Pastor's Ponderings, March 18, 2019

God Wants Christians To Unify Against Evil

Last week in New Zealand, our world heard about another individual who decided to destroy innocent people. In 2018, there was a vicious attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue and in 2015 the senseless murders in a church in Charleston.  We were still mourning the loss of young lives in Sandy Hook in 2012 when the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting occurred.  The discouraging list goes on and on. After each event, we hear the unhelpful response of “thoughts and prayers.”  One may ask what are they thinking and to whom are they praying.

How should those who love the Lord respond to these massacres?  We have to recognize that there is a common enemy behind them that is motivating them to kill and destroy (John 10:10a).  It is not just demented individuals.  We do not fight against people in spite of their evil acts, but against the powerful demonic forces behind them (Ephesians 6:12). Those who love the Lord do not have to cower behind meaningless platitudes and comfortable slogans, but we have mighty spiritual weapons to defeat the devil and his hordes such as the Name of Jesus (2 Corinthians 10:4).  

In the Bible, God tells His children what we must do if we are to rid our land of this scourge of violence. He said if His own people who are called by His name would humble themselves, seek His face, and turn from their personal wicked ways, He would hear our prayers, forgive our sins, and He would heal our land (2 Chronicles 7:14).  We have to know that our enemy, the devil, is not going down easily, but we know that He is already defeated (Romans 16:20). Our victory over evil may take time, but we must start.

Let us begin to come together as the body of Christ, forget about our minor differences, our doctrinal disputes, and our cacophony of arguments separating Baptists, Pentecostals, Apostolics, Non-Denominationals, Methodists and all of those who love the Lord. Let us really listen to God.  The Bible says that where two or three are gathered together in His name, He is right there in our midst (Matthew 18:20).  We can then petition, make intercession, cry out, fast, and pray. We can defeat this pestilence and let the peace of God rule (Colossians 3:15). Let us agree with God’s word and victoriously stand together against evil and overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).

John 10:10a
New International Version (NIV)

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;

Ephesians 6:12
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12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

2 Corinthians 10:4
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4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds

2 Chronicles 7:14
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14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Romans 16:20
New International Version (NIV)

20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

Matthew 18:20
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20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.

Colossians 3:15
New International Version (NIV)

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Romans 12:21 New International Version (NIV)

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.