The battle of Good vs. Evil first emerged to us in the Garden of Eden. Until the time when both Adam and Eve disobeyed God there was no evil, it was "all good". Through the apple sin entered the world and since that time man has warred with himself to correct that sin. But, least we forgot that it was not God who produced the sin, it was satan, the devil. It was the enemy who seduced Eve to take the apple, and it was Eve who then transferred that seduction to Adam. And while God was not pleased, satan was. Thus began the battle between good and evil.
In today's modern society we are constantly battling over the question of "Why"? Why does tragedy occur? Why does bad things happen to good people? Why, oh, why? No one will ever state the real reason, why? because it is so simple that man's over intellectual reasoning and thinking cannot handle it. So, without fear I will state it here. Thank you in advance for allowing me my soapbox.
It is simply the "good vs. evil" concept. The goal of the enemy is to disrupt our thoughts to there is "no good" or, there is "no God" because "why could a good God allow this kind of tragedy"? To fully understand this concept you must understand a basic premise in warfare. In a traditional battle there is always a battle line. Both sides square off one against the other and sides are established much like a modern day football game. A plan is made and one side makes a move.
Our spiritual lives are the same as a battle. Two sides are waging war for our souls and not just for territory.
The goal of the spiritual enemy is to cause us to doubt any existence in God at any cost necessary. In fact, this same very type of question gets ask every time there is some type of un-natural or even natural tragedy that occurs.
Because we live in a "political correct" society where a belief in God is mocked and not addressed because of a false fear of offending someone, we as a society become overly involved in some useless political discussion over the right to bear arms and mental health issues that have nothing to do with the real issue at hand.
So, the real question becomes how do we as a society combat evil? We do it with a belief in the Holy Spirit, using Biblical principles, and of course prayer. Prayer over our cities (Jeremiah 29:7) over our police and governmental authorities (Romans 13:1-7).
In Police work, we all should know the difference of police terminology of being "pro-active" and being"reactive" a relationship with God is no different. So, you want to stop "crazy" people? You want to figure out how to stop tragedy's such as Newtown, CT (2012), Aurora, CO (2012), Jonesboro, AR (1998), and Columbine, CO (1999), and many other cities from occurring?
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/12/mass-shootings-mother-jones-full-data
Then turn your cities and your government leaders to a belief in God, and don't turn your back on Him. Recognize that the enemy is surly after your government leaders, and your city, and even you. In biblical days, the people had a complete reliance on God. They believed that God would both provide and take away and this was shown time and time again in the bible. Both old and new testament people understood the signs of the times (Matthew 24:12) and realize that the enemy will use evil tactics to disrupt our relationship with God.
So, don't be fearful of identifying and talking to people who may be "crazy" about God. It actual has a calming presence because with God there is alway peace, understanding, and clarity. However, with satan there is always wickedness, lawless, and confusion.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Lord Jesus Come Soon!
On Day in the News - August 6, 2011
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/08/fullerton-police-death-protested-by-hundreds.html
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/08/06/hundreds-rampage-through-neighborhoods-surrounding-wisconsin-state-fair/?test=latestnews
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/08/06/violent-protests-break-out-in-north-london/
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/08/06/group-says-it-hacked-us-law-enforcement-websites/?test=latestnews
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/08/06/protesters-throw-fruit-at-chiles-rescued-miners/?test=latestnews
http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/05/mystery-substance-comes-to-shore-of-alaskan-village/?hpt=us_c2
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/08/fullerton-police-death-protested-by-hundreds.html
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/08/06/hundreds-rampage-through-neighborhoods-surrounding-wisconsin-state-fair/?test=latestnews
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/08/06/violent-protests-break-out-in-north-london/
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/08/06/group-says-it-hacked-us-law-enforcement-websites/?test=latestnews
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/08/06/protesters-throw-fruit-at-chiles-rescued-miners/?test=latestnews
http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/05/mystery-substance-comes-to-shore-of-alaskan-village/?hpt=us_c2
Saturday, March 6, 2010
10-8 In Service for God! Are you Really Ready to Serve?
Let's face it! All of us at one time or the other, have had our moments of difficulty and struggles in life, whether it is professional or personal. There are days when we don't want to get out of bed and go to work, and there are days where we just want to retreat to our peace and quite away from the family and the world.
Can you reflect on days as a police officer where you didn't have your "A" game on? Maybe you have referred to it as an, "off day" where we don't want to get into anything and hope that our twelve hour shift goes by really fast? I know that I have had those days. But as any cop will tell you we are not in control of the calls for service that we are dispatched to. We must be ready at all times for that "hot" call that may become a robbery, burglary, fight, or gunman in progress call. We have to always be tactically "turned on" and "charged to go" even though we may never feel like it. We know that if we are not tactically sound or mentally ready in our mind, then we could get ourselves or our partners seriously hurt, or even killed. In short, we just can't play cop, we have to be a cop! We must have our "A Game" on all the time while at work.
With that said, are we really ready to serve God in the same way? Are you being "10-8, in service" for God? Honestly, we should always feel the need to be turned on and ready to serve God at a moments notice, but really are we? Are we serving as a Christian or, are we simply playing the part of a Christian? So, the question becomes.....How do I know?
Let's ask ourselves a few personal questions. As a "Christian" do you feel that even though you may have been baptized, accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, and attend church regularly you still feel as if something is missing in your life? You study your bible regularly, you worship at church, yet you are still missing something. You have conflict on the job and in your family, and you are becoming a master in the use of the four-lettered language.
Just as a good Investigator with all your law enforcement training has provided, you began to search all the wrong places looking for this "missing something" in your life. You check the computer and yet all you find is pornography. You go out drinking after work with your co-workers but the more you drink all you find is the bottom of the bottle. You find yourself fighting with your spouse and your children. Your female partner, an old girlfriend, or the waitress at Denny's at 2am begins to look better to you than your own spouse and a "new" family seems better than your old one.
Still in your zealous search, you take on more responsibility at work. You work more overtime details trying to drown yourself in money and time lost, yet you still can't find what you're looking for. Actually, you see yourself becoming ugly and mean. So, you cry out;"My God! Something’s missing, Something’s wrong with me! Lord help me!" But you still find that the peace you are searching for is not coming easily.
If this sounds familiar to you, then please realize that you are not alone. So many Christians are dissatisfied with their current spiritual condition, that they long for more evidence of God in their lives.
But did you know, that the Bible in Acts 18 and 19 show us a series of stories of individuals and groups that were also ‘missing something’ in their spirituality. In Acts 18:24-28 a man called Apollos was accurately teaching the scriptures and preaching about Jesus, but somehow he knew only the ‘baptism of John.’ Something was missing. The twelve disciples in Ephesus also knew only the baptism of John and had not received the Spirit. Something was missing. In Acts 19:13-16 there were some who tried to exercise demons in the name of the Lord Jesus, but they failed. Something was missing. And these are only a few examples.
So, you ask. What was it that both you and these great biblical men of their generation were missing? The answer is actually one that is very easy. It was simply a personal, life-changing experience with the Holy Spirit.
What does the Holy Spirit have to do with it you may ask? After all, I don't need to be rolling on the floor of any church, falling down, speaking in tongues, raising my hands above my head. That's just too weird and besides that ain't my style you say.
First of all, having the Holy Spirit in you does not necessarily mean that any of those things listed above will ever happen to you. The Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:7 (New King James Version) states it like this; "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us."
I like to use this example. Having the Holy Spirit in you is like saying that you have a brand new 2010 Patrol Vehicle, you have read the owners manual, you have sat behind the wheel, you have played with the horn, siren, and lights, but when it is time to go out on patrol with your shiny brand new 2010 patrol vehicle it has no gas in the tank. Well guess what? You aren't going very far. In fact, without gas in the tank, your new car is not going to even start up.
You become frustrated with this car. You may even get so mad at the car that you get out and kick the tires, you scream at the car and dare I say, even yell a few choice four-lettered words at your car. But as hard as you cruse at it, kick it, scream and cry at it. Without putting gas in your car you are not going to move. Then suddenly you hear laughter coming from across the precinct parking lot. You see all your shift buddies rolling on the floor in laughter. You feel as if this is a scene from TV's 'Punked' or 'Candid Camera'.
But have you ever stopped to think that we may be treating our very own spiritual life in the same way? We get angry at God, we cry out to God, "oh why, oh why?", we try and run away from God, we try and bury ourselves in work, and in time away from our families all in the name of trying to "find ourselves". All the while God is in heaven looking down upon you, smiling and wondering when you are going to get the actual SIMPLICITY of the gospel.
The Apostle Paul says it this way: “After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?” (Galatians 3:3). What this great Apostle is asking is this; Are you trying to push the car? kick the car? Curse at the car? Cry out to the car, oh why aren't you starting up for me? Yet, all you need to do is fill up the tank with a little gas, and not even a full tank to get the car moving. Remember, the victorious Christian life is a gift attainable by allowing the Holy Spirit to live through us by faith!
God never intended the Christian life to be a life full of drudgery, Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). The Christian life was never meant to be a burden, although some of us have made it to be. Jesus said “my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30). The Christian life was meant to be a life of supernatural love, joy and peace.
The book of Titus; chapter 3 addresses this issue of the "Holy Spirit".
5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, (NKJ)
The word "renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior..." (Titus 3:5b-6). Those first converts on Pentecost were told that if they repented and were baptized in the name of Jesus that they would receive the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). "Regeneration" and "renewing" are very similar concepts. One difference would be that the act of "regeneration" happens once when we are baptized while the "renewing" is an ongoing process which begins when we obey the gospel.
You know, that there are parts of every big city that are badly in need of "urban renewal." The last few years of living in Los Angeles taught me a little bit about "urban renewal". This means that things need to be cleaned up, repaired and painted. The "renewing by the Holy Spirit" is a similar process. It involves obeying the Holy Spirit's revelation, the Scriptures, to clean up and remove those things which are not becoming to the life and attitudes of a Christian and replacing them with those attributes which are (Galatians 5:18-25).
I once heard this saying; "God never wastes a hurt". Are you hurting? Do you need to "renew" and "clean up" your life? God is waiting on you! We don't have much time left. We need to act now. One of my most favorite Bible verses says this; "When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things".1 Corinthians 13:11
Get right today with God and with your family. None of us have a time machine that can erase the past, but did you know that God possesses the best time machine. He can and will erase all of your past, old life if you simply go to Him and call out to Him but you must repent. The word "repent" is actually an old word that means "to change one's mind". You can also say, to "change one's life". Repent and ask forgiveness from the Lord for your past sins. Ask, the Lord to fill you with His Holy Spirit.
No, the Holy Spirit does not automatically come to you, no more than a brand new car comes with a full tank of gasoline. But, it takes little effort to fill up the tank with gas, and little effort to live a life with the Holy Spirit in you. Once you do, you will never look back on your old life. Steve Reynolds writes in his blog; "Confessions of a Recovering Legalist"; "When I first discovered living the Christian life by grace through faith, it was like a door opened and I began to see the world through different eyes -- eyes full of child-like wonder and awe. Every song that I heard was God’s sonnet of love written to me. Every breeze that I felt on my face was him gently caressing the skin of his beloved child. Every moment of every day began to take on purpose and meaning, and God began to speak to me in ways that he never had before".
I would suggest to you, that we are ‘baptized’ in the Spirit at the point of our salvation, though many of us have hindered or resisted the freedom of the Spirit in our lives. There may come a subsequent ‘crisis experience’ where, through faith and submission, the Spirit is ‘actually released’ in our lives. Or maybe we could say that the Spirit is ‘actualized.’or 'realized' at that point in our lives.
May God grant you the peace to allow the Holy Spirit to work through you and change your life and fill your tank with an endless supply of gasoline that will enable you to serve our Lord and Savior! May your renewed spirit lead others to come to know our Lord and Savior in a personal way and not just as some "superhero" in a book full of old stories.
In Jesus Name, Amen!
Mike Dye
March 2010
Can you reflect on days as a police officer where you didn't have your "A" game on? Maybe you have referred to it as an, "off day" where we don't want to get into anything and hope that our twelve hour shift goes by really fast? I know that I have had those days. But as any cop will tell you we are not in control of the calls for service that we are dispatched to. We must be ready at all times for that "hot" call that may become a robbery, burglary, fight, or gunman in progress call. We have to always be tactically "turned on" and "charged to go" even though we may never feel like it. We know that if we are not tactically sound or mentally ready in our mind, then we could get ourselves or our partners seriously hurt, or even killed. In short, we just can't play cop, we have to be a cop! We must have our "A Game" on all the time while at work.
With that said, are we really ready to serve God in the same way? Are you being "10-8, in service" for God? Honestly, we should always feel the need to be turned on and ready to serve God at a moments notice, but really are we? Are we serving as a Christian or, are we simply playing the part of a Christian? So, the question becomes.....How do I know?
Let's ask ourselves a few personal questions. As a "Christian" do you feel that even though you may have been baptized, accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, and attend church regularly you still feel as if something is missing in your life? You study your bible regularly, you worship at church, yet you are still missing something. You have conflict on the job and in your family, and you are becoming a master in the use of the four-lettered language.
Just as a good Investigator with all your law enforcement training has provided, you began to search all the wrong places looking for this "missing something" in your life. You check the computer and yet all you find is pornography. You go out drinking after work with your co-workers but the more you drink all you find is the bottom of the bottle. You find yourself fighting with your spouse and your children. Your female partner, an old girlfriend, or the waitress at Denny's at 2am begins to look better to you than your own spouse and a "new" family seems better than your old one.
Still in your zealous search, you take on more responsibility at work. You work more overtime details trying to drown yourself in money and time lost, yet you still can't find what you're looking for. Actually, you see yourself becoming ugly and mean. So, you cry out;"My God! Something’s missing, Something’s wrong with me! Lord help me!" But you still find that the peace you are searching for is not coming easily.
If this sounds familiar to you, then please realize that you are not alone. So many Christians are dissatisfied with their current spiritual condition, that they long for more evidence of God in their lives.
But did you know, that the Bible in Acts 18 and 19 show us a series of stories of individuals and groups that were also ‘missing something’ in their spirituality. In Acts 18:24-28 a man called Apollos was accurately teaching the scriptures and preaching about Jesus, but somehow he knew only the ‘baptism of John.’ Something was missing. The twelve disciples in Ephesus also knew only the baptism of John and had not received the Spirit. Something was missing. In Acts 19:13-16 there were some who tried to exercise demons in the name of the Lord Jesus, but they failed. Something was missing. And these are only a few examples.
So, you ask. What was it that both you and these great biblical men of their generation were missing? The answer is actually one that is very easy. It was simply a personal, life-changing experience with the Holy Spirit.
What does the Holy Spirit have to do with it you may ask? After all, I don't need to be rolling on the floor of any church, falling down, speaking in tongues, raising my hands above my head. That's just too weird and besides that ain't my style you say.
First of all, having the Holy Spirit in you does not necessarily mean that any of those things listed above will ever happen to you. The Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:7 (New King James Version) states it like this; "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us."
I like to use this example. Having the Holy Spirit in you is like saying that you have a brand new 2010 Patrol Vehicle, you have read the owners manual, you have sat behind the wheel, you have played with the horn, siren, and lights, but when it is time to go out on patrol with your shiny brand new 2010 patrol vehicle it has no gas in the tank. Well guess what? You aren't going very far. In fact, without gas in the tank, your new car is not going to even start up.
You become frustrated with this car. You may even get so mad at the car that you get out and kick the tires, you scream at the car and dare I say, even yell a few choice four-lettered words at your car. But as hard as you cruse at it, kick it, scream and cry at it. Without putting gas in your car you are not going to move. Then suddenly you hear laughter coming from across the precinct parking lot. You see all your shift buddies rolling on the floor in laughter. You feel as if this is a scene from TV's 'Punked' or 'Candid Camera'.
But have you ever stopped to think that we may be treating our very own spiritual life in the same way? We get angry at God, we cry out to God, "oh why, oh why?", we try and run away from God, we try and bury ourselves in work, and in time away from our families all in the name of trying to "find ourselves". All the while God is in heaven looking down upon you, smiling and wondering when you are going to get the actual SIMPLICITY of the gospel.
The Apostle Paul says it this way: “After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?” (Galatians 3:3). What this great Apostle is asking is this; Are you trying to push the car? kick the car? Curse at the car? Cry out to the car, oh why aren't you starting up for me? Yet, all you need to do is fill up the tank with a little gas, and not even a full tank to get the car moving. Remember, the victorious Christian life is a gift attainable by allowing the Holy Spirit to live through us by faith!
God never intended the Christian life to be a life full of drudgery, Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). The Christian life was never meant to be a burden, although some of us have made it to be. Jesus said “my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30). The Christian life was meant to be a life of supernatural love, joy and peace.
The book of Titus; chapter 3 addresses this issue of the "Holy Spirit".
5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, (NKJ)
The word "renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior..." (Titus 3:5b-6). Those first converts on Pentecost were told that if they repented and were baptized in the name of Jesus that they would receive the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). "Regeneration" and "renewing" are very similar concepts. One difference would be that the act of "regeneration" happens once when we are baptized while the "renewing" is an ongoing process which begins when we obey the gospel.
You know, that there are parts of every big city that are badly in need of "urban renewal." The last few years of living in Los Angeles taught me a little bit about "urban renewal". This means that things need to be cleaned up, repaired and painted. The "renewing by the Holy Spirit" is a similar process. It involves obeying the Holy Spirit's revelation, the Scriptures, to clean up and remove those things which are not becoming to the life and attitudes of a Christian and replacing them with those attributes which are (Galatians 5:18-25).
I once heard this saying; "God never wastes a hurt". Are you hurting? Do you need to "renew" and "clean up" your life? God is waiting on you! We don't have much time left. We need to act now. One of my most favorite Bible verses says this; "When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things".1 Corinthians 13:11
Get right today with God and with your family. None of us have a time machine that can erase the past, but did you know that God possesses the best time machine. He can and will erase all of your past, old life if you simply go to Him and call out to Him but you must repent. The word "repent" is actually an old word that means "to change one's mind". You can also say, to "change one's life". Repent and ask forgiveness from the Lord for your past sins. Ask, the Lord to fill you with His Holy Spirit.
No, the Holy Spirit does not automatically come to you, no more than a brand new car comes with a full tank of gasoline. But, it takes little effort to fill up the tank with gas, and little effort to live a life with the Holy Spirit in you. Once you do, you will never look back on your old life. Steve Reynolds writes in his blog; "Confessions of a Recovering Legalist"; "When I first discovered living the Christian life by grace through faith, it was like a door opened and I began to see the world through different eyes -- eyes full of child-like wonder and awe. Every song that I heard was God’s sonnet of love written to me. Every breeze that I felt on my face was him gently caressing the skin of his beloved child. Every moment of every day began to take on purpose and meaning, and God began to speak to me in ways that he never had before".
I would suggest to you, that we are ‘baptized’ in the Spirit at the point of our salvation, though many of us have hindered or resisted the freedom of the Spirit in our lives. There may come a subsequent ‘crisis experience’ where, through faith and submission, the Spirit is ‘actually released’ in our lives. Or maybe we could say that the Spirit is ‘actualized.’or 'realized' at that point in our lives.
May God grant you the peace to allow the Holy Spirit to work through you and change your life and fill your tank with an endless supply of gasoline that will enable you to serve our Lord and Savior! May your renewed spirit lead others to come to know our Lord and Savior in a personal way and not just as some "superhero" in a book full of old stories.
In Jesus Name, Amen!
Mike Dye
March 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
The Holy Spirit, Common Sense, and the Law According to the Bible
My present assignment is that of a full-time Deputy Sheriff working as a School Resource Officer (SRO) at the largest high school in our county. As imaged, during the course of my day, I deal with a variety of problems that cover everything from State law, School Policy, and yes, even moral standard questions such as offensive dress, offensive words, and issues of disrespect towards teachers and fellow students. Often, school officials will bring a violation to me for review as a possible violation of state law. I will use one scenario here only as an example. Many of you who have been assigned as SRO's will appreciate this one.
All schools have a policy about bringing weapons on a school campus and occasionally, I will have some school administrator bring me a plastic knife found on a student. Of course, I always ask the same questions which is "what was the student's intent?", "Did a criminal act occur with the knife?", or "did you just find the plastic knife on the student's possession?". It is always the same story and I have never as yet, criminally charged a student with possession of a weapon on campus for simply possessing a plastic knife. However, with that being said the school always treats every weapon scenario the same; 10 days suspension and to put the student up for school expulsion. You see, the school has a very narrow, you can say legalistic view of the policy that offers no room for grace.
If you have been working in law enforcement for more than a year, you know that you need to apply a certain amount of grace to every law enforcement situation that you find yourself in. Some of us, may refer to that "grace" as "common sense". We know that those officer's who are successful in this job are those that evenly apply the law mixed with a healthy dose of common sense. After all, if you don't apply the law with some measure of grace (aka - common sense) then while assigned to running radar in a 30 mph speed limit you will be writing tickets for those who you find doing 31 mph or even better yet, those that are driving 29 mph. Right? You can only image the problems that you will find yourself in for that one.
How many of us in our christian walk have the same legalistic mindset? While doing some internet research on this topic I discovered the following writing. I could not reduce it to just a few lines, so I am offering the full article here for you to read entitled; "Confessions of a Recovering Legalist" By Steve Reynolds. As you read this article please be honest and tell me if you see yourself in this article.
May God Bless you and watch over you!
Mike Dye
Legalists often place a high premium on commandment keeping and obedience.1 They are extremely zealous for God’s law. The standard that they bear is the Ten Commandments, and they are diligent to point out every misstep in the lives of people they come in contact with. They can also be very diligent in pointing out their own missteps as well. As a result, they can carry around an extraordinary amount of self-imposed guilt. I know. I am a recovering legalist.
Legalism is a Christian heresy that is as old as the church. When God devotes an entire book of the Bible to combating a certain thing you can know for sure that it was, is and will be a problem for the church. That is exactly what God did with the book of Galatians. He devoted an entire book, perhaps the most impassioned book of the Bible -- to combat the heresy of legalism. I can honestly tell you that I used to read Galatians and think, "Hey, Paul, what’s the big deal? After all, isn't it a good thing to want to keep God’s law?" Now I understand what the big deal is. Let's not sugarcoat it. Paul called legalism "a different gospel."2 That is serious business.
A Definition
What exactly is legalism? I’ve developed my own simple definition after years of struggling with my own legalistic tendencies. I believe that legalism is trying to attain or maintain rightness (righteousness) with God by human effort. Most of us don’t have a problem with the “attain” part of that definition. We would never tell a lost person that if they try real hard and do all the right things, they can be saved. No way! We say, you’ve got to admit there is nothing that you can do to be saved -- that you are lost without Jesus!
However, here’s where the heresy and perversion of the gospel comes in. Keep in mind that the book of Galatians was not written by Paul to lost people, telling them how to be saved. It was written to people who had already received the Holy Spirit.3 Paul was angry with these baby Christians because they were trying to live out the Christian life by keeping the law!
The heresy of legalism involves telling people that there are certain things that they must do to “maintain” their rightness with God or to achieve victory in the Christian life! Paul says it this way: “After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?” (Galatians 3:3). The victorious Christian life is a gift attainable by allowing the Holy Spirit to live through us by faith!
Peter tells us that, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). Isn’t it just like God to give us the victory? Is that not what he did over and over in the Old Testament? “It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them” (Psalms 44:3). Having a great work ethic is a good thing in the world, but it will get you no where in the economy of God’s plan of salvation. He will not share his glory with you or me. He’s paid too high a price to purchase our salvation.
When I came to Christ, my philosophy was, “I’ve accepted Christ, now I’m ready to commit myself to keeping his commandments.” I was really ignorant of how the Christian life is to be lived out -- by faith.4 I thought if I read enough of the Bible and obeyed what I read, that I would achieve victory. Sounds logical doesn’t it? Some of you who are reading this are saying, “What’s wrong with that?” Ever wonder why the Bible talks about obeying or disobeying the gospel?5 How exactly does one obey the Gospel and keep obeying it? The answer is by trusting Christ to live the Christian life through them by the gift of the Holy Spirit that was given to us at salvation. He is indeed “the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2 KJV).
When I was steeped in legalism, struggling was a way of life for me. I was extremely critical of myself and others, and I just could not seem to help myself. I remember telling this to a trusted counselor, and he told me, “You’ve got to learn how to apply grace in your life.” Well, I didn’t know about all this namby-pamby grace and love stuff (To be honest we legalists often begin to squirm in our seats when people talk about God’s love too much). It all smacked of liberalism to me, and I wasn’t sure that I wanted any part of it. Thank God he opened my eyes enough that I took a chance on living by grace. I haven’t been the same since I took that first step!
When I first discovered living the Christian life by grace through faith, it was like a door opened and I began to see the world through different eyes -- eyes full of child-like wonder and awe. Every song that I heard was God’s sonnet of love written to me. Every breeze that I felt on my face was him gently caressing the skin of his beloved child. Every moment of every day began to take on purpose and meaning, and God began to speak to me in ways that he never had before.
Over the history of the Christian church living by grace has been called by various names. Paul called it “walking in the spirit.” Others have called it “the exchanged life,” “the spirit-filled life” “the victorious life” or even more recently, “the gracewalk.”6 In the book of Galatians it is presented as the antithesis of living under the law.
Legalism is bad medicine. If your heart is full of bitterness towards others and self-condemnation, could it be that you have been going about living the Christian life all wrong? If anything that I have said has struck a chord with you, you can be sure that God desperately wants you to be set free from legalism. Let me share with you a remarkable truth. God loves legalists. He hates legalism, but he loves legalists. I believe that one of the most passionate statements in the Bible is Jesus lamenting, heart-broken over the fact that the legalists of his day had rejected him.7
F. F. Bruce, one of the greatest theologians of the twentieth century, said that “Doing the will of God is not a matter of conformity to outward rules but of giving expression to inward love, such as the Spirit begets.”8 The Christian life was never meant to be a life of drudgery, although some of us have made it to be. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). The Christian life was never meant to be a burden, although some of us have made it to be. Jesus said “my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30). The Christian life was meant to be a life of supernatural love, joy and peace that is squelched when we attempt to live under legalism. I confess I have been guilty of that, but God is showing me a better way.
1 Of course there is nothing wrong with obedience as long as one realizes the only way to live a consistently obedient lifestyle is by letting Christ live through them -- not be focusing on Law.
2 Galatians 1:6
3 Galatians 3:3
4 Galatians 2:20
5 2 Thessalonians 1:8
7 See Matthew 23:37
All schools have a policy about bringing weapons on a school campus and occasionally, I will have some school administrator bring me a plastic knife found on a student. Of course, I always ask the same questions which is "what was the student's intent?", "Did a criminal act occur with the knife?", or "did you just find the plastic knife on the student's possession?". It is always the same story and I have never as yet, criminally charged a student with possession of a weapon on campus for simply possessing a plastic knife. However, with that being said the school always treats every weapon scenario the same; 10 days suspension and to put the student up for school expulsion. You see, the school has a very narrow, you can say legalistic view of the policy that offers no room for grace.
If you have been working in law enforcement for more than a year, you know that you need to apply a certain amount of grace to every law enforcement situation that you find yourself in. Some of us, may refer to that "grace" as "common sense". We know that those officer's who are successful in this job are those that evenly apply the law mixed with a healthy dose of common sense. After all, if you don't apply the law with some measure of grace (aka - common sense) then while assigned to running radar in a 30 mph speed limit you will be writing tickets for those who you find doing 31 mph or even better yet, those that are driving 29 mph. Right? You can only image the problems that you will find yourself in for that one.
How many of us in our christian walk have the same legalistic mindset? While doing some internet research on this topic I discovered the following writing. I could not reduce it to just a few lines, so I am offering the full article here for you to read entitled; "Confessions of a Recovering Legalist" By Steve Reynolds. As you read this article please be honest and tell me if you see yourself in this article.
May God Bless you and watch over you!
Mike Dye
Legalists often place a high premium on commandment keeping and obedience.1 They are extremely zealous for God’s law. The standard that they bear is the Ten Commandments, and they are diligent to point out every misstep in the lives of people they come in contact with. They can also be very diligent in pointing out their own missteps as well. As a result, they can carry around an extraordinary amount of self-imposed guilt. I know. I am a recovering legalist.
Legalism is a Christian heresy that is as old as the church. When God devotes an entire book of the Bible to combating a certain thing you can know for sure that it was, is and will be a problem for the church. That is exactly what God did with the book of Galatians. He devoted an entire book, perhaps the most impassioned book of the Bible -- to combat the heresy of legalism. I can honestly tell you that I used to read Galatians and think, "Hey, Paul, what’s the big deal? After all, isn't it a good thing to want to keep God’s law?" Now I understand what the big deal is. Let's not sugarcoat it. Paul called legalism "a different gospel."2 That is serious business.
A Definition
What exactly is legalism? I’ve developed my own simple definition after years of struggling with my own legalistic tendencies. I believe that legalism is trying to attain or maintain rightness (righteousness) with God by human effort. Most of us don’t have a problem with the “attain” part of that definition. We would never tell a lost person that if they try real hard and do all the right things, they can be saved. No way! We say, you’ve got to admit there is nothing that you can do to be saved -- that you are lost without Jesus!
However, here’s where the heresy and perversion of the gospel comes in. Keep in mind that the book of Galatians was not written by Paul to lost people, telling them how to be saved. It was written to people who had already received the Holy Spirit.3 Paul was angry with these baby Christians because they were trying to live out the Christian life by keeping the law!
The heresy of legalism involves telling people that there are certain things that they must do to “maintain” their rightness with God or to achieve victory in the Christian life! Paul says it this way: “After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?” (Galatians 3:3). The victorious Christian life is a gift attainable by allowing the Holy Spirit to live through us by faith!
Peter tells us that, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). Isn’t it just like God to give us the victory? Is that not what he did over and over in the Old Testament? “It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them” (Psalms 44:3). Having a great work ethic is a good thing in the world, but it will get you no where in the economy of God’s plan of salvation. He will not share his glory with you or me. He’s paid too high a price to purchase our salvation.
When I came to Christ, my philosophy was, “I’ve accepted Christ, now I’m ready to commit myself to keeping his commandments.” I was really ignorant of how the Christian life is to be lived out -- by faith.4 I thought if I read enough of the Bible and obeyed what I read, that I would achieve victory. Sounds logical doesn’t it? Some of you who are reading this are saying, “What’s wrong with that?” Ever wonder why the Bible talks about obeying or disobeying the gospel?5 How exactly does one obey the Gospel and keep obeying it? The answer is by trusting Christ to live the Christian life through them by the gift of the Holy Spirit that was given to us at salvation. He is indeed “the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2 KJV).
When I was steeped in legalism, struggling was a way of life for me. I was extremely critical of myself and others, and I just could not seem to help myself. I remember telling this to a trusted counselor, and he told me, “You’ve got to learn how to apply grace in your life.” Well, I didn’t know about all this namby-pamby grace and love stuff (To be honest we legalists often begin to squirm in our seats when people talk about God’s love too much). It all smacked of liberalism to me, and I wasn’t sure that I wanted any part of it. Thank God he opened my eyes enough that I took a chance on living by grace. I haven’t been the same since I took that first step!
When I first discovered living the Christian life by grace through faith, it was like a door opened and I began to see the world through different eyes -- eyes full of child-like wonder and awe. Every song that I heard was God’s sonnet of love written to me. Every breeze that I felt on my face was him gently caressing the skin of his beloved child. Every moment of every day began to take on purpose and meaning, and God began to speak to me in ways that he never had before.
Over the history of the Christian church living by grace has been called by various names. Paul called it “walking in the spirit.” Others have called it “the exchanged life,” “the spirit-filled life” “the victorious life” or even more recently, “the gracewalk.”6 In the book of Galatians it is presented as the antithesis of living under the law.
Legalism is bad medicine. If your heart is full of bitterness towards others and self-condemnation, could it be that you have been going about living the Christian life all wrong? If anything that I have said has struck a chord with you, you can be sure that God desperately wants you to be set free from legalism. Let me share with you a remarkable truth. God loves legalists. He hates legalism, but he loves legalists. I believe that one of the most passionate statements in the Bible is Jesus lamenting, heart-broken over the fact that the legalists of his day had rejected him.7
F. F. Bruce, one of the greatest theologians of the twentieth century, said that “Doing the will of God is not a matter of conformity to outward rules but of giving expression to inward love, such as the Spirit begets.”8 The Christian life was never meant to be a life of drudgery, although some of us have made it to be. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). The Christian life was never meant to be a burden, although some of us have made it to be. Jesus said “my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30). The Christian life was meant to be a life of supernatural love, joy and peace that is squelched when we attempt to live under legalism. I confess I have been guilty of that, but God is showing me a better way.
1 Of course there is nothing wrong with obedience as long as one realizes the only way to live a consistently obedient lifestyle is by letting Christ live through them -- not be focusing on Law.
2 Galatians 1:6
3 Galatians 3:3
4 Galatians 2:20
5 2 Thessalonians 1:8
7 See Matthew 23:37
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
SPEAKING LIFE CHAPTER – aka “Cop Cussing”
Matthew 12:36-37: "But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the Day of Judgment. For by thy words thou shall be justified, and by thy words thou shall be condemned".
Are you speaking life into everyone you see, or does your daily talk “speak death?” Though the Bible has much to say about this topic, it seems greatly overlooked by most Christians in our profession.
Proverbs 18:21 says,"Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and they that love it shall eat of the fruit thereof". James Chapter five says: "You can tame a tiger, but you can’t tame the tongue – it’s never been done!" (The Message) Unfortunately as Christians we can witness the ‘demise’ of our dreams, visions and our blessings with what we allow to come out of our mouths. Are we seriously watching the things that we say - not just about ourselves - but about our circumstances, situations and others?
Early on in my law enforcement career I was guilty of something I call, “cop cursing.” The word “curse” evokes a variety of responses:
• To many, it’s the use of foul language or profanity.
• Others think of curses as nothing more than the stuff of fairy tales, with witches casting spells and turning handsome princes into ugly toads.
• There are two Dictionary definitions for the word “Curse”
o A profane or obscene expression of anger
o An appeal to a supernatural power for harm to come to a specific person or group, etc.
“Cop cursing” is used frequently by police officers to help gain control of a situation, or to gain someone’s attention in an immediate way. Often the officer speaking the cuss word may or may not have a habit of using foul language and uses it to prove a point rather than in anger. However, as most officers know, “cop cussing” does not work with people under the influence of drugs or alcohol as they cannot comprehend it. With the average sober citizen, it can result in a citizen’s complaint.
The most effect cop cussing I have done on the job has been with young people ages 12-21 - the most impressionable group of all. Once I went into “Drill Sergeant” mode, many times these young people would end up crying. Then I would think to myself rather proudly, “Ah ha, I’ve got them so now I win.” I’m ashamed to admit it now, but my speech was in direct conflict with Scripture. In Ephesians 4:29 we are told: "When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need—words that will help others become stronger". In short, instead of speaking life to these young people I was speaking death.
When you “cop cuss” two things happen immediately:
First, it makes you become an ineffective witness for Christ to those standing around you, including
your fellow officer’s. They may be thinking: “See, I told you all Christians are hypocrites!”
Second, it gives satan an upper hand when you allow him to speak through you instead of God.
Instead we should remember that Christ doesn’t speak death (four lettered words) and you shouldn’t either. So, how do you speak life into someone? Really, it's simple. You, simply allow God to speak through you as if God himself were speaking. Ask yourself, what would God said in this situation? Personally, I have found a very effective line that works well and I’ll use it as an example here; “Listen, there are only two things in this world, good and evil. You cannot be both good and evil and you must choose". If you noticed, using this example, I have just spoken life in this sentence as opposed to death and it actually is a biblical principle without actually quoting scripture (just in case you are scared about quoting scripture on the job). This principle can be found in 1st Kings 18-21 “Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.".
But what about a foul joke, isn’t that harmless? After all, cops and foul jokes are common place in our job. Well, the answer to this question can be found in Ephesians 5:3-6; “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them".
It doesn’t get any plainer than that! So, stop your cop cursing and your foul jokes. For Christians, you have an even higher standard placed upon you and can be found in James 1:26; “ If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.”
Okay, but what about our jobs? Are we speaking death, or putting a curse over our jobs? Have you stopped to think that when you complain about your job, or your working conditions, your equipment, your Chief or Supervisors that you are actually speaking a curse over your job?
Ecclesiastes 10:20 “Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird of the air may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.”
Consider this principle, every time that you speak, you should begin to arrest your thoughts and frisk them thoroughly to see if they are carrying doubt of any kind. II Corinthians 10:5 says, "Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing captive every thought to the obedience of Christ.” In other word, if the thought in your mind is not supporting your faith, then don’t speak it!’
We have to do something with the span of time between when we have it in mind and when it tangibly becomes ours. If we don’t ‘speak’ strengthened faith to ourselves, the thoughts in our mind will keep us on endless emotional roller coaster acting on the impulse of them, intentionally or unintentionally, speaking them out loud and being influenced by negative comments of others.
As Christians, we need to stop blocking God’s blessings by speaking negatively. God wants to bless us, but we become a hindrance to ourselves in receiving Gods blessings when we speak things that are in opposition of Gods Word. Remember, we must always ‘choose’ to speak life to everything that is of a concern to us and believe what we say until complete manifestation. We must talk faith to our circumstances at all times just as it says in Romans 4:17, “…Even God, who quickens the dead, calls those things which be not as though they were.” This includes the drug dealers, prostuites, hate mongers, gang members, and others who the police are called upon to deal with.
Here are some classic examples of things that we say that may sound harmless but is actually stopping God’s blessing in your life and cursing you:
I’m poor and I’m broke; I have no money
I have (name of disease), I’ll never get healed from it.
I’m ugly
I’m fat
I’m a failure
I’ll never find love
God doesn’t love me, or hear me when I pray
My marriage is going to fail
I’m going to lose my job
I’m stupid
I’m a worrier
I’m sick and tired of _________.
You must understand that by speaking these words, you’re claiming it to be so in your life – you’re decreeing and declaring brokenness. For example, Even if you are sick, don’t go around claiming it, instead say you’re healed. Do this for every other negative thing in your life. Remember words are seeds that can yield a good or bad harvest in your life –depending on what you speak. The very essence of our being was spoken into existence by God
A Prayer - God, I pray that you will help me to be wise. Help me to hear and increase in learning, to acquire skill, and to attain to sound counsel so that I may steer my course rightly. I pray that you may arrest my thoughts and frisk my words so that I everything that I say will be pleasing unto you. From this day on I make a decision to speak your blessings upon my life and the life’s of others with whom I am in contact with. In Jesus name I pray. Amen. (Proverbs 1:5)
Small Group Questions to Ponder;
(1) Think about the times that you have either “cop cursed” or told a foul joke.
How did that make you feel afterward? What are you doing now to help curb your tongue?
(2) Have you ever considered that when you complain about your job is the same as speaking a curse over it?
Are you speaking life into everyone you see, or does your daily talk “speak death?” Though the Bible has much to say about this topic, it seems greatly overlooked by most Christians in our profession.
Proverbs 18:21 says,"Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and they that love it shall eat of the fruit thereof". James Chapter five says: "You can tame a tiger, but you can’t tame the tongue – it’s never been done!" (The Message) Unfortunately as Christians we can witness the ‘demise’ of our dreams, visions and our blessings with what we allow to come out of our mouths. Are we seriously watching the things that we say - not just about ourselves - but about our circumstances, situations and others?
Early on in my law enforcement career I was guilty of something I call, “cop cursing.” The word “curse” evokes a variety of responses:
• To many, it’s the use of foul language or profanity.
• Others think of curses as nothing more than the stuff of fairy tales, with witches casting spells and turning handsome princes into ugly toads.
• There are two Dictionary definitions for the word “Curse”
o A profane or obscene expression of anger
o An appeal to a supernatural power for harm to come to a specific person or group, etc.
“Cop cursing” is used frequently by police officers to help gain control of a situation, or to gain someone’s attention in an immediate way. Often the officer speaking the cuss word may or may not have a habit of using foul language and uses it to prove a point rather than in anger. However, as most officers know, “cop cussing” does not work with people under the influence of drugs or alcohol as they cannot comprehend it. With the average sober citizen, it can result in a citizen’s complaint.
The most effect cop cussing I have done on the job has been with young people ages 12-21 - the most impressionable group of all. Once I went into “Drill Sergeant” mode, many times these young people would end up crying. Then I would think to myself rather proudly, “Ah ha, I’ve got them so now I win.” I’m ashamed to admit it now, but my speech was in direct conflict with Scripture. In Ephesians 4:29 we are told: "When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need—words that will help others become stronger". In short, instead of speaking life to these young people I was speaking death.
When you “cop cuss” two things happen immediately:
First, it makes you become an ineffective witness for Christ to those standing around you, including
your fellow officer’s. They may be thinking: “See, I told you all Christians are hypocrites!”
Second, it gives satan an upper hand when you allow him to speak through you instead of God.
Instead we should remember that Christ doesn’t speak death (four lettered words) and you shouldn’t either. So, how do you speak life into someone? Really, it's simple. You, simply allow God to speak through you as if God himself were speaking. Ask yourself, what would God said in this situation? Personally, I have found a very effective line that works well and I’ll use it as an example here; “Listen, there are only two things in this world, good and evil. You cannot be both good and evil and you must choose". If you noticed, using this example, I have just spoken life in this sentence as opposed to death and it actually is a biblical principle without actually quoting scripture (just in case you are scared about quoting scripture on the job). This principle can be found in 1st Kings 18-21 “Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.".
But what about a foul joke, isn’t that harmless? After all, cops and foul jokes are common place in our job. Well, the answer to this question can be found in Ephesians 5:3-6; “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them".
It doesn’t get any plainer than that! So, stop your cop cursing and your foul jokes. For Christians, you have an even higher standard placed upon you and can be found in James 1:26; “ If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.”
Okay, but what about our jobs? Are we speaking death, or putting a curse over our jobs? Have you stopped to think that when you complain about your job, or your working conditions, your equipment, your Chief or Supervisors that you are actually speaking a curse over your job?
Ecclesiastes 10:20 “Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird of the air may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.”
Consider this principle, every time that you speak, you should begin to arrest your thoughts and frisk them thoroughly to see if they are carrying doubt of any kind. II Corinthians 10:5 says, "Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing captive every thought to the obedience of Christ.” In other word, if the thought in your mind is not supporting your faith, then don’t speak it!’
We have to do something with the span of time between when we have it in mind and when it tangibly becomes ours. If we don’t ‘speak’ strengthened faith to ourselves, the thoughts in our mind will keep us on endless emotional roller coaster acting on the impulse of them, intentionally or unintentionally, speaking them out loud and being influenced by negative comments of others.
As Christians, we need to stop blocking God’s blessings by speaking negatively. God wants to bless us, but we become a hindrance to ourselves in receiving Gods blessings when we speak things that are in opposition of Gods Word. Remember, we must always ‘choose’ to speak life to everything that is of a concern to us and believe what we say until complete manifestation. We must talk faith to our circumstances at all times just as it says in Romans 4:17, “…Even God, who quickens the dead, calls those things which be not as though they were.” This includes the drug dealers, prostuites, hate mongers, gang members, and others who the police are called upon to deal with.
Here are some classic examples of things that we say that may sound harmless but is actually stopping God’s blessing in your life and cursing you:
I’m poor and I’m broke; I have no money
I have (name of disease), I’ll never get healed from it.
I’m ugly
I’m fat
I’m a failure
I’ll never find love
God doesn’t love me, or hear me when I pray
My marriage is going to fail
I’m going to lose my job
I’m stupid
I’m a worrier
I’m sick and tired of _________.
You must understand that by speaking these words, you’re claiming it to be so in your life – you’re decreeing and declaring brokenness. For example, Even if you are sick, don’t go around claiming it, instead say you’re healed. Do this for every other negative thing in your life. Remember words are seeds that can yield a good or bad harvest in your life –depending on what you speak. The very essence of our being was spoken into existence by God
A Prayer - God, I pray that you will help me to be wise. Help me to hear and increase in learning, to acquire skill, and to attain to sound counsel so that I may steer my course rightly. I pray that you may arrest my thoughts and frisk my words so that I everything that I say will be pleasing unto you. From this day on I make a decision to speak your blessings upon my life and the life’s of others with whom I am in contact with. In Jesus name I pray. Amen. (Proverbs 1:5)
Small Group Questions to Ponder;
(1) Think about the times that you have either “cop cursed” or told a foul joke.
How did that make you feel afterward? What are you doing now to help curb your tongue?
(2) Have you ever considered that when you complain about your job is the same as speaking a curse over it?
Are You Ready?
All of us need to keep the State of Washington in our prayers as they are going through a wave of Law Enforcement murders. Most recently, today (11/29/2009) four Lakewood Police Officers were killed while on duty in a coffee shop. It appears that this was an ambush attack. Back on Halloween 10/31/2009 a Seattle Police Officer was killed while sitting inside of his patrol vehicle. Or, how could forget the killing of four Oakland (CA) Police officers back in March of this year.
Most recently, there was a nation news story about the wave of anti-government and anti-authority sentiment going on in the city of Seattle and in the State of Washington area. The Pacific Northwest has long been home to a variety of liberal rights groups to include the Earth Liberation Front (ELF), PETA, and who can forget the World Trade Organization (WTO) riots from just a few years ago in Seattle and most recently in Pittsburg, PA. In which law enforcement officers were the target of vicious attacks. Many of us dismiss this as simply a loosely formed band of left wing, idealist who are unorganized and non violent. But how many of us miss the calculate attacks against law enforcement in general. Remember, evil always hates good.
Should be worried about foreign terrorist on domestic soil, or should be looking at home-grown terrorist already here on domestic soil? From a strictly spiritual approach, my thoughts lean to, could these killings be the birth pains of satan and his demons making a final, last stand charge against the only lines of demarcation between the Christians community (the police)or, simply stated, as "the good" vs. "the evil" theory?
Many years ago, while working in Los Angeles, a Godly co-worker had a prophetic word. He said; "You know, we are never going to need more Godly law enforcement officers than the day nearer Christ return". This started an hour long conversation that I have never forgotten. We spoke about how in a conventional war, one of the goals of the enemy is to infiltrate the lines in order to break up the ranks. If the enemy can cause confusion and doubt among the troops then the lines of engagement are blurred and thus the enemy can begin to take out the troop’s one at time. There were perils drawn to the Vietnam War. Our talk then turned to the tribulation / pre-and post tribulation and the role of those law enforcement officers that were left behind. Both of us agreed, that neither one of us, wished to be left behind. This conversation took place in the summer of 2005.
Here is my question to each of you. Could we now be seeing a glimpse of things to come? Could we begin to see more attacks on our nation’s law enforcement authority as we erode the last of our nation’s morals? Could what we have seen happening in the West of our nation over the past year explode nationwide as law enforcement officers find themselves smack in the middle of a spiritual battle that they are not prepared for. Are you ready for a spiritual battle? Are you ready to be left behind? Don't be left behind! Make a stand on the side of good, make a stand for God. Be a spiritual strong and Godly law enforcement officer. Just as today's killings illustrate, it can happen anywhere at anytime. Are you praying for your city? Are you performing as the watchman in your town, just as thousands of years before when the watchman Ezekiel stood at the city walls?
Sergeant Sean Gill of McComb MS wrote this poem at my request back on November 19th. I was planning on releasing this poem on the inside of cover of the follow up book to the Peacekeeper’s, but I believe it is both timely and prophetic for this e-mail and I am releasing it here early.
Ezekiel 22: 30 “I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one.”
“Watchmen are We”
Just as our ancient Kinsmen, standing on Jerusalem’s wall,
Though Peace Keepers, Watchmen are we.
Standing in the gap rebuilding after the fall
Against the attacks of darkness protecting all,
On the City's wall, Watchmen are we.
Standing on our City’s wall watchmen are we, praying
For the city’s prosperity all to God’s glory.
Standing on Jerusalem’s wall Peace Keepers,
Watchmen are we.
Though we are Peace Keepers, “servants of God to do good, and an agent of His wrath on the wrongdoers” Romans 13:4, Watchmen are we. This, He tells us in Ezekiel 3: 17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.”
As watchmen on the walls of our Cities He tells us this, “O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen on your walls; they will pray day and night, continually. Take no rest, all you who pray to the Lord.” Isaiah 62: 6. Then Jeremiah 29:7 tells us to, “Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."
Protecting the cities, all that is in our jurisdiction physically, one can see. He has placed as Watchmen on the wall of righteousness that guards the land. In the gap we are to stand, as the tide of darkness attacks, praying for the City’s prosperity, all to His Glory.
Are you ready? Are you praying for your city? Are you speaking life to the citizens with whom you are entrusted to protect and watch over?
May God Bless each one of you, and may he keep you, watch over you and protect you!
In Jesus Name, AMEN!
Most recently, there was a nation news story about the wave of anti-government and anti-authority sentiment going on in the city of Seattle and in the State of Washington area. The Pacific Northwest has long been home to a variety of liberal rights groups to include the Earth Liberation Front (ELF), PETA, and who can forget the World Trade Organization (WTO) riots from just a few years ago in Seattle and most recently in Pittsburg, PA. In which law enforcement officers were the target of vicious attacks. Many of us dismiss this as simply a loosely formed band of left wing, idealist who are unorganized and non violent. But how many of us miss the calculate attacks against law enforcement in general. Remember, evil always hates good.
Should be worried about foreign terrorist on domestic soil, or should be looking at home-grown terrorist already here on domestic soil? From a strictly spiritual approach, my thoughts lean to, could these killings be the birth pains of satan and his demons making a final, last stand charge against the only lines of demarcation between the Christians community (the police)or, simply stated, as "the good" vs. "the evil" theory?
Many years ago, while working in Los Angeles, a Godly co-worker had a prophetic word. He said; "You know, we are never going to need more Godly law enforcement officers than the day nearer Christ return". This started an hour long conversation that I have never forgotten. We spoke about how in a conventional war, one of the goals of the enemy is to infiltrate the lines in order to break up the ranks. If the enemy can cause confusion and doubt among the troops then the lines of engagement are blurred and thus the enemy can begin to take out the troop’s one at time. There were perils drawn to the Vietnam War. Our talk then turned to the tribulation / pre-and post tribulation and the role of those law enforcement officers that were left behind. Both of us agreed, that neither one of us, wished to be left behind. This conversation took place in the summer of 2005.
Here is my question to each of you. Could we now be seeing a glimpse of things to come? Could we begin to see more attacks on our nation’s law enforcement authority as we erode the last of our nation’s morals? Could what we have seen happening in the West of our nation over the past year explode nationwide as law enforcement officers find themselves smack in the middle of a spiritual battle that they are not prepared for. Are you ready for a spiritual battle? Are you ready to be left behind? Don't be left behind! Make a stand on the side of good, make a stand for God. Be a spiritual strong and Godly law enforcement officer. Just as today's killings illustrate, it can happen anywhere at anytime. Are you praying for your city? Are you performing as the watchman in your town, just as thousands of years before when the watchman Ezekiel stood at the city walls?
Sergeant Sean Gill of McComb MS wrote this poem at my request back on November 19th. I was planning on releasing this poem on the inside of cover of the follow up book to the Peacekeeper’s, but I believe it is both timely and prophetic for this e-mail and I am releasing it here early.
Ezekiel 22: 30 “I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one.”
“Watchmen are We”
Just as our ancient Kinsmen, standing on Jerusalem’s wall,
Though Peace Keepers, Watchmen are we.
Standing in the gap rebuilding after the fall
Against the attacks of darkness protecting all,
On the City's wall, Watchmen are we.
Standing on our City’s wall watchmen are we, praying
For the city’s prosperity all to God’s glory.
Standing on Jerusalem’s wall Peace Keepers,
Watchmen are we.
Though we are Peace Keepers, “servants of God to do good, and an agent of His wrath on the wrongdoers” Romans 13:4, Watchmen are we. This, He tells us in Ezekiel 3: 17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.”
As watchmen on the walls of our Cities He tells us this, “O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen on your walls; they will pray day and night, continually. Take no rest, all you who pray to the Lord.” Isaiah 62: 6. Then Jeremiah 29:7 tells us to, “Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."
Protecting the cities, all that is in our jurisdiction physically, one can see. He has placed as Watchmen on the wall of righteousness that guards the land. In the gap we are to stand, as the tide of darkness attacks, praying for the City’s prosperity, all to His Glory.
Are you ready? Are you praying for your city? Are you speaking life to the citizens with whom you are entrusted to protect and watch over?
May God Bless each one of you, and may he keep you, watch over you and protect you!
In Jesus Name, AMEN!
Friday, November 21, 2008
The Power of a Praying Police Officer
Early Prayer Development
Recently, I was saying goodnight prayers with my four year old daughter when I begin to think about our prayers and praying in general. Growing up many of us were taught simple and easy to remember prayers, much like the prayers that my wife and I are teaching our daughter now. for example; "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep". or, "God is great, God is good let me think him for our food". What an outstanding and simple way to lay a spiritual foundation in the lives of our children not only for a belief in God but in establishing a life long foundation of prayer and of faith.
But the question really becomes how many of us actually mature from these child-like prayers into really understanding the power of prayer? .
What is Prayer?
Let's start with some basics. What is prayer? Prayer is quite simply our communication with God, the father. But when and how should we use prayer? Unfortunately, far too many of us don't use it enough. Instead, we relay on prayer as a way to cry out to God for help only during our most difficult and stressful times in our lives. But rarely do we view prayer as our daily communication with God. I call this the Genie in the Bible prayer. We keep God locked away in the Bible until we need Him at the most desperate times and then we pull Him out like some Genie in the bottle (Bible) to hurry up and grant us our three free wishes. And when we don't get our three free wishes we draw ourselves away from God similarly like a child who gathers up their toys from the sandbox to go play with someone else.
Proactive versus Reactive Prayer
In law enforcement we have proactive and reactive policing. Proactive policing is when you search out criminal activity. You keep crime and criminals on the move. For example, you may be doing lots of traffic stops on a drug dealer’s street corner, you may be stopping and talking to prosutues which is making the "john's" drive away. In proactive policing you get into the game and try to make the in-roads within your community as a way to deter crime.
Reactive policing is just the opposite. Maybe you know officers who simply ride the outside rim of their zone, called "rim riders". Maybe, an officer does not want to go into the crime ridden areas and rather simply respond to criminal complaints instead of actual detering the crime.
But have you ever stopped to think that prayer can be the same way? We can pray proactively that God will be done in our area of responsibilities. For example, praying that God will be done in removing drug dealers from our communities. That God will be using you to be the 'gatekeeper' for your city and in your area of responsibility. That you will allow God to use you as His tool to do His will in your area of concern and responsibility.
Some Excuses We Use
We can find all types of excuses not to pray proactively. Maybe, you have known people who have said; " I don't want to bother God because, well, "He is so big and I am so small and He has so much stuff to do with wars, hunger, poverty, and injustice found in the world today that I wouldn't even consider bothering our Lord for His time". How far from the truth this can be. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Some Great Examples of Prayer
A great example of a prayer can be found in Matthew 6:9-13. These verses are known as the Lord's prayer. Most of us know the Lord's prayer but did you also know that the Lord's prayer is not a prayer we are supposed to memorize and simply recite to God. It is only an example of how to pray and the things that should go into a prayer. Things such as worship, trust in God, requests, confession, protection, Pray for these kinds of things, but speak to God using your own words.
We need to also remember that our prayers being answered is not based on the eloquence of our prayers. We don't have to use certain words or phrases to get God to answer our prayers. In fact, Jesus rebukes those who pray using repetitions, "And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him" (Matthew 6:7-8).
Never forget that Prayer is your direct communication with God. And you don't need any intercessor to do it for you.
The Power of Prayer
There is no magic formula to prayer and as previously stated God is not to be used like some magic Genie in the Bible. It is important to understand that the power of prayer is not the result of the person praying. Rather, the power that resides in God who is being prayed to. 1 John 5:14-15 tells us, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him." No matter the person praying, the passion behind the prayer, or the purpose of the prayer - God answers prayers that are in agreement with His will. His answers are not always yes, but are always in our best interest. When our desires line up with His will, then we will come to understand that in time, when we pray passionately and purposefully, according to God's will, God responds powerfully! Then we won't gather up our toys and go to another sandbox but instead we will rejoyce in the Lord during both the good and the bad times of our lives.
Prayer in the Hands of the Police
Now that we have established what prayer is, then the question becomes why don't we as peace officers utilize it more often? Can you image the power of God working through our law enforcement officers in order to battle the strongholds in your city? Can you image what transformations could begin in our cities if officers earnestly began to pray about their own individual area of responsibility?
Can you as a peacekeeper for Christ, set aside any any false ideas of prayer being about 'religious obligations' or about 'wasting' God time, but instead use the power of prayer to allow God to transform your communities.
Never forget what God's word in Philippians 4:13 states; "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me".
More excerpts to come! From the forthcoming book "Dispatched By God" COMING IN 2009 by Michael Dye
Recently, I was saying goodnight prayers with my four year old daughter when I begin to think about our prayers and praying in general. Growing up many of us were taught simple and easy to remember prayers, much like the prayers that my wife and I are teaching our daughter now. for example; "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep". or, "God is great, God is good let me think him for our food". What an outstanding and simple way to lay a spiritual foundation in the lives of our children not only for a belief in God but in establishing a life long foundation of prayer and of faith.
But the question really becomes how many of us actually mature from these child-like prayers into really understanding the power of prayer? .
What is Prayer?
Let's start with some basics. What is prayer? Prayer is quite simply our communication with God, the father. But when and how should we use prayer? Unfortunately, far too many of us don't use it enough. Instead, we relay on prayer as a way to cry out to God for help only during our most difficult and stressful times in our lives. But rarely do we view prayer as our daily communication with God. I call this the Genie in the Bible prayer. We keep God locked away in the Bible until we need Him at the most desperate times and then we pull Him out like some Genie in the bottle (Bible) to hurry up and grant us our three free wishes. And when we don't get our three free wishes we draw ourselves away from God similarly like a child who gathers up their toys from the sandbox to go play with someone else.
Proactive versus Reactive Prayer
In law enforcement we have proactive and reactive policing. Proactive policing is when you search out criminal activity. You keep crime and criminals on the move. For example, you may be doing lots of traffic stops on a drug dealer’s street corner, you may be stopping and talking to prosutues which is making the "john's" drive away. In proactive policing you get into the game and try to make the in-roads within your community as a way to deter crime.
Reactive policing is just the opposite. Maybe you know officers who simply ride the outside rim of their zone, called "rim riders". Maybe, an officer does not want to go into the crime ridden areas and rather simply respond to criminal complaints instead of actual detering the crime.
But have you ever stopped to think that prayer can be the same way? We can pray proactively that God will be done in our area of responsibilities. For example, praying that God will be done in removing drug dealers from our communities. That God will be using you to be the 'gatekeeper' for your city and in your area of responsibility. That you will allow God to use you as His tool to do His will in your area of concern and responsibility.
Some Excuses We Use
We can find all types of excuses not to pray proactively. Maybe, you have known people who have said; " I don't want to bother God because, well, "He is so big and I am so small and He has so much stuff to do with wars, hunger, poverty, and injustice found in the world today that I wouldn't even consider bothering our Lord for His time". How far from the truth this can be. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Some Great Examples of Prayer
A great example of a prayer can be found in Matthew 6:9-13. These verses are known as the Lord's prayer. Most of us know the Lord's prayer but did you also know that the Lord's prayer is not a prayer we are supposed to memorize and simply recite to God. It is only an example of how to pray and the things that should go into a prayer. Things such as worship, trust in God, requests, confession, protection, Pray for these kinds of things, but speak to God using your own words.
We need to also remember that our prayers being answered is not based on the eloquence of our prayers. We don't have to use certain words or phrases to get God to answer our prayers. In fact, Jesus rebukes those who pray using repetitions, "And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him" (Matthew 6:7-8).
Never forget that Prayer is your direct communication with God. And you don't need any intercessor to do it for you.
The Power of Prayer
There is no magic formula to prayer and as previously stated God is not to be used like some magic Genie in the Bible. It is important to understand that the power of prayer is not the result of the person praying. Rather, the power that resides in God who is being prayed to. 1 John 5:14-15 tells us, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him." No matter the person praying, the passion behind the prayer, or the purpose of the prayer - God answers prayers that are in agreement with His will. His answers are not always yes, but are always in our best interest. When our desires line up with His will, then we will come to understand that in time, when we pray passionately and purposefully, according to God's will, God responds powerfully! Then we won't gather up our toys and go to another sandbox but instead we will rejoyce in the Lord during both the good and the bad times of our lives.
Prayer in the Hands of the Police
Now that we have established what prayer is, then the question becomes why don't we as peace officers utilize it more often? Can you image the power of God working through our law enforcement officers in order to battle the strongholds in your city? Can you image what transformations could begin in our cities if officers earnestly began to pray about their own individual area of responsibility?
Can you as a peacekeeper for Christ, set aside any any false ideas of prayer being about 'religious obligations' or about 'wasting' God time, but instead use the power of prayer to allow God to transform your communities.
Never forget what God's word in Philippians 4:13 states; "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me".
More excerpts to come! From the forthcoming book "Dispatched By God" COMING IN 2009 by Michael Dye
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