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When asked, "Do you
believe in ghosts?" the percentage of Americans who responded No: 57
Yes: 40 Unsure: 3
Illustration
On Halloween night my three-year-old grandson, Brian, couldn't sleep
because he was convinced ghosts were in his room. "It's all in your
head," his mother reassured him. "Now go to sleep." Before she got down
the stairs, his voice called out again. "Mom, the ghosts have left my
head and are running around my room!"
Ghosts
What
people believe to be ghosts are quite probably things that go bump in
the night – like the central heating or slight movements that would
cause the door to creek or a book to eventually work its way off the
shelf. It’s highly unlikely that anyone would see an apparition or ghost
other than what is created by the vivid imagination. If an apparition
really does occur then it is not the ghost of the departed trying to
find rest in the next world or a ghost in denial that he or she is in
fact a ghost. It is clear from the bible that Christians go instantly to
heaven when they die. It is also highly probable that people who are not
forgiven go straight to hell. It is definitely not the case that there
can be ghosts seeking rest because hell is no rest. The bible says that
“It is appointed for man to die, and then to be judged”. There is no in
between state of significance, there is no second chance, there is no
purgatory. You have to remember that films like sixth sense and “The
Others” are just that, Hollywood films - made up stories. The most
likely explanation of a ghost if such a thing were true would be that an
evil spirit or a demon has taken the form and characteristics of a human
being. Don’t expect to ever see Casper anywhere on your journeys!
What about reading the Stars or
Palms or Tea leafs?
Complete
rubbish but what is it saying to God? “We’re not going to find out from
the creator but we would rather check out the position of the planets
and stars.” What lumps of earth have to do with our futures I don’t
know! It’s like you and me asking the steering wheel which way it’s
going to go!
You can place in the same category lucky charms and superstition.
It’s complete rubbish but it is such an offence to God. It’s an affront
to God when we chose to trust in strange inanimate objects and silly
irrational stories rather than God and the bible. Really we are saying
“Anything God, we’ll believe and trust in the ridiculous rather than in
you” – can you see how offensive that is. Get rid of any lucky charms
you have and any superstitions and replace them with objective truth
that really works
Weekends in haunted houses, learning to cast spells and other practices
of witchcraft, séances, fortune telling, Ouija Boards, seem to be on the
increase all the time.
Witchcraft growing in popularity amongst children (page 142 of ‘More
perfect illustrations’)
Such a level of interest is not altogether surprising. We are, after
all, not just physical beings but also spiritual. Is it any wonder then
that we are looking for things to satisfy our hunger and curiosity? The
possibility of there being a supernatural realm is exciting to people,
it’s a whole other dimension. It’s probably akin to people’s fascination
with aliens – what if there is more to life than meets the eye? What if
we are not alone?
By
looking at these few verses that Paul wrote in the bible we’ll get an
insight into the spiritual realm.
10A final word: Be
strong with the Lord's mighty power. 11Put on all of God's
armour
(Be strong in the strength
(boundless, various) and armour (means, resources) that God provides)
We are created to be strong,
purposeful individuals who control their lives and are the masters of
their circumstances – but only in God’s strength.
Is your life
characterised by strength or weakness? You may feel as if you are often
battered by circumstances to the extent that you just can’t cope; that
you have little control over what you want to achieve personally; that
you don’t really know where you are going but are taken on the breeze of
life; that you constantly fail in your attempts to be a better person?
Maybe you’re trying to do it all
on your own when really each of us needs God. None of us are so
strong that we can get along adequately without him. It would be OK if
the world was a physical world only and if you and I were merely
physical beings but we are not and the world is not. Many of the attacks
that we face in the world have a spiritual source and they affect us
right in the centre of our souls – that’s why we need God’s strength.
God’s
strength
God’s
strength is mighty by his Spirit 3:16
His
resources are limitless 3:16
I pray that from his glorious,
unlimited resources he will give
you mighty inner strength through
his Holy Spirit.
More than
we could imagine 3:20
By his mighty power at work within
us, he is able to
accomplish infinitely more than we
would ever dare to ask or hope.
No duality
of power; God is all powerful 1:20-21
21Now he is far above
any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else in this world
or in the world to come. 22And God has put all things under
the authority of Christ, and he gave him this authority for the benefit
of the church.
Don’t turn
away from God in your time of difficulty and need, turn to him.
Illustration In the third of the Matrix trilogy the human
soldiers in Zion have these massive robot suits that they climb into. It
feels to them that they are using their own arms and legs but each
movement also controls this massive robot shell which is also equipped
with these super laser guns. On their own they were no match for the
machines attacking them but one inside this robot their strength in
defence and attack increased tenfold.
Believe in God’s power and live in
his strength. His strength becomes your strength. With God on your side
and by your side and inside you feel as if you can take on the world.
Every day, in every trial, always
pray, always trust.
The
Christian life isn’t one of restriction, it’s having the freedom and
power to be strong in life – living the way we were meant to live – a
noble life.
Strength to
live
Strength to
get through and overcome
“I can do
all things through Christ who gives me strength”
V11b The tricks, deceit and
lies of the devil.
“so that you will be able to stand
firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil.”
Subtle, angel of light,
deception
Illustration Liz Hurley in “Bedazzled”.
The devil isn’t going to present
himself as an ugly monster that you want to run a mile from.
His
attacks are not going to be bold and obvious.
Illustration Pearl Harbour - Imagine if the Japanese
broadcast to the Americans “We’re coming, we’re bringing lots of planes
and we’re going to launch a devastating attack on Pearl Harbour” – they
wouldn’t have gotten anywhere near. The devil isn’t going to make it
known that what he’s doing is evil and destructive, something that you
really should avoid like the plague. He’s deceptive…
What are the strategies and plans
of the devil?
His Purpose? To
destroy
How?
Temptation and lies
Temptation
Temptation is just that - it is
tempting, we rarely see it as something we would rather not do.
Whispering in
your ear, in your spirit…
Eph 4 v 26 And "don't
sin by letting anger gain control over you." Don't let the sun go down
while you are still angry, 27for anger gives a mighty
foothold to the Devil.
Lies –
you can trust God, you can trust the bible, but there is someone who
will lie to you constantly in order to destroy you. You are fed lies
throughout your life and those lies constantly cause you to doubt the
truth.
‘You’re
worthless…stupid, ugly, useless, unwanted’
‘Revenge is
satisfying…’
‘The grass is
always greener…’
Questions/Doubts – How can there be a God? Each time they stop you
seeking Him. Yes, it’s important to satisfy genuine difficulties but
beware that the barriers you’re putting up are not placed into your head
as complete red herrings.
12For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and
blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world,
against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against
wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.
According to the bible we are not alone in this world but there are a
whole host of beings who we share it with.
Angels and
Demons – The bible says that these were created by God
without physical bodies but some angels rebelled led by Lucifer/Satan
and became thoroughly evil
Angels
Angels are primarily at work in the
world to help and protect us.
Guardian angels – more like zone
defence (read page 406 of Grudem’s Systematic Theology)
(Unseen world – Elisha’s servant 2
Kings 6:17)
Don’t worship them or speak to them.
Demons
Demons are
the counterpart to angels – they are bent on destruction and lies and
encouragement of rebellion against God.
Séances and Ouija board
Monopoly used to be the best selling
game by Parker Brothers, but now the Ouija board is number one. It is
alarming when we realize that millions of people are playing with this
seemingly innocent game that is, in reality, the gateway to the occult.
What does the bible say about
mediums and spiritists who try to contact the ‘other world’?
Deuteronomy 18:10-12
"There shall not be found among you anyone who . . . uses divination,
one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a
sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or calls up the dead. For whoever
does these things is detestable to the Lord;”
Leviticus: 7
"Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled
by them. I am the Lord your God. I will set my face against the person
who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute himself by following
them."
The Scriptures make it abundantly
clear that we are not to seek after the medium or the psychic. They are
an abomination to a holy and righteous God.
Why do it?
a)
Intrigue
b)
Love for the deceased and a desire to know
they’re OK
c)
Desire for comfort and absolution of guilt
The bible answer
1)
Straight to heaven or hell – no in between or
purgatory “It is appointed for man to die and then to face the judgement”
2)
God says don’t for a very good reason – there
is no good in it, there is definitely no talking to relatives or friends
which would be a good thing if it were possible. It’s highly dangerous.
I could give you examples of experiences that friends of mine have had
which were highly destructive but it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to
relay them to you this morning.
If you at this point in life or at
some other point in your life find that you would like to contact a
deceased loved one for whatever reason you need to know that the person
you deal with will either mislead you or worse still lead you into
something you don’t want to be getting into.
Who are you talking to and where
does the power come from in those instances when it all seems very real?
The power either comes from God or
the devil, don’t give me that silly mother nature hogwash, the power of
our world. If phenomena do occur and it’s not God your talking to then
you’re dealing with evil spirits.
If it’s not God you’re talking to
then whatever you call it and whoever does it your dealing with nothing
less than the demonic.
12For we are not
fighting against people made of flesh and blood
That means that when we imagine that
people are against us or hurt us in some way the bible tells us to look
a little harder at what’s behind it all. You see, the devil wants
nothing else but to encourage us to destroy, to hate, to hurt, to lie,
to anger, and so on. When we find ourselves reacting to something
that someone has done the devil begins to get a foothold, and he is
not happy until he has fed you with all sorts of temptation to fuel your
actions and reactions. We imagine that we’re in a dispute with someone
else but the devil is actually winning the battle by getting exactly
what he wants to get. He wants you to sin, he wants someone to sin
against you, he is there continually stoking the flames as an incident
escalates and he, in those situations beats you and takes the glory away
from God. What this verse is saying is this – “Don’t let the devil beat
you by reacting, by sinning against another human being, rather beat him
by living God’s way” – that shuts him up! Each of us are in the same
boat – sinners who need God’s forgiveness and strength. Let’s not sin
against each other, but lets fight against spiritual forces of evil by
living God’s way.
When people refuse to listen or
consider the gospel, see the bigger picture – they are being
spiritually kept in the dark and badly need our prayers.
We need to see that there is a
spiritual battle going on.
Ben Alexander – Personal Testimony
When I was a spiritualist developing
into a medium, I would go into trances. I would see long, dark tunnels
with a bright light at the end of it shaped like a cross. It was a
pleasurable sensation, and I would look forward to it.
Also at some of the séances I
attended, the phenomena of coloured lights would appear. When I asked
the "spirit" about them, he said they represented spirits who were
progressing to a higher plane of development (reincarnation). The final
destination, the spirit said, was to be absorbed by the Great White
Spirit and to be at absolute peace. These ideas are delusions of Satan;
he wants us to believe them, so we will have no need for Christ.
I know how real these principalities,
powers and rulers of darkness are. As bizarre as it may seem, I have
been involved in the very extremes of psychic phenomena.
What occultists don’t understand is
that there is a spirit battle for their soul. On one hand we have the
Holy Spirit, on the other side, we have a of Spirit world of demonic
power. And where do you think the battleground is? Man himself, his
very soul.
Whose side are you on? There’s
a battle going on. Does the Holy Spirit live in you? There’s a very
serious warning there. Be careful that you are not getting duped and
lied to by someone who wants to keep you in the dark and only wants to
take you down with him.
Illustration In The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, J.
R. R. Tolkien portrays the classic conflict between good and evil, set
in a mythical land called Middle Earth. In the middle of the film, the
evil wizard Saruman has spellbound Theoden, King of Rohan. He sits on
his throne pale and decrepit as his kingdom falls apart around him.
Then Gandalf, a good wizard, arrives.
Theoden's evil advisor whispers lies into the king's ear about Gandalf,
but Gandalf rebukes him: "Be silent! Keep your forked tongue behind your
teeth." Then Gandalf says, "Theoden, too long have you sat in the
shadows. I release you from the spell."
Theoden shakes momentarily and then
laughs mockingly, "You have no power here, Gandalf!"
But then Gandalf reveals his full
power. He rises up and speaks directly to the evil wizard within Theoden:
"I will draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound."
Saruman cries out through Theoden,
"If I go, Theoden dies. Rohan is mine!"
Gandalf replies, "You did not kill
me, and you will not kill him. Be gone!"
At that, King Theoden is released.
Suddenly his face regains its colour and youth, and he is fully himself
again.
Elapsed time: Measured from the
beginning of the opening credit, this scene begins at 00:59:30 and ends
at 01:01:30 (scene 16 on DVD).
Jesus is in a battle for people’s
soul. He wasn’t defeated by the devil, rather he took away all sin which
is the power that keeps us from God and heaven. He wants very much to
come into your life and show you that he is the way, the truth and the
life. The word of God banishes all the lies that exist in the world and
it says that there is a God who genuinely loves you and has your eternal
good in mind. Trust him, and ask him to come into your life. Your sins
can be forgiven and your mind can be enlightened as you come to know the
living God.
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