Enjoy a Peaceful Smoky Mountain Retreat
If you are contemplating a visit to the Great Smoky Mountains, please consider visiting our lovely three-bedroom rental cottage, Rocky Top, located in the Hidden Mountain Resort in Sevierville, Tennessee.
Play Ball
There was an old baseball coach at Pepperdine University named John Scolinos who when he addressed an audience of baseball coaches had a standard size home plate hung around his neck. He began by asking in succession if there were any Little League, Babe Ruth, high school, college, Minor League, and finally Major League coaches present. Pausing between each, he asked what was the size of your home plate. Reservedly, thinking it was a trick question, each slowly answered, “17 inches.”
“SEV-EN-TEEN INCHES,” he confirmed.
Then he questioned, “What do they do with a Big League pitcher who can’t throw the ball over seventeen inches?”
Someone shouted, “They send him to Pocatello.”
Coach Scolinos remarked, “They don’t say, ‘That is OK. If you can’t hit a seventeen inch target we will make it eighteen or nineteen inches. We’ll make it twenty inches so you will have a better chance of hitting it. If you can’t hit that, let us know so we can make it wider still, say twenty-five inches.’”
Then he asked, “What do we do if the best player consistently shows up late for practice? Or, when the rules forbid facial hair and he shows up unshaven? Do we change the rules for him?”
Next he drove home his point noting that is the problem in our country. “We have changed the rules in government, in marriage, in church, and in education.”
Regarding each of these disciplines, he made his point as he did in this way regarding government: “Our so called representatives make rules for us that don’t apply to themselves. They take bribes from lobbyists and foreign countries. They no longer serve us. And we allow them to widen the home plate! We see our country falling into a dark abyss and we just watch.”
(I want to interject that though this is true in general, there are some very good leaders who serve us well.)
In a discipline dear to me there have been dramatic changes of standards. There is a new theological school of thought going around in some churches known as Liberation Theology. Proponents say the church has alienated society by holding standards no longer acceptable by the world. The church must change to be more acceptable by the world. It must become more compatible with the world.
You fill in the blanks noting where standards have been changed by the church.
Historically the objective has been to love the world, but not the things of the world and endeavor to lead the world to upgrade its standards. That is now being reversed in the name of popularity.
Scolinos made his final point. “If we fail to hold ourselves to a higher standard, a standard of what we know to be right; if we fail to hold our spouses and our children to the same standard, if we are unwilling and unable to provide a consequence when they do not meet the standard; and if our schools & churches and our government fail to hold themselves accountable to those they serve, there is but one thing to look forward to…”.
At that point he turns over the home plate he has around his neck to show the reverse side. Showing it to be black he warns, “We have dark days ahead!” Then this appeal to keep “Your own children, your churches, your government, and most of all, keep yourself at seventeen inches.” I commend the Bible as the standard.
Consider the Lily
“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 6: 28 – 30).
In teaching His followers not to worry Jesus used several objective lessons, but none more effectively than when He said, “Consider the lilies of the field…”.
I have walked through the lovely fields of flowers He used to illustrate His point.
The lilies are not what we would call a lily. They are what we consider poppies, scarlet or purple. They grow in such numbers as to blanket the field.
He was using the poppies to teach about basics such as food, drink, and clothing. It must be acknowledged these are basics, but must be considered in the right way.
Jesus uses the lilies of the field as an illustration. The lilies, or wildflowers, don’t engage in labor or toil, yet they are beautifully adorned. Jesus contrasts their effortless beauty with the splendor of Solomon, King of Israel. Even Solomon, with all his resources, was not dressed as magnificently as these simple little flowers.
Let every blossom be a reminder of God’s provision for you. Anxiety and fear can be overshadowed by His numerous reminders that He cares for you. By internalizing these truths, we can experience the peace that comes from knowing that our Heavenly Father is both willing and able to meet our needs.
Fear was fostered in Eden. After disobediently eating the fruit Adam said, “we were afraid,” It has been said that the most repeated phrase in Scripture is, “Do not be afraid.” Take another long look at that field of poppies and be reminded there is no need to fear, every reason to express trust and confidence.
Today’s materialistic mind-set values possessions and outward appearances just as they. The lesson is dateless. Consider the contrast. If God is going to care for the elemental little poppy surely He will provide for the optimum of His creation, human beings. “Don’t worry” is the mandate shouted by every little poppy. A field of them is a chorus singing of His reliability.
“Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”
How to Be Victorious in Spiritual Warfare – Part Four
Ephesians 6: 10 – 17
“The helmet of salvation”(Vs. 17) is a must in spiritual warfare.
Certain characteristics of salvation are depicted by the Roman helmet. I saw one of these exquisitely crafted helmets in a Roman museum. Some characteristics associated with salvation:
It was lined with leather. The first reference to animal skins being used as clothing related to Adam and Eve immediately after their sin. The lamb was slain, pictorial of the ultimate slaying of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.
The helmet was made of brass, a strong metal affording protection. Jesus secures and protects our salvation.
On top of the helmet was a small crown emblematic of the authority of Rome. The Christian is crowned with the crown of righteousness provided by Jesus.
The helmet had a chin strap to hold it secure. Jesus is our security.
“The sword of the Spirit” is indispensable (Vs. 17). When Rome set out on world conquests they used long awkward swords and lost most battles. They then changed to a short two-edged sword called a “machaira.” By engaging in close-up hand to hand combat they conquered vast regions.
“The sword of the spirit” is in the genitive case meaning “the sword from the Spirit.” “The Word of God” is the sword.
“Prayer” is not to be minimized (VS. 18).
No believer is ever successful in spiritual warfare who does not have a vibrant prayer life. It is our means of reporting to our Commander and receiving orders from Him.
In Papua New Guinea they have a uniformed patrol. They wear badges stating: “Prayer and Peace.” Whenever a community is having trouble, instead of sending in the police, they send in the “Prayer and Peace Patrol” to pray for the troubled area. It’s working.
Let’s not fail to utilize the resource of prayer.
For years we lived on the West Bank of the Mississippi River at the site of the battle of New Orleans.
The battle of New Orleans pitted the rag tag forces of Andrew Jackson coupled with the pirates of Jean Lafitte against the mighty British army that had defeated Napoleon at Waterloo. Both forces fought valiantly. However, what happened on the Chalmette Battlefield that day would not have changed the course of the war. The war ended before the battle was fought. Word of the British surrender had not reached the battlefield. Victory was assured by the American forces because they had won the war. They fought valiantly because to them their battle was of importance.
Jesus has won the victory for us. We can engage in our mopping up action one battle at the time with confidence. Don’t worry about it.
He, the ultimate overcomer, is the overseer of the overcomers.
Faith in Jesus and compliance with His encouragement can prevent worry and empower any person of faith to find peace that passes understanding.
How to Be Victorious in Spiritual Warfare – Part Three
Ephesians 6: 10 – 17
In “Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien the character Frodo has a mithril coat that provides powerful protection. More than once it saves his life. In addition to providing protection it is light and lovely. Frodo’s coat is so valuable that it is worth all the wealth of the entire shire, the region where he lives. Frodo could never have made such a coat nor could he have purchased it. Someone else made it. He received it as a gift. So it is with the breastplate of righteousness.
For a person to engage in spiritual warfare it is necessary to do so “having shod your faith with preparation of the gospel of peace (Vs. 15).
In Greek mythology Achilles had a foot problem. He had a body that could not be injured. As an infant he was dipped by his mother in the river Styx in an attempt to make him immortal. However, Thetis held her baby by the heel and that part of his body was not touched by the magic water.
Achilles grew into a mighty warrior. He defeated his most fierce enemies at Troy, even the mighty Hector. No weapon could harm him. Paris, Prince of Troy, shot a poisoned arrow into the air. It struck Achilles in his one vulnerable spot, his heel, and killed him.
Many Christians lose spiritual battles because they have a foot problem. Satan exploits their weakness.
The type of sandal worn by a Roman soldier was known as a “caligula.” It was very much like our modern sandals with the exception that it had iron cleats not unlike a track shoe. It enabled the soldier to be sure-footed. The soldier could be on the offensive by moving quickly without fear of falling.
Believers are to be on the offensive if we expect to win in our spiritual warfare. Our offense is “the gospel of peace.”
To have your feet shod with the gospel of peace means to be ready to stand firm and fight Satan. It even means to move into enemy territory and take it for Jesus.
Put on the combat boots of peace and wage peace. Fight the enemy, not one another. Satan loves to stir up disputes among God’s people. A dispute here, a little grudge there, a little gossip there and by his wiles Satan wins the victory.
The shield of faith is essential (Vs. 16). Faith is our shield against the fiery darts of the devil. This depicts believers as under attack. Faith is our shield.
The fiery darts are from “the wicked one.” This translates the Greek ”Ho Poneros” meaning a specific adversary, the devil.
Satan fires flaming arrows of doubt, dispute, temptation, and confusion. Faith shields against all of Satan’s arrows. Faith is the ability to apply what we believe instantly in order to repel every doubt Satan attempts to use.
How to Be Victorious in Spiritual Warfare – Part Two
Ephesians 6: 10 – 17
The Lord gives the believers insight into what to do in spiritual warfare.
When Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit penned our text in Ephesians 6, he was in prison. Perhaps he was glancing up at a Roman guard and observing various parts of his uniform as he described our defense. Roman praetorian guards personified the power of Rome.
God’s instruction is:
Take it up – all of it. Put it on = all of it. Keep it on = all of it.
Pictorially we are to stand with our waist girded with truth (Vs. 13).
The waist is a vital and vulnerable mid-section of the torso. The Roman soldiers wore a wide leather belt not unlike those worn by weight lifters. It was to support and strengthen abdominal muscles in time of battle.
This belt was also utilitarian. Attached were loops, hooks, and rings which held such items as a length of rope, a sword, a mace, a sack carrying food and other functional items. Being around the waist made these items immediately available.
The Greek word translated “truth” is “aletheia.” It signifies that which lies at the base; the real essence of the matter. It is a reference to doctrine. A knowledge of doctrine is essential to survival in spiritual warfare.
If we are going to confront the devil, “the father of all lies,” we must do it with the truth.
“The breastplate of righteousness” (Vs. 14B). If you were going into combat, would you rather have a T-shirt or body armor, or would you rather be riding in a golf cart or an armored tank? So in spiritual combat we need the best protection.
The breastplate of the Roman soldier covered only his shoulders and vital organs. It didn’t cover the arms as that later worn by British knights. The arms were free for protection and productivity.
“Righteousness” means meeting God’s standard and being right with God. It means being able to relate to God and having access to Him. Our righteousness must be alien righteousness. Alien, simply means “someone else, someone very different.” It means someone alien to me transfers His righteousness to me. That one is Jesus. The righteousness referred to here is the righteousness of Jesus. Our righteousness is referred to as “filthy rags.” Rags make poor armor.
The Greek word “dikaiosune” DIKAIOSUNE, here translated “righteousness,” in old English was translated “rightwiseness.” The spelling conveys the meaning. It meant to be right with God the Father by having the righteousness of Christ applied to your account.
His righteousness must be imputed to us. This is a term meaning credited to our account. When we commit to Him His righteousness is transferred to us. It becomes our righteousness.
Once His righteousness is imputed to you His righteous character begins to be imparted to you. That is, His character begins to become part of your character. You grow in grace. Suit-up in full armor. Be ready for spiritual warfare.