Are you aware of you surroundings?

Written by Pastor McCarty on June 26, 2015. Posted in Pastors Pen

Mommy's Little Angel

Is this your concept of angels?  Are they just the a figment of our imagination?  Are they the departed spirits of good people and children?  Do angels have any part in our lives?  The subject of the world of spirits can be unnerving and unknown.  

We are surrounded by a world that we often never consider.  I asked the question, "Are you aware of your surrounding?"  If that means do we see the other people, other cars, other scenes, the answer is normally yes.  We do a pretty good job of having our eyes open to what's around us.  I certainly hope every other driver on the road remains alert to the other drivers.  When I go to a baseball game we are instructed to remain aware of the game lest a bat or ball flies into the stands!  Being watchful and vigilant is important in life.

So, also, is being vigilant to remember that an invisible world exists around us.  in 2 Kings 6 Elisha prays that those with him would have their eyes open to see the "chariots of fire" that encircled the city!  They were already there.  It's just that the servants didn't see them.  Balaam's donkey saw the angel standing in the way when Balaam was blind to it.  It wasn't until after a conversation with his donkey that the Lord opened Balaam's eyes to see the angel.  The angel was already there.  It's just that Balaam didn't see it.

Both good angels and evil demons are all around us.  Satan is called the "prince of the power of the air" in Ephesians 2:2.  One of his domains is the atmosphere we live in.  Demonic spirits are all around us trying to distract us, delay us and destroy us.  Satan and his army of evil minions work hard to keep us from serving the Lord.  And, they work hard to keep people from coming to the Lord as their Saviour and Lord.

On Sunday we will begin an investigation into a biblical theology of the world of the spirits.  Join us as we study this most important subject.  Today we are being influenced more and more by demonic doctrines, demon possession, occultic practices and Satanic attacks.  Be hear, or listen in, as we probe this topic.

Are You in the battle?

Written by Pastor McCarty on July 5, 2014. Posted in Pastors Pen

Is this a battle field or game field?  Are these men playing games or fighting for their lives.  Anyone can se that this is not just a game being played.  These men are in a battle to the death for their lives and the lives of their fellow soldiers.  Battlefields are places where life and death is seen.  Real weapons and real death are all around.  If you want to be uninvolved, you best not join the military.  But, in some battles, we have no choice but to be involved.  When the battle comes to your front door, you can only refuse to fight to your own peril.

In Ephesians 6:10-20 the Apostle Paul will remind us that we are in a battle.  We live on a battlefield.  The Christian life is not a play ground where we just sit around and are happy all day.  We are constantly surrounded by an enemy that wants our demise.  He, and his hosts, want our spiritual ruin.  We have no choice of being in the battle.  Our choices are wether we will fight with God’s strength and God’s armor.

No good soldier would enter a battle without a knowledge of their enemy.  They will be briefed on the strategy and fire power of the opponent. The leaders of the soldiers will do their best to give them the best armament possible.  Helmets, bullet proof vests,  and good weapons are part of a soldiers preparation.  Once trained and outfitted, the soldiers are sent into battle.

How prepared are you?  How vigilant are you each day to be sure the enemy doesn’t defeat you?  Sunday we will begin a look at the battle, our enemy, his tactics, and our defense against him.  If you are unsure of what you need to be doing, come to hear God’s Word and its instruction for this fierce battle.

This week the USA celebrated the 238th anniversary of our independence from Great Britain.  We know the long battle and many deaths it took to gain our freedom.  Over these years many others have fought and some have died to keep us free.  What an appropriate weekend to begin this study.  The Bible gives us wisdom to fight.