Today I went to KE’s, a dear friend’s, baby shower. I told you how God brings different people into your path, for however long of a season, to be your friend, your sister, your mentor, your… Well this friend was truly a gift from God when I first got in country. We met at church and I found out that she lived just down the street from me. We got together a few times and we started praying for each other, encouraging each other, sharing life stories... Now she’s having a baby and I’m so excited for her.
On the way home from her shower, I was just thinking about some things and I was baffled at how we as believers have such a lack of faith, me included. I was thinking how so many people don’t know Christ and how it’s so hard to get workers out in the fields to get the gospel out there… and I was just struck by the lack of faith we have and how much Satan does have faith.
Now I know that sounds weird because I know Satan can’t have the same faith as us, but let me explain myself. You see, Satan knows who God is. He knows where his place is. He fears God. So Satan is doing everything in his power to delay Truth to get out because he knows that after that he’s in eternal bondage in hell. When I thought about that, I just thought, if we as followers of Christ had as much awareness as Satan of who our God is and believe that what He says is really going to be true than we would be working as hard as Satan.
I drive through these streets and see people in bondage of poverty, fear, prostitution, homosexuality, gender confusion, idleness, idolatry, pride, abuse, addictions… the list could go on and it could go on in your specific city… And you see Satan’s hold on people’s life, dragging them to witch doctors, hypnotherapists, gurus, psychics, drug dealers… you could fill in the blanks to lead them to destruction. He’s so good at what he does and doesn’t miss a beat. He’s there even as we share the good news getting the people to not listen, think of something else…
Satan actually does that to us too when we are in church or doing our daily quiet times, gets us to miss the point… He wants to distract us. And see that’s what we are. We are a distracted people. And again, this may sound weird, but if we could have the commitment of Satan, then wow would we be starting a revival.
This is I know a very weird comparison, but I know that most of you understand what I’m saying. I’ve been distracted lately… today at the grocery store, I was telling A how I was worried about something. A asked me what worry was and I was so amazed at my answer because it was like God was using my words to speak to me. I told A that worry was doubting God could do something and thinking about it over and over again. Isn’t that so true… Cast your burdens upon me Jesus says, and my worry is also a burden. So these worries that I have been having lately have distracted me from being an effective mother, worker, teacher, friend, and every other definition I fit.
So as I drove home, I asked for forgiveness for not knowing who God is like Satan does, for not fearing God as Satan does (although my fear of God is revering Him and Satan’s fear of God is absolute terror), for not working hard like Satan does.
Satan is out on a mission. He wants to distract us and get as many people to go down to hell with him. If you read Francis Chan’s book, “Crazy Love”, which if you haven’t read my earlier blogs, then you should go pick it up… but anyway in the book it talks about Revelation 3:16 where it talks about how God will spit you out if you are lukewarm. Spit you out!!! Do you understand what that means? You are joining Satan dudes!!! And that struck me in a different chord. Satan’s not only got a hold on those outside of the church, but he’s got those of us in the church… those of us who think we are “safe” because we’re doing “enough” to get by!!! But our heart if we love God and fear Him (revering Him) then just getting by is not enough!!! You are lukewarm people and He’s going to spit you out!!! My sister was telling me how after that chapter she just cried. My friend told me how that just blew him away. Satan is on a mission!!!
Yesterday I heard a man speak at my small group and he was talking about how everyone in the church has a mission. Sometimes the church thinks, just those who pack up everything, get on a plane and leave for some place far has a mission, BUT the great commission dudes is for all of us!!! When I spoke at the women’s retreat that’s what I was telling the group. Once we get up and leave our house, we are on a mission. EVERYTHING SHOULD BE ABOUT JESUS!!! DO YOU HEAR ME…. EVERYTHING!!!!! When you are at lunch, when you are at work, when you are on the El train, when you are taking a walk in the park, when you are at McDonald’s with your kids it should be about Jesus and everyone you meet, whether it be at the grocery store, the bank, the gas station, the shoe store… it needs to be about Jesus. Dude I’m not saying this because this is what I do, but I say this because Satan’s on a mission. We need to be too. Jesus already won… what are we waiting for? Let’s get to the party quicker by doing our part!!!
Praying for a revival in all the nations, in every tribe and in every tongue!!! Let there be a revival. Lord send your spirit!!!
**I have said this before, but I am no theologian so my way of explaining things may be a little colored for some people… Sorry that’s just what’s in my heart!!**
ANNOUNCEMENT!!!! - AEP is now riding a two-wheeler with no training wheels!!!
