An Exceedingly Brief Intro to Demonology

I read this a long while again my daily devotional time and it really stuck out to me:

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 (Eph. 6:12, NIV)

So I asked myself, “What are these rulers?  Who are these authorities?  What powers of this dark world?  What are spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms?  So I simply asked God what this meant.  I wasn’t even in the remotest sense ready for the ride God was going to take me on.

I’ve always been a believer that God and Satan are at war.  I mean Scripture points that out all over the place (Gen. 3; Rev. 12, etc.). However, I was also all too leery of charismatic deliverance ministries that would “exorcise” people from a “spirit of plantar warts,” or a “spirit of rheumatoid arthritis.” I had also seen movies like The Conjuring, Constantine, and Paranormal Activity.  You also need to understand that I am part of a tribe in Christianity that has historically been almost like the Sadducees of the New Testament, discounting spiritual things, de-mythologizing Scripture, and saying, “That doesn’t happen anymore.” Those were mental illnesses that we didn’t understand yet.  I agree that there is some truth to that, but to dismiss it entirely is a grave mistake.

When I approached the subject of the demonic and diabolic influence, I was taught very early that demons don’t bother people anymore since Jesus died on the cross and rose again.  Often the lesson I heard or would even teach is that all that “supernatural” stuff went away when the last Apostle, John, died in the 90’s of the 1st Century.  It was all meant as a teaching tool to show us the Gospel’s victory. While I do believe in the supremacy of Christ and His Gospel, I think it’s very dangerous to try to de-mythologize the New Testament.

Maybe, just maybe, we’ve gotten too big for our theological britches.

Through prayer, and intense study of God’s word, God led me to a fellow who I now call a friend who has several decades of study and experience with spiritual warfare.  I am sitting at his feet, learning, absorbing, listening…praying.

So am I going to tell you a bunch of ghost stories? Absolutely not!  Why?  Because ghosts aren’t real.  They never were.  There are no disembodied spirits, there are not “wandering souls” and there are no humans trapped in limbo waiting for the afterlife.  It’s all been a big scheme.  Instead, what one might call ghosts, I assert, as do the Holy Scriptures, are instead demons.

Demons are very real.  And just like their ‘leader’ Satan, they are still very active. They have one goal – to tear down anything God has established and they are very cunning.  They have been at this for eons.  So where did they come from?

For in him [Christ] all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. – Colossians 1:16, NIV

There are those powers and authorities again.  It says God created them, right?  So does that mean God intentionally created demons?  Nope.  Sorry for all you theological misfits who assume God has messed up somewhere.  Instead, we learn in the context of the whole story of God, the Bible, that God (who exists eternally and has no beginning or end) at some point before creating the universe and humanity, created angels as servants.  These are mighty beings who possess great power and carry out the will of God.

We learn that one in particular, perhaps the most incredible of all the angels, Lucifer (literally, “Light Bearer”) decided he could do a better job than God (You can read snippets about this in Isaiah 14:12-17 and Ezekiel 28:12-19) and tried to overthrow Him…and he led a bunch of other angels in a rebellion against the Sovereign God of the Universe…but he lost.

⁷ Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. ⁸ But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. ⁹ The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. – Revelation 12:7-9, NIV

So he was thrown down. Hard.  Jesus said:  “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven (Luke 10:18).  That’s how hard and fast God threw him down.  Then the account of the war in Heaven ends, but the battle for the souls of mankind is just beginning: 

Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus. (Rev. 12:17, NIV)

So if you’re a human being, you are made in the image of God and that means that Satan is at war for your soul.  Even more so Satan is at war with those who follow Jesus.  Why?  Because he hates Him.  He despises Jesus’ victory on the Cross, and so until the end of time, Satan will “Steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10) until Jesus returns and Satan and his demons will be cast into Hell forever.

The war rages today.  The war is against God, His Church, and His children – all who call on the name of God and serve Him.  Two kingdoms are fighting – the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan, and Satan will not go down very easily.  He employs an untold number of demons who are actively trying to thwart our progress toward God and take advantage of souls who don’t know God.

So Who are those rulers, authorities, powers of darkness and forces of evil in the heavenly realms that Paul was talking about?  Satan and his demons.  That’s where the fight is.  It isn’t against each other – it’s against the darkness. The powers of hell.  But they will fail. However, we cannot sit idly by, hoping that if we ignore or rationalize these biblical facts they will somehow ignore us.  Too much is at stake for you and me to sit the bench any more.  We must rise to battle.  So I hope you’ll join me in learning and fighting in the Kingdom.  Evil is real, demons are real, Satan is real, and people are being “devoured” all the time through the deceptive philosophies of this world.  It’s time to go to war.

I Am the Walking Dead

As I’m prepping well in advance for the Walking Dead series in October at Crosspointe, I’ve been thinking, praying, researching.  And a particular section of Scripture came to mind.

50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. (Matt. 27:50-53, NIV) 

Here’s the setting:  the Son of God dies.  He cries out and gives up His life…and instantly the earth shakes, rocks split, tombs broke open, the dead came back to life  and walked into downtown Jerusalem, and the curtain of the Temple was torn in half.

I’ve never preached a sermon on this…but that’ll change soon enough.

Here’s the rub:  when Jesus dies, it alters the landscape to say the least.  Now, here’s where it get’s intense.

In the Temple was a Curtain.  Now, when I think of a curtain, I’m thinking a 4 foot tall piece of fabric I by at Big Lots, or wherever, right?  This curtain was different.  It was sixty feet tall, made of very sturdy stuff.  Actually, the Hebrew calls it a “veil” and it was more of a screen than a curtain.  It was also said to be as “thick as a man’s hand.” The significance can’t be undermined here.  This curtain shielded the Holy of Holies (the place where the Presence of God dwelt throughout Israel’s history) from man…it was actually an active-barrier between God and man.  Only once a year would the High Priest go in there and offer incense and prayers to God…and even then a rope was tied around his waist in case he was “unclean” and didn’t know it, thus rendering him…well…dead.  The rope was used to pull his corpse out of the Temple. This was more of a “structure” rather than a curtain…

…so at the moment Jesus died, that veil split from top to bottom. You’re probably thinking, “So what?”  Well, this act of God dramatically symbolized the end of humanity’s exile from God’s presence.   Now, after so many centuries people were welcomed again to enter into the Most Holy Place.

If that wasn’t enough, something else happened:  people who had been dead…probably for awhile…they were resurrected and came out of their graves and they walked right into downtown Jerusalem! This is the stuff George Romero and Max Brooks can only wish they’d have thought up! So basically, you have this “horde” of walking dead coming into the city after the death of Jesus.

Holy Zombies?  Well, it fits the definition.  A Human being who was dead, but is now alive again.  That’s Max Brook’s definition of “zombie” by the way. So dead people come back to life.  Why?  It was another indication that the curse of death that had fallen on Adam’s race was now broken.  Death, the very thing that holds us all in fear, the one thing we all will encounter…it has no control over me anymore.

What does that mean?

Death has died and Love has won!

The Apostle Paul really shows us that we who are in Christ have died…and we have been raised again to new life…brought back from death.  Check Ephesians 2:

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ…14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.  (Eph 2:1-5;14-15 NIV)

So this is good news.  Very Good news.  It means that I have joined the ranks of the holy zombies, the tribe of Christ, and that death, sin, and hate have been extinguished once and for all by Jesus Christ’s death, but more importantly, His resurrection.

I am the Walking Dead; actually I’m the walking Alive who was Dead.  I was dead but now I’m alive.  I was cut off, now I’m seated at His table. I was rotting away in sin and Adam’s curse…but I am now the walking dead. My grave has been opened, my shackles broken, the chains of death snapped…and He is my peace…

 

Preparing for “Not a Fan” (then realizing you have been just a fan.)

The congregation I serve is getting ready to start the series “not a fan.” I’m super-pumped to do this; I haven’t been this excited about something in quite a long time. I truly believe that God is calling us into this series – and this isn’t a very “light, fluffy, and happy” sermon/small group series.

The main question of the series is this: Are you a fan of Jesus or just a follower?  Am I one of millions of “fans” cheering in a stadium once a week?  Am I someone who has truly given up everything to follow Jesus? The Gospel makes clear that you can’t follow Jesus on your terms; it’s His way or no way at all. King Jesus makes it clear that it is an all or nothing kind of life.  I can’t go to church on Sunday and then Monday-Saturday live however I want; but when I look into my heart and examine my life…that’s exactly what I’m doing.

This is my confession.  I am a recovering Pharisee.  I’m a recuperating religious  nut. I have played the game long enough.  I have looked the part, played the part on stage, and tried to keep all the rules; and truly, honestly…I’m tired.  I’m weary.  I’m sick of religion.  I just want Jesus.  However, I have to be honest…I haven’t been satisfied by just Jesus.

As I was reading the Gospel of John a few weeks ago this slammed me so hard.  Jesus was speaking to this huge crowd who had followed Him for a few days.  He fed thousands of them with a few loaves of bread and a couple fish.  Their bellies were filled. They were happy. That night the 12 (soon-to-be apostles) get in the boat to cross the lake.  Jesus says, “I’ll be along later.” So they go through this epic experience where in the middle of the night Jesus comes to them walking on the water.  They were blown away…and it says once Jesus got in the boat and they “immediately reached the shore where they were heading.” Crazy, right?

So the morning comes and we read that all these people from the night before had walked all the way around the lake and found Jesus. Honestly, they liked the guy.  He fed them.  He encouraged them.  He taught with authority.  He made them feel good. He taught stuff that made them feel warm and fuzzy…but this time; this huge crowd wasn’t going to be pleased.

“Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. ²⁷ Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” (John 6: 26-27, NIV)

Ouch!  They were only following him because he fed them.  They really weren’t interested in what He said, they didn’t really care.  Sure, it sounded good in theory, but it was way cooler to watch Him thousands with only enough for three people.  Jesus begins to teach about how He was the bread from heaven.  He was all the people would ever need.  That if they wanted to be satisfied they need only turn to Him.  He concludes His teaching with this statement:

“Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. ⁵⁴ Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. ⁵⁵ For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.⁵⁶ Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. ⁵⁷ Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. ⁵⁸ This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.”  (John 6:53-58, NIV)

I can feel your eyebrows raise as you read this.  It’s a tough saying; Jesus says that if you aren’t willing to give it all and trust in His bread (Him) than you will have no life in you.  That means you can’t get to heaven.  That means you will die in your sins.  That means that you are severed from the Hands of Creation.  Right after this, the text shares something incredibly sad, but so true to our human character:

“On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”⁶¹ Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? ⁶² What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! ⁶³ The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. ⁶⁴ Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.⁶⁵ He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.”⁶⁶ From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.⁶⁷ “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.” (John 6:60-66, NIV)

That same question is asked of us when we’re faced with the toughest, most heart-wrenching decisions that Jesus puts forth.  This isn’t some mushy or happy thing…this is as  real as it gets. Jesus turns to us as He did to them and asks, are you all-in?

Thousands reduced to twelve in a single statement.  Hundreds of hearts cut to the bedrock to expose their hardness.  Thousands of people walking away from God Himself because they answered honestly, “You are not enough, Jesus.”

I must confess that I haven’t been “all-in” for quite some time.  However, the Spirit of God is awakening something inside of me that is passionate and relentless.  I don’t want to sit on the sidelines anymore…I will not be “an enthusiastic admirer” of Jesus anymore – I will be a follower.  The trouble is…I have to answer the question: Scott, is Jesus  really enough for you?  Are your  truly satisfied with Him? The answer I found in my heart was that I haven’t been.

I’ve been satisfied with Jesus and my money.  I’ve been happy with Jesus and my religious life. I’ve been satisfied with Jesus and my theological positions.  I’ve been satisfied with Jesus and my political beliefs.  I’ve been satisfied with Jesus and what people thought about me.  I’ve been satisfied with Jesus and my social status.  I’ve been satisfied with Jesus and my X-Box 360.  I’ve been satisfied with Jesus and the American Dream.  However, as look into this, as I pray about it…that isn’t enough.  It will never be enough.  I’m not offering Jesus total control of my life.  I’m not offering Jesus complete surrender to His Lordship in His Kingdom on His terms.  I’ve tried to add to Jesus…and for that I am so terribly sorry.

I want to be satisfied with just Jesus.  I want to be all-in.  I believe Jesus.  Please help my unbelief.

From this day forward, I am going to do everything I can to be completely all in. I want my wife, my family, my church family to know that I am a follower of Jesus, but not because I look good on the outside all the while falling apart inside.  I want to be all in because I lay down my idols at the feet of Jesus, because it will COST me EVERYTHING.  I just want to follow…and I begin now.

My name is Scott and I am not a fan.

Beauty in Pain

I was teaching our Young Adult/College Bible study last night.  We were talking about being dedicated to Christ with our lives, our thoughts, and our bodies. The discussion turned into suffering and pain as we read the Scriptures in James 1:2-4:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Many who know me already know this, but this will be the first time I commit it to writing. My wife and I desperately want a child.  We love the thought of being a father and mother.  Over the past year and a half, however, we have experienced two miscarriages.  I cannot begin to tell you the pain and the agony that were with my wife and I for so long.  I remember the first one was tough – but I kind of felt like I wasn’t as much affected by it as my wife was.

I can remember her crying – wailing, inconsolable…and then it happened again. I was immediately torn apart.  I can remember getting home from the OB/GYN and laying on the bed…i hit the headboard so hard in anger that I might have fractured my pinkie.  I literally screamed at God.  I heard my wife sobbing, and my anger intensified.  I was ready to turn my back on my God.    I yelled things to my Father that I never thought would come out of my mouth.

I got up, I walked to the living room, and I collapsed in tears…I cannot describe to you the agony in my heart.  If you have been through this, especially if you are the wife, you KNOW there is nothing anyone can say or do to make you feel better.

I’m a minister.  I can’t be questioning God, right?  The community God put me in wouldn’t need that!  They had their own problems. However, I did falter in my faith for the next few months.  I slacked in marinating and meditating in God’s Word, spending time in His presence, and blatantly ignoring things sometimes.

I tell all that to say this:  Last night in class, when the question was asked, “How in the world can we take joy in suffering? What does that look like?  What does that feel like?”  I froze.  Then the question was asked, “Is there a certain way to act in these times?  Will God be angry if I don’t ‘suffer’ in His way?”  I was literally speechless.

That’s when God showed up.  I don’t know what happened.  I’m a preacher, so I talk a lot, I’m loud, and I get rowdy when I get the passion flowing.  I read that verse in James and then I responded (a total move of the Spirit, by the way) and this is what came out:

What does it look like?  What does it feel like?  How do you manage?  You don’t.  It hurts.  It courses agony to every fiber in every cell of your body.  Is there a proper way to suffer?  No.  However, I think God put this in James because He became a man.  He was the Logos Incarnate.  As Hebrews says (paraphrase), “He became like us, got tired like us, felt pain like us, suffered like us, and somehow, some way, He was joyful all the while. Jesus showed us that ‘joy’ is not a perpetual state of “happiness”, but rather a concrete, indestructible, tangible KNOWING that God is there – despite how things feel or seem. God is the one holding you and teaching you that no matter what, He will carry you.

Every time you walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and when we walk outside we are living in that Valley, God is right there.  He is the source of comfort, He is the wellspring of Life, He is the food and water our suffering souls craves.

I’m pretty sure that the reason James tells us to “take joy” when we are suffering – when life is falling down all around us…that’s how we’re supposed to live.  If you live like your suffering all the time, you will have joy unsurpassed by any drug, philosophy, or medicine on the planet. Why?  Because you aren’t the Hero of the story – the story isn’t about you.  It’s about God.  God is the Hero.  We live this life temporarily – short-lived, and just as quickly as it begins it ends and our days are full of mediocrity, boredom, and pain.

When we live like we are suffering, even when we’re not, we will grow stronger and perseverance will finish its work in us! That may not be until death comes, or until Jesus comes back for His Bride, but suffering is what guides us to a closer, more intimate relationship with Christ.

I look back on the worst parts of my life and I can see that God’s hand, though I didn’t feel it at the time, was right there, clutching me tight to Him as we waded through the muck and mire of pain, agony, sin, and life.  He never left me – He never meant to have His child suffer – but we live in a fallen world and that is the consequence.

It is through pain that joy is cultivated – but you must CHOOSE joy.  It would be great if it were dropped right in your lap, but it isn’t.  Its something that you work at, that you nurture, and that God grows.

Live like you are suffering, because when you’re suffering, it is only then that you truly realize that you have nothing to lose.

Scott