For we wrestle not with flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  – Ephesians 6:12.

I don’t know about you, but I’m being pounded spiritually lately.  The closer I try to draw nearer to God, the more I am bombarded with wicked thoughts.  I’m being tempted more than ever.  Vile images run through my head at crazy weird and random times.  I rebuke them in the name of Jesus, I put on the helmet of Salvation, and I quote the Word of God.  As soon as I do these things, I hear this voice that sounds like me.  It tells me that I can’t use His Name.  It tells me that quoting the Word will do me no good.  The voice tells me that because the thoughts have entered my mind, God will have nothing to do with me.  I refuse to believe it and I go near to God boldly, not because I’m presumptuous, but because Hebrews 4:16 tells me I can.  This has been a consistent theme lately.

When I admit things like this from a pulpit, people who claim to be Christians either hate it, or they know exactly what I’m talking about.  I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Christianity does not thrive very well in free countries.  81% of Americans say they believe in God, yet you’d have to have quite a long conversation with each to get their definition of “believe,” as well as their definition of who they mean when they say “God.”  If I go into a church and preach against sin, and I mean not only the sin of the people sitting in the congregation, but my own as well.  If I show American Christians that there is no way that we have laid down our lives for the Lord when we can’t even be inconvenienced in a store or restaurant, the response from some is to pray for our hearts, but the decision makers who give the money and have control the church seem to ask that I not return.  Even at my own church, it has gotten me called “too fundamental.”  

I do want to mention here that I’m halfway through a season of filling it at Mt. Freedom in Mountain Rest.  There has been a good response so far and the Spirit and power of God has been amazing.  

Please answer this question honestly in your heart:  Why do you follow Jesus?  I will tell you straight up that I have served God because he was a get out of hell free card, because I thought He would bless me financially, because I thought He would keep me safe, and because I thought He would protect me and my loved ones while never allowing any trials or hardships in my life.  When I have served Him for those reasons . . . I’ve always been disappointed in Him.  Sometime around 30 years of age, my wife and I said a prayer that changed my entire relationship with the Lord.  The prayer simply said this, “We will continue to serve You, Lord!  Not because of what You can do for us, but because we love You.”  

When did you begin truly serving the Lord for the right reasons?

Lord, we live in a world where people constantly use each other.  There is so much deception.  We live in a world where everyone wants maximum reward for minimum effort.  I’m not even going to pretend that I’m any different.  With all my heart I ask You to change me.  Make me more and more like You each and every day.  Help me to endure life’s trials with patience, knowing that patience teaches me to persevere.  I’m trying, Lord.  You know my heart . . . if there is any deceitfulness in my heart, please show me the way everlasting.  I’m trying to go out in public and win those who are far from You.  I’m trying to draw the religious brothers nearer to You.  I’m trying to encourage the faithful to keep on keeping on.  I must admit, Lord . . . this is making me weary and vulnerable.  Yet I realize that I don’t have to fight in my own strength . . . I can fight in Yours.  Strengthen me and every true follower reading this.  Amen.