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Suffocating by the devils power?

The approach that many Christians have towards life in general...

The approach that many Christians have towards life in general, and towards spiritual warfare in particular, will definitely raise some serious, fundamental questions about the authenticity of their conversion experiences.

We often behave as though we are constantly drowning in the seas of life or being suffocated by the devil's powers ... barely struggling for survival ... and always under the circumstances.

The non-Christian world has every reason to wonder about some of us ... whether or not we really believe most of the things we so 'confidently' talk, sing, testify, shout and preach about. Are we genuine believers, truly standing on God's unshakeable Word (the Bible) or are we just another set of religious fakes trying to deceive ourselves into escaping the rigours and conflicts of a hostile world?

I have discovered that there are far too many who only have on religious clothing but who lack real Christian convictions or inner strength. Isn't it strange that those who claim to be ‘more than conquerors' are often unable to face real problems, cope with changing circumstances or prepared to stand against the fiery darts of the enemy ... because they are genuinely afraid.

Could it be that God's specially-called people, who bear the name of Christ and who have access to the Holy Spirit's power are proving to be, in reality, not much more than a kingdom of cowards?

EMPOWERED

Called and empowered: God has, according to his Word, called and empowered the Christian community to be a people of faith, confidence, boldness, courage, bravery and fearlessness. If, however, the attitude and approach to spiritual warfare is any indication of the character of the average Christian of our enlightened 21st Century, it would seem that we are a bunch of nervous, timid, fearful, spineless, easily-intimidated cowards.

Cowardly behaviour: Please don't miss the point that before Jesus rebuked the winds and the waves, he first rebuked his own disciples for their cowardly behaviour. Could this not be an indication of how he feels about many of his disciples of the 21st century who lack courage and who are unwilling to confront the forces of darkness in our time?

I have painfully discovered that many of us who claim to be born-again Christians, filled with the Holy Spirit and all, can comfortably sit still and watch corrupt leaders, oppressive systems and immoral institutions destroying innocent lives ... and open, defiant practising of presumptuous sin, defiling and contaminating our fragile, struggling society.

How in Jesus' name can those who have been redeemed by his precious blood sit unconcerned, at ease, in Zion singing wonderful hymns and choruses, while false doctrines and occult powers are enslaving the vulnerable minds of our little children and young people everyday?

Can't we realise that somethingis dreadfully wrong when demonic spirits and strongholds are binding and strangling to death ... our unlearned, unstable, unbelieving and unsuspecting Jamaican brothers and sisters, while we continue, business as usual, without batting an eye lid or moving a muscle to confront anything, because we are afraid?

It seems, from all indications, that those of us Christians who (are ‘bonifide', authentic cowards) lack spiritual guts and backbones, will always find it easier to eitherdeny the evil, ignore the evil, dodge the evil, philosophise about the evil or compromise with the evil ... than to confront the evil.

Easier to cop out: When you are numbered among the kingdom of cowards, it certainly seems much easier to cop out (with a bag of excuses) than to confront the powers of darkness in Jesus' name.

May I suggest that the time has come for God's people to wake up from their slumber?

It's about time that we realise our unique responsibility and decide to seriously walk in the authority of Jesus Christ and to live by the Holy Spirit's power.

I believe that it's full time that every bornagain believer steps out in victory instead of dwelling in torment and defeat, because the truth is that we have been given power to trample all the powers of the devil, as a people who are “more than conquerors," in Christ Jesus.

It's either we believe this or we don't. If we do, then where in our lives is the demonstration of God's power, which Paul spoke about in 1 Cor. 2:4-5? ... Unless of course, we're a kingdom of cowards.

The Rev. Dr Donald K. Stewart is pastor of the Portmore Lane Covenant Community Church who has a ministry of casting out demons. He may be reached at covcomoffice@colis.com

Published: 01 September 2006
Issue: 1233

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