DCW- Spiritual warefare 3

Good morning One River,

Cheryl gave us a great word last week. She spoke about the integration of the Natural and Supernatural. She explored the fact that the supernatural world is still active. It still exists and that we live, even in western society, in a place where the physical realm and the supernatural world exist on top of one another.

My personal experience is that humans are creatures of extremes. We truly wrestle with concepts like “both, and”. We often fall into the belief that, as Cheryl said, the supernatural exists, but that our personal encounters with them are few and far between. Or we swing the other way and tend to believe that everything in our lives is the result of nefarious supernatural interactions.

The truth is, as it usually is, it's somewhere in the middle. We believe in spiritual warfare. We believe in demonic influence. But that’s not always the answer. Sometimes when we have a physical malady praying to Yahweh is the only remedy. But sometimes the answer is the doctor. Sometimes when we’re hearing voices in our heads a deliverance is called for, sometimes the answer is a psychologist.

One of the problems with seeing the world in such extremes is that it reduces the scriptures to a set of lengthy, often arbitrary, rules. This takes the supernatural world out of Yahweh’s hands and puts the power in ours.

That’s not how any of this works. – Story about TBN Gma and Gpa

If I see someone that has a particular condition, there’s obviously no problem in praying for them. We are called to be people of prayer. God loves that we reach out to him on behalf of one another. That’s part of the understanding of the whole Catholic Cannon of Saints. If we believe the supernatural realm exists, and I think it’s safe to say we do, then why can we only ask those still alive to pray for us?

But that doesn’t mean that person doesn’t need a doctor.

Mentally, I think we often still split the two kingdoms apart. We see the natural, and the supernatural. But we often fail to see the naturally supernatural.

Yahweh’s plan is total reintegration of these two worlds. We live in the time of the Already, Not Yet. What that means is that we are already seeing the reintegration of our two worlds. But it has not yet come to completion.

When someone breaks their leg. It’s wonderful that our immediate instinct is to pray for that person. That reaction should continue forever. That’s the model Jesus left us and the reaction I believe of a completely fulfilled kingdom. But in this realm, at this time, that person, 9 times out of 10, still needs a cast.

The last few weeks I spoke about the micro and the macro side of spiritual warfare. It seems like, for some, I haven’t done the best job explaining this. So, I’m going to try again. I don’t want anyone left behind on our journey.

We often talk about the idea of God’s plan. God has a plan. We often even personalize it. God has a plan for my life. I would agree with that expression in the broadest possible context. God does have a plan for all our lives. In general, He wants us to love and worship Him. Specifically, I believe in a God of freedom. He’s given us personal choice. I think that’s for a reason. I have never been able to follow the true Calvinists all the way down the rabbit hole. I don’t think, generally speaking, God has a plan for your personal waking hour; or your Breakfast, or your method for traveling across town today. I think He enjoys watching us use our freedoms. He enjoys us taking the time to worship Him without solicitation, in our daily lives.

I think there are specific events that God ordains for some people at some time. But He has a miraculous way of having His will be done, while maintaining our freedom to choose in the process.

I bag on the west a lot in my messages. Don’t get me wrong, I love it here. I would not want to live anywhere else, or any other time period long term.

That said, our individualist thinking is not always helpful when discerning the meaning of ancient literature, particularly scripture.

One of the models for spiritual discipline is something called imaginative prayer. There are several models for this, but in one version we listen, or read a passage of scripture. And then imagine that we’re there. We have a role in the narrative, even if it’s only as an observer.

It’s designed to get us closer to the action. To make us feel a certain way, and to help our minds make the passages in scripture feel more real. It’s a wonderful tool. I absolutely love it.

However, we already in the west, often overstate our importance in a given situation. There are certain theologies in the church that tell its followers that if we don’t do a certain thing, or live a certain way, well then, the entire movement of Christianity could fail.

That somehow, it’s our job to complete the actions of Christ to bring the kingdom of heaven into total fulfilment. I gotta say, this is a relatively new theology, and it’s not shared my most of the non-western world.

I think, because we understand that we live in a period of already and not yet, that we somehow see the actions of Jesus as incomplete. Nothing is further from the truth. When I talk about the Macro side of the spiritual kingdom works, I’m talking about Jesus.

I want to look at a couple of scriptures and see if Jesus can explain this better.

Matthew 27:45–56 (NIV)

The Death of Jesus

45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). This is the fulfillment of Psalm 22.

47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”

48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. (Psalm 69) 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”

50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. (This links to John, which will get to in a minute.)

51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split (This links to Ex 26. The temple curtain was designed by God to keep us safe from His glory. But also to keep us separated from Him. It also looks to Hebrews which we’ll look at in a minute.)

52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. (This is to combat Satan’s temptation of Jesus, when he promised him the whole nation of Israel if Jesus would worship Satan.)

54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” (This is to combats Satan’s temptation of Jesus as the Christ and son of God.)

I want to look at part of John’s account of this while we’re in the area.

John 19:28–30 (NIV)

The Death of Jesus

28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, (this is Matthew 1:4 - All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. (again Psalm 69) 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

What do we think is finished? All of it. Everything. All the work of Christ is finished. There is nothing for us to do. I know we often don’t like that answer, but it’s true. There is nothing left that we NEED to do. God is sufficient without our help. Jesus is sufficient without our help.

Have you guys ever laid out dominos as a kid? We line them all out make up shapes, patterns or obstacles. But what happens once the first domino is pushed over? What do you need to do? Nothing right? We sit there and watch. We try not to get in the way.

We have no active role in the salvation of humanity. None. Jesus setup the dominos, and with his resurrection he knocked over the first piece.

That’s where we stand. The war between good and evil, between Yahweh and the wicked self-serving elohim, it’s over. Sure, the dominos are still falling. But we don’t play an active role in that.

We are Yahweh’s adopted children. He calls us to watch and bring friends over to join. That’s our role. We’re to love one another and show others what Jesus has done for us. But we are not participants in the war Jesus fought.

I want to look at a passage in Hebrews that is pulled straight from those crucifixion accounts.

Hebrews 10:19–25 (NIV)

A Call to Persevere in Faith

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Let us encourage one another toward love and good deeds. Come and see what the LORD has done. Come and see what our Father invites you into, and bring your friends.

There is nothing in here at all about our participation in a great spiritual battle.

In the Macro, we have no part in the works of Yahweh and Jesus vs the wicked Elohim.

In the micro, we are tormented from time to time by their hybrid offshoots. The demon spirits left running around.

This is that place of the radical middle. There is evil in this world. Jesus prepared us to encounter it. We are called to put on the full armor of God, which will look at in the coming weeks.

But first and foremost, we are children of Yahweh. We have been called into this familial relationship because He loves us. We are not here to fight His battles – would that we could.

Jesus said “take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Does that sound like the request of someone recruiting for the biggest war in the universe?

We are involved in the micro expression of Spiritual Warfare. We are called to recognize the tricks of the enemy and defend ourselves and others. The cosmic battle plays no role here. As I said before, these guys are just trying to keep time on the clock, so they don’t die. They know they have no chance of winning.

I want to try one of those imaginative prayers. Let’s take a minute and settle in, but I’d like you to take what I’ve just said into account as we pray through this. I want you to picture yourself in the passage but accept that you have no role here.

I’m going to read it 3 times first listen, second time place yourself there, third time engage

Matthew 27:45–54 (NIV)

The Death of Jesus

45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”

48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”

50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”