“And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.
Mark 16:17-20 ESV
God created me. If He created me, then He knows what He intends to use me for. I’ve been in this weird season of trying to find my place, my divine design, my true identity in Christ. Maybe you’re there, too.
It’s a little uncomfortable, but that’s okay. Change is always a little unsettling when you’ve been complacent for a season.
I’ll be honest, I fell into a rut during the pandemic. I thought it would be a momentary blip but it has dragged on for quite some time. Now that the end is in sight, I’m recovering from my hibernation with fresh fire and holy desires. It’s time to prepare ourselves for full-time service once again.
It’s been good though, to take a break from the regular routine and do a deep dive into what makes me tick. The isolation surfaced a bunch of my character defects that still needed addressing. Actually, it revealed my need for deliverance and glory to God, that took place. Without those pesky demons poisoning my mind and body, I’m now more fully in tune with my spirit.
Some people think believers can’t have evil spirits because they have the Holy Spirit. Here’s the deal. If you’re born again of God, you are born of an incorruptible seed. God cannot be corrupted. Your spirit is perfect and holy.
However, you still have a body and a soul. They can still be corrupted unless you guard them and purposefully keep them clean.
Often, when we come into the Kingdom, we carry over all the emotional baggage from our past and all the trauma stored in our bodies. God can heal all that and He will.
From a Biblical perspective, think of the Temple which is a metaphor for our bodies. The Bible says we are temples of the Holy Spirit. There is the outer court, the inner court, and the Holy of Holies.
God’s Presence dwells in the Holy of Holies. There were demonized people in the Temple. Jesus drove the moneychangers out of the Temple. They represent the love of money. They represent the conflicted nature of man in this world. You cannot serve God and money.
Can you think evil thoughts? Can you still sin with and against your body? Yes. Sin opens the door for the demonic realm to enter. They cannot corrupt your spirit, you are saved by faith when you believe. But they sure as hell can mess up your life by tormenting your mind with impure thoughts and afflicting your body with sickness and disease.
The Church in the West largely ignores spiritual warfare. It’s almost a secular humanist church at this point. It’s time we rediscover the truth of God’s Word and God’s power; and His love will lead us home.
I’ve discovered a few things about myself lately. Love is what guides me. God is love after all. Love is what provides for me, because God is love after all. I’m abiding in His love and everything seems to come together perfectly at just the exact right moment that it’s needed.
I’ve been living by faith, also known as voluntary poverty, for years. In that time, I’ve never starved or gone without clothing. All my needs are met. That’s built my faith and confidence that God’s Word is true and you can build your life on its principles. More importantly, He can guide you step by step when you surrender to His will and His way.
I keep trying to plan my next step, but nothing feels quite right. Simply living in the moment, that’s where God is found. If I have the blueprints, I’ll try to build the house myself instead of watching God do it. I guess you could say God put me in house arrest. Can anyone relate?
What I do know is that I’m a sparkplug. I provide the spark of faith that ignites others to mission. In fact, today as I was praying and seeking comfort in the Lord, He whispered in that still, small voice, “Faith is all you need.”
I have faith. God is real. He’s proven this to me time and again. Nothing can take my faith away. It’s a gift from God and I’m not letting go. I’ve got more than enough faith to live on, so I’m happy to share some of mine with you. Maybe I can fill up your cup today, to wake you up and help you get on your way. We’re walking the long road home to glory so we might as well get acquainted. We’re going to know each other forever, as long as you don’t abandon the faith for the world.
Love is what holds us together. Faith is what keeps us alive. Hope is what keeps us going in the right direction. God is the giver of all of these things, so let’s praise Him and thank Him and serve Him with all of our lives.
Lord God in Heaven, You will build Your Church on the Rock of Revelation that Jesus Christ is Lord. There is no other name by which we can be saved. Let us return to the Lord, in humility and gratitude. And may we serve Him and only Him, wholeheartedly, everyday of our lives. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.
I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 18:1-2 ESV
Igniter Ministries 