Larry Lilly's Journal Volume 17 Issue 4 April 2015
Withstanding the Storms of Life Larry Lilly
Larry & Joyce
Ephesians 6:13 “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
This month’s thoughts are based on Ephesians 6:10-18 in the hopes that you will gain some courage, at least some insight as you make up your mind to be true to Jesus and to your true redeemed self.
Knowing what to do when an avalanche of evil is rushing toward you is a key element in surviving to again stand in another time, later on. So many good minded people let the “evil” of a particular time get to them mentally, spiritually and even physically. This is largely due to a basic lack of trust in Christ and also the failure to take the scriptures serious and learn what to do in days/times of great evil.
Some years ago a preacher suggested that all God’s people learn to identify the evil of their era and stand tall and proud against it. In our time we have a larger problem in that deciding which evil should we stand against is like choosing the best dish on the smorgasbord at a Five Star Hotel. To say “evil abounds” in our day is such a drastic understatement. Take your pick, as mere headlines fill our brains to the max at the very thought of properly defining the worst evil of our time.
To withstand we are told to dress for battle in the “whole armor of God.” I shall not delve into the said armor in depth. I do recommend that every serious Christian purchase and read William Gurnall’s four volume commentary on the armor of God. Four large volumes!
You recall the pieces of the entire armor, as listed by Paul as truth, righteousness, preparation, faith, personal salvation, Word of God, along with prayer, constant alertness and concern for others as you recognize you’re not the only struggling person along God’s path.
Have you ever asked; why is the armor of God given in these terms? Paul conveys the image of material weapons to be sure, but it is certain the invisible weapons of Christ are meant. Why not the material? Because, according to verse twelve, the actual evil of this or any era are the invisible forces of hell. Notice, Ephesians 6:12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Much could be said about “Spiritual wickedness in high places,” but that would be a sermon with a different point.
Because we are in a battle it is important to maintain contact with our commanding officer and follow His instructions as to how to wage the conflict and stand our ground. One reason being that we must know the truth that makes us free, John 8:32, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” When we know we are standing against a real enemy we cannot be deceived into wasting time via error. Christ is truth and any deviation from truth is not a proper weapon. Truth in the context of verse 12 being the enemy really does want us dead and along the way so demoralized or scandalized as to be ineffective warriors of the cross. I know of no scripture that authorizes God’s people to dialogue or negotiate with “evil, wickedness in high places.”
If the other enumerated weapons are used standing on a foundation of falsehood, they will be totally worthless. John wrote in Revelation 22:15, “For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.” Pause a moment and read again the list of the Christian Warrior’s weapons. Now ask yourself, which of these will work if they are spun to work off the platform of a lie? Is faith in the wrong object right? Not according to Jesus, thus the lie, that all roads lead to Him is of course wrong, for He stated clearly that He is The Way. John 14:6. In the great inner battles that Christian’s engage in you will find the crux of the matter is, truth or a lie?
It appears that Christendom and the Moslem world are on the verge of WWIII if God does not intervene. Sensible people understand that both systems cannot be right. One is based on truth and the other a lie. One based on the teaching of Jesus believes that life and salvation are gifts from God and are to be used in many ways to promulgate truth, grace (the unmerited favor of God), Mercy (the undeserved forgiveness of God in Christ). Christ’s truth further asserts the value of the individual, male and female, the purpose and blessing of one man and one woman being glued together in the bonds of holy matrimony with the primary purpose of bearing children and training said children in God’s way. There is of course much more.
On the other hand you have what I believe is the lie, stated simply as following the example of the desert nomad who clearly taught that people must convert to Islam or be killed. He taught this by word and example. He asserted that this is in harmony with the will and plan of allah, who had until Mohammed came along been a local moon god. I see no need to lay it out more plainly as all you must do is to tune in to the evening news or Google and actually watch brutal beheadings of men, women and totally innocent children all in the name of the moon god, allah.
My point here being if our faith is only lip service to Christ, then we are worse off than the Moslem who is motivated by the forces mentioned in verse 12 earlier.
The other day I read an article by a then budding world leader claim a deep faith in Jesus Christ. Here is the slant: GG: “What do you believe?” OBAMA: “I am a Christian.” In the 2nd paragraph following Senator Obama continues. “So, I'm rooted in the Christian tradition. I believe that there are many paths to the same place, and that there is a higher power, that we are connected as a people.”
(Underlining mine). Read the entire article here http://www.wanttoknow.info/008/obama_religious_beliefs_views
Sadly this is the opinion of many “professing” Christians. Scripture makes it plain that this opinion is NOT based on biblical truth!
Most of my readers immediately recognize the clash of his statement with that of Jesus in John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Jesus said this to his clearly very religious disciples. I really work on not being in conflict with Jesus. Fellowship is much better and safe!
As you face the storms in your life, please clothe yourself in the whole armor of God, but be sure to put the proper emphasis on the primary cover, Truth. LML.
“All that I am I owe to Jesus Christ, revealed to me in His divine Book.”
David Livingstone
This month’s thoughts are based on Ephesians 6:10-18 in the hopes that you will gain some courage, at least some insight as you make up your mind to be true to Jesus and to your true redeemed self.
Knowing what to do when an avalanche of evil is rushing toward you is a key element in surviving to again stand in another time, later on. So many good minded people let the “evil” of a particular time get to them mentally, spiritually and even physically. This is largely due to a basic lack of trust in Christ and also the failure to take the scriptures serious and learn what to do in days/times of great evil.
Some years ago a preacher suggested that all God’s people learn to identify the evil of their era and stand tall and proud against it. In our time we have a larger problem in that deciding which evil should we stand against is like choosing the best dish on the smorgasbord at a Five Star Hotel. To say “evil abounds” in our day is such a drastic understatement. Take your pick, as mere headlines fill our brains to the max at the very thought of properly defining the worst evil of our time.
To withstand we are told to dress for battle in the “whole armor of God.” I shall not delve into the said armor in depth. I do recommend that every serious Christian purchase and read William Gurnall’s four volume commentary on the armor of God. Four large volumes!
You recall the pieces of the entire armor, as listed by Paul as truth, righteousness, preparation, faith, personal salvation, Word of God, along with prayer, constant alertness and concern for others as you recognize you’re not the only struggling person along God’s path.
Have you ever asked; why is the armor of God given in these terms? Paul conveys the image of material weapons to be sure, but it is certain the invisible weapons of Christ are meant. Why not the material? Because, according to verse twelve, the actual evil of this or any era are the invisible forces of hell. Notice, Ephesians 6:12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Much could be said about “Spiritual wickedness in high places,” but that would be a sermon with a different point.
Because we are in a battle it is important to maintain contact with our commanding officer and follow His instructions as to how to wage the conflict and stand our ground. One reason being that we must know the truth that makes us free, John 8:32, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” When we know we are standing against a real enemy we cannot be deceived into wasting time via error. Christ is truth and any deviation from truth is not a proper weapon. Truth in the context of verse 12 being the enemy really does want us dead and along the way so demoralized or scandalized as to be ineffective warriors of the cross. I know of no scripture that authorizes God’s people to dialogue or negotiate with “evil, wickedness in high places.”
If the other enumerated weapons are used standing on a foundation of falsehood, they will be totally worthless. John wrote in Revelation 22:15, “For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.” Pause a moment and read again the list of the Christian Warrior’s weapons. Now ask yourself, which of these will work if they are spun to work off the platform of a lie? Is faith in the wrong object right? Not according to Jesus, thus the lie, that all roads lead to Him is of course wrong, for He stated clearly that He is The Way. John 14:6. In the great inner battles that Christian’s engage in you will find the crux of the matter is, truth or a lie?
It appears that Christendom and the Moslem world are on the verge of WWIII if God does not intervene. Sensible people understand that both systems cannot be right. One is based on truth and the other a lie. One based on the teaching of Jesus believes that life and salvation are gifts from God and are to be used in many ways to promulgate truth, grace (the unmerited favor of God), Mercy (the undeserved forgiveness of God in Christ). Christ’s truth further asserts the value of the individual, male and female, the purpose and blessing of one man and one woman being glued together in the bonds of holy matrimony with the primary purpose of bearing children and training said children in God’s way. There is of course much more.
On the other hand you have what I believe is the lie, stated simply as following the example of the desert nomad who clearly taught that people must convert to Islam or be killed. He taught this by word and example. He asserted that this is in harmony with the will and plan of allah, who had until Mohammed came along been a local moon god. I see no need to lay it out more plainly as all you must do is to tune in to the evening news or Google and actually watch brutal beheadings of men, women and totally innocent children all in the name of the moon god, allah.
My point here being if our faith is only lip service to Christ, then we are worse off than the Moslem who is motivated by the forces mentioned in verse 12 earlier.
The other day I read an article by a then budding world leader claim a deep faith in Jesus Christ. Here is the slant: GG: “What do you believe?” OBAMA: “I am a Christian.” In the 2nd paragraph following Senator Obama continues. “So, I'm rooted in the Christian tradition. I believe that there are many paths to the same place, and that there is a higher power, that we are connected as a people.”
(Underlining mine). Read the entire article here http://www.wanttoknow.info/008/obama_religious_beliefs_views
Sadly this is the opinion of many “professing” Christians. Scripture makes it plain that this opinion is NOT based on biblical truth!
Most of my readers immediately recognize the clash of his statement with that of Jesus in John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Jesus said this to his clearly very religious disciples. I really work on not being in conflict with Jesus. Fellowship is much better and safe!
As you face the storms in your life, please clothe yourself in the whole armor of God, but be sure to put the proper emphasis on the primary cover, Truth. LML.
“All that I am I owe to Jesus Christ, revealed to me in His divine Book.”
David Livingstone
The Book Worm's Corner Comments About Books etc.
Joyce (The Great Blonde) Lilly
I am taking a departure this month from the one book review format and letting you know of a major prophecy meeting at our church, Berean Baptist Church. The title of the meeting is “Fifteen Scriptural and Historical Reasons to Believe in The Pre-Tribulation Rapture.”
Dr. Phil Stringer, pastor of the flourishing Ravenswood Baptist Church in Chicago is the speaker for this three night series. The dates are April 7, 8, 9 at 7:00 PM. The days are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Dr. Stringer will present a special edition of this series to a special Wabash Valley Pastor’s Group on Wednesday the 8th, beginning at 9:00 AM with a free breakfast served by the Ladies of Berean. Berean and Dr. Stringer will present a special gift to each Christian Worker present.
Dr. Stringer will stick to the title, Fifteen Scriptural and Historical Reasons to Believe in The Pre-Tribulation Rapture. Pastor Stringer has taught this series all around the United States, the Philippines, Japan and several European countries.
Pastor Stringer is an avid student and scholar of World and American History, having written several curriculums for Christian Schools and Colleges. Innumerable books carry his name as author. I have reviewed several in this column. Dr. Stringer’s latest historical volumes I have reviewed here are The Heaven Rescued Land, Vol 1,Vol 2. The Heaven Rescued Land deals with the colonial period through the concept of Manifest Destiny. Vol 2 will pick up from there. The Foundations of Our World Vol 1 and 2 paints a broad scope of world history through the prism of the biblical eye. It is as near spell binding as possible.
Take whatever measures are necessary to attend this inspiring and instructional meeting. JDL
Dr. Phil Stringer, pastor of the flourishing Ravenswood Baptist Church in Chicago is the speaker for this three night series. The dates are April 7, 8, 9 at 7:00 PM. The days are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Dr. Stringer will present a special edition of this series to a special Wabash Valley Pastor’s Group on Wednesday the 8th, beginning at 9:00 AM with a free breakfast served by the Ladies of Berean. Berean and Dr. Stringer will present a special gift to each Christian Worker present.
Dr. Stringer will stick to the title, Fifteen Scriptural and Historical Reasons to Believe in The Pre-Tribulation Rapture. Pastor Stringer has taught this series all around the United States, the Philippines, Japan and several European countries.
Pastor Stringer is an avid student and scholar of World and American History, having written several curriculums for Christian Schools and Colleges. Innumerable books carry his name as author. I have reviewed several in this column. Dr. Stringer’s latest historical volumes I have reviewed here are The Heaven Rescued Land, Vol 1,Vol 2. The Heaven Rescued Land deals with the colonial period through the concept of Manifest Destiny. Vol 2 will pick up from there. The Foundations of Our World Vol 1 and 2 paints a broad scope of world history through the prism of the biblical eye. It is as near spell binding as possible.
Take whatever measures are necessary to attend this inspiring and instructional meeting. JDL
Letters and Comments Special Edition of this page due to palsity of mail!
LLLV15 2-19-15 Courage is Commanded! Live With It. (February’s most read international letter).
I talk with many pastors, law enforcement personnel, and other professional men and women. One thing all professional people face is seemingly impossible situations. On occasion we all have situations that, if dealt with wrongly, will have lasting negative effects on many people. John Donne, an English, satirist, poet, lawyer and priest had it right when he wrote, “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.”
A pastor may mishandle a situation and hundreds, even thousands of people be seriously hurt at the emotional level.
My friend Bob Spence, who recently retired as sheriff, told of going on a call and finding a woman who had shot her husband. They rescued the wounded husband and he lived. When Bob arrived the woman was sitting on a chair in the kitchen, holding a pistol in one hand while clutching her preteen daughter on her lap. Bob talked with her for quite a while. He finally got the pistol from her. The distraught woman was sure Bob would not keep his word, and permit her to call someone to come and get her little girl. Bob handed her the phone and told her to take her time and call whomever, that he would wait until her girl was with someone to care for her. When the child was gone, Bob then had to cuff her and take her to jail. Later she received a ten year prison sentence for attempted murder. She’s been out now for some time, has earned a PhD, and now is employed helping emotionally and physically battered women. The ending of this story could have been so different.
It took a rare courage to talk with this woman with a pistol in her hand. Yet Bob had that kind of courage, courage with patience.
David ben Gurion, first Prime Minister of modern Israel, stated:
“Courage is a special kind of knowledge, the knowledge of how to fear what ought to be feared and how not to fear what ought not to be feared. From this knowledge comes an inner strength that inspires us to push on in the face of great difficulty. What can seem impossible is often possible with courage.”
Our image of a courageous person is usually of a John Wayne type leading the cavalry over the hill and rescuing the trapped foot soldiers, or David slinging the deadly stone at Goliath. Yet, courage can be, and often is, the quiet, life and death drama as told above. Sometimes, as pastor, it takes all the courage I can muster to simply make it to another marital brawl, another death bed scene at a humble home or the emergency room. To find the right manner in which to be courageous in these times demands an answer, a still, small whisper of just what to do, to say.
Beginning in Deuteronomy through Joshua, Joshua was encouraged seven times to be courageous. I take this oft repeated exhortation to courage to mean that Joshua, like all of us, needed to be reminded that in order for God to intervene, we must face the enemy in whatever form, to do so even with trembling knees, but with courage in our heart. I chose Joshua 1:9 to represent my message to you and to me:
Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God [is] with you wherever you go." Larry Lilly.
****
“Your friends will believe in your potential, your enemies will make you live up to it.” Tim Fargo.
“Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak.” Thomas Carlyle.
"It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare."
Mark Twain
So long until next month or join me twice weekly by sending your email address and I will enlist you for the letter.LML
I talk with many pastors, law enforcement personnel, and other professional men and women. One thing all professional people face is seemingly impossible situations. On occasion we all have situations that, if dealt with wrongly, will have lasting negative effects on many people. John Donne, an English, satirist, poet, lawyer and priest had it right when he wrote, “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.”
A pastor may mishandle a situation and hundreds, even thousands of people be seriously hurt at the emotional level.
My friend Bob Spence, who recently retired as sheriff, told of going on a call and finding a woman who had shot her husband. They rescued the wounded husband and he lived. When Bob arrived the woman was sitting on a chair in the kitchen, holding a pistol in one hand while clutching her preteen daughter on her lap. Bob talked with her for quite a while. He finally got the pistol from her. The distraught woman was sure Bob would not keep his word, and permit her to call someone to come and get her little girl. Bob handed her the phone and told her to take her time and call whomever, that he would wait until her girl was with someone to care for her. When the child was gone, Bob then had to cuff her and take her to jail. Later she received a ten year prison sentence for attempted murder. She’s been out now for some time, has earned a PhD, and now is employed helping emotionally and physically battered women. The ending of this story could have been so different.
It took a rare courage to talk with this woman with a pistol in her hand. Yet Bob had that kind of courage, courage with patience.
David ben Gurion, first Prime Minister of modern Israel, stated:
“Courage is a special kind of knowledge, the knowledge of how to fear what ought to be feared and how not to fear what ought not to be feared. From this knowledge comes an inner strength that inspires us to push on in the face of great difficulty. What can seem impossible is often possible with courage.”
Our image of a courageous person is usually of a John Wayne type leading the cavalry over the hill and rescuing the trapped foot soldiers, or David slinging the deadly stone at Goliath. Yet, courage can be, and often is, the quiet, life and death drama as told above. Sometimes, as pastor, it takes all the courage I can muster to simply make it to another marital brawl, another death bed scene at a humble home or the emergency room. To find the right manner in which to be courageous in these times demands an answer, a still, small whisper of just what to do, to say.
Beginning in Deuteronomy through Joshua, Joshua was encouraged seven times to be courageous. I take this oft repeated exhortation to courage to mean that Joshua, like all of us, needed to be reminded that in order for God to intervene, we must face the enemy in whatever form, to do so even with trembling knees, but with courage in our heart. I chose Joshua 1:9 to represent my message to you and to me:
Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God [is] with you wherever you go." Larry Lilly.
****
“Your friends will believe in your potential, your enemies will make you live up to it.” Tim Fargo.
“Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak.” Thomas Carlyle.
"It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare."
Mark Twain
So long until next month or join me twice weekly by sending your email address and I will enlist you for the letter.LML
Page 4 Featuring Guest Writer Dr. Dale Byers. He Showed Them His Hands John 20:20
Dr. Dale Byers
The Devotional Calendar shares the following story: “Shaking hands with a Christian, the manager of a large engineering works said: “You must excuse my hand. In my apprentice days I had a nail accidentally driven through my hand, and I’ve never been able to close it since.” The Christian took the hand and said, “Two thousand years ago One came down from Heaven to save sinful men. They put him on a cross with nails through His hands. He has never closed His hands since. His hands are ever open to all who come to Him; open to receive them and bestow the blessings of Heaven. (Fellowship: Volume 2; Number 16)
Have you considerd how Christ’s hands are open to you? No matter who you are, or what you have done, or how great your needs are. His hands of love are open to you. Examine those nail prints then measure your needs against those marks of love.
Are you wounded? Then He extends His wounded hands to you. He knows what it is like to be rejected and hurt by people you love (Matt. 26:56))
Are you Weary? He carried the burden and load of the sins of the world to the Cross. He knows what it is like, because He gave Himself totally, only to find those whom He loves are expecting and demanding more (Matt. 11:28; Isa. 40:28-31).
Are you Weak and unable to overcome some trial or temptation? There is no test that He is not able to conquer (1 Cor. 10:13).
Are you Wayward? Perhaps you have tried to live your life running away from His love and truth. You have tasted of the world and found it unsatisfying and your soul is still empty? Return to Him because His hands will welcome you as a father receives a repentant child (Luke 15:18-24; Jn. 21:15-19).
Are you Worried? Is there some monster of fear lurking in the back of your mind? Are you asking those questions, what if…, or when will…, or who could do something to devastate your life, your family or your job? You can trust His promises (Matt. 6:25-34)
Are you wanting to know complete forgiveness and fulfillment that can only be found in Jesus Christ. Then understand that His hand is open to you today; nail pierced but open.
What do we know about His hands? He has promised to deliver us out of the hands of our enemies. He can break those chains of fear, worry, lust and defeat (Luke 1:74-75; Deut. 33:3). We are graven in the palms of His hands (Isa. 49:6), and we are secure because we belong to Him (John 10:27-29). When we turn from trusting ourselves, our sins and our ungrateful attitudes, Christ has guaranteed that we will be forgiven, restored, provided for and loved because He sits at the Father’s Right Hand (Eph. 1:20; Heb. 1:3). John 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. Dale Byers https://dalebyers.wordpress.com/
Larry Lilly
P.O. Box 5212
Terre Haute, IN 47805
Have you considerd how Christ’s hands are open to you? No matter who you are, or what you have done, or how great your needs are. His hands of love are open to you. Examine those nail prints then measure your needs against those marks of love.
Are you wounded? Then He extends His wounded hands to you. He knows what it is like to be rejected and hurt by people you love (Matt. 26:56))
Are you Weary? He carried the burden and load of the sins of the world to the Cross. He knows what it is like, because He gave Himself totally, only to find those whom He loves are expecting and demanding more (Matt. 11:28; Isa. 40:28-31).
Are you Weak and unable to overcome some trial or temptation? There is no test that He is not able to conquer (1 Cor. 10:13).
Are you Wayward? Perhaps you have tried to live your life running away from His love and truth. You have tasted of the world and found it unsatisfying and your soul is still empty? Return to Him because His hands will welcome you as a father receives a repentant child (Luke 15:18-24; Jn. 21:15-19).
Are you Worried? Is there some monster of fear lurking in the back of your mind? Are you asking those questions, what if…, or when will…, or who could do something to devastate your life, your family or your job? You can trust His promises (Matt. 6:25-34)
Are you wanting to know complete forgiveness and fulfillment that can only be found in Jesus Christ. Then understand that His hand is open to you today; nail pierced but open.
What do we know about His hands? He has promised to deliver us out of the hands of our enemies. He can break those chains of fear, worry, lust and defeat (Luke 1:74-75; Deut. 33:3). We are graven in the palms of His hands (Isa. 49:6), and we are secure because we belong to Him (John 10:27-29). When we turn from trusting ourselves, our sins and our ungrateful attitudes, Christ has guaranteed that we will be forgiven, restored, provided for and loved because He sits at the Father’s Right Hand (Eph. 1:20; Heb. 1:3). John 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. Dale Byers https://dalebyers.wordpress.com/
Larry Lilly
P.O. Box 5212
Terre Haute, IN 47805