Tag Archives: victory

Hopelessness: Away from God

Church Bulletin, Daily living, ,

hopeless girlThere is little worse than hopelessness. It is the idea that things are bad and nothing can improve them. We have all been there. Previously, we wrote of hopelessness and its impact on the Christian. A Christian feels hopeless when he is separated from God. There is growing distance between him and his Lord. The two are estranged.

“And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee” (Luke 15:17, 18)

Here is the climax of the parable of the prodigal son, told by Jesus, recorded by Luke in Luke 15:11-32. The prodigal son embodies hopelessness. But, he also overcame the darkness.

The prodigal son was hopeless because of his own actions.

It was not the father who drove the son away. The son left of his own desire.

‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.  (Luke 15:12, 13)

Though not pleasant to hear; we are often hopeless because of our own actions. In our parable, the son left, not the father. So often we find ourselves in trouble and have no one to blame except the man in the mirror.

To avoid ongoing, never-ending despair we must look to the actual reasons behind our struggles. Ask, “What bad choices put me here? What is my personal role in my struggles? Only by answering this probing question can we hope to avoid repeating personal history.

The prodigal son beat hopelessness.

Imagine the youth’s surroundings. He was broke. He was friendless. He was estranged from the only people who really loved him. Some would say he was a “rock-bottom.” Like a recovering alcoholic, he had to admit that he had a problem. Verse 17 begins, “…he came to himself.”

We must admit our own shortcomings and we must come to ourselves. It is never an easy moment but it is crucial to breaking free of a hopeless life. The prodigal son could not expect any improvement until he made a change. Likewise, your life will not change until you accept your own weakness and come to the rock that is higher than you (Psalm 61:2).

Hopelessness flees when plans take shape.

Plans and hopelessness cannot coexist. The person with a plan has a vision. He has hope.

The prodigal was coming home!

“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’  (Luke 15:17-19)

Developing a plan is hard. It requires thought, reflection and an analysis of your present condition, available helps, and goals. You do not need to plan your escape alone. Reach out to others who can help and guide. Solomon said:

“Listen to advice and accept instruction,

that you may gain wisdom in the future.”  (Proverbs 19:20)

 

Hopelessness is beaten.

Picture the moment: The prodigal has been traveling from a far country. The road has become familiar. He remembers his youth, playing long the road, climbing the trees and enjoying the frivolity of youth. He tops the last hill and looks toward his home. There, in the distance he sees his home. And then he sees an old man running toward him. Is it? Could it be? It is!

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20)

In the moment of new found unity with his father – with his daddy – hopelessness was gone. He was no longer a hopeless, hapless, young man who had squandered his money. Joy filled the father! Joy filled the son! Joy filled the house!

The embarrassed, trouble youth that was once trodding the mire of the pig pens is now free of his self-imposed struggles. He is home!

If you are far from God, come home! Do not live another day in a world that cares nothing for you. Come home! Our Father waits for you and we stand with him. You are missed! Come home!

 

 

Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter @J_Bryant_Evans.

 

The Devil Is In Charge!

Church Bulletin, Jesus, Satan, , ,

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Devil_Goat.pngA provocative title wouldn’t you say? But it is very true. Christians often respond with shock and surprise at the wickedness that runs rampant in our world. We shouldn’t be. It is expected that any environment under the influence of evil will, itself, be evil. Our world, our society, our culture, and sometimes even our homes and churches, are in the grip of the evil one.

It’s time we revolt.

When Adam and Eve committed the very first sin (Genesis 3:6) God brought punishments immediately (Genesis 3:8-19). Mankind died that day. He became separated, by his own sin, from God. Hard physical labor and the pain of childbirth are evident too. But the immediate impact of sin was seen in the very next generation when the first child Cain killed the second child, Abel. The murder was in response to Cain’s faithless worship.

The world has been going downhill ever since.

Today, sin has spread like a stain throughout our world. Not one person has remained unscathed by its relentless march against righteousness. The beauty and calm of the Garden of Eden has been replaced by ugly chaos and sin. It is all around us.

Paul speaks of the “power of the prince of the air” (Ephesians 2:2) which is surely Satan, and notes that he works in and through the unrighteous. There is no doubt that Satan has control of the wicked. Later, Paul speaks of our warfare against the “spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

Three times John speaks of the ruler of this world (John 12:31, 14:30; 16:11) who is clearly a reference to the devil. There is also the third temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4:9-11 when Satan offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in exchange for Jesus bowing down and worshipping him. Many argue that Satan did not have the power to deliver on this temptation. They say Satan was bluffing. I disagree. If Satan were lying would it not be evident that Jesus would know he was lying? Such a transparent lie would be no temptation at all to Jesus. It is clear from the John passages above that Jesus viewed Satan as the ruler of the world. Satan’s power was extreme. His influence over the world was so great that he could have delivered entire kingdoms to anyone he wished.

But we are immeasurably blessed that the prince of the power of the air was stopped by the Prince of Peace. Consider the Father’s work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and placed him “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and above every name that is named” (Ephesians 1:21). In Revelation 20:1-3 Satan is seen as bound and cast into a pit for a thousand years. He is not destroyed but imprisoned. His eternal punishment comes later (Revelation 20:7-10). ((I do not pretend to understand every scintilla of the record here but the passage is clearly symbolic, not literal and shows the ultimate end of evil.)) Satan is now bound but still wields great influence in our world. While Jesus has triumphed over evil (Colossians 2:15; 1 Corinthians 15:56-57) there are multitudes that reject Him and are still governed by the evil one.

But for the Christian, there is victory and there is protection from Satan. We are not ignorant of his work (2 Corinthians 2:11) and have been well warned (1 Peter 5:8). God protects us from Satan’s power (1 Corinthians 10:13). We are children of the King and look forward to a home where nothing evil can approach (Revelation 21:27). The devil may be in charge for some people – but not us!

Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter @jbevans.

Evil Empire

Church Bulletin, Eastern Shore church of Christ, ,

It was on this day in 1983 that President Ronald Reagan proclaimed that the Soviet Union was an “evil empire.” The statement sent shock waves throughout the diplomatic world and many declared that the popular President had set U.S. – Soviet relationships back thirty years. Reagan’s comment was nonetheless true. The Soviets did not believe in God nor did they allow people to worship freely. Personal liberty was unheard of and there were no true civil rights. Within a few short years that empire would crumble and freedom would begin to sweep across eastern Europe and Asia.

There is today an evil empire which exists and is even bigger than the old Soviet Union.  Continue reading Evil Empire →

Where the Battle Rages

1st and 2nd Samuel, Daily living, , ,

While preparing for this Sunday’s lesson from  the story of David and Goliath, I noticed a verse that had escaped me  in the past. Since time will prevent me from discussing this little nugget I thought I would post it  here.

“The Philistines stood on the mountain on one side while Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with the valley between them.” (1 Samuel 17:3)

When studying a Bible passage it’s useful to ask why a given sentence  or verse is in the Bible. Why would the Holy Spirit put it there? I asked that question and struggled with the answer. It didn’t seem to be just a nice, pretty description of the geography. It seemed to cry out for a deeper meaning or purpose.

Perhaps the Spirit is reminding us that the valley is where the battle rages, both for David but also for you and me. To the Philistines and the Israelites the mountains were places of safety. They could assemble in the peaks and crags without fear of assault. But the valley was wide open and full of danger. So long as they remained in the mountains they were safe. But they were also stagnant and unmoving. If they remained ensconced among the rocks they would be safe but they would never gain the victory over their godless enemy.

Only the maligned man of the sheep, David, was brave enough to venture into battle in the valley. When he did, empowered by God, he was victorious!

The real battles in our lives are fought in the valley. As long as we remain hidden and quiet we will never gain the kind of victories for which God has prepared us. It takes a depth of spiritual courage to confront our enemies, our habits, our thoughts and our sins. Yet it is when we face them in the valley that victory is gained.

Where would Israel have been had David not run quickly to face the enemy of God’s people (1 Samuel 17:48)? Where can we be when God’s people today show the same courage in the face of their spiritual enemy.

Rise up! Face your fears and claim the strength of God to defeat those that oppose him and you! Get to the valley now!

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