I was reminded again this week of the need for the Armor of God. It's easy to forget about the reality of the spiritual battle that is taking place right in the middle of our lives, and sometimes without us even thinking about it. I think the only time we actually think about it is when we are feeling the obvious effects of some kind of spiritual warfare taking place, otherwise we live our lives like there has been some kind of peace treaty. I doubt seriously that the enemy of our souls is actively persuaded into signing a peace treaty, leaving us alone. We are in constant battle. I don't want to sound the alarm of paranoia, but some effects of the battle can be so subtle that they don't even register as attacks. Not every tactic of the enemy is catastrophic. I think the simplist and most effective devices are those that are consistent in chipping away at the foundation of our faith, which opens the door to the utlimate collapse that the enemy is surely hoping to accomplish. The admonition in Ephesians 6:13 to, "Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground," is a significant indicator that we are in a battle! The fact that we need to put on armor should be a clear indicator that we will need to use it! Simple Application: Don't wait until the obvious "attacks" of the enemy to clothe yourself with the armor of God. It is possible to guard yourself from the enemy's schemes without looking for a "devil behind every corner." Be aware and actively solidify your relationship with Christ.

What can we learn from the scribes and Pharisees that Jesus called an "evil and adulterous generation?" Jesus had been performing incredible miracles: healing lepers, raising the dead, healing the mute and blind, and casting out demons. He was doing things and saying things with unbelievable authority, an authority that the Pharisees attributed to Satan! In fact they even said, "This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons." Their judgment against Jesus was wrapped in so much hypocrisy that Jesus immediately called their bluff...answering back, "If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out?" There were those from within their ranks who made a profession out of performing exorcisms. Jesus made a strong argument that a house divided against itself will not stand, and if they had any ability to claim Jesus was using the power of darkness to defeat darkness, then they would need to seriously examine their own sons! The point Jesus was making was this: Messiah had come with all authority! These signs that Jesus was performing were fulfilling prophecy. Jesus was living Isaiah 35 and 61! The time to recognize that Messiah had come was now upon them and they couldn't see it! An often misunderstood idea in scripture is this: The blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. What does it mean? It means exactly this: It is an indictment against the Pharisees for their rejection of Messiah. Jesus tells them that they will not be forgiven, yet after their indictment, they still desire signs! They say, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You." Incredible. After they attributed Messiah's earlier signs to Satan and officially begin rejecting Him, they ask for a sign! They were wanting Jesus to perform more spectacular healings and miracles, but Jesus gives the first allusion to his death saying, "An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." There seems to be every indication that a desire for signs when the Messiah is so obviously already providing them is an expression of rejection in itself. What does a request for Jesus to constantly "prove" himself mean other than to bear witness to overwhelming doubt? Jesus' response is clear: He will meet constant desires for signs with a single act, the resurrection from the grave! The choice to accept or deny that particular sign will be the deciding factor as to whether a person experiences forgiveness or not! Simple Application: What thing are you doubting? What thing is God doing that you are asking for sign after sign after sign for Him to "confirm"? I'm by no means throwing you in the same category as the Pharisees...just some things to think about.

Look at the similarity of the following passages. I wonder what the impact of those similarities really reveals. Abraham's servant addresses Rebekah in Genesis 24:17, "Please let me drink a little water water from your jar." He then reveals the intended plan of offering Isaac in marraige... Elijah and the Widow from Zarephath in 1 Kings 17:10, "please give me a little water in a jar, that I may drink." He then reveals a miraculous provision from God during a time of drought. Jesus and the woman at the well in John 4:7, "Give me a drink." He then reveals His plan of salvation, leading many to beleive. What an incredible use of an ordinary situation, turning it into a life changing moment. I suppose every person that walked to the well, in each instance, wasn't expecting their life to be completely turned upside down. There can be power in the ordinary. There can be life change in an instant. The important thing is to see beyond the routine of ordinary situations, and look for the moment when God can use you to change a life. Simple Application: What are you doing at the well?

I was interested to see what everyone is reading. I find that when I'm pouring into my life through consistent devotions, prayer, scripture, and good books-I'm usually functioning at a higher rate than if I am not intentionally pouring in! What recommendations can anyone make? Let me know!

I am being challenged daily by my Basic Evangelism class at the seminary. I had taken evangelism classes in my undergrad at Central Bible College, so I figured I had a fairly easy grasp of the subject matter. The problem doesn't lie with knowing about evangelism, the problem, I'm realizing, is that actually doing the work of evangelism is something that is seriously missing from most Christian people's experience. For a long time I have bought in to the model of "be a witness and speak if you have to," which I'm realizing has more to do with character than evangelism. The Great Commission is lacking the phrase, "Go into all the world and live rightly before men," or, "Go into all the world and slowly build relationships in order to share the Gospel." There is a time for "lifestyle evangelism" and "friendship evangelism", but there is also a time to proclaim! It seems to me that too many people have forsaken the proclamation of the wonders of who God is and His plan for salvation for the easier "lifestyle" versions of evangelism. What have we done to evangelism that we make it a mute, cowardly, and neglected mandate! We have taken the power out of winning disciples because we have taken the proclamation out of evangelism, and until we put it back we will continue to see decline in our churches because the work of evangelism was meant to be a staple of every believer's life, not simply a thing the church does as an organization through bi-annual events. I've often wondered why people in our churches struggle so much to find the depth of experience with God that they so desperately seek after: I think it is in direct connection with a lack of personal evangelism-telling people about Jesus and offering them hope. I think I can trace my own lack of personal evangelism over the years to one event while I was at Bible College learning the ways to become a Pastor and what it meant to be in "full-time" ministry. I was involved in various ministries throughout my time in Springfield and for the most part felt like I was doing my best to serve God, mostly through those ministries and most always in a "church" environment. I remember one night walking through the neighborhoods close to the campus and distinctly hearing God's voice to knock on a door and share Christ. I had never before heard God speak so clearly. I knew without a doubt that God was leading me to that door, but I said no. I fought against it and just kept walking. I think back to that night often and wonder what might have happened had I listened, had I not justified my "ministry" inolvement in the local church and on ministry teams as a reason why I was excluded from evangelism. I think that night was the beginning of me throwing myself into the "work of the church" as a way to justify my own lack of "proclaiming" to lost people, in season and out. I am so thankful that God is stirring my heart again to snap out of the rut of justifying a lack of personal evangelism! Simple Application: Be sensitive to God's leading and proclaim the Good News! Don't fall into the trap of simply living for God in front of others and think that it's enough....it's only a beginning. Be a witness and speak if you have to...well...at some point...you'll have to!

I am getting really excited about our first Break Stuff Night! It's an elaborate sermon illustration where I've asked the students to bring anything they want to destroy: computer monitors, stereos, old Nintendos, TV's-anything that will be completely awesome to watch get destroyed. Don't be alarmed...there is a point...Matthew 21:44, "He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed." I'll have to post the video!