Adversary or Advocate?

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:6-11 NIV

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me. “Come now; let us leave.                  John 14:23-31 NIV

I read an interesting article the other day, about why Christians should stop saying that Donald Trump is a Christian.  What the author of the article said was nothing new to me because I have said before, over and over again, but it was confirmation of what I have been saying. And it was refreshing to see what another real Christian had to say about their observations-the lack of any fruit of the Holy Spirit. In fact, the author said, the only fruit they have seen was "rotten fruit." http://johnpavlovitz.com/2017/02/02/its-time-we-stopped-calling-donald-trump-a-christian/

Only those who have been "brainwashed" by the gaslighting strategy employed by the trump team or so blinded by their agenda of reversing Roe v Wade could believe that Trump has even acknowledged Christ. To be clear--a Christian is someone who follows the teachings of Christ--in all things and when filled with Holy Spirit--is reminded of everything He said and we see the fruit of that development in loving The Lord and loving others--unconditionally.

Again, and I will keep saying this--it is the Evangelical leaders who have set the stage for the mockery of our democratic process--maligned for all the world to see and then they wonder why others keep belittling Trump. Though those same leaders have said they prayed and "God told them Trump was His choice," I see no evidence of any communication with the God of Heaven, the Creator of all things and without whom nothing was ever created. They communicated with each other and those in leadership positions to determine how they might effect a Republican win for the White House--just to make sure they could "control what women" do with their bodies. They can deny it all they want to, but the evidence is clear. They promoted an illiterate, cognitively impaired egotist to be president--just to have a say-so in the Supreme Court selection.

The god of this world--Satan--knows how to entrench himself in the minds of those who have not submitted to God and give them strong delusions--having them believe a lie because they did not want to know truth. It wasn't just the Evangelical leaders; it was all those who were gullible enough to believe "anything" Trump said. But because they kept listening--they were gaslighted--not knowing they were being brainwashed to accept the lies and even now--they keep listening to the lies and the liars--choosing to ignore the truth that is displayed before them daily. That's the effect of gaslighting--psychological manipulation.

We have an Advocate--His name is Jesus--who will plead our case before The Father and when we allow Holy Spirit who dwells within us to lead us--we can be assured the verdict will be, "Well done."

But then there is the adversary--the prince of this world--who influences weak minds and spiritually weak people, into believing him and this can only happen when we refuse to submit to God and live according to His Word. For the Word tells us to, "Submit to God, resist the devil, and He will flee." (James 4:7) We cannot "resist" the devil if we keep listening to the lies and more importantly, if we have not "submitted" our thoughts and ways to God, allowing Him to lead us--we place ourselves in jeopardy--giving the adversary room to work in our lives.

I have come to realize that perhaps, not many people reading my daily blog might believe I consult God in what I say, and that's okay. God knows. For there is never a time that I don't consult Him about any subject that I write. I honor His Word in the selection of passages used as a foundation for what I say and He honors "my choice" in what I say that aligns with His Word.

Here's the thing--none of us have to "believe" anyone else, but I choose to acknowledge and support those who demonstrate their love of God by doing what God says--not people. God would not promote a pathological liar to represent Him--but mere mortals with an agenda did and do. And now--the Trump Team has developed a new way to present their lies--as "alternative facts" which are still lies.

So, everyone still has choices. We can be influenced negatively and publicly by the adversary, the devil; or we can live according to God's Word and know our Advocate will always be by our side. It is "our choice" as to who we listen to and believe and God will honor our choices by allowing the consequences of our choices to overtake--for the good or the worse--we choose.

Adversary or Advocate?

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8):

An adversary is a person or group or force that opposes and attacks another.The Adversary is Satan.

An advocate is someone who writes, speaks, supports or pleads or intercedes on behalf on others. Our Advocate is Jesus!

Now, to put this in perspective--any time someone opposes truth or deliberately creates problems for others, they become an adversary. This is true on a spiritual level as well as a natural one.

In a classroom--when students oppose or create the teacher or create problems for the entire classroom--they are adversaries to peace.

In a home--when children oppose parents or create problems they are adversaries to discipline.

In the churches--when opposition arises against the people--regardless of its origin--they become an adversary to order in the congregation.

In communities--when rowdy citizens create disturbances that keep others from enjoying peace and quiet where they live--they are adversaries to rights of others.

In nations--when leadership or the people--oppose policies that are for the greater good for all--they become adversaries to justice and sanity.

Those who fight for the rights of others on almost any front--except the promotion of sin--are the advocates who will find themselves aligned with the Will of God. Those who don't--are aligned with The Adversary's plans to destroy mankind.

Now is a good time to think which side you are aligned with--as an advocate or an adversary.

Are you adversary or advocate? You are the only one who can make that determination.

Lord, help us to be advocates for truth according to Your Word and not our opinions or emotions. Help us to advocate for the benefit of others who are overwhelmed with fighting their adversaries alone. Give us wisdom and courage to do all that is right in Your sight, keeping The Adversary in his placed, defeated and under our feet.

Trust His Mercy!

“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more" (Hebrews 8:12 NKJV).

Within the reflection and overview of the history of a people whom God chose, we see the explanation provided as to Who Jesus is, Where He is, and Why He came, again.

He is our high priest--ordained, appointed and established by God for all times.

He is sitting at the right hand of His Father, ready to advocate on our behalf--alleviating the need for mortal man to intercede for us.

He came because the people chose not to follow the mandates of the old covenant (The Law as given to Moses), to establish a new covenant--writing upon our hearts--what He wants us to know and do. It is because the people were not diligent in keeping The Law--making sacrifices for the atonement of sin (They made a business of it--selling the elements to be used for the sacrifices created a problem for the very poor; they had no means of atoning for sins since they couldn't afford to pay for the elements.) With the new covenant, we can boldly approach the throne of grace for ourselves--whether we are rich or poor--and know with confidence that He hears us and forgives us and then "remembers our sins no more" as long as we do not repeat them. He cannot forgive sin for which we consistently do because by our very actions--we have not repented.

When we have repented (turned away from all things that are not like God) and live a life that pleases God, He does not remind of us of our sins to provoke us to guilt--He forgives and then forgets about them--wiping the slate clean.

Man is not so. We love to keep throwing the past at a person--attempting to make them feel guilty because of a lack of understanding. Once God forgives us--what "we did" (past tense) is nobody's business and they have no right to keep fishing in our ponds when our sins are in the sea of forgetfulness. Now, we have to trust in His mercy--to forgive ourselves--and not allow the enemy to keep bringing our past before us. We did what we did; we repented, God forgave us and that is the end of the matter.

Don't allow others to condemn you for the things God has forgiven. Let it go and trust in His mercy to guide you in forward movement, not past mistakes.