and serve”, they face danger that you and I don’t. I challenge critics and detractors to put on the uniform for just one day and then see how they feel.
I heartily and proudly applaud every good police officer who puts their life on the line so you and I can live in a safe, orderly society.
Unfortunately, you and I know what our misguided culture is saying about lawful authority and law enforcement. So, what does the Bible, God’s Word have to say? What position should a professing Christian take regarding lawful authority?
Romans 13:2-4 states “Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil.”
Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul writes five things about lawful authority.
1. Authority is from God.
2. Authorities are ministers of God for good.
3. Those who resist authority oppose the ordinance of God (not a good thing to do).  
4. Good guys have no reason to fear authority.
5. Bad guys have every reason to fear authority. Could it be that some people fear cops because they are doing something wrong? In no uncertain terms, Paul says authorities are avengers of God to those who bring trouble upon themselves by practicing evil.
Please note lawful rulers and law enforcement are God’s ministers and God’s avengers. Take that Marvel superheroes! They only bring about the harvest that evil people sow. Reaping what criminals sow is called correction, punishment. Police officers aren’t evil enemies. They are God’s ministers for good.
The rule of law and its enforcement is critical to order and survival of a republic like the United States. Anarchy and every evil sin reign when there is no lawful authority.
I have an idea. Why not take a personal stand against the tide of anti-authority and anti-law enforcement by standing tall with the over one million men and women in blue?
How To Show Support For Law Enforcement Officers

• Pray daily for divine protection for law enforcement and our military.  Ask God for big, REALLY BIG, BAD TO THE BONE WARRIOR ANGELS to protect officers when on duty.
• Request (nicely, but firmly and persistently!) that local media highlight stories of the immense good police officers do in the community. The good far outweighs any bad.
• Lobby government officials to get some backbone to publicly support and back up law enforcement officials.  Political correctness, criminal mentality, economic, pressure from racial or religious bias, and insurrectionist agendas cannot dictate how our leaders view law enforcement.  
• Demand without apology that criminals, street punks and thugs be called what they are and dealt appropriate punishment for their crimes. A crime is a crime.  A criminal is a criminal, not a saint!
• Speak up and demonstrate support for families of police officers so they will feel safe and secure while their loved ones are on duty.
• Teach your children and grandchildren to respect law enforcement officers. Show them by your example how to respect, respond to and obey authority. By nature kids love the police. 
• Perform a kind deed of service for your local police officers and police headquarters. Do this more than once. Make it a good habit for you and your children.
• If officers must shoot, pray they always shoot first, shoot straight and go home after their shifts! 

I have this law enforcement thing figured out. The way I see it, it’s a no brainer. 
When a police officer pulls you over, be respectful. Courteous. Cooperative. Comply with and obey his/her instructions. Make it easy for the officer to do their job. Don’t call the officer names, curse at him/her, threaten their personal safety in any way, or pull out your phone to record what you think is an injustice.  If you did something wrong, admit it, own it, take responsibility for it, and don’t hassle the officer who is doing what you would do if you were in his/her boots. Thank the officer for looking out for your safety.
As a fellow professing Christian, I remind and encourage you to believe and stand on God’s Word regarding authority. Almighty God backs, supports and blesses those who observe and obey authority toward Him, our marriages, our families, our friends and our society.
Stand shoulder to shoulder with lawful authority. Speak up. Speak out. Silence is not golden here. Don’t be deceived and duped by the anti-authority peddling media darlings and anarchists who are hell-bent on vilifying, crucifying and marginalizing police officers.
This all out, demonically inspired, evil, human assault on lawful authority will only result in cultural chaos, disorder, division, insurrection, anarchy and the destruction of the rule of law in America.
May that never be.
Almighty God watch over those You have appointed to watch over us.  In Jesus name. Amen!
A Word For Your Week: Pro-law enforcement is the proper position for professing, biblical Christians.

Lawlessness and disorder are savagely ravaging America.
As a proud citizen and military veteran of the country I respect, love, I am heartsick and upset over those, who by their arrogant, disdainful, despicable, disgraceful defiance of law and order, are suppressing and seeking to take away my Constitutional right and freedom to live in a lawful and orderly society.
It’s a fact of history: Nations fall from within when there is no law and order. Lawlessness creates disorder, fosters disunity, and fuels destruction, devastating the decency and peace of a nation. A country and culture collapses when confusion reigns.
Let me ask you a serious question: do you want to raise your children and grandchildren in a lawful or lawless country? A safe and secure, orderly society or an unsafe, insecure disorderly one? Part of your and my legacy for our families is to leave them a lawful, orderly nation. 
God is a God of order, never disorder or confusion.
I Corinthians 14:33 declares “For God is not a God of confusion (“not the author of” KJV) but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”
Seven things we should consider from scripture regarding law, lawful authority and order.

1. The Ten Commandments in the Bible are not The Ten Suggestions! The Lord gave them to Moses, Israel, you and me, so if followed, they would provide moral order, decency and righteousness in society. (Exodus 20:1-17).
2. The law is good. I Timothy 1:8-10 states “But we know that the Law is good if one uses it lawfully,  realizing the fact  that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men, and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching.”
3.  Lawful authority is established by God. Romans 13:1-2 reads “Let every person be in subjection to the governing authority. For there is no authority except from God, and those which are established by God. Therefore, he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God, and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.”
4. Law and order has been established because of the bad man, not the good one. Romans 13:3 “For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same.”
5. Lawful authority (law enforcement) are used by God to punish evil doers. Romans 13:4 “For it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid, for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil.”
   
6. Obey lawful authority for conscience sake. Romans 13: “Therefore, it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but for conscience’ sake.”    
7. Pray for those in authority. Paul instructs Christians to “pray and give thanks for kings and all those in authority in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” (I Timothy 2:1-2).

A tranquil and quiet life of godliness and dignity sounds like law and order to me.
Order breeds order. Disorder breeds disorder.
No law.  No order. No culture. No future. Remove lawfulness, and lawlessness runs rampant, unchecked, indiscriminately destroying everything in its path and blaming someone else for the lawbreakers misbehavior.
Rest assured, those who blindly, contemptuously ride the winds of attempting to abolish law and law enforcement will reap a whirlwind of wickedness that they will regret, and of course, whine about!  
Standing Up For Law And Order

• Commit yourself and family to obey the law. Obey the law that is in place for your good. If a law bothers you, work through proper channels and procedures to get it changed. You don’t have to scream, cuss, carry a vulgar sign, throw a temper tantrum like a spoiled child, protest with agitators and anarchists or burn down a building to do so.  
• Vote for law and order candidates to be our decision makers. If an office holder or candidate defies law and order, vote them out of office.
• Resist those who resist law and order. Reject any organization, movement, or political/social agenda that promotes, supports, and approves of disrespect for lawful authority, lawless violence and destructive disorder.
• Choose not to have a “conversation” with folks who tolerate lawlessness and disorder. You will not win them over unless they reap severe consequences for their foolish stand. To debate with a fool is foolishness indeed.
• Insist that law and order be based on biblical truth and moral principles. God’s Word in the Bible lays out what our Maker has deemed lawful and unlawful for our good.  
• Respect the law and order set forth by our Founding Fathers in the Constitution. Our laws are founded on biblical principles and made by courageous, God-fearing  men who loved the Lord and chose to do what is right in His sight.
• Support law enforcement. Back the Blue. Stand with them as they daily put their life and livelihood on the line dealing with lawless, disrespectful, disorderly people.
• Applaud. Celebrate. Encourage. Endorse law and order people. Tell a police officer how much you appreciate him or her and their families. Do something special for them. Go out of your way to show the Thin Blue Line how much you respect and trust them.

Lawlessness can only be put down by lawful people.
Are you committed to law and order? Will you stand heart to heart and should to shoulder with other law-loving, law-abiding, law-supporting citizens to stem the evil tide of lawlessness and disorder plaguing our nation at this time?
When push comes to shove, will you support the rule of law and law enforcement?
A Word For Your Week: Law and order is God’s plan and will for His people.

​Frightening civil unrest, unbridled chaos, brazen lawlessness and disorder, malicious violence, senseless destruction and hateful, spiteful divisiveness is disrupting peace in our culture.
Lately I have found myself extremely ticked off, torched ,incensed, infuriated and madder than a hornet concerning what many misguided, anti-American people are doing in an orchestrated attempt to destroy the United States of America as me, you and many country loving patriots of our republic have known it.
I have been upset before in my life. You probably have too. This angst I am experiencing has risen to a level that I am concerned about. Why? Because it is trying to steal my peace.
I don’t like the me who can get so upset. An edgy, irritable, short-fused, hard heart is not my desire. Backlash and payback are not the name of the game for me.
Indeed, there is justification for what the Bible calls righteous indignation and anger. God Himself has been angry more than once with humankind. God loves us. Christ’s cross proves it. But there are things that God hates and gets His holy dander up. I am certain the Almighty is not very pleased with some in our society who are rebelling with malicious intent against everything holy, sacred, moral, authoritative, historical, reasonable, wise and plain old common sense.  
While in my hide-away place of prayer last week, the Holy Spirit (after I informed God how teed off I was!) quietly said to me in my heart “Guard your peace” Steve. In that serene revelation moment, I reminded myself that my Lord and Savor Jesus paid the ultimate price for my peace.
As the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ is my peace. It is important to my spiritual, emotional, mental, physical and relational health that I never take the Lord’s peace lightly and that I guard the peace I have graciously received from Him.
Peace in our hearts, sprits and minds is vital to a Christlike, God-honoring, healthy, prosperous, successful, blessed and satisfying life.
Peace disrupters don’t give a rip about Steve Roll’s peace. But, as a Christian, I do.
As He prepared to go to the Cross, Jesus said to His faithful followers “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” John 14:27. Note: Jesus’s peace would be their peace; therefore, they did not need to be afraid or troubled in their heart. The world’s peace is false. Christ’s peace is true peace.
Writing from a dark, damp, depressive jail cell, awaiting the executioner’s sword, Paul wrote in Philippians 4:7-8 “The peace of God which passes all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of a good report, , if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.”
Amazingly Paul experienced joy in jail. Thirteen times the word joy or rejoice is referenced in the book of Philippians.  Paul’s joy was based on Jesus’ presence and peace in his mind and heart. How could Paul, facing death, be peaceful and joyful?
He guarded (the word means fortress) his heart and mind. He built a spiritual/emotional fortress/wall around his thoughts and emotions.  Paul set a watch over his life to protect the peace of God which came from the “God of peace” (verse 9).
He also instructed and encouraged believers what to think on. Note the list of “think on these things” is totally opposite of what is happening in our streets, newscasts, political pontifications and combative “conversations”.  If we focused our thoughts on “these things” our day would be much more peaceful!
Guarding our peace does not mean that, as Christ’s followers, we compromise truth, we cower or cave into evil pressure, click our life on silent mode, or stick our heads in societal sand. Not at all. May it never be. Godly, peace-filled folks who know Jesus Christ are the ones the spiritually lost, ungodly, evil, confused, misled people in our culture need to hear from.
How will people who do not have the peace of God in their heart receive it unless God’s peace-filled people share the Good News with them?
When given opportunity, pray it up, stand up, speak up to share Jesus Christ from a peaceful heart.  
Pointers Worth Pondering for Guarding Your Peace

• Walk daily in the peace of Jesus Christ. God keeps those in “perfect peace” whose mind is stayed on Him and who trust in Him. (Isaiah 26:3).
• Tune out. Turn off all negative media. Turning off peace disrupting news and sensationalist, agenda- driven, truth twisting journalists and power motivated political pundits will do you a world of good.  
• Get off Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for a while. You will be amazed how peace will fill your heart when you shut off the “noise”.
• Find something to laugh about. Really laugh. A big old belly laugh reduces stress and will help you keep your peace.
• Choose to resist and reject anything or anyone who disrupts your peace. No matter who it is, relatives, friends, co-workers, church members, pastors, celebrities, political personalities, stay away from people who get your dander up in a not so good way!
• Fill your spirit with peace by feeding on God’s Word. Read, study your Bible. Listen to wise, discerning, reputable biblical preaching and teaching. God’s Word always brings peace to the seeking heart.
• Surround yourself with fellow peace guarders! Fellowship is two fellows in the same ship. Only sail on the sea of life with those who guard their peace and help you guard yours.
• Always, thank God for peace that passes all understanding, is incomprehensible and comes through your relationship with Jesus Christ.

Someone has said “No Jesus. No peace. Know Jesus. Know peace.
Rest assured that Satan, the world system, ungodly people and even immature, professing Christians will attack you and me, seeking to disrupt and steal our peace.     
 If you and I don’t guard our peace, nobody else will. Guarding my peace is my responsibility. So, Steve Roll is doing his best to guard his peace.
My friend, keep your peace guard up!
“Finally, brethren, farewell. Be complete, be of good comfort; be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” II Corinthians 13:11
A Word For Your Week: You are the guardian of your peace.