From Pity to Praise

There’s a battle raging all around us. Not one fought with physical weapons or visible armies, but a spiritual conflict that shapes our relationships, our families, and future generations. Most of us walk through life completely unaware of this, dismissing it as outdated theology, or the stuff of horror movies.

It’s a reality that I don’t think we can ignore. The apostle Paul wrote with crystal clarity in Ephesians 6:12. “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over the present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

Our struggle isn’t the difficult people, challenging circumstances, or even our own weaknesses. Behind all these visible struggles is an invisible war. We can either ignore this completely treating it as a superstition or outdated thinking or become obsessed with it and see demons behind every difficulty and blame Satan for our poor choices. I believe the truth is found somewhere in between. Not every problem is demonic, but denying the reality of spiritual opposition is like walking through a minefield blindfolded, insisting mines don’t exist.

Scripture is filled with glimpses into the spiritual dimension. The Bible shows us evidence of the unseen realm. The prophet, Daniel, who prayed for 21 days before the angel finally appeared to him. The angels exclamation, was that he’d been fighting against the Prince of Persia for 21 days come to him. There was a cosmic battle happening in the Albany realm while Daniel prayed faithfully on earth. Elisha’s servant, was terrified when he saw an enemy army surrounding their city. Elisha prayed in 2 Kings 6:15-18, “Lord, open his eyes that he may see.” Suddenly, the servant saw what had been there all along – the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire, heavenly forces that outnumbered the earthly army.

These aren’t fairytales or allegories. They are windows into a reality that exists whether we acknowledge it or not. When you understand this the chaos happening in the world today is no longer confusing and everything that is going on right now is prophesied in the Bible.

Satan has a strategy. And the goal hasn’t changed since the Garden of Eden to undermine and destroy God‘s work. He has called the tempter and accuser. Scripture tells us in 1 Peter 5:8 that, “Your enemy prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

This is where Satan becomes particularly dangerous. Is patient, he’s playing the long game.

If you are a believer in Jesus, your eternal destiny is secure cannot snatch you from God‘s hand. So what’s his strategy? He goes after your effectiveness, your joy, he goes after relationships, children, and grandchildren.

Satan knows he can derail us through distraction, discouragement, or deception, and he can impact gets to come. If he can destroy our lives our children may never see what godly love looks like. If he can isolate us from other believers we can become vulnerable prey.

Think about how Satan (the serpent) approached Eve with a simple question, “Did God actually say?” Satan had a strategy – create doubt, distort God’s word, divide man and woman, and ultimately destroy the relationships for God. The same tactics are still in his plan today.

Look around at our culture. Marriage is under assault, birth rates are declining, sexual confusion abounds. Children are being taught worldview fundamentally opposed scripture. None of this is accidental. It’s part of a deliberate, generational strategy to undermine God‘s design for humanity.

But through all of this there is good news -We are not alone. His destruction has already been determined. And at least, for the meantime, we are not fighting this battle in our own strength.

The apostle Paul’s instruction is clear: “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God” -Ephesians 6:10-11.

Notice -it’s by His might, not ours. It’s God‘s armor, not any equipment we manufacture ourselves. It’s our job to know the Word of God and to pray against Satan.

When apostles, Paul original audience heard about “the armor of God” they wouldn’t have pictured a lone soldier standing against an army. They would have envisioned a Roman military unit – shield locked together, protecting each other‘s backs, standing as one impenetrable force.

I think this is a picture of the church we should be. It’s not about denominations, or clothing, or even a place only certain people can enter. It’s about fighting off an unseen force that is destroying us. We are not meant to fight alone. We were designed to stand together, protecting one another, lifting up those who fall, and advancing as a unified force. Satan has done such a great job dividing us, until we realize this, we will not be able to do our one assignment God created us for.

Here’s the ultimate truth that changes everything, “Greater is He that is in you than he who is in the world” -1 John 4:4).

I believe that until all churches come together to battle the unseen spiritual forces that are destroying us we will never be able to finish the assignment God created us for.

The dark reality of scripture is every person, whether a believer or or not, is accountable before a sovereign God, and will one day have to bow before Jesus.

Jesus said in Luke 12:48, “For everyone who has been given much, much will be required, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be asked.”

I think many reject this accountability in Scripture, but it is written in too many scriptures in the Bible for me to discount it. For me, I would rather be prepared for it to happen,than not be ready.

Accountability is essential for any society to function and a believer’s accountability is no different. We are all held accountable in one way or another.

There are laws to obey and if we fail to be obedient, we may have to suffer the consequences set by the officials who hold us accountable. Accountability is simply being responsible for our actions.

Everyone is responsible for their own behavior, we cannot function as a civilized world without it. The Bible is very clear when it comes to personal accountability. Romans 14:12 says, “So then every one of us shall give account to himself to God.”

I don’t think our feeble excuses will suffice when we are called to account before the Almighty. The Bible is filled with accounts of men and women who tried to “pass the buck.”

Adam tried to blame Eve when he ate the forbidden fruit. Eve tried to blame the serpent. She become the first one to use, “the devil made me do it“ excuse. Even Biblical leader like Aaron, and Saul tried to blame their sins on the people in Exodus 32:21-24 and Samuel 15:13-14.

As creative as these excuses may seem, not one was acceptable. Adam and Eve were both punished for their disobedience to God. When David sinned with Bathsheba he paid the price. No excuse saved him from God’s judgment.

We can read in Acts 5:1-11 how Ananias and Sapphira could not shift the burden of guilt. They lied to the Holy Spirit and they were held accountable. They sold a piece of land but secretly kept part of the money for themselves. To make themselves look generous. The important part wasn’t that they didn’t give all the proceeds of the land. It’s wasn’t about giving all the money to the church, it was because they lied.

People who can’t admit they were wrong will not repent and seek forgiveness. And God cannot forgive sin until it is confessed. I think this alone is importance for human beings to bear the responsibility of their own sins.

God’s sense of justice prevents Him from providing His mercy to the unrepentant.

God’s Word says in Romans 3;23, “All have sinned.” Every man and woman will stand guilty before God.

However, if we confess our sins, He promises to be faithful in forgiving us. 1 John 1:9 tells us, “If we confess our sins. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness .” If we take responsibility for our behavior, God is ready to offer His mercy and forgiveness.

I think many people do not only fear work, but the accountability that comes with it. Our new generation has a difficult time with accountability because they didn’t grow up with having it. It’s as if it were an assault on their lifestyles and plans. They do not want to be tied to anything.

Accountability for our actions is essential if we want to grow and produce godly character and fruit.

Accountability is a check and balance system that protects us from ourselves and others. A believer’s accountability is accounting for what we are up to. It is the realization that we are liable, responsible, and answerable for our actions in life to God.

Accountability allows us to be answerable to one another, focusing on key relationships such as with our spouses, close friend, a boss, and small group members, and pastors. For example I go to a small prayer meeting weekly that we stay accountable to others. And I go a little early to church to help with the service and have a little one on one on with my pastor. That alone keeps me accountable for my actions, and I know I can count on them if I find myself needing support.

We need to hold to our beliefs about the Bible and keep in line with what we believes so it does not distract us from God’s path for us or discourage others from their path.

Some things in the Bible or what the pastor teaches, and we tend to ignore them. But, I believe we need to be aware so we can be prepared for what’s coming.

If you’ve visited my blog you know I don’t sugarcoat the truth. It’s better to be informed than misinformed. A lack of knowledge leaves us room to learn, but the wrong information actively guides decisions down the wrong path.

Unforgiveness is a dangerous spiritual condition that separates us from God’s grace and poisons our souls.

Jesus teaches that if we do not forgive others he will not forgive us.

The trap of unforgiveness:.

We often think of hell as a destination for specific, notorious sins. However, scripture warns us that a quiet, hidden sin in the heart can be just as destructive. Unforgiveness is a spiritual prison. It binds us to past pain, blocks our relationships with God, and threatens our eternal security.

The Commandment to forgive:

Forgiveness is not a suggestion or an emotional option for a believer, It is a direct command from Jesus. When we refuse to forgive, we choose disobedience over God’s law to love.

In Matthew 18:21-22 Peter came to Jesus and asked Him, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

And in Colossians 3:13 Jesus tells us to, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you have a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

The direct danger to our salvation:

The Bible makes a terrifyingly clear connection between our willingness to forgive others and God’s willingness to forgive us. If we close our hearts to mercy, we close the door to God’s mercy for ourselves.

Matthew 6:14-15 tells us, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins your Father will not forgive your sins.”

The prison of torture and bitterness:

There is a parable in Matthew 18:34-35 about an unforgiving servant. Jesus described a man who was forgiven an impossible debt but he refused to forgive a small debt owed to him. The master of the servant turned the man he had forgiven to the jailer to be tortured. Unforgiveness eats away at our joy and hands us over to spiritual torment.

In Matthew 18:34-35 it tells us, “In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my Heavenly Father will treat of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Hebrews 12:25 says, “See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”

Sadly, I learned this too late, I held bitterness in my heart for my mother. It was only when she passed away that I learned this lesson. I had let bitterness and unforgiveness for her destroy my life for many years. Amazingly after I forgave her from my heart, I began healing from the effects of abuse and neglect she caused.

Forgiving someone does not mean that what they did was right, nor does it mean you have to trust them. Forgiveness means releasing the desire for revenge into God’s hands.

If you carry any resentment, bitterness, or unforgiveness in your heart that weight could cost you your soul. Let it go, choose to step into freedom of God’s complete forgiveness.

Once, a deeply loved and perfectly just king discovered that someone was stealing from his royal treasures. To uphold the law, he decreed that if the thief was caught they would receive a punishment of ten lashes. However, the stealing continued, and the king raised the penalty to forty lashes, which was essentially a death sentence.

When the king’s guards finally caught the thief, everyone was shocked because the thief was the king’s own daughter.

The kingdom waited to see what the king would do, if he pardoned her, his justice would be compromised, but if he punished her, his love for were would by broken.

On the day of the sentencing, the king’s daughter was tied to the execution post. The people were in disbelief that he would go through with the execution. But…

Just as the executioner raised the whip, the king shouted for him to stop. The king walked forward and wrapped His body tightly around his daughter to cover her, and ordered the executioner to strike. When the first executioner objected that hitting her would mean hitting the king, ultimately resulting in his death, while his daughter would be set free.

This illustration symbolizes how God handled humanity’s failures. Because God is just, the penalty for wrongdoing had to be paid. He chose to step in and pay that penalty Himself through Jesus.

This story was once told by Charles Spurgeon of a Saxon king who had the reputation among his tiny kingdom of being the most just king.