This is an illustration that I have put together over time that I have found to be very powerful and encouraging. There are not many details in the bible of what happened during the 3-day period between Jesus' death on the cross and his resurrection from the grave. Putting this in story form and allowing for a bit of drama, I think this illustration describes best how events might have taken place.
Picture the crucifixion scene:
There is Jesus on the cross between two theives, breathing his last breaths.
At the foot of the cross is Mary, and a few other loyal followers watching their Messiah die.
There is someone else standing in the background - Satan himself.
As Jesus utters his last words, "It is finished," he hangs his head and "gives up the ghost."
With a big smile, Satan turns and walks down to his Hell House.
As Satan enters, a third of the angels stand at attention, awaiting their next order.
Satan declares, "Turn on the music! Start the celebration! Jesus is dead!"
And the party of a lifetime, like no one had ever seen, began to commence.
Back in Jerusalem, in dark corners and quiet places, the disciples, or what seemed left of them, and the other followers met secretly trying to figure out what to do.
"What happened? He spoke so much of this kingdom to come, and now the very king is dead!"
All victory seemed lost.
Back in Satan's Hell House, the party was reaching its climax. For 3 days those demons and goblins had celebrated and "partied like it was 1999" (I like to make this part comical)
The strobe lights were going, the disco ball was spinning, confetti was flying.
A group demons had began a mosh pit, one was in the corner as a DJ mixing the music, and another was on the other side rapping, singing and dancing! (give a small example)
And just when the party was reaching its climax of all time . . . there was a knock at the door.
The party stopped, the demons froze, and Satan barged his way through to the door screaming mad "Who dares interrupt my party? Don't they know we're celebrating?"
Just as Satan is about to reach for the door knob, a nail-scarred hand transcends through the door!
Satan is perplexed as this hand begins to push him back, and slowly, the very face of the one he crucified appears through the door.
"NO, NO, NO, this can't be! I watched you die! I saw you on the cross! This is impossible!"
Jesus never says a word, but just pushes Satan up against the wall and then begins walking around the room. Satan can't move as he just stares in shock!
Demons are frozen in fear and none dare move, but Jesus doesn't bother with them.
He's looking for something. What is it?
Suddenly, Jesus reaches down and picks up.....a key.
He walks around to the other side and finds another key, and another. (Demonstrate this)
He begins to pick up keys to: depression, anxiety, divorce, marriage problems, financial situations, valleys of decisions, troubles, trials.... (and the list goes on)
He gathers up all the keys until his arms are completely full, and he doesn't leave a one behind, and he begins to walk back towards the door.
But suddenly, he stops and turns to look at Satan, still paralyzed against the wall, and finally speaks: "You idiot, you just don't get it do you? Don't you remember in my word where it says (and be ready say this with all the energy and force you can muster) that "the gates of hell shall not prevail!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
And he still has the keys today to every trial and problem any one will ever face! He conquered death and the grave, and he took back the keys!
Friday, February 23, 2007
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Satan's Meeting
I have used this in a message within the last year and had forgotten about it. Thankfully a friend sent it to me in an email. Here it is for your reading pleasure. I think you'll say, "That's the truth!"
SATAN'S MEETING: (Read even if you're busy)
Satan called a worldwide convention of demons.
In his opening address he said,
"We can't keep Christians from going to church."
"We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing
the truth."
" We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relation-
ship with their saviour."
"Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over
them is broken."
"So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered
dish dinners, BUT steal their time, so they don't have time to
develop a relationship with Jesus Christ.."
"This is what I want you to do," said the devil:
"Distract them from gaining hold of their Saviour and
maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!"
"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.
"Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent
innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he answered.
"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow,
borrow."
"Persuade the wives to go to work hours and the husbands to work
6-7 days each week, 10- 12 hours a day, so they can afford their
empty spendy lifestyles."
"Keep them from spending time with their children."
"As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no
escape from the pressures of work!"
"Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still,
small voice."
"Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they
drive." To keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly
in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in
the world plays non-biblical music constantly."
"This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ."
"Fill the coffee tables with raunchy magazines and newspapers."
"Pound their minds with the biased news 24 hours a day."
"Invade their driving moments with billboards."
"Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs,
sweepstakes, and every kind of winning newsletter and and
promotional offering free products, services and false hopes.."
"Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their
husbands will believe that outward beauty is what's important,
and they'll become dissatisfied with their wives. "
"Keep the wives too discouraged and tired to love their
husbands.
"If they don't give their husbands the care they need, they will
begin to look elsewhere."
"That will fragment their families quickly!"
"Give them a generous Santa Claus to distract them from teaching
their children the real meaning of Christmas."
"Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about his
resurrection and power over sin and death."
"Even in their recreation, let them be excessive."
"Have them return from their recreation depressed and
exhausted."
"Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God's
creation. Send them to amusement parks, SPORTING events,
plays,
concerts, and movies instead."
"Keep them busy, busy, busy!" !
"And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in
gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled
consciences."
"Crowd their lives with so many GOOD causes they have no time
to seek spiritual power from Jesus."
"Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing
their health and family for the good of the cause."
"It will work!"
"It will work!"
It was quite a plan!
The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians
everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there.
Having little time for their God or their families.
Having no time to tell others about the power of Jesus to change
lives, no time to attend their church!
I guess the question is, has the devil been successful in his
schemes?
You be the judge!!!!!
Does "BUSY" mean: B-eing U-nder S-atan's Y-oke?
SATAN'S MEETING: (Read even if you're busy)
Satan called a worldwide convention of demons.
In his opening address he said,
"We can't keep Christians from going to church."
"We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing
the truth."
" We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relation-
ship with their saviour."
"Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over
them is broken."
"So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered
dish dinners, BUT steal their time, so they don't have time to
develop a relationship with Jesus Christ.."
"This is what I want you to do," said the devil:
"Distract them from gaining hold of their Saviour and
maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!"
"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.
"Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent
innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he answered.
"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow,
borrow."
"Persuade the wives to go to work hours and the husbands to work
6-7 days each week, 10- 12 hours a day, so they can afford their
empty spendy lifestyles."
"Keep them from spending time with their children."
"As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no
escape from the pressures of work!"
"Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still,
small voice."
"Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they
drive." To keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly
in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in
the world plays non-biblical music constantly."
"This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ."
"Fill the coffee tables with raunchy magazines and newspapers."
"Pound their minds with the biased news 24 hours a day."
"Invade their driving moments with billboards."
"Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs,
sweepstakes, and every kind of winning newsletter and and
promotional offering free products, services and false hopes.."
"Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their
husbands will believe that outward beauty is what's important,
and they'll become dissatisfied with their wives. "
"Keep the wives too discouraged and tired to love their
husbands.
"If they don't give their husbands the care they need, they will
begin to look elsewhere."
"That will fragment their families quickly!"
"Give them a generous Santa Claus to distract them from teaching
their children the real meaning of Christmas."
"Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about his
resurrection and power over sin and death."
"Even in their recreation, let them be excessive."
"Have them return from their recreation depressed and
exhausted."
"Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God's
creation. Send them to amusement parks, SPORTING events,
plays,
concerts, and movies instead."
"Keep them busy, busy, busy!" !
"And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in
gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled
consciences."
"Crowd their lives with so many GOOD causes they have no time
to seek spiritual power from Jesus."
"Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing
their health and family for the good of the cause."
"It will work!"
"It will work!"
It was quite a plan!
The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians
everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there.
Having little time for their God or their families.
Having no time to tell others about the power of Jesus to change
lives, no time to attend their church!
I guess the question is, has the devil been successful in his
schemes?
You be the judge!!!!!
Does "BUSY" mean: B-eing U-nder S-atan's Y-oke?
Monday, February 19, 2007
America Is Choking!
It used to be that businesses closed on the weekends for two reasons: church and family. Businesses also used to close down at five o'clock during the week giving families quality time together. Now businesses stay open to all hours of the night, all night, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Many work the night shift and sleep during the day. It's a backwards world!
There's a man who used to come to our church faithfully and was a blessing, but he began feeling the financial strain and took a night job. He hasn't been to church in almost three years and is backslidden, all because of a job. He didn't get a bad attitude, or have a problem with me or anybody else in the church. He just adjusted himself to the world's schedule and in the process is lost.........again.
Now Sundays are filled with sporting events and weekend parties. There's always a new movie the kids want to go see at the theatre, which is now open through the weekend. (This makes it convenient for those who work through the week...) There's always the football game, the baseball game, the races, the casinos, the shopping malls, and don't forget the television sitting in the living room with all of the special weekend programing!
America is choking! She used to pray and say grace over her meals. Her eyes were turned heavenword, depending on the God which formed her. She breathed the clean air of morality, modesty, and character, but she is now choking on the thick air of entertainment, unfaithfulness, and the severe lack of integrity. America is choking!
She's slowly losing her will to live as she once did... Is there hope for Lady Liberty?
II Chronicles 7:14
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
There's a man who used to come to our church faithfully and was a blessing, but he began feeling the financial strain and took a night job. He hasn't been to church in almost three years and is backslidden, all because of a job. He didn't get a bad attitude, or have a problem with me or anybody else in the church. He just adjusted himself to the world's schedule and in the process is lost.........again.
Now Sundays are filled with sporting events and weekend parties. There's always a new movie the kids want to go see at the theatre, which is now open through the weekend. (This makes it convenient for those who work through the week...) There's always the football game, the baseball game, the races, the casinos, the shopping malls, and don't forget the television sitting in the living room with all of the special weekend programing!
America is choking! She used to pray and say grace over her meals. Her eyes were turned heavenword, depending on the God which formed her. She breathed the clean air of morality, modesty, and character, but she is now choking on the thick air of entertainment, unfaithfulness, and the severe lack of integrity. America is choking!
She's slowly losing her will to live as she once did... Is there hope for Lady Liberty?
II Chronicles 7:14
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
Thursday, February 15, 2007
"Bull of the Woods" Attitude
"Bull of the woods" is a phrase I heard when I was growing up for people who like to think they are "in charge". This idea and spirit resides in those who have not yet crucified the flesh. Their whole attitude is:
I'M in charge!
You can't tell ME what to do!
This is MY territory!
They are totally SELF-centered. This person never thinks of others, or if they do, it's "what can THEY do for ME? I'm the ONE that's important".
A self-centered person will not learn the spirit of submission until they learn how to "crucify the flesh."
Exo 29:13 -14 And you shall take all the fat that covers the entrails, the fatty lobe attached to the liver, and the two kidneys and the fat that is on them, and burn them on the altar.
But the flesh of the bull, with its skin and its offal, you shall burn with fire outside the camp. It is a sin offering. (NKJV)
Exo 29:36 And you shall offer a bull every day as a sin offering for atonement... (NKJV)
There are a few things I took note of in the scriptures above.
1. When the priests were given instruction on how to sacrifice animals, when it came to the "bullock" they were told to take the "inside parts" of the animal and sacrifice them on the altar, but to take the "outside of the animal" and take it "outside the camp" and burn it. Get rid of it. Don't let it come near the altar of sacrifice.
2. This sacrifice was made EVERYDAY!
The points I want to make are:
When it's time to pray our flesh will respond with resistance, it will kick-up and let you know, "I don't want to go to the altar today", but we learn to keep pushing ourselves and bringing ourselves to the altar of sacrifice.
The struggle within doesn't come from our soul, for the soul longs to be in His presence. The struggle comes from the busyness of life. We have things to do, places to go, people to see, schedules to meet, ideas to fulfill, and the world to contend with. It's not because we don't WANT to pray, because our heart draws us to a place of prayer where we commune with our great God. Whenever a child of God begins thinking about the Lord they want to go spend time with Him. It's just a struggle to drop everything and sit at His feet, therefore bringing a demand for us to "crucify the flesh outside the camp".
I've always thought I needed to "take my flesh to the altar" and crucify it there, but reading the scriptures this morning I saw it a little differently. On my way to the place of prayer I have to take my flesh, my earthly desires, my "me" attitude, outside of "Camp Devotion" and burn it and leave it in a heap of ashes in order to come into His presence. It's then, and only then I can come to the altar of sacrifice . It's here the Master Potter can "mold me and shape me after His will". My world then slips away and I enter into the Holy of Holies! When I've been in His presence my attitude changes to "not MY will, but THY will be done", and I forget that I was at one time the "bull of the woods".
I'M in charge!
You can't tell ME what to do!
This is MY territory!
They are totally SELF-centered. This person never thinks of others, or if they do, it's "what can THEY do for ME? I'm the ONE that's important".
A self-centered person will not learn the spirit of submission until they learn how to "crucify the flesh."
Exo 29:13 -14 And you shall take all the fat that covers the entrails, the fatty lobe attached to the liver, and the two kidneys and the fat that is on them, and burn them on the altar.
But the flesh of the bull, with its skin and its offal, you shall burn with fire outside the camp. It is a sin offering. (NKJV)
Exo 29:36 And you shall offer a bull every day as a sin offering for atonement... (NKJV)
There are a few things I took note of in the scriptures above.
1. When the priests were given instruction on how to sacrifice animals, when it came to the "bullock" they were told to take the "inside parts" of the animal and sacrifice them on the altar, but to take the "outside of the animal" and take it "outside the camp" and burn it. Get rid of it. Don't let it come near the altar of sacrifice.
2. This sacrifice was made EVERYDAY!
The points I want to make are:
When it's time to pray our flesh will respond with resistance, it will kick-up and let you know, "I don't want to go to the altar today", but we learn to keep pushing ourselves and bringing ourselves to the altar of sacrifice.
The struggle within doesn't come from our soul, for the soul longs to be in His presence. The struggle comes from the busyness of life. We have things to do, places to go, people to see, schedules to meet, ideas to fulfill, and the world to contend with. It's not because we don't WANT to pray, because our heart draws us to a place of prayer where we commune with our great God. Whenever a child of God begins thinking about the Lord they want to go spend time with Him. It's just a struggle to drop everything and sit at His feet, therefore bringing a demand for us to "crucify the flesh outside the camp".
I've always thought I needed to "take my flesh to the altar" and crucify it there, but reading the scriptures this morning I saw it a little differently. On my way to the place of prayer I have to take my flesh, my earthly desires, my "me" attitude, outside of "Camp Devotion" and burn it and leave it in a heap of ashes in order to come into His presence. It's then, and only then I can come to the altar of sacrifice . It's here the Master Potter can "mold me and shape me after His will". My world then slips away and I enter into the Holy of Holies! When I've been in His presence my attitude changes to "not MY will, but THY will be done", and I forget that I was at one time the "bull of the woods".
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