Understanding Spiritual Warfare

Can’t Avoid Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Ken

“No one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name” (Revelation 13:17 NKJV). 

Technology is the application of knowledge for the practical implementation of God’s command, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Genesis 1:28). 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is technology. 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the capability of computational systems to perform tasks typically associated with human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, problem/solving, perception, and decision-making. 

If humanity succeeds in its stewardship of the earth, then the Almighty will receive the glory. “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created” (Revelation 4:11). 

If humanity fails in its Original Commission, then the Man of Sin will be worshipped in the place of God. “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (2Thessalonians 2:3-4). 

If the outcome of prophecy cannot be avoided, then why bother attempting to stop the inevitable? 

God cannot always wisely prevent sin, but woe to the one who commits sin!

“Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes” (Matthew 18:7). 

The good of the moral choices made for God far exceeds the evil for our failure. Every choice for good is a choice for God, and God is greater than all. This was disputed by Lucifer, which he continues to dispute, until the Almighty confirms the conclusion of Lucifer’s choice by justly tormenting him “for ever and ever” (Revelation 20:10) in the Lake of Fire. 

The best of all possible worlds must be the work of an All Wise Creator. It must be in the best interests of good that an All Wise God chooses to seek His own glory as the sum purpose for all existence, for “no one is good but One, that is, God” (Matthew 19:17; Mark 10:18). 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) represents another effort of man to increase productivity. 

(1) Aid in accomplishing the burdensome, repetitive, tedious aspects of a job are especially appreciated by workers, who use AI, much in the way automation was embraced — and, feared by the Luddites — in the Industrial Revolution. New skills and job opportunities were found, while large numbers of old skills and laborers’ jobs were eliminated, giving efficiencies, cost savings, and profitability to organizations and businesses employing the automation. Some observe that AI may replace 80% of skills, but the last 20% will make you irreplaceable. 

[a] On technology: “I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions” (Proverbs 8:12 KJV). 

[b] On job security: “Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:30 NKJV). 

[c] On the rightness of profitability: “14 Again, it [the Kingdom of Heaven] will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. Master, he said, you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more. 21 His master replied, Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness! 22 The man with two bags of gold also came. Master, he said, you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more. 23 His master replied, Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness! 24 Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. Master, he said, I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you. 26 His master replied, You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28 So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:14-30 NIV). 

[d] On the wrongness of greed: “So he said, I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry. But God said to him, Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided? So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:18-21 NKJV). 

[e] On the value of a human: “29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor? 30 Then Jesus answered and said: A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you. 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He who showed mercy on him. Then Jesus said to him, Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:29-37). 

(2) The failure of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is our deficiency in understanding the scope and limitations of Large Language Models (LLM). Some see embracing AI can make you worse at your job, as when AI generated responses to online patient portal questions must be checked by physicians to see if it is something they would really say, and not a hallucination. 

[a] Privacy. The reluctance of some in embracing the scale of AI lies in the idea of the privacy of information, specifically collected about you and I. Who has the right to our private information of identity, banking, health, employment, etc.? “You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:16 NKJV). Do we sacrifice our privacy to build LLMs, which can better serve and profile us? Have we not already sacrificed that privacy through our online browsing and search queries, which track and profile us for advertising purposes? 

[b] Ownership. If government would not support our security of life and liberty through due process, then governmentally, we would have no practical ownership of physical or intellectual property. An unregulated AI would fracture ownership of our identity through its vast accumulation of information about us. Whoever is the ultimate controller of information about us is the one who truly knows us. Our true safeguard is God knows us. “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: The Lord knows those who are His, and, Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2Timothy 2:19).

[c] Responsibility. We are responsible for the information AI collects about us through virtually every aspect of our lives. Paranoia assumes AI knows everything, but God alone knows all. Only the Almighty has unlimited power. “God has spoken once, Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God” (Psalm 62:11). Our adversary the devil and his minions are so much greater than we that they may seem all powerful, but that is what they want you to think. Jesus has taken all responsibility for everything by His plain declaration. “All authority [Greek, exousia, power] has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). We can rest assured “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11). 

[d] Liability. Humanity universally disavows and disowns responsibility for the misuse of information, which would cost them their liberty or financial resources. Liability drives the self-preservation of bureaucracy more than any stated purpose of organization. In its worst case, the misuse of AI would result in the abuse of humanity requiring the worship of someone other than the Almighty Creator. “9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name” (Revelation 14:9, 11). 

[e] Inevitability. Has the AI tsunami already taken sufficient hold that the reluctant have embraced it, much as possession of a Social Security Number (SSN) by some conservative, Christian Americans in 1935 was initially viewed as taking the Mark of the Beast? But, until an identifying mark requires worship of the Antichrist, it is not the final assurance of perdition promised by God. “9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name” (Revelation 14:9-11 NKJV). 

In conclusion, the erosion of cognitive thinking skills among the young may indicate a need for a type of AI Fast, a selective avoidance of AI for the preservation of cognitive thinking. Promoting AI more as a tutor in many areas would be acceptable. Our ability to seek and know God must be that which distinguishes us from all else. “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (Philippians 3:10). Our seeking God cannot be constrained by the limitations of Artificial Intelligence, since God wants our whole heart. “Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2Corinthians 10:5). 

Mind of Christ

Ken

“For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ” (1Corinthians 2:16 NKJV).

No one can instruct the LORD; and yet, we have the mind of Christ through the presence of His Indwelling Spirit. “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His” (Romans 8:9). 

What is the relationship of our mind and spirit? 

“Be renewed in the spirit [Greek, pneuma, life] of your mind [Greek, nous, intellectual faculty]” (Ephesians 4:23). 

Paul’s connection of “spirit” with “mind” indicates our life is intimately linked with our thoughts. God’s Spirit is so closely a part of us, we share His thoughts; yet, we do not instruct Him. We have the benefit of supernaturally understanding His wisdom, while receiving the benefit of not expiring from the revelation. Paul was caught up to the Third Heaven (2Corinthians 12:3), which is the Throne of God. [Note: The First Heaven is our atmosphere, while the Second Heaven is interstellar space.] Possibly Paul had experienced an out of body experience, after having  been stoned at Lystra and being left for dead, “when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe” (Acts 14:20). He recounts that experience as “how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter” (2Corinthians 12:4). 

This is perhaps an unusual instance of experiencing the mind of Christ, but any disciple may experience the mind of Christ on a continual basis. Not being caught up into the Third Heaven, but receiving understanding from the mind of Christ, is our legacy. 

Consider the following about the mind of Christ: 

First, NORMAL. Possession of the mind of Christ is not an aberration or anomaly, but normal. “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ” (1Corinthians 2:16). We should embrace the mind of Christ in our life, as we would expect physical laws to apply to our ordinary existence. 

Second, PRACTICEABLE. Once we become accustomed to realizing the Holy Spirit inhabits our thought life, we need to practice God’s instructions on thinking. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think [Greek, logizomai, consider, reckon, take into account] on these things” (Philippians 4:8 KJV). 

Third, DISCIPLINED. Carelessly entertaining thoughts about anything is an open invitation for the adversary to establish a stronghold in our thought life. “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (1Corinthians 9:27). A disciplined thought life is not a straight jacket but a release from being overcome by the enemy. “So shall they fear The name of the LORD from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him” (Isaiah 59:19). It’s not a question if the enemy comes, but when. The spirit of a disciplined one will be victorious over our enemy. 

Fourth, CONVERSATIONAL. The LORD told me. I was impressed by the LORD. God is not limited by conventions, traditions, culture, or history in communicating with humanity, especially His people. How startled would you be, if the Almighty spoke to you, as He did to Phillip? “26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is desert. 27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, Go near and overtake this chariot” (Acts 8:26-29). All God is concerned about is you knowing that He is speaking to you. Remember, Christians have long maintained God speaks to them when they obey commandments from Scripture, e.g., The LORD told me I should do this.

Fifth, DEVELOPED. God speaks to our mind is as varied as there are different people. Our concept of the mind of Christ will be developed by our individual experience and our understanding of the Word of God. For example, Eli the priest discerned that Samuel the youth had encountered the LORD, when he repeatedly rose from his bed to find out what Eli wanted. After informing Samuel he did not call him, Eli realized the LORD was trying to communicate with Samuel. “8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here I am, for you did call me. Then Eli perceived that the LORD had called the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 Now the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, Samuel! Samuel! And Samuel answered, Speak, for Your servant hears. 11 Then the LORD said to Samuel: Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle” (1Samuel 3:8-11). 

So, whenever you hear a brother or sister tell you, The LORD told me…, evaluate their words in light of Scripture. 

We are living in the Last Days, since Scripture says, “[God] has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds” (Hebrews 1:2). Peter at Pentecost understood he was living in the Last Days, when he cited the prophet Joel. “But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams” (Acts 2:16-17). 

Sixth, CAPTIVE. We are to bring captive or under control every thought to the obedience of Christ. This is not a feat of mental dexterity but spiritual obedience. “Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2Corinthians 10:5). 

Seventh, HUMBLE. Just when you think you have an idea of what is going on, you are humbled to find you haven’t listened to the Holy Spirit as well as you thought. “5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:5-8, 12-13 NKJV). 

Paul warned of just such an unhumbling experience, of which Solomon also warned. “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18 NKJV). 

“12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1Corinthians 10:12-13 NKJV). 

But, praise be to our Always Faithful God, He has given us promise of a way to escape pride (1Corinthians 10:13). 

God will humble us by: 

(1) Our taking heed that we stand lest we fall (1Corinthians 10:12), 

(2) Our restoration from falling from grace. “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1 NKJV). 

(3) Our Spiritual Warfare against Evil Angels, who trouble us as thorns in the flesh to keep us from being exalted above measure. “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger [Greek, aggelos, angel] of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure” (2Corinthians 12:7 NKJV). 

(4) Our obedience in working out our salvation through His working in us. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:5-8, 12-13 NKJV). 

Heavenly Father, You are Faithful. Grant to us a faithful, humble, obedient heart. Teach us to pay better attention to the Mind of Christ. We rejoice in Your faithfulness, for we know none of us would ever stand in Your presence unless You make us to stand. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Your name, we pray. Amen.

Aggressive Christianity

Ken

“Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5 NKJV). Jesus was the epitome of meekness. He endured all the slander against being an illegitimate child, born out of wedlock by Mary without defending Himself, but when His Father’s House was dishonored by the money changers, He defended His Father by driving them out of the Temple grounds. “Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves” (Matthew 21:12-13). 

How does the meekness of Christ square with His statement about John’s ministry?

“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12). 

Is violence, or the use of physical force, necessary to establish the Kingdom of God? 

No.   

The Zealots and other sects seemed to think so, but that is not what Jesus meant. He was seeking a Spiritual Kingdom now, and an Earthly Kingdom later in the Millennium. “Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone” (John 6:15). 

So, what did Jesus mean with His remark, “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12)? From the time of the ministry of John the Baptist until the ministry of Christ, violent opposition came from Herod and those rejecting the baptism of John; also, those who were ready for the King’s advent were straining themselves to the utmost [violence] to enter that kingdom. John the Baptist was the prophesied OT voice crying, “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God” (Isaiah 40:3). If they understood not the prophecy of the King’s herald, then they would reject the herald’s Messiah. “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it” (Luke 16:16). 

What are the aggressive trademarks of the Holy Spirit? 

First, ALIVE. The Holy Spirit is anything but inert. He is everything that God is, and not a lifeless gas. “But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God” (Acts 5:3-4). Likewise, Spirit filled Christians are also not lifeless, but living the life of Christ. “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). 

Second, POWERFUL. The Holy Spirit is a brooding power, just as the “Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:2) in the beginning. He is the power, wherever God’s power can be found in both the natural and supernatural. “For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power” (1Corinthians 4:20). Likewise, Christians have been promised the energizing power of the Holy Spirit to witness for Christ, primarily to convert the sinner, who witnesses the dynamic Christ powered life being lived in disciples. “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). 

Third, OPPORTUNISTIC. The Holy Spirit is that Spirit of Christ, which finds opportunity seeking out ways for the salvation of sinners. “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). Likewise, Christians make it their business to find ways to reach those around them for Christ. “Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). 

Fourth, RELENTLESS. The Spirit of Christ relentlessly seeks to the uttermost His prey, which are the souls of man. “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). Likewise, Paul was also relentless in his delivery of the Gospel message, so much so that large gatherings of even Gentiles sought to stop him. “Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands” (Acts 19:26). 

Fifth, INVASIVE. The Holy Spirit is not a physical agent, such as a gas, which spreads out and dissipates, but He is the agent of God’s power purposely targeting and invading an objective unbeknownst to man. “Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them” (Acts 16:6-7). Likewise, when Christians have been impressed by God — the LORD told me to do this — who are we to object? [Unless they say they are being ‘directed’ to do something forbidden by Scripture, such as, worshiping someone other than the LORD.] “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, Come over to Macedonia and help us. Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them” (Acts 16:9-10). 

Sixth, IMPORTUNATE. The Holy Spirit is importunate, demanding, and insistent. He may quietly appear to have given up, without having given up. The definition of importunate is “urgent or persistent in solicitation, sometimes annoyingly so.” In Christ’s parable of the widow and the unjust judge, think of the widow as depicting the importunity of the Holy Spirit, and the Father playing the part of the unjust judge, of course, for dramatic purposes only. 

“1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, Get justice for me from my adversary. 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 6 Then the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:1-8). 

It is apparent that we are to be importunate as the Holy Spirit is. 

Seventh, VICTORIOUS. The Holy Spirit will always be victorious in the end, as shall we. Even the NT opponents of the disciples of Jesus confessed the foolhardiness of fighting God. “And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God” (Acts 5:38-39). Likewise, the Christian characteristic of “victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1John 5:4), was demonstrated by Stephen, the first Christian martyr, in his last words. “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” (Acts 7:56). 

Father, may we be meek like Jesus. Help us to exhibit the marks of the aggressiveness of a Spirit filled disciple. Cause us not to be confused with the aggression of the world, which promotes not Jesus. Enliven Your people by Your Spirit that we may be used to bring in Your Kingdom. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Your name, we pray. Amen and amen.

On Physical and Spiritual Healing

Ken

No doubt, Christ physically healed the sick because the Messiah was promised to be both a physical and spiritual healer. “When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses” (Matthew 8:16-17 NKJV). This is the NT demonstration of Isaiah’s prophecy. “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). 

Some argue that healing is not to be expected from Christ’s atonement, since all do not appear to be physically healed after receiving the New Birth. But, should the lack of physical healing stop us from trying, any more than the lack of someone repenting and receiving the Gospel stop us from attempting to give them the Gospel? Of course not. “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:9). 

Should the lack of casting out of demons stop us from trying again? No. Jesus corrected the clumsy attempt of His disciples, giving them valuable instruction to do better next time. “And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, Why could we not cast it out? So He said to them, This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:28-29). 

Should we have a greater expectations of physical and spiritual deliverance? Yes. If God’s Spirit is exciting us to pray for that physical or spiritual deliverance, then we should take that as an indication of His willingness to fulfill that request. “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26).

We need to be constantly in step with the Holy Spirit that we would be so inclined to pray according to His will. “Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (8:27). 

We must remember that prayer is not an incantation to change God’s mind to act for us, though He is especially willing to act to defend His glory. “You shall not be terrified of them; for the Lord your God, the great and awesome God, is among you” (Deuteronomy 7:21). 

If God will only do that which is conducive of His highest glory, why would He listen to the prayers of mere men, unless by His Spirit He placed the necessity for the prayer request in their hearts? “Thus says the Lord, The Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: Ask Me of things to come concerning My sons; And concerning the work of My hands, you command Me” (Isaiah 45:11). 

What if our doctrine and experience falls short of others’ doctrine or experience? “Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you” (Philippians 3:15).

Let us always be open to receiving understanding from the Word of God to improve our conduct. “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). 

May God unite His people in a universal quest to follow Jesus. “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps” (1Peter 2:21). 

And, if He should choose suffering for us in this particular instance and not healing, let us be willing to suffer. “And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2Corinthians 12:9). 

Life is growing more than dying. May Christ’s Church be  reinvigorated by healing and spiritual deliverance more than succumbing to the death all around us. “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2). 

Father, cause us to pray-on for spiritual and physical deliverance. We know You are “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2Peter 3:9), and “there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:14). But, inspire us to “compel [others] to come in, that [Your] house may be filled” (Luke 14:23). Likewise, inspire us to pray for spiritual and physical healing, that You may be glorified for the deliverance. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Why Do We Not Hear the Voice of God?

Ken

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27 NKJV). Every born again, Spirit indwelt Christian must have had the life changing occasion of repenting of their sins, turning in faith to Jesus Christ, and committing their life to Jesus Christ to follow Him, which baptism epitomizes. “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” (Titus 3:5 NKJV). 

If we began listening to Jesus, who is “the Word [that] became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14 NKJV), and we began following Him, then what has changed now? 

Nothing. 

Why Do We Not Hear the Voice of God? 

First, not just Professed Christianity, but humanity in general, we all have heard the Voice of God in the Natural World, whether we realize it or not, or we have acknowledged it or not. 

“1 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. 2 Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard” (Psalms 19:1-3 NKJV). 

Second, if “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17 NKJV), indicating God has always been speaking and revealing Himself to everyone through the Natural World and more, then why doesn’t everyone thank Him? Ingratitude. 

“Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Romans 1:21 NKJV). 

Third, if we are to be “bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2Corinthians 10:5 NKJV), then how could we not be continually hearing God’s Voice, unless we suddenly became thoughtless? 

Of course, this leaves us open to the ridicule of the humanists commenting on God’s Voice speaking to us. But, did not Paul warn us, “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1Corinthians 2:14 NKJV)? Either we abandon this idea of God’s Word speaking to us, or we embrace it entirely and see what God will do. 

Fourth, any effort to gain the applause of the world for Christ without an overriding desire of converting them, would encourage us not to hear the Voice of God, and would discourage us from acting like God was speaking to us as a friend, because we would be losing credibility with the world. “So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend” (Exodus 33:11 NKJV). “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” (John 15:14 NKJV). 

Fifth, when we waver and apostatize in our heart, we will not hear God intelligibly speaking to us. “Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word” (John 8:43 NKJV). Apostasy is not merely departing wholesale from the faith and being consigned to perdition, but it does mean to choose to stand away from a previously held, but correct position. We attempt to distance ourselves from being labeled apostate, because it carries theological baggage of an unpardonable sin. 

But, the only unpardonable sin is “he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation” (Mark 3:29 NKJV). If the Holy Spirit is our only means of repenting, then to obstinately resist His influence, makes the sin we will not repent of, the unpardonable sin. How do we know we will repent? We never can know we’ll repent, unless “God perhaps will grant [us] repentance, so that [we] may know the truth” (2Timothy 2:25 NKJV). Again, since our future repentance can never be certain, further resistance is not only futile, but immediate repentance is the greatest relief to our soul. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2Corinthians 6:2 NKJV). 

Sixth, many in the Church comprehend the concept of God speaking to us from the Word of God, but somehow divorce the Voice of God from comprehensively influencing everything, as if God cannot direct us absolutely about everything. How can this be? 

“18 Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him. 19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem; You shall weep no more. He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; When He hears it, He will answer you. 20 And though the Lord gives you The bread of adversity and the water of affliction, Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, But your eyes shall see your teachers. 21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk in it, Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:18-21 NKJV). 

Seventh, Is it better to not hear the Voice of God, or should we continue asking, “Where is the LORD God of Elijah?” (2Kings 2:14 NKJV). Or, should we join the scoffers, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation” (2Peter 3:4 NKJV). If they don’t see anything different, should we disappoint them? Or, should we join with the prophet, “Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19 NKJV)? 

If we hear the Voice of God, do we suddenly have all our prayers answered, all of our problems suddenly become solved, and humanity immediately submits to Jesus? 

No. 

“When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8 NKJV).

What Does It Mean to Hear the Voice of God? 

First, we are only returning to where humanity was in the first place. “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat” (Genesis 2:16 NKJV). Adam heard the Voice of God from the beginning. 

Second, doubting the Voice of God is doubting God, which is what the Serpent intended. “Has God indeed said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” (Genesis 3:1 NKJV). 

Third, separation from God and not hearing His voice, is a consequence of that first sin; but, most important humanity died (Genesis 2:17), and all of man’s capacities, such as the prodigious understanding and capacity of Adam to name all the animal kingdom (2:20) perished or was diminished. “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12 NKJV). 

Fourth, unfamiliarity with the Voice of God now breeds thoughts in which God does not inhabit. “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts” (Psalm 10:4 KJV). 

Fifth, God must show us again how to hear His Voice, or we will miss what God is accomplishing in the world, just as Peter was taught by the Voice of God, how the Gentiles we’re now part of the Family of God. “Then Peter opened his mouth and said: In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality” (Acts 10:34 NKJV). 

Sixth, ignorance of the Word of God is a breeding ground for false prophets to misguide and abuse the Church of Christ about the Voice of God. If the Body of Christ is already this divided some 2,000 years after Christ ascended back into Heaven, then will the Tribulation Saints after the Rapture of the Church be deceived by the unifying, miracle working, death defying, charismatic, new leader? Will that Antichrist deceive them into accepting him as their messiah? They will not follow him and will be martyred for their lack of submission. “When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth? Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed” (Revelation 6:9-11 NKJV).  

Seventh, so, the next time someone who calls themself a brother or sister in Christ says, The LORD told me… , allow the Spirit of God to show you whether or not they speak on their own authority, or whether or not they speak consistently with the Word of God. “If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority” (John 7:17 NKJV). According to Jesus, all you need is a willing heart to do the will of God, in order to discern if the doctrine, teaching, or prophetic declaration is truly from God. Are you ready to do it? This is exactly how the Early Church had to determine the canonicity of proposed books for NT Scripture. Do you have a willing heart to do the will of God?

Isn’t it about time to re-evaluate where we stand? 

Spiritual Discernment

Ken

Spiritual discernment is spiritual judgment, which is a capability of all those who have received the indwelling Holy Spirit. Our ability to act upon spiritual things is based upon our ability to discern and understand them. 

“14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned [Greek, anakrinō, discerned]. 15 But he who is spiritual judges [Greek, anakrinō, discerns] all things, yet he himself is rightly judged [Greek, anakrinō, discerned] by no one” (1Corinthians 2:14-15 NKJV). 

How do we discern the Voice of the Holy Spirit? 

First, God’s Voice must be consistent with His Word, for the Spirit of God is the author of Scripture. “For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2Peter 1:21 NKJV). 

Second, God’s Voice must not be contradictory to already understood Scripture; otherwise, it is not God’s Voice, or we did not properly understand what we thought we already understood. “Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35 NKJV). 

Third, God’s Voice must be discerned, or we will be deceived by false prophets. “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1John 4:1 NKJV). 

Fourth, God’s Voice must be discerned, because we are supposed to be Christ’s sheep, and all of His sheep know His Voice. “4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.  5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:4, 5, 27 NKJV). 

Fifth, God’s Voice can be discerned by comparing spiritual things with spiritual things, that is, comparing everything to the already understood and discerned Word of God. Something may initially sound correct, but God’s Spirit may give us discomfort about receiving something as His Voice, until it becomes clear. “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1Corinthians 2:13 NKJV). 

Sixth, we already were supposed to be searching the Scriptures to affirm whether anything being taught us was according to Scripture, determining the Voice of God. “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11 NKJV). 

Seventh, we need to be careful about receiving someone claiming to give us the Voice of God, since it may be a test from the LORD to see if we will hold true to what we already know He commanded us. 

The Sad But Cautionary Tale of the Disobedient Prophet (1Kings 13:1-34). This story is so alarming, it would seem to make the Almighty uncaring about His prophets, but it emphasizes how much He values obedience from us all. Yet, the LORD said, “Do not touch My anointed ones, And do My prophets no harm” (1Chronicles 16:22 NKJV). 

Father, we come before You, asking for the discernment You expect from us, that we may do the work You appointed for us. Allow not Your people to be deceived by the wicked one. Mark us as those, who cannot be deceived because we know Your Voice. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Your name, we pray. Amen.

How to Find God

Ken

“And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13 KJV). God makes it sound so easy for something humanity has gone to extremes to achieve. “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). If God is more interested in our salvation than we are, then shouldn’t our salvation be a higher priority for Him than us? “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2Peter 3:9).  Even if we think we found Him, how do we think we are able to hold on until we come into His heavenly presence? “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2Peter 1:4). If God has been in the process of seeking us throughout the history of humanity, how has He equipped us not to be overcome by the adversary? “And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27). Just because we began our walk with Him, will we make it to the end? “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). Hallelujah! Father, complete Your good work in me! Return quickly. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Latent Unbelief (You Can, But Won’t)

Ken

“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till He come and rain righteousness upon you” (Hosea 10:12 KJV). 

Warning: This is the lie we tell ourselves. 

LORD, I believe You can save, heal, or deliver this person I’m concerned about, but I really don’t think You will, because I don’t think You care as much about my concerns than for the obviously dire circumstances of others faraway. 

Whenever the people of God become weary in well doing, we begin to see prayer as only a way to change God’s mind about what we want Him to do, instead of prayer conforming us better to His Perfect Will. 

“Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied Him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and He delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?” (Malachi 2:17). 

When we are concerned about anything more than His glory, then we are gradually and insidiously building up resistance against the Most High. This is the fallow ground of our hearts that must again be broken up, in order for the Almighty to manifest His righteousness in us. His timing is always the right timing, and His actions are always right. 

“Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you” (1Peter 5:7). 

Father, forgive me for my unbelief, for now I understand You love me more than I ever knew. Come, Holy Spirit, and fill Your Church with a powerful revelation of Jesus. Almighty God, create in me a new heart of faith and love. Justify Yourself, for You are right in all You do. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Opposition Research

Ken

“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44 KJV). The devil is a liar and murderer. Satan would kill us all, if he could. The best way for him to hurt God is to hurt us. “Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of Thy wings” (Psalm 17:8). Deliver the world from sin and sinning is the best way to thwart the devil. The Gospel is the most efficient way to snatch sinners out of the clutches of the devil. “Through death He [Christ] might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14). Teaching the Church to abide in Christ is the most effective means of keeping the Church out of the snares of the wicked one. “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25 NIV).

How Not to Sin (Abide in Christ)

Ken

“Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! It is necessary that stumbling blocks come, but woe to the person through whom they come” (Matthew 18:7 NET). Sin was never a necessity. Ever since angels and humanity made their choice against the Almighty, the stumbling blocks of sin have been present in the world. For God to prevent all sin, moral agents would no longer have choice. God cannot always wisely prevent sin; however, where Jesus is, sin is not, and where sin is, Jesus is not. “Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him” (1John 3:6 KJV). 

What a minute! 

Whoever continues and abides in Him is not sinning. 

Okay, that is logical and reasonable. 

But, “whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him” (1John 3:6). 

Isn’t that extreme? 

Not really. 

The Holy Spirit testifies we are not sinning, when we are abiding and continuing with Him. That is a comfort to us. 

However, when we are presently sinning and in rebellion against Him, for sin is the transgressing of God’s law (1John 3:4), then why should the Holy Spirit comfort us? He instead says I never knew you. 

Can you blame Him? 

“Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him” (1John 3:6). 

Abiding in Jesus prevents sin. 

And, that is only a byproduct of our need to see Jesus as the foundation and source of our faith. 

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). 

We need only to explore the vastness and importance of dwelling in Christ. 

“But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). 

“According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2Peter 1:3-4). 

Father, we desire to be like Jesus. Help us to abide in Christ. May our pursuit of Jesus yield the peaceable fruit of holiness. Cause Your Spirit to work in us to produce the character and image of Christ. Keep us from pursuing an Accidental or Incidental Christianity. May our pursuit of Jesus be stronger than even our hatred of sinning. Work in us to will and to do of Your good pleasure. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Your name, we pray. Amen.