Underdog

Underdog

There is an underdog, he fights for what he believes in, he has continued to stand up against a system he sees as unfair, he will never change, resisting to the very end against what he sees as an oppressive overlord even until he is finally caught and will spend the remainder of his life in torment but will never yield before then despite the obvious fact that he cannot win. 

Sounds good, right? It sounds like the kind of tenacity that humans value. In fact, in some lesser way many would choose to emulate him, wouldn't they? Might they be inspired to rebel against perceived injustice? Might they be inspired to stand for their beliefs and to do so against all odds based on this account alone? Is he not courageous according to this account? 

The devil is an underdog, he fights for what he believes in (his rights to kill, steal, and destroy, his rights to rule and the tainted, wicked worship of the human race towards the false God's he ordains), he has continued to stand up against a system he sees as unfair (humans being  allowed access to God and the good things of life, a system that places him below God's human creation man), he will never change (He will be evil always and the father of lies), resisting to the very end against what he sees as an opressive overlord (God who is love) even until Satan is finally once and for all put down and will spend the remainder of his life in torment but will never yield before then, devouring as many as he can, luring humans into his traps and all this despite the obvious fact that he cannot win. 

I am an underdog. Amongst the human race, and faced with opposition like demons and the world's system. I stand up for my beliefs and I stand up against a system warped by Satan's hatred of God and people's confused emulation of him. I will never change. I have been regenerated by the God of heaven and His Holy Spirit and if I change at all, it will be to be more like Jesus. I will resist even unto my death the tactics of Satan and my true enemies. This I will do knowing that if Jesus does not come again before my time, I will die for my Lord but I will not spend eternity in torment rather I will spend it with God in the place he is preparing for me. This I will do knowing despite any losses I may take, I cannot lose!

Empty Praise and Spiritual Warfare

When you are in a conversation on spiritual matters especially one that borders on evangelism or might call the other person to repentance beware of praise. It has been my experience that 'empty' praise is a defense mechanism. It is orchestrated by the enemy in the situation to set you back and slow you down. If you glance over it and do not give the glory to God you look petty and as if the conversation is somehow about how neat you are. If you give the glory to God at every empty praise then you will slow the conversation down and perhaps be distracted or the person you are talking with will be distracted. It feels good to be praised by those we are talking to but better we put a stop to it and stay focused on what we are about. Remember Peter imploring Jesus. He told Jesus how awesome He was and that it should never be allowed that HE would be sent to die. Jesus answered, 'Get thee behind me Satan.' Bottom line is, if you need praise, you aren't ready for evangelism or at least you have forgotten what evangelism is about. If you love the Lord an allow Him to use you there will come a time when the enemy tries to use praise to slow you down. Do not allow it. Pastor Daniel Stevenson New Heights Life Station Toledo

Conscripts and Walking Dead in Spiritual Warfare

Conscripts Today, my thoughts drift to conscripts. I guess by saying that I am bringing you in at the end of the thought process. As a friend of mine is keen on saying-Let's back that truck up a minute... Bondage Breaker There is a group of young people in our church which has undertaken to complete Neil T. Anderson's Bondage Breaker study. From the very moment the decision was made I can see Satan working (or at least his buddies) to stop the potential outcome from being one of total victory. Of course, He and his allies are our sworn enemies and so this comes as no surprise really. What amazes me is the diversity of his tactics. It appears as if he has been hard at work preparing for this opportunity for a long time. Leaders and students Anyway, it was the allies, in this case the young people and the leaders that I was actually thinking of when I followed the mental rabbit trail to come up with 'conscripts.' It occurs to me that bringing unskilled warriors into conflict with the enemy is exactly like this. Conscripts So, conscripts were local, non-combatants that were rounded up before the impending battle and armed with whatever was at hand, usually farm implements or house tools but occasionally more sophisticated weaponry. They would be lumped into a unit and stood out on the battlefield to impress the enemy or to enhance the courage of the allied troops. Didn't usually work although occasionally, if there were enough of them or if tactical advantage could be gained they could make a huge impact. Surviving spiritual warfare Typically, the conscripts that survived would be a little better skilled for next time and if next time was soon they would likely be armed with weapons from fallen foes. In a way it was trial by fire and the death toll was always high. Spiritual warfare So, I was thinking how every single thing in life plays a role in spiritual warfare and how most people do not understand or believe that. What's more, those who do believe it often do not have a deep seated conviction and so will fail to stand their ground. Preparing for spiritual warfare I'm saying that those who are now being asked to prepare themselves for real spiritual warfare and to equip themselves by adamantly approaching a good Biblical study are more like conscripts than trained warriors and are possibly headed for a fairly high 'mortality' rate. That is to say, if something is not done then more will 'fall' in spiritual warfare than will be victorious long enough to have a major impact. walking dead However, now I am thinking about walking dead movies...Funny thing about someone who’s already dead and still coming, you have to hit them hard and often to even slow them down. For if one died for all then all have died... So, if these young Christians are sold out for Christ then they will survive-surely not without hits but they will not quit, surrender, or fall. That being said, there should be some fruit that would be measurable. For example, if a young Christian really is the walking dead (speaking metaphorically) then they should be relentless, diving back into the fray (reading , studying, encouraging one another, acting out what they are learning to the best of the ability, and so on.) I am pressed but not crushed, persecuted, not abandoned... conscripts and walking dead in spiritual warfare I guess it all boils down to this. We are not conscripts even if we are not as trained as we should be. We need to embrace the things of God and realize that if He drives us no power less (and all are less) can stop us. Praise God for the valley of dry bones has been brought to life again. Pastor Dan Stevenson NewHeightsFellowshipchurch.org afamilyofgod@bex.net

Trading your birthright

Many think being Holy (different from the world's standards and more Godly in your actions) is a task to be done or a "real challenge" but no, that's not what God says.




Indeed, according to Isaiah 35, the Highway of holiness is a birthright of Children of God. If you are a Christian, a follower of God, a member of God's family through Jesus Christ, God's Son then you have this birth right. You were born again (John 3:3) and were started on the Highway of Holiness. You were given this path as a birthright and it comes with a blessing at the end and protection/provision along the way.



But first, wy don't some who claim to have Christ seem to have the birthright of the Highway of Holiness? I'm not just making htis stuff up-read Isaiah 35 adn then read Genesis 25 where Esau trade his birthright for a bowl of soup. The bottom line is many trade their birthright for a moment's gratification or a bit of comfort. Easu wasn't really going to die right that instant and he could have eaten something else, perhaps something somewhat less to his liking and been fine. But, he said, in all the drama akin to mankind in general, If I don't get me some of that soup I'll surely die and then what good will the birthright be.



You can go without whatever the enemy tells you or even pursuades by life circumstance that you think you simply MUST have to survive. Even the essentials are often not as essential as we make them out to be. That being said, the man did what men are prone to do. He traded his birthright for a bowl of soup, some instant gratification and a bit of comfort-so he could FEEL alright.



People are still doing it today. That's why, even though Isaiah says we are safe on the Highway of holiness-Lions and dragons can not tread thereupon, we tend to stray off of the Highway of holiness and tary with those cute little distractions that suddenly become so important to us that we convince ourselves we can always "get back on" or that we simply MUST have that thing, or that situation in our lives, or that moment of FEELing okay.



I don't need that. You don't need that. God has given us what we need, our birthright and it ends in a great blessing. However, afterward when Esau went in to his father seeking the blessing there was no blessing even though he sought the blessing with tears and repentance (Read Hebrews 12.)



So, as Isaiah would say-Strengthen your weak hands (get busy serving God, stay busy serving God) and steady your feeble knees (Don't be afraid of or misdirected by or attracted to what lies off the path. This Highway of Holiness is your birthright if you are a child of God. You can do it!



The enemy can not touch you if you stay on the highway. But if you reach out to him or step off the brim he may get hold of you and repentance which is easy on the highway becomes difficult when you are off of it.



One last thing, God allows this to be so because in time there will be a great destruction of all that lies off of the highway. He does this so that the difference may be clearly seen between that which is of God and for God and that which is not.



Get where you belong, get on the highway of holiness and serve God without fear. You can. You were made for this.

Pastor Dan Stevenson Pastor New Heights Fellowship www.newheightsfellowshipchurch.org afamilyofgod@bex.net Director Life Station NWOBA overcomingevil@bex.net     New heights urban church planting initiative in Toledo Ohio

Bondage Breaker-buy it...

Neil T. Anderson wrote a book called Bondage Breaker. Christians should check it out. Last Night at New Heights we went through step four of the seven steps to freedom. I can email the notes to anyone who posts a comment requesting them or message me on Facebook(tm).

Anyway, Step four is about submitting to authority. People don't like to so it. We are trained by the world to be rebellious. We even start thinking if we aren't rebellious we can't be our own person.

Trust me, you don't want to me your own person. You want to be God's. His stuff lasts.

Anyway, we went through an exercise thinking about where we have failed to submit to authority. I found several in my own life. It turns out-and I should have known this-that when you do not submit to the authorities that God has placed in your life you are opening an avenue for Satan and evil spirits to get at you. It makes perfect sense since God said that rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft when Saul was being denounced.

I want to submit myself to the authorities in my life and I made that commitment yesterday and last night. If you see me not submitting. I give you the permission to mention it.

It's serious. Satan is a rebel against God's system. How about you?

Pastor Dan Stevenson
www.newheightsfellowshipchurch.org