The forest folded as I walked
into the great unknown
but carried on with slower pace
searched till the path was shown
past dew and damp and sticking thorns
down to a wandering creek
and there I stopped to contemplate
what future I should seek
just as I did a minnow jumped
beneath a floating branch
a darting cloud of tiny bugs
flew by as if by chance
and as I stood there lost in thought
a beam of sun shone through
down to my knees there in the mud
to follow what was true
all that I've done was just for me
like all I'd gone astray
He was the Lamb who shed His blood
for me, to show the way
Sunday, July 16, 2017
Sunday, July 9, 2017
Spiritual Warfare
This is a review of the book - Spiritual Warfare - by Derek Prince, which I received from it's publisher Chosen Books.
Derek Prince, who died 2003 in Jerusalem, has always been one of my favorite spiritual authors and speakers. His teachings via books or tapes or through his radio broadcasts were very influential in the early days of the Charismatic Renewal as well as in my life personally. One time I even heard him speak and watched him direct a team of healing ministers on a visit to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where I was living at the time.
He leaves behind a ministry organization which continues his radio broadcasts, distributes his thousands of writings, tapes, books and videos which go throughout the world, and from time to time they put his material together in book form. HERE is a link where I have blogged about another of his posthumous books which includes a story from his visit in Kalamazoo.
I have read quite a number of other books dealing with spiritual warfare and deliverance, including what I consider one of the classics by Prince called Deliver Us From Evil. This book - Spiritual Warfare - is quite different from the others in that it does not go into any details about deliverance or provide lists of spiritual strong holds for the reader to confess and apply the Word of God to. And in my opinion the center part of the book reflects a view of an overcoming Church in the last days which I have several problems with.
That said the teaching presented at beginning and end could not be more powerful or timely for today. Let me summarize it with one Scriptural verse from Revelation 12:11:
They overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony
This was made into a powerful worship song which takes this Scripture verse and brings it to us as a statement of faith: "We have overcome, by the blood of the Lamb and the strength of our testimony."
Here are some of the spiritual principles that Prince wants every believer to understand. I am only going to high lite just a few.
First, evil is a person, not a thing. We are in a struggle with the ruler of darkness who has evil spiritual minions assigned to torment us and to pull us away from the knowledge and love of the Father. Much of what we think is a physical or psychological struggle in our lives is actually a spiritual struggle with spiritual beings involved.
Second, by His death and resurrection Jesus has defeated the evil one and his forces. Because we have surrendered our lives to Jesus as Lord and Savior we have divine authority to overcome the kingdom of darkness.
Third, even though redeemed our ignorance of this spiritual battle empowers the evil one. Plus things that we do in the spiritual or attitudes we have, such as unforgiveness or harboring sin, give the evil one and his forces a legal right to torment and deceive us.
Fourth, we have three main weapons to use against evil spirits and their deceptions. These would be the Word of God (knowing and understanding the truth of Scripture), the blood of the Lamb (it is the shed blood of Jesus that both redeems us and gives us the legal right to defeat the evil forces), and the word of our testimony (we must declare the truth of the Word as well as declare, not just the blood of Jesus, but that we have authority because Jesus shed His blood for us, for me personally).
When we declare the Word, and testify to the shed blood for us, the Holy Spirit will always be at work. He is the true power behind everything we do.
In the last couple of chapters Derek Prince teaches quite a bit about the blood of Jesus and how to apply it to the situation in our lives. This is something that all Christians should understand and a main part of what makes Spiritual Warfare an important read.
Derek Prince, who died 2003 in Jerusalem, has always been one of my favorite spiritual authors and speakers. His teachings via books or tapes or through his radio broadcasts were very influential in the early days of the Charismatic Renewal as well as in my life personally. One time I even heard him speak and watched him direct a team of healing ministers on a visit to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where I was living at the time.
He leaves behind a ministry organization which continues his radio broadcasts, distributes his thousands of writings, tapes, books and videos which go throughout the world, and from time to time they put his material together in book form. HERE is a link where I have blogged about another of his posthumous books which includes a story from his visit in Kalamazoo.
I have read quite a number of other books dealing with spiritual warfare and deliverance, including what I consider one of the classics by Prince called Deliver Us From Evil. This book - Spiritual Warfare - is quite different from the others in that it does not go into any details about deliverance or provide lists of spiritual strong holds for the reader to confess and apply the Word of God to. And in my opinion the center part of the book reflects a view of an overcoming Church in the last days which I have several problems with.
That said the teaching presented at beginning and end could not be more powerful or timely for today. Let me summarize it with one Scriptural verse from Revelation 12:11:
They overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony
This was made into a powerful worship song which takes this Scripture verse and brings it to us as a statement of faith: "We have overcome, by the blood of the Lamb and the strength of our testimony."
Here are some of the spiritual principles that Prince wants every believer to understand. I am only going to high lite just a few.
First, evil is a person, not a thing. We are in a struggle with the ruler of darkness who has evil spiritual minions assigned to torment us and to pull us away from the knowledge and love of the Father. Much of what we think is a physical or psychological struggle in our lives is actually a spiritual struggle with spiritual beings involved.
Second, by His death and resurrection Jesus has defeated the evil one and his forces. Because we have surrendered our lives to Jesus as Lord and Savior we have divine authority to overcome the kingdom of darkness.
Third, even though redeemed our ignorance of this spiritual battle empowers the evil one. Plus things that we do in the spiritual or attitudes we have, such as unforgiveness or harboring sin, give the evil one and his forces a legal right to torment and deceive us.
Fourth, we have three main weapons to use against evil spirits and their deceptions. These would be the Word of God (knowing and understanding the truth of Scripture), the blood of the Lamb (it is the shed blood of Jesus that both redeems us and gives us the legal right to defeat the evil forces), and the word of our testimony (we must declare the truth of the Word as well as declare, not just the blood of Jesus, but that we have authority because Jesus shed His blood for us, for me personally).
When we declare the Word, and testify to the shed blood for us, the Holy Spirit will always be at work. He is the true power behind everything we do.
In the last couple of chapters Derek Prince teaches quite a bit about the blood of Jesus and how to apply it to the situation in our lives. This is something that all Christians should understand and a main part of what makes Spiritual Warfare an important read.
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
As It Was In The Days Of Noah
This last week Jackie and I ventured south to northern Kentucky and visited the Creation Museum, the Ark Encounter and then did zip lining at the course next to the Ark. It all was great fun.
I do believe in a literal Adam and Eve, an actual world wide flood and ark built by Noah and that God created and designed each species with the ability to change in multiple ways within limits. That said, I was disappointed with how the Creation Museum presented the arguments for specific creation verses evolution, I thought the Ark Encounter was amazing, and zip lining was a blast. Here is a poem I wrote about that activity:
Zip Lining As A Senior
Astride Noah's Ark
on an afternoon lark
we did Zip Line Adventure
They loaded with gear
so we wouldn't fear
a mistaken quench her
Harness, helmets, gloves
first hesitation shoves
down and out screams
Climb the next stair
up to the top lair
my helmet kept hitting the beams
Fourth time I clunked
went into a funk
wondering how stupid I was
Always looked down
at stairs or the ground
BANG! My head's in a fuzz
Now back to the review. My problem with the Creation Museum was this. Although about a quarter of the displays are evangelical (the world is going to hell, teenagers do drugs and rebel against their parents, Adam sinned now all men are sinners, Jesus is the second Adam and died as as God's chosen sacrifice to take away our sin, etc.) that and the other displays actually seemed designed to comfort the believer instead of actually presenting either the gospel or specific creation arguments in a way that would convince the skeptic or capture the attention of the young generation.
Let me give you just one example. At some point through the museum you come to a display case which shows a copy of the bones know as Lucy, which was a small ape like creature supposedly with a pelvis that would enable it to walk upright. This was one of the evolutionary proofs of transitional species. Near that was the Creation Museum's rendition of what Lucy would look like with chimpanzee hair, hands and facial features, standing of course on all four legs and looking very much like a juvenile chimp.
Now, I'm already familiar with the apologetics presented by creationists and AIG (Answers In Genesis - sponsors of the Creation Museum) regarding this. But for someone else who is not, who walks by and briefly scans the small print, without someone to logically lay out the argument, this will do nothing. It is a display laid out to show those who already believe. For skeptics or for our youth who have a world of information at their fingertips, in full color and in audio, this does not work.
One time I heard a scientist on TV talking about the design and functions of a simple feather. Turns out there is nothing simple about feathers. They have multiple parts, each part needed to allow the other parts to function. I was glued to his presentation because I could see and hear how it all worked together. And the obvious point in the debate is: Why would all these parts develop randomly over tens of thousands of years by natural selection if none by themselves would be a benefit until all came together?
I think we are in a losing battle not just for the heart but also for the mind and if indeed the Creation Museum wants to take part in that war then it needs to rethink everything.
And the other hand, the same people have given us the Ark Encounter, and I loved it. Here is a case where the visuals are everything. It is a life sized imagination of what Noah's ark might have looked like according to the dimensions and descriptions found in Genesis and I wanted to see it - JUST TO SEE IT!
The Ark Park is just off the expressway. You take a winding road and then come to the entrance, which reminds you of the entrance to Jurassic Park (genius!). From there you come to the large parking lots and visible from the lots, sitting high upon a hill, is this huge wooden structure, the ARK. This is also the way it should be. The Ark was probably built up high for safety when the flood waters came but it also presents of picture of the Ark resting on the mountains of Ararat after the flood.
Buses take you from the ticket areas, up a winding road, and drop you off near a structure which looks massive from the ground. There is a ramp on the side of the Ark (not for visitors) that leads to a single large door in the side. The visual on this is also important. Just as there was only one way for all the animals plus Noah and seven more to enter into the Ark, the door then closed by God and the people and animals then delivered from God's judgment, so there is only one door for all mankind to enter to avoid judgment. And that is our Ark, Jesus Christ.
Inside there are three large levels, clean, easy to walk, which display cages for all sorts of animals, food and water storage, waste removal and much more. There is also a lot of information to read and we were lucky to have come when it was not so crowded. The views inside are impressive, you can smell the wood and see how this could have been done. And that's the point.
There are two videos shown which tie into the Ark that present the gospel and they are also very well done.
If there is a negative I would point out two things. The tickets are $40 per adult (as seniors Jackie and I paid $31 each) and I believe kids are something like $24 ea., so not cheap although we spent 3 hours inside the Ark and if busy it might take 5 hours. Plus parking is $10.
The second would be the music. OK, OK, the music, which starts at the ticket areas, continues on in the buses, and follows throughout the Ark (except for storm sounds when you enter) is very effective for creating a mood. However Jackie described it as "swami music", which if you don't know what I mean then think of a MGM movie with a snake charmer girl coming out of a large vase.
We are very much now in a time just like in the days of Noah. Jesus is coming back soon and then worldwide judgment is coming. Maybe there will be revival and restoration before that, maybe not, but the clocks keeps ticking.
Let me leave you with the words from 2 Peter, chapter 3, beginning with verse 3:
Know that first of all that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts
and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.
For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water,
through which the world at that time was destroyed being flooded with water.
But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
Last night it was the forth of July. Jackie and I went outside and there were booms and pops and sizzles and rocket whistles around our house in the distance and nearby from every direction. We thanked the Lord that this was a celebration night and that we were not like so many who hear the same sounds and have to hide in their basements.
The Ark reminds us that God is holy and that sin and rebellion will not be allowed to go on indefinitely. But it also displays His abundant mercy and provision for all that will repent and come to Him.
I do believe in a literal Adam and Eve, an actual world wide flood and ark built by Noah and that God created and designed each species with the ability to change in multiple ways within limits. That said, I was disappointed with how the Creation Museum presented the arguments for specific creation verses evolution, I thought the Ark Encounter was amazing, and zip lining was a blast. Here is a poem I wrote about that activity:
Zip Lining As A Senior
Astride Noah's Ark
on an afternoon lark
we did Zip Line Adventure
They loaded with gear
so we wouldn't fear
a mistaken quench her
Harness, helmets, gloves
first hesitation shoves
down and out screams
Climb the next stair
up to the top lair
my helmet kept hitting the beams
Fourth time I clunked
went into a funk
wondering how stupid I was
Always looked down
at stairs or the ground
BANG! My head's in a fuzz
Now back to the review. My problem with the Creation Museum was this. Although about a quarter of the displays are evangelical (the world is going to hell, teenagers do drugs and rebel against their parents, Adam sinned now all men are sinners, Jesus is the second Adam and died as as God's chosen sacrifice to take away our sin, etc.) that and the other displays actually seemed designed to comfort the believer instead of actually presenting either the gospel or specific creation arguments in a way that would convince the skeptic or capture the attention of the young generation.
Let me give you just one example. At some point through the museum you come to a display case which shows a copy of the bones know as Lucy, which was a small ape like creature supposedly with a pelvis that would enable it to walk upright. This was one of the evolutionary proofs of transitional species. Near that was the Creation Museum's rendition of what Lucy would look like with chimpanzee hair, hands and facial features, standing of course on all four legs and looking very much like a juvenile chimp.
Now, I'm already familiar with the apologetics presented by creationists and AIG (Answers In Genesis - sponsors of the Creation Museum) regarding this. But for someone else who is not, who walks by and briefly scans the small print, without someone to logically lay out the argument, this will do nothing. It is a display laid out to show those who already believe. For skeptics or for our youth who have a world of information at their fingertips, in full color and in audio, this does not work.
One time I heard a scientist on TV talking about the design and functions of a simple feather. Turns out there is nothing simple about feathers. They have multiple parts, each part needed to allow the other parts to function. I was glued to his presentation because I could see and hear how it all worked together. And the obvious point in the debate is: Why would all these parts develop randomly over tens of thousands of years by natural selection if none by themselves would be a benefit until all came together?
I think we are in a losing battle not just for the heart but also for the mind and if indeed the Creation Museum wants to take part in that war then it needs to rethink everything.
And the other hand, the same people have given us the Ark Encounter, and I loved it. Here is a case where the visuals are everything. It is a life sized imagination of what Noah's ark might have looked like according to the dimensions and descriptions found in Genesis and I wanted to see it - JUST TO SEE IT!
The Ark Park is just off the expressway. You take a winding road and then come to the entrance, which reminds you of the entrance to Jurassic Park (genius!). From there you come to the large parking lots and visible from the lots, sitting high upon a hill, is this huge wooden structure, the ARK. This is also the way it should be. The Ark was probably built up high for safety when the flood waters came but it also presents of picture of the Ark resting on the mountains of Ararat after the flood.
Buses take you from the ticket areas, up a winding road, and drop you off near a structure which looks massive from the ground. There is a ramp on the side of the Ark (not for visitors) that leads to a single large door in the side. The visual on this is also important. Just as there was only one way for all the animals plus Noah and seven more to enter into the Ark, the door then closed by God and the people and animals then delivered from God's judgment, so there is only one door for all mankind to enter to avoid judgment. And that is our Ark, Jesus Christ.
Inside there are three large levels, clean, easy to walk, which display cages for all sorts of animals, food and water storage, waste removal and much more. There is also a lot of information to read and we were lucky to have come when it was not so crowded. The views inside are impressive, you can smell the wood and see how this could have been done. And that's the point.
There are two videos shown which tie into the Ark that present the gospel and they are also very well done.
If there is a negative I would point out two things. The tickets are $40 per adult (as seniors Jackie and I paid $31 each) and I believe kids are something like $24 ea., so not cheap although we spent 3 hours inside the Ark and if busy it might take 5 hours. Plus parking is $10.
The second would be the music. OK, OK, the music, which starts at the ticket areas, continues on in the buses, and follows throughout the Ark (except for storm sounds when you enter) is very effective for creating a mood. However Jackie described it as "swami music", which if you don't know what I mean then think of a MGM movie with a snake charmer girl coming out of a large vase.
We are very much now in a time just like in the days of Noah. Jesus is coming back soon and then worldwide judgment is coming. Maybe there will be revival and restoration before that, maybe not, but the clocks keeps ticking.
Let me leave you with the words from 2 Peter, chapter 3, beginning with verse 3:
Know that first of all that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts
and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.
For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water,
through which the world at that time was destroyed being flooded with water.
But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
Last night it was the forth of July. Jackie and I went outside and there were booms and pops and sizzles and rocket whistles around our house in the distance and nearby from every direction. We thanked the Lord that this was a celebration night and that we were not like so many who hear the same sounds and have to hide in their basements.
The Ark reminds us that God is holy and that sin and rebellion will not be allowed to go on indefinitely. But it also displays His abundant mercy and provision for all that will repent and come to Him.
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