Author: Bill

Borrowing some wisdom from Mario Murillo’s book “Vessels of Fire and Glory” we see an incredible need – especially after the election – for a revival in our country. Many in the pews did not vote for the candidate that stood against abortion and supported Israel, law and order, and religious freedoms. It appears that the American church has taken a nap. 

Murillo basically asserts that this is in part because many of the churches have adopted a watered-down version of the gospel from pulpits in order to gain and maintain membership. As a result, many professing Christians do not feel strongly about the biblical positions on these issues.

Another factor adding to the malaise in some churches is the notion of the end times. Some churches take the “therapeutic approach” that everything is going to be alright. We are not in a spiritual war, lets just use the power of God to make our lives more pleasant. Another approach is the “doom and gloom” approach which says we cannot win the spiritual war – might as well hang it up.

In sum, Murillo asserts that both terrible evil and tremendous blessing will come from the end time scenario as laid out in the prophets and the Revelation. There will be disasters, favor and protection.

The message in this post from me is that the fields are ripe for a good spiritual fight. Its time to war for the souls of men and women inside and outside of the church. Preachers should unashamedly preach the true gospel of Jesus Christ and the enormous importance of righteousness and holiness.

We know that we are clothed in Christs righteousness and are justified before God because of what HE did. We also know we are holy, even though we still make mistakes. But we are called, insofar as we are able, to live a sanctified, set apart life of power and truth telling.

If this is not our inclination, we need to reassess our standing before God.  

The story of God’s people the Israelites is laden with tales of those seeking their destruction. Of course, they failed to destroy God’s people whose mission it was to bring the Messiah in to the world.

No one ever said life would be easy. The Israelites of old had to fight for their existence, just as modern-day Israel has often had to defend itself. We as Christians in the U.S. have been blessed and have not had to face death or great persecution so far. I pray it stays that way, although there are plenty of enemies of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  

It is difficult to understand what motivates people to want to hurt others. As Christians we sometimes must fight – through prayer and fasting and speaking the word of God – to offer resistance to the forces of darkness that seek the destruction of the word of God.

What a wonderful world it would be if we all followed the teaching of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who tells us to love God and love others – even our enemies. Let’s pray, intercede and leave the fighting to God.

Below are two Psalms of King David that describe a time that sounds oddly like today in some cases. I guess some things never change.

Psalm 64 (KJV) Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy. 2 Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity: 3 Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words: 4 That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not. 5 They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, who shall see them? 6 They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep. 7 But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded. 8 So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away. 9 And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing. 10 The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.

Psalm 83 (KJV) Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God. 2 For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. 3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. 4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. 5 For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: 6 The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; 7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; 8 Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah. 9 Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison: 10 Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth.

11 Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna: 12 Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession. 13 O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind. 14 As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire; 15 So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm. 16 Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O Lord. 17 Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish: 18 That men may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the most high over all the earth. Of course, as Christians we pray for those who persecute the church, and those who seek a very different country where religious freedom may not be celebrated. We should pray for their salvation and repentance and that they will come to faith in Christ.

WHOSOEVER WILL MAY COME. No one is excluded. Why not come?