Let's be real here, this world we live in has lots of problems. It's not hard to see, and if you get outside of the safe American or Christian bubble you'll see that the world is crying out for help. We, believing believers, carry the answer to all problems within us. The poor make an obvious candidate for help. But what about those that you pass by everyday here in America that smile big and things appear to be good in their life, but on the inside they feel like death?
In third world countries they cannot hide their issues as well as we can in America. Their issues are that they are starving, haven't showered, have major health issues, etc... In America though, it can be easier to hide behind a fake smile and put up a front that everything is fine. We have so many things at our finger tips that other cultures don't have. We have the best health care in the world, tons of free food programs, many shelters, and all sorts of other free assistance's for those struggling. Those with money can hide behind issues with all sorts of false comforts.
This facade that is so readily available to hide behind in America simply prolongs the pain and makes it worse. In third world cultures many of the most loving and humble people I have met still have an amazing and some what healthy heart, despite circumstances. The trick of the enemy in our culture is that we think that because we have comforts to insulate us from pain that we can avoid the true issues of the heart. When in all actuality avoiding the issue makes our hearts even sicker.
But the enemy is not that intelligent. He has his schemes and tricks, but he is so confident in the idea that Christians don't believe what it is they say they believe that he will over play his hand in obvious ways. The enemy has seen so many Christians buckle and tone down their love for Jesus once under his attacks, that he is willing to risk it when it comes to attacking people with his silly tactics.
I really try to avoid talking about the enemy much, he gets far to much attention as it is He is the father of lies and when we listen to his voice we are molded into his image. He is after all, already entirely defeated (Colossians 2: 13-15). Know this though, his attack is against people, not just Christians. He hates all people, because all people are created in God's image.
Isaiah 60:2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. (ESV) The enemy is at work, and his specific attack is on people. But God is in you and upon you to show the world His truth, power, and love. His desire is for people that are freely given what he wanted, to "be like the Most High." We are created in God's image and likeness and He has given us the Kingdom. The enemy tries to manipulate people with his lies and have people end up looking more like him then Our Loving Father.
Here is where he is foolish and dares to over play his hand, especially in our culture. Let's start here... I have not seen the movie 50 Shades of Grey, but I have heard all about it. That movie is a sad manipulation of what true intimacy and love is. This movie has also grossed almost 160 million to date. I don't see sin riddled people flocking to the movies in this, I see people screaming out for true intimacy. Yet they have been tricked by the father of lies. This reveals a big opportunity for those that follow the Way. Countless people out their are desperately seeking for true intimacy and love, but they're getting suckered by the fake. As a follower of the Way of Love my job is not to judge those people, it's to show them what they are truly looking for. Which is heaven on earth, the revealing of Christ in me the hope of glory.
Our culture has cultivated a mentality of wanting everything right now, having so many things readily available to us can and does get used for much good, but the enemy has used it in this instance to trick people into thinking that lust is love and the cheap thrill of lustful living will satisfy the hearts desire of longing for relationship and real love with Love.
It is the same with drugs and drinking. The enemy has counterfeited the presence of God with stimulants and substances that kill, steal, and destroy. I see it as a grand opportunity, these people are seeking for the presence of God and they don't even know it. People are being tricked into the "I want it now mentality" that runs so rampant in our society, and they willingly risk health and safety for a quick relief that makes things much worse in the long run. That's where we come in, we have the privilege of modeling what it is they are truly looking for.
We get to show them that the drugs and alcohol is like decaf coffee compared to being filled with the presence of God. I don't speak from a place of head knowledge. At one point or another I was addicted to pain pills, cocaine, daily marijuana use, ecstasy, daily drinking, pornography, sex, violence, and I think you get the point. When I truly experienced the presence of God I was satisfied in a way that words wouldn't do full justice, let's just say that Christ was what I was really looking for all along. In all my seeking God was never my enemy, I was only His enemy in my mind, Colossians 1:21.
When you see someone who can't stop drinking, talk to them about the presence of God. That's what they are really looking for. Lay hands on them so they can experience His tangible love. When you meet someone who is addicted to pornography tell them about what it is they are truly desiring. Which is eternal life, relationship with Christ Jesus. Tell them about how amazingly good He is, about His blissful presence, and about how much He paid for our redemption and makes us brand new. Explain to them how He is not a set of rules, but a living relationship with the substance of Love. Tell them testimonies of your experience with Him and His goodness. They have been tricked into a corner by the defeated enemy and are looking for the intimacy without the relationship and they are feeding on the counterfeit. Truth, and a taste of Holy Spirit's reality will spark a flame in their heart that will shift those demonic mindsets towards Truth, and it is Truth that sets us free.
How about a gambling addiction. What I see is this, that person probably has a great calling to steward money in amazing ways. Yet, they have been tricked into downward cycle through believing lies of a irresponsible get rich quick mindset that is void of wisdom and truth. The list could go on. The place of greatest attack on a person is most often the place of their greatest strength. They just need a child of God that knows who they truly are to show them their true identity of being a heavenly representative and usher them into an encounter and relationship with Mr. Love Himself.
2 Corinthians 5:19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. (NLT) We have the amazing privilege to see people's true value, true purpose, and true motives and love them into all of that. It is the same with cities, business's, churches, ministry's, and nations.
With the work of the enemy being so in the world's face, his attacks reveal the depth of desire for the real thing that is screaming out in people. The enemy can only copy, he doesn't have have access to the Creator. Therefore, he cannot create. He can only manipulate the real thing, which is always found in Christ. The real thing trumps the phony at all times, and we get the amazing privilege of displaying this love and power filled ministry of reconciliation to a world that is truly looking for Him in all their searching.
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