I Stopped, But I Didn't Quit

Today, I announced the decision to cut back from meeting EVERY Sunday. Even though it seems crazy to do this in a time when pastors and ministries are scrambling and doing everything they can to gain members and add resources and income, I KNOW that God has spoken to me on this one.

Immediately after I got home from our gathering; after disclosing to our small church family that we are going to sacrifice quantity of gatherings for quality of gatherings, I checked out my facebook stuff and found this:

There's a difference between quitting and stopping.
Quitting is giving up before the goal is reached.
Stopping is a choice to end a specific activity, and continue to move forward in a different direction.

Quitting is associated with guilt and implies failure.
Stopping brings perspective, responsibility, restores balance, protects and preserves goals and resources (not to mention sanity), and plants the seed of hope. - Carl Prude Jr.

Carl is a one of our dearest and most genuine friends, colleagues and brother in our life. I receive this as a confirmation from the Lord today.

Close the Doors and Windows

This week we want to continue talking to you about closing access to the illegal intrusions of the enemy.

Ephesians 6: 12-13 reads: For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

When we talk about putting on the armor, we are actually talking about putting on the very nature of Christ to protect us from the ways the enemy tries to take advantage of circumstances and situations when things in life go wrong.

James 4:7-8a tells us: Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…

We’ve spoken about this before, but some of the ways the enemy gained access to intrude into your life was through horoscopes, psychic readings, mystical objects like statutes and jewelry, demon infested music and movies, or violent video games. He literally breaks into your home, coming through the windows of your eyes and ears; getting directly to your thoughts.

We realize this may sound like we’re being overly dramatic, and maybe a bit too spooky or religious, but we want you just to consider this. If the enemy of your soul hates you, to what lengths do you think he will go to deceive God’s creation and drag them to hell with him?

Let me share a personal experience. Way back when I was in my 20’s, I absolutely loved the music of Earth, Wind and Fire. I may not have been their number one fan, but I was pretty close. If you’re familiar with that band, you know that they incorporated all kinds of mystical symbols and phrases in their songs.

I loved listening to their music in my headphones and that’s how I often fell asleep, listening to music. One night I fell asleep listening to their music and something strange happened. I saw the music in my sleep and it was like waves and streams of water circling around me. The music was like a fluid, but at the same time it was like air.

However, flying around in the music was demons. I could barely see them because they were moving too fast, but I knew they were spirits and I knew they were not friendly. They were encircling me as the music encircled me, because they were in the music. I began to panic as realized I was still sleeping. I began to try to wake myself up, but my body was paralyzed. I couldn't move in the dream and I couldn't move in real life. All I could do to break the spell was to say, ‘Jesus’. When I spoke His name, I woke up.

That was my first encounter and realization that there was more to music than just a good sound. So today, we call upon the heads of households, standing in the gap of the walls of your heart and home, to consider what you will allow to pass through that wall and into your heart and home. If something is from the demonic realm, you can be sure that the enemy will take advantage of the opening to attack you and your family.

You may find yourself getting depressed for no reason, anxious for no reason, angry for no reason, or fearful for no reason. You can find yourself with lustful thoughts for no reason, lonely thoughts for no reason, and suicidal thoughts for no reason. And yes, you can trace it back to those times where the enemy invaded your life, perhaps even years ago. He rushed through the door, or broke through the windows of your eyes and ears.

You may have bought a little souvenir during a vacation, but you didn't know that the person who sold you that little wooden god had prayed that its influence would follow the buyer for the rest of their life. We’re not trying to scare you, but we want to make you aware of the schemes and wiles of your enemy. He doesn't fight fair. He hates you. He hates your kids. And no one is exempt.

Like me, you may have been playing the music of your favorite entertainers, but you didn't realize that their influence is filling your heart with anxiety, fear, rage, lust, and even thoughts of suicide. A couple of months ago we read a news article that said a former pastor’s teenage son, shot and killed his whole family. There had been no previous record of violence or any behavioral problems in that young man’s life.

The world will call it mental illness. We’re telling you that at some time prior to that killing, there was a demonic, illegal intrusion; a HOME INVASION, by the enemy, taking advantage of open windows and doors through video games, movies, books, or music. He might have invaded that young man through bullying, harassment, accusations, insinuations, or religious condemnation, to plant those heinous thoughts in his heart and mind.

First let us say, don’t panic. Don’t get into fear. Just put on your spiritual armor. Let’s put on Christ. Then you’re going to close the open doors and windows of your life.

Most of you reading this email were like me. You just simply bought and listened to a CD of your favorite artist. For others, you like watching the horror and fantasy movies and you find yourself reciting the spells. You had no idea that this stuff is REAL and not just entertainment. Some of you just bought a board game, a video game, or a lucky charm. Some of you recited a mystical pledge, you were in a séance, you did a psychic reading, or some psychic healer told you to place a particular object under your pillow or beside your bed. You didn't know that these things were opening you up to the spiritual world, but it was NOT the Godly spiritual world.

Many years ago, God gave me a dream. I saw thick poisonous pollution in the sky over an entire city. As I looked closer, I saw the pollution coming out of the windows of homes and apartments. Then I looked closer and I could see into people’s homes and the pollution was pouring out of televisions and radios. I didn't know back then, that today, there would be cable TV, satellite TV and even satellite radio. The poisonous pollution of the enemy is pouring out of everything that we think of as being entertainment. There has been a national home invasion.

We’re not telling you what to watch and what to listen to everyday. We’re just encouraging you to guard your heart and home. One of today’s popular rap artist told a national media outlet that he doesn't allow his own children to listen to his music. Yet, he has no problem with poisoning the minds of your and my children and grandchildren.

As parents, we took an active part in guarding our home. Our sons can tell you. Because of our roles in ministry, we just could not allow our home to be invaded. We even set rules for people who stayed with us from time to time. When they broke the rules, we KNEW instantly because our sleep would be disturbed by those invading influences.

We bought our children their first CD players. We bought their first Christian rap music. We went with them to purchase video games. When we found something hidden in our home that was outside of the boundaries of our rules, we threw it out. Now our sons have reached adulthood and they can make their own choices, but at least they know how serious this is. And just like our adult children, now it is your opportunity to close the doors and windows to the home invasion of the enemy.

Living In a Fallen World

In our most recent blogs, we have talked about and prayed for all of our heads of households and their role in leading and guarding their families. This week we want to continue to talk to the heads of households, but please understand that these principles apply to all of us in guarding our hearts and homes.

We have observed that there are two methods of attack that come from the enemy. When we say enemy, we mean satan and demonic powers and their influences. When we say demonic, we mean those evil spiritual entities, personalities and beings that hate God and by default, hate you because you are a creation of God. There is no negotiating with them. There is no room for making deals, pacts, alliances or agreements with them.  Even for those people who have supposedly made a pact with the devil, they do not realize that they have been deceived and no great reward awaits them.

Satan and demonic powers gain entry into your life in two ways. It’s either by ILLEGAL intrusion or through LEGAL access. Today we want to begin talking about the first way the enemy of your soul comes in and that way is like a burglar or a home invasion robbery. It’s simply ILLEGAL intrusion.

First of all, please understand that satan has no legal right into the life and affairs of a born again, surrendered heart and life to Jesus Christ. He has no legal right when he barges into the Believer’s life. He is a trespasser, a violator and he knows it. He comes into your life hoping that you will tolerate him.

Before we go any further, we want to make it clear that every time something bad happens to you, it does not mean you have been attacked by a demon or by satan. The following explanation is oversimplified, but we hope you understand our point.

We must accept the reality that we live in a fallen, frail and fractured world. We live amongst imperfect people who are making choices and many of those choices affect us and everyone around them.

We live in a world where gas runs out, time moves on, machines wear down, accidents happen, and plans fail. Due to gravity, objects will fall and break.  Human frailty means we can slip or stumble. Sometimes we guess and we guess wrong. Sometimes we assume and circumstances change and our assumption goes awry. Sometimes we miscalculate.

It was not a demon. It wasn’t even a particular sin. We live in a world in which sin and evil have caused it to be broken and unpredictable. In this sense, we are all living with the consequences of sin. So everything negative that happens to us is not always a direct demonic attack.

However, we can tell you that when things go wrong, sin and satanic powers are always crouching and waiting for the opportunity to take advantage of any negative situation. That’s why we must be very intentional about our relationship with God.

When evil forces jump in to take advantage of the mishaps and mistakes, God says in His word: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:10-12).

After getting off to a very rough start, we have spent the last 25+ years of our life and marriage, trying to keep the atmosphere of our hearts and home open to the voice, will and purpose of God. We have tried to maintain healthy practices and a lifestyle that minimizes the consequences of living in a fallen world and maximizes the benefits of living in the Kingdom of God. We have learned that you can truly live IN this world, but not be OF this world.

We have employed simple things like daily Bible and devotional readings, playing worship music throughout the day while we work, and guarding what we entertain on television or on the internet.

Before we became pastors, we learned the value of weekly gatherings with the Church for prayer, praise, worship, teaching and fellowship. Somehow, God always gave us what we needed for the upcoming week. We found that we were prepared for those unforeseen pitfalls and battles. God’s peace kept us from making devastating decisions concerning our family.

We noticed that these Godly practices kept us from being filled with anxiety about everyday life and our future. It kept our faith built up and strong. It kept us ready for the crisis moments in life, so that we didn't fall apart when things went terribly wrong. That’s our desire for you and your family.

My goal must simply be to please God

When the Lord called us out and sent us into the ministry, we had the typical grand vision of a large congregation, a powerful worship team and a huge staff of leaders and volunteers reaching out to the community to make disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

However, what we experienced was so far from what we envisioned that we often felt we had made a mistake in even starting a church. I often felt I should just pack it all in, tuck my tail in, return to the St. Louis church community, and just admit that we blew it because we never should have been so arrogant as to think we should be doing this.

After eight years of ministry and almost nine years of living in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, we still minister to only about ten to twelve people each week in a small space that is basically a room for various church and outreach organizations to hold their board meetings.

We move a couple of tables in an effort to arrange the space to make it conducive for teaching and fellowship. Directly across the hall we utilize a small conference room to provide an hour of fun for the children that occasionally attend. We have a large library of Bible DVDs and we have scheduled a full year of 30-minute videos that have accompanying activities like coloring pages, puzzles and games for children.

We do this every week, every Sunday morning.

Just when I’m feeling like we’re just spinning our wheels and not really making much progress, I recently got feedback from those who attend and have made an amazing discovery.

I find that the strategy of opening our weekly gathering with prayer and meditation while singing along with worship videos is perfectly suited for this family of believers. With no ‘personality’ standing before us, urging us to lift our hands or shout certain phrases, each person is able to settle in and focus their attention upon the Lord. We find that our hearts are able to connect with the Spirit of God in a more intimate way that goes beyond the coercion and persuasion of a “worship leader.”

I’m not opposed to having a worship leader. I’ve been one. I’ve desired to have one. But after eight years of trying to fulfill that image and vision, I finally gave in to what God wanted and what this community of Believers needed.

As we transition from this very personal time of prayer and worship, we take a break for fellowship before shifting into our teaching session. This gives everyone some time to reconnect with one another after a long week.

Our teaching style has been very simplistic. I use power point presentations and video clips to help attendees to engage in the Word of God in a very personal way. I have discovered that our teaching style allows the Holy Spirit to teach people well beyond the words I’m actually saying.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that God is really in control of what is happening in Urban Life. From our youngest members to the grandparents, God is doing something unique in our midst.

I guess it becomes tough for me to adjust to this because I’m so accustomed to measuring success in terms that are quantifiable. But in this strategy, I cannot measure the effectiveness or success of what we’re doing by attendance patterns or financial income.

More and more, I realize that we will never know what is really happening here, until we stand before the Lord at the judgment seat of Christ; when we are rewarded for our service to Him.

More and more I realize that the sense of fulfillment must come out of my relationship WITH God and not just what I think I am accomplishing FOR God. More and more I realize that we have been called to something that is so different and so unique that I must simply do what I see God doing and say what I hear God saying. More and more I realize that I must be more like Jesus. More and more I realize that my goal must simply be to please Him.

Positioned as the Priest in Your Home

Today, I want conclude my 3-blog appeal to the men. I’ve been writing to you guys out of the context of Nehemiah 4: 13 which says: Therefore I positioned men behind the lower parts of the wall, at the openings; and I set the people according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows.

This week I want to share what this means regarding taking on the role to be the first to pray and intercede for your family. Don’t wait for someone else to do it, not even the pastor or some other spiritual leader. You are not only a protector and provider, but you are also a priest in your home.

From the time our children were in kindergarten and all the way through high school graduation, I felt that I was responsible to pray with them every school day. As head of the household, I felt it was my job; not because I was
'the man' but simply because I was the head of the household.

Even though my wife and I shared in that responsibility, I felt I was supposed to take the lead. Even though church traditions promote fond thoughts about a mother’s prayer, I wanted my sons to know that their dad was praying for them.

Every morning I led them in a prayer before they went out the door for school. When the years came in which I needed to drive them to school, I recited this prayer before releasing them from the car. I prayed the same prayer every day. I wanted them to memorize it, without telling them to memorize. However, they can recite it to this day and I have a suspicion they will recite it over their children someday.

I prayed, “Thank You Lord for Christopher, Jonathan and David. Help them to have a good day at school, today. Give them your grace, favor, protection and wisdom; in Jesus’ name,  Amen.”

Sometimes I would add something else if I felt led to do so. Every morning, Monday through Friday, they got this prayer from their dad before they walked out the door or stepped out of the car. Many nights and weekends, I’d go into their rooms and lay my hands on them while they slept and just whispered a prayer of protection or something about their future. This is what I mean when I talk about Nehemiah’s strategy to position men behind the walls.

Today, Carol and I are still positioned on that wall as we’re investing into their college educations and helping them transition into adulthood and life beyond their parents. We’re not sacrificing our son’s futures by holding on to our selfish desires, to do all the things we always wanted to do. We're doing whatever we can to push them forward.

Now it’s all about being in position to prepare them to cover their families.

The same priestly calling applies to praying for my wife. Even though I don’t pray with her as often as I need, I still pray for her all the time. In the late night, I lay my hands on her shoulder and pray over her. This not only closes the gaps in spiritual warfare, but it closes the gaps in our relationship.

It’s hard to be critical and judgmental of your wife, if you’re praying for her. All the things that would irritate you or anger you, melts away as you pray for your spouse. The Spirit of God opens you up to see her struggles, fears and insecurities. Then He gives you wisdom and shows you many ways to help her, heal her, and secure her in your love for her.

You can do it brothers! 

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6b)