Frontline


In the SBCV’s Basic Training for us Church Planters, we were told that after the training we’ll be on the frontlines when it comes to the spiritual warfare. The adventurer in me thought it cool about the idea of being upfront of the action. I know that God has already won the war in the form of Jesus Christ on the cross when He paid the sin price for me and all mankind. That day, Satan lost the war and was given the death blow (Genesis 3:15b - He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.) He’s walking around wounded. The Bible says in 1 Peter 5:8, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” According to animal experts, when a lion roars while he’s walking or prowling means he’s hurt. The most dangerous animals are the hurt ones. The good part of this is that you can hear a roaring lion coming so you can be ready with the armor God has given you when you accepted Christ as Savior and Lord.

The armor we’re given is mainly for protection; mostly defensive. The only offensive piece of the armor is the “Sword of the Lord” which is the Word of God (the Bible). When on the frontlines of the battles we find ourselves, we must hold high the shield of faith. The frontline is where the arrows of the enemy hit first. The shield is designed “to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one [Satan].” The flaming arrows are the temptations of Satan. You know the thoughts that creep up to stop serving God or to follow your own agenda instead God’s agenda for your life. These thoughts can enter your thoughts very smoothly. That’s why in 1 Peter, we’re told to be watchful.
Satan wants to destroy you. God has given us power in His Son. The power we have is found in the His Word. The only offensive weapon we can use against Satan is scripture. Like any soldier or warrior it takes time to learn to use the equipment we’ve been issued. Learning the Bible is the same. You need to spend time in it, to learn to use it to have a fulfilled life in serving Jesus Christ. When Satan attacks you with fear or doubt, hold up your shield to block the arrows and swing your sword back at him with 2 Timothy 1:7 (For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.). Jesus tells us that if we resist the devil, he will run from us. He runs because we quote the Word of God. Satan has no power over us. The only power he has is what we give him. Keep your eyes on The One (Christ) who saved you, and everything will work out for His good.

When you’re on the frontlines, be watchful and keep your armor on. Remember the power we have in Christ Jesus. No force on heaven or on earth can defeat the God we belong to. The war is over, and we have won because we belong to the Victor.

Thanks for reading. Until next time, grow where God has planted you.

A True Man

I was able to see the movie “300” this past weekend. I love history, so I wanted to see it because I especially love ancient history. The movie is based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller. Frank Miller is a well known artist who retooled Batman in the mid-1980s into a darker version of what he was before. Frank is known for making Batman the “Dark Knight.” Well, Frank Miller’s graphic novel is very loosely based the historical events where 300 Spartans stood against thousands of Persians. At the end of this movie, I walked out of the theater with my chest sticking out and my posture straight. The movie made me feel good to be a man.

Society, as a whole, changes on what we as men should be like. At one time, society says a true man is tough as nails. At another time, society says that a true man is sensitive. Which is it? Our example in all things is Jesus Christ. When it comes to being a man, Jesus is who we should be modeling after. Jesus is a man’s man. The world misunderstands the idea of meekness. In the eyes of this world, the word meekness is taken to mean weakness. That is far from the meaning of this word. The Greek word meek means strength under control. It takes more strength to turn the “other cheek” when hit than to hit back. It takes more strength to forgive than to hold a grudge. It takes more strength to answer in a light tone, than to yell back. Jesus had strength.

Jesus is the model we should pattern our lives. Whether it’s regarding on how we should conduct our behavior, or what we shouldn’t be doing. The views of society change faster than the seasons, but Jesus Christ never changes. As men, we should try to be more like Christ than model whatever view society thinks a true man should be.

Building A Connection Point to the Community


I feel that one of the ways a church can reach the community is to be part of the community that God has placed them. With this in mind, I’ve contacted the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce. Lord willing, I’ll be able to join the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce and use this organization to reach Suffolk with the good news of Jesus Christ.

When most people think about church, they see it as a taker and not as a giver. The churches have tax free property, and they tend to be apart of the community and not really part of it. God has lain on my heart that the best ways to reach the unchurched lost of Suffolk is to be “Going” to them. Getting involved with the civic organizations is one part of this goal.

Other ways to achieve this goal of reach the community with Christ are many. The church can reach out through the PTA, allowing the Red Cross to use your property for a blood drive, and the list can go on. The point is that I feel the best ways to reach the community is the think outside the box.

The USA of the past no longer exists. At one time, U.S. was a Christian nation. That’s no longer the case. The U.S. is in the top 4 unchurched nations in the world. There’s China, India, the U.S., and Indo-china. With this fact in mind, the old traditional ways of reaching the lost need to be revisited. I know that If God wants a person to be saved, He reaches out to them. But since I’m not God and don’t know who will be saved I’m supposed to cast out my net and pull in all who God has me to draw in for His glory.

Take a moment and think about what ways you can use to reach out to the lost around. Thanks for reading.