Can Christians Lose Their Salvation?

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On May 07, 2019, The Christian Post published an article which begins by stating that “Dave Gass, a former pastor who most recently led Grace Family Fellowship in Pleasant Hill, Missouri, has renounced his Christian faith as a system rife with abuse that caused him ‘mental and emotional breaks.’ ”

Dave Gass walking away from Christianity (and thus Jesus) is important to examine and discuss for three reasons:

1. This incident will create confusion and doubt for those who proclaim to be Christians.
2. Atheists are already using this as ammunition to launch attacks on those who claim to be Christians in order to cause others to abandon the faith.
3. This incident brings to light an important question: “Can a believer lose his/her salvation?”

Dave’s Explanation:

So, what were Dave’s reasons for walking away from Christianity? Though Dave’s social media accounts have either been changed, are now private, or deleted, he had posted his reasons on Instagram, which got copied and shared all over the Internet. I will post five screenshot images down at the bottom of this article that you can refer to, and I’ll be quoting from them in this article. Here’s a summarized list of reasons why Dave abandoned Christianity:

• Dave said he had doubts since childhood regarding Greek mythology being so similar to the Bible.
• He doesn’t like the way the Bible became canonized; consequently, he questions the inerrancy of the Bible.
• Christianity didn’t provide him solutions to his problems; he doesn’t like suffering; he wants to be happy.
• Prayers weren’t answered to his satisfaction.
• He didn’t witness supernatural miracles; therefore, he believes Christianity is false.
• His Christian parents were abusive.
• He doesn’t like church politics and organized religion.
• He said his marriage was a sham and never became what he was promised it would be.
• Church people were “shitty” and hurt him yet non-Christians often showed him love and acceptance.
• The church burdens people with fear, shame, and guilt in order to maintain control. 
• Christianity is an impossible standard and a system that doesn’t work.

Trenton’s Examination:

Ancient Mythology:
Dave spoke about having doubts since he was a child. But why did he carry his doubts into adulthood? Why did he carry his doubts to the pulpit before he preached? He never should have preached one message until he believed what he was preaching and he was confident enough to lead others in Truth. Also, his doubts regarding ancient mythology are easy enough to research. In fact, I published an article about the topic of ancient mythology: “Is Christianity A Copycat Religion?” I believe this reason Dave gave is either a cop-out or he was lazy in his research. Either way, this excuse isn’t a good enough reason to walk away from Christianity — especially when there is so much other evidence in favor of Christianity, such as the origin of the universe, a fine-tuned universe, the origin of life, intelligent design, consciousness, morality, free will, and the historical reliability and accuracy of the texts.

Canonization:
Is there reason to doubt Scripture due to the way the Bible became Canonized? No. From the writings of the apostles, disciples, and early church fathers, the texts considered authentic and sacred remained consistent. See my other article, “How Did We Get The Bible?” In addition, the canonized Bible we now have has withstood all attacks on it since the beginning. Further, if Dave rejects the Bible because of the way it came to be the Bible, he must also live consistent with this rejection by rejecting the vast majority of all history taught in schools. Why? Because the historical reliability of the Bible has been tested by the same criteria by which all historical documents are tested. There are specific tests that scholars, researchers, and archaeologists use to determine the authenticity of a historical document. These are the bibliographical test, the internal evidence test, and the external evidence test. And there’s more evidence for the Bible than almost any other historical document in the world with over 66,000 total biblical manuscript evidences, not to mention citations from other sources who quoted the texts. To live consistently, Dave would need to doubt almost all of what has been taught about history. 

Problems, Suffering, and Happiness:
Are problems a problem for Christianity? Should we expect a life free from problems in this life on this Earth? Should the pursuit of happiness be our purpose? Jesus was honest and clear in that we will have problems in this world (John 16:33); Apostle Paul told us the same (2Corinthians 4:8-10). Jesus also gave us fair warning in advance that a life of sacrificial love will be required of us (Matthew 16:24-26; Mark 8:34-36); and again, Paul told us the same (1Corinthians 10:24; 2Corinthians 12:15; 2Timothy 2:10). Apostle Peter also told us the same (1Peter 2:21). Jesus never told us that this life would be without pain and suffering. In fact, logic and reasoning reveals that there is a reason for evil and there is a reason for pain and suffering. However, Jesus did tell us that our new lives on the New Earth under the new heavens will be complete with joy (Isaiah 25:8; Revelation 7:17; 21:4). Clearly, Dave had some unrealistic expectations regarding what his life would be like as a Christian. Dave claims to have read and memorized the Bible yet he expected what was never to be expected according to what is written. So, why did he expect such a problem-free life?

Unanswered Prayers?:
If Dave was upset about his prayers not being answered, it is only because he believed his expected outcomes are what is best and right. But if Dave knew what was best and right in all situations, then he would be GOD. He was angry because he didn’t receive what he wanted. The problem here isn’t unanswered prayers, but an unrealistic expectation regarding prayer. Therefore, we need to rightly understand prayer. While it is true that we should pray for others (Ephesians 6:18-19), it is important that we seek GOD’s will, not our own (Matthew 6:33; 26:39,42; Mark 14:35-36,39; Luke 22:42). Prayer is not a means of merely asking for what we want. GOD is not a magic genie and prayer is not the magic lamp by which to summon GOD. In the connection of prayer, the goal is to come into alignment with GOD’s will. Regarding prayer, it is important to remember that GOD always answers our prayers in one of three possible ways: yes, no, or not yet. And it is important to thank GOD for all the “no” answers. All the “no” answers eventually lead to the “yes” moment. When we pray, we must pray for the right reasons. Motive matters. For a detailed explanation regarding prayer, see my other article, “Superhero: Armor of GOD: Powerful Prayer (2/2)“.

No Miracles?:
Is the existence of GOD determined by a miraculous experience? No. It is written in Matthew 13:57-58 that Jesus didn’t perform many miracles in His hometown due to their unbelief. It is important to understand that people are often their own problems. Truly, we don’t know why GOD didn’t produce specific signs and wonders that Dave expected. Now, it is possible that Dave never witnessed a miracle. However, it’s also possible that Dave did witness miracles yet he never recognized them as being such. In fact, two of the greatest miracles of all time often get overlooked: the creation of the universe and the origin of life. But it simply doesn’t make sense to give up on GOD because GOD doesn’t do what we want Him to do. Consider what is written:

“³² Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. ³³ When they came to a place called The Skull,^[a] they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left. ³⁴ Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”^[b] And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.^[c] 35 The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” ³⁶ The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. ³⁷ They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” ³⁸ A sign was fastened above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.” ³⁹ One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” ⁴⁰ But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? ⁴¹ We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.”⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” ⁴³ And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
(Luke 23:32-43) -NLT

Everyone had expectations regarding who the Messiah was supposed to be and what the Messiah was supposed to do. The ones who expected the Messiah thought that He would overthrow the Roman Empire by force and become King of the land in order to establish His Law with righteous living. Instead, the Messiah came as a suffering servant willing to be the sacrifice on our behalf. The people had accurate expectations, but those expectations were for the wrong time period. Jesus will come again, and when He does, He will come as the King who conquers. Likewise, Dave Gass had an accurate expectation of GOD as a miracle worker; however, Dave obviously held his unrealistic expectation for the wrong time period. GOD most certainly can and will heal people and restore us all, but His timing is precise and right. Some people will never know complete restoration until they dwell with the Lord on the New Earth under the new heavens. Consider also that the Roman soldiers and one of the criminals held an expectation of Jesus: “If you’re the Messiah, save yourself! And save us while you’re at it!” The critical criminal held an accurate expectation; however, it was for the wrong time period. Jesus did defy death, but it was days later when He rose from the grave. Jesus was able to save the criminal on the cross, and by Jesus sacrificing Himself on the cross, that criminal could have been saved if only he accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior like the other criminal on the cross had done. And this why the other criminal was saved and was promised eternal salvation. Thus, Luke 23:32-43 reveals that what we think to be best and right isn’t always so. Jesus could have dominated and conquered according to everyone’s expectations; however, according to GOD’s perfect plan and perfect timing, GOD doesn’t always meet our unrealistic expectations. It is written in Matthew 26:53-56 that Jesus could have called upon thousands of angels in order to defeat the Roman soldiers with ease and thus prevent Himself from being arrested. However, the Lord had a perfect plan for a perfect sacrifice and so Jesus allowed the Roman soldiers to arrest Him. Obviously, this did not meet His disciples’ expectations. We know this because it was at that moment they decided to leave Jesus and flee. Clearly, we cannot impose our expectations upon the Lord’s perfect plan. Understand this: people often desire a change in circumstance when GOD desires a change of heart, mind, attitude and character.

Dave Gass is upset because GOD didn’t perform the miracles he believed should have happened. I empathize with Dave’s desire to witness a miracle. In fact, it was one of my demands that needed to be met in order for me to become a believer when I had been an atheist. I refused to believe in GOD unless I witnessed a miracle. GOD didn’t have to show me a miracle (Luke 11:29), but He did — and not just one, but five miracles! I don’t know why GOD deemed me worthy to experience and witness His miracles; I know I didn’t deserve to experience GOD’s miracles. But perhaps GOD allowed me to experience miracles because He knew I would faithfully deliver the Gospel to as many people as possible. Only GOD knows. But I understand that the miracles I experienced were not only for me so that I could believe, but for others when they hear my testimony so that they might believe. To read or see my story, see my other article, “My Testimony: From Agnosticism, To Atheism, To Christianity“. However, the major issue here is the possibility of miracles. Are miracles possible? Dave claims he never experienced a miracle, therefore, Christianity isn’t true. And so he abandoned the Lord. But even without ever experiencing a miracle, logic and reasoning help us understand that miracles are most certainly possible. See my other article, “Miracles or Myths?“. 

Abusive Parents?:
Dave listed his Christian abusive parents as one of the reasons for abandoning GOD. First and foremost, we need to determine what he believes to be the definition of abuse. But Dave didn’t provide that definition. We will give Dave the benefit of the doubt and assume that he had been abused. But even if he had been abused, how does that warrant a conclusion that Christianity is false? It doesn’t. Many people who have been abused have become overcomers and still believe in GOD. In fact, the very argument that abuse is wrong is an appeal to an absolute moral standard, which simply could not exist if GOD did not exist. What is wrong can only be known by the standard of what is right. We simply cannot know what is crooked unless we first know what is straight. But this issue simply cannot be addressed properly without knowing what Dave’s definition of abuse entails. After all, what if his definition of abuse meant that his parents were strict and set boundaries he believed to be oppressive (ex: you can’t drink any alcohol ever)? This excuse is simply that — an excuse. But it’s not a good one.

Church Politics & Organized Religion?:
Dave doesn’t like the religious rules and/or structure of what the church has become. Truth be told, I also despise church politics and man-made traditions. But Jesus did too (Matthew 15:1-9). I despise the rigmarole of religious rituals, pious performances, superficial celebrations, and pseudo-sacrifices. Truly, I don’t believe that our organized structure of what we call “church” is the way it’s supposed to be. Far too much money goes into operating a church building and programs instead of using that money to actually do the great commission. So, for once, Dave seems to have a valid argument. I’ve witnessed many churches who place their focus on the wrong areas in order to please people rather than GOD. I’ve witnessed fruitless arguments about curb appeal or marketing material. When I had been a youth pastor, I was even once told by my senior pastor not to wear my Goonies t-shirt because the skull and crossbones on the shirt would give the church a bad image. All of this is superficial nonsense misses the point of Christians living out authentic relationships with GOD and other people. Even the popular pastor, Francis Chan, left his megachurch because he believed the politics and religious structure watered down the true meaning of being a Christian. But Francis left his church in order to grow closer to GOD, not to escape. Regardless, I completely understand why Dave would feel this way toward the church in general. However, we must view the church as GOD intends us to view the church. And this means we must examine GOD’s Word to discover what GOD says about the church and how we should live according to His Word regarding the church. So, what does GOD say about the church and religion?

The church can either be seen as an individual Christian congregation or the total body of Christian believers. There is one universal church, consisting of all Christian believers, which takes the form of individual local churches in any given region. The many different individual churches are like the many different branches from the one tree. Of course, some rogue branches will go beyond the boundaries of what is biblically accurate and acceptable; GOD will cut those rogue branches off like a gardener trimming his hedges. The unity of the kath’ holou (the whole) or catholicus (universal) church is in Christ. Jesus is the head and the church is the body (Ephesians 5:29-33; Colossians 1:18). The body consists of all believers. We are all like individual jigsaw puzzle pieces that come together to form one picture. The unity of the church must not be understood sociologically or organizationally, but theologically. The church is one. One body. Just as the body itself has different parts (foot, leg, hand, or arm) yet makes up the whole body, the many different individual churches make up the one body of the universal church (1Corinthians 12:12-31).

The church ought to be pure because GOD’s Word tells us to distinguish ourselves between the holy and the common, the sinner and the saint (Leviticus 20:7-8; Ezekiel 44:23; 2Corinthians 6:14-16); righteousness is the goal. Though righteousness is the goal, the church is stained with sin and will never be able to achieve that pure status in this life; however, our inability to attain holiness does not provide reason for sin nor excuse the sin (Romans 6). So long as the church is striving to be righteous, the unintentional sins can be overlooked and forgiven. In fact, one cannot receive forgiveness unless that person forgives. Forgiveness is fruitful and intercession is important (Psalm 130:3-4; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Matthew 6:14-15; 18:21-35; Mark 11:25; Luke 23:34; Deuteronomy 9:18-20; Job 42:10; 1Timothy 2:1). The church will not become holy until the body is connected to the head at the end of age; consequently, the church must expect to find itself including both saints and sinners. To attempt a separation in this life is premature, improper, and unloving. The individual churches are hospitals for sinners, not a supercilious society of saints. For the saints, however, the individual churches act as recharging stations and help the saints to acquire what they need so they can go back out into the world. For the sinner, it is comforting to see that the saints are also in need and are not perfect. For the saints, it is comforting to see sinners who desire to become saints. The universal church is made up of sinners who will one day become saints, new saints, and older and experienced saints. But if the church is not defined by holiness, what is its distinguishing feature?

To believe in the church is not to trust in the institution of the church, but to affirm that the church is ultimately called into being by GOD, with a mission and authorization which derives from GOD. What truly matters is the great commission. The distinguishing feature of the church should be both the preaching of the gospel and the fruit that becomes evident from the seeds of love planted. The church is not an extension of Christ, but is united with Christ, and called and commissioned by Him to serve the world. The church is thus seen as an event, not an institution. A building does not make the church; rather, the people make the church and then buildings just happen to be built in order to accomplish the great commission. Jesus made disciples and then those disciples became the church. The disciples made more disciples and then those disciples did the same. Every believer is called to be equipped, enabled, empowered, enhanced and emboldened in order to accomplish the great commission. Individual churches are made up of those who are teaching and those who are learning; however, those who are learning are never to stay as the learner. We are all called to grow the church and advance GOD’s Kingdom. Every learner should eventually become a teacher and preacher. They are called in a special way to make the church present and operative where only through them can the church become the salt of the Earth. The church is made up of parts who should act as a whole. The distinguishing feature of the church is the message of the Gospel while performing acts of love.

Marriage?:
Dave listed his “sham” of a marriage as one of the reasons he abandoned Christ. Dave said it was not what he was promised it would be. However, Dave did not clarify what he was promised. What was he promised? I’m certain that what he committed to was for better or for worse. But sadly, he didn’t desire to stay true to his own promise of “or worse.” We simply don’t know if Dave put forth the effort to be faithful to his wife; however, the deacon of his church, Justin Tuttle, tweeted that Dave committed adultery and was unfaithful to his wife (image at bottom of article). This makes sense now as to why Dave would want to walk away from the Lord; GOD’s standard is now at odds with Dave’s desires. GOD’s Word clearly tells us that male and female become one in marriage (Genesis 2:24) and that divorce covers a person with injustice (Malachi 2:16). Except in a case of sexual immorality, divorce is adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery (Matthew 5:31-32; Luke 16:18). Two become one in marriage. What GOD joins together, no one should separate. Moses only permitted divorce due to hardness of hearts, but that was never the design (Matthew 19:3-12; Mark 10:2-12). Adultery is abhorrent. Everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Discern the difference between lust and love. Marriage must be respected by all, and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because GOD will judge immoral people and adulterers (Genesis 2:24; Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 5:18; Proverbs 5; 6:20-35; 7; Matthew 5:27-28; 1Thessalonians 4:3-8; Hebrews 13:4). The Bible affirms that we must defend marriage. See my other article, “Defending Marriage“.

Christians Are Bad; Non-Christians Accept Him?:
Dave Gass said church people are “shitty” people. But what he failed to mention is that it’s not “church people” who are the problem. It’s all people. GOD’s Word clearly tells us that no one is without sin and we all need Jesus (Romans 3:23). The church is not an elite club for saints. It’s a hospital for sinners. Of course you’re going to encounter people with problems! But as a pastor, you should be filled with love for people and not hatred. Like Jesus when he looked upon the crowd with compassion (Matthew 9:36), a pastor should also look at his congregation and staff with that same compassion and understanding. Dave, upon making his claim of Christians being crappy people, became the very hypocrite he despises. Dave is now the person who doesn’t accept people. Also, it’s worth pondering on why the non-Christians accept him. Do they accept him because they validate his adultery? They would like to call it freedom. After all, many non-Christians don’t live by the absolute moral standard.

The Church Is Controlling?:
Dave says the church only tries to maintain control via fear, shame, and guilt. But is that true? There is a big difference between conviction and condemnation. I don’t know what Dave was doing as a pastor, but a pastor’s duty is to preach the Word of GOD and to teach what it means to the congregation. Teaching Truth can lead to conviction, but a true teacher of the Word does not use manipulation and does not bring judgment of condemnation. There is one Judge and that is the Lord. Teaching Truth is not a method of maintaining control over anyone’s life; on the contrary, the Truth sets people free (John 8:32). A relationship with GOD is out of love, not fear. Examine what is written:

“⁷ Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸ Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.⁹ In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. ¹⁰ In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. ¹¹ Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. ¹³ By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.¹⁴ And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. ¹⁵ Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.¹⁶ So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. ¹⁷ By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. ¹⁹ We love because he first loved us. ²⁰ If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot^[a] love God whom he has not seen.²¹ And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.”
(1John 4:7-21) -ESV

“¹³ For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. ¹⁴ For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.”
(Galatians 5:13-15) -ESV

Dave claims the church is controlling. But the truth is that sin is controlling and those who practice sin are slaves to sin (John 8:34). I believe that Dave allowed himself to get tangled into the snare of sin and started calling evil good and good evil. If that is the case, woe to him (Isaiah 5:20). 

Christianity Is An Impossible Standard & System That Doesn’t Work?:
Does the absolute moral standard set an impossible standard? Yes. But that should be expected if you believe the Bible to be true. That’s the point GOD made when Jesus had to do what we were incapable of doing in order to save us from ourselves. In this sinful and fallen state we all live in, we are incapable of living perfect holy lives. But does that mean that Christianity is a system that doesn’t work? To answer that, we need to know what Dave believed Christianity was supposed to do for him. From the reasons he listed, it seems evident he believed Christianity was supposed to be a cure-all for this present life on this Earth. Christianity doesn’t work if you desire to escape pain and suffering in this life on this Earth. Christianity doesn’t work if you want to be your own god and fulfill your every desire in order to pursue pleasure and feel happy. But Christianity most certainly does work if you desire to grow closer to GOD every day, become a better person every day, and eventually escape pain and suffering by living in eternal joy with the Lord on the New Earth under the new heavens. It all depends on what you believe Christianity is supposed to do for you. What are your expectations? Are they realistic? Are they in alignment with what GOD’s Word says?

Conclusion of Examinations of Explanations:

Dave Gass forced religion (not true relationship) upon himself when he didn’t truly believe. He said so himself — he faked it. He also filled his mind with unrealistic expectations and then got upset because his desires and/or fantasies weren’t fulfilled. I completely understand why he crashed and burned. Did Dave make the right choice by stepping down from being pastor? Yes. He never should have been a pastor. But did he make the right choice by abandoning Christianity (and thus Jesus)? No. 

I don’t believe Dave is a devil in disguise. I don’t believe he had malicious intent. In fact, I believe he started with good intentions. However, good intentions can travel in the wrong direction. I do believe he was selfish and pursued his own pleasure and happiness over purpose. I believe he was unwilling to sacrifice in order to live the life that a pastor must live. He was not content with placing others before himself, and this is why he became miserable. In fact, his deacon stated that he had an affair and became an adulterer. And Dave did ramble on about his marriage causing him misery, so it’s plausible. But until Dave Gass admits that himself, he’s innocent until proven guilty.

Because of this incident (and many others like it), it’s important to remember what is written:

“Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”
(James 3:1) -ESV

“Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’ ”
(Luke 9:62) -ESV

Here are some important things to consider from this incident of a pastor falling away:

1. Do you have doubts? Do you have questions? Ask questions! But if you ask questions, you should also be willing to pursue the answers with complete commitment.
2. Identify unrealistic expectations and deal with them! Don’t try to push them down and cover them up. Write out all expectations you have and examine each one to see if any are unrealistic and/or unbiblical. 
3. Examine your motives. See my other article, “Superhero: Motive matters“. Why do you believe what you believe? Why do you do what you do? What’s your ultimate end goal? What do you hope to achieve or accomplish? Is your motive loving? Is your motive selfish or selfless?
4. Do you have accountability or do you try to do conquer all your battles by yourself? The lion seeking to steal, kill, and destroy (1Peter 5:8; John 10:10) desires to find isolated victims. Don’t go into battle by yourself. 
5. Head knowledge is not enough! It is not enough to know the Bible. Satan knows GOD’s Word yet never took it to heart. Satan even used Scripture to try to tempt Jesus (Matthew 4:6). Knowing what the Bible says doesn’t mean you understand what it says. And even if you understand what it says, you must be willing to live in obedience to GOD’s Word. Are you willing?
6. Are you being controlled? Are you a slave? Many people don’t believe they’re slaves, but they are. See my other article, “Break Every Chain“.
7. We need to pray for Dave Gass (in a loving way). May he realize where he went wrong, repent, and return to the Lord with all his heart. Let’s not condemn him to Hell. It’s not our place to do that. Until his set time, he still has time to come into a right relationship with the Lord. 
8. We need to pray for all the people who will inevitably be shaken by this incident. May this only help people to realize the seriousness of what is to come and how we need to be prepared (Matthew 24:24). It is written that many people will be led astray due to false teachers and false doctrines. But may the Holy Spirit guide people in wisdom and Truth so they won’t be led astray due to the decision of Dave Gass.
9. We need to pray that truly righteous leaders will rise up and lead for the right reasons.

Can A Believer Ever Lose His/Her Salvation?

Well, we possess free will, right? At any time a person decides to leave, GOD will not keep that person captive and force him/her to stay. Of course, GOD will continue to send reminders their way and pursue them with love. GOD will always continue to watch to see if they desire to return. The ones who leave the beautiful knowledge and relationship of the Father will end up wallowing in mud and muck. But if they ever decide to repent and return to the Father, GOD will see them coming and run toward them in order to accept them once again (read Luke 15:11-32). But I am convinced that a true believer would never abandon this gift of grace. The humbling knowledge of my sin when compared to the greatest gift of grace leaves me awestruck and full of joy to know of GOD’s love for me. Why would I ever leave that? The ones who leave Christ after having come to Him never truly knew Him. People leave Christianity because of their offense to other people or the way people have chosen to operate a religious institute. A person would never leave Christianity because he/she knew Christ unless that person despised being loved. Therefore, because truly knowing Christ will ultimately prevent someone from walking away, I would say that once someone is truly saved, that person will always be saved. I believe the act of being saved is what needs to be put into question, not the act of losing salvation. Was the person ever truly saved? Did the person truly say “yes” to Christ and a complete life transformation? Or did the person say “yes” to a mere moment in order to feel better? When uncommitted followers experience difficulties and no longer possess good feelings, I believe they are walking away from their perceived notion that Christianity is a cure-all concoction. When people walk away, I find that it’s usually because they had desired GOD to be a genie in a magic lamp who exists to grant their wishes. When people don’t get what they want, they tend to go somewhere else to fulfill their desires. I don’t believe a true follower of Christ can lose his/her salvation. I do believe, however, that people claim to be saved when they never were. Did they truly let go and let GOD lead? Did they truly submit their lives and allow Jesus to take the lead? Did they truly allow the Holy Spirit to fill them with conviction and guide them? I’ve never met one fully devoted follower of Christ who ever walked away. Why? Because to truly know Jesus is to truly know the greatest gift we could ever receive. Having knowledge of this, where would one go? And why? Certainly, it’s not because the person knew Christ. Even in Apostle Peter’s case where he abandoned Jesus prior to the crucifixion, Peter only abandoned Jesus out of fear because Jesus wouldn’t allow them to fight (Matthew 26:52-56). If a person can’t fight, they will choose flight. But even when Peter abandoned Jesus, he followed Him out of love and concern (Matthew 26:58). This is not the case with Dave Gass. Dave chose to walk away because he wasn’t happy. But I’m not happy in every occasion, but I would never abandon the One and only Source of Life and Light just because I’m not getting my way. Now that I know Jesus and understand what He taught, my decision to follow Christ is not based upon what I get from Christianity. Just as the Lord had said, “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). 

It all boils down to relationship. Do you truly know Jesus? Do you truly trust in the Lord with all your heart?

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ ”
(Matthew 7:21-23) -ESV

Greater than hearing or knowing GOD’s Word is actually living it out (Romans 2:13; James 1:22-25). Obedience is better than sacrifice (1Samuel 15:22). However, relationship is greater than religious acts (Deuteronomy 6:5-6; Matthew 6:1; 22:36-40). Here’s the crucial question: do you only know of Jesus or do you truly know the Lord (John 8:19; Matthew 16:13-17)?

When a person believes and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior, that person is sealed by the Holy Spirit, who guarantees our salvation. Revelation 6:17 asks an important question: Who is able to stand at the End of Days? Of course, everyone will stand — they will stand in front of the great white throne of judgment (Revelation 20:12-14). But GOD marks His children to be saved (Revelation 7:3; 9:4). This seal of GOD is confirmation that we have been examined and inspected. Once inspected, we are approved and then sealed for security purposes, protected from tampering, and authorized by the King (Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; 2Corinthians 1:21-22). A seal can represent a finished transaction (Jeremiah 32:9-10; John 17:4; 19:30); it can represent ownership (Jeremiah 32:11-12; 2Timothy 2:19); it showcases security (Esther 8:8; Daniel 6:17). The Lord knows who is sealed for protection; the Lord knows His children (Exodus 12:1-13; Ezekiel 9:4). 

GOD may allow someone to wander knowing that he/she will repent and return (as was the case in the Prodigal Son of Luke 15:11-32), but no one who is truly saved can ever be taken away by Satan or the world. Remember what is written:

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
(John 10:27-30) -ESV

Never Give Up!

The main theme throughout the Bible that runs parallel to the Good News of salvation is the need for endurance. We must endure until the very end, remaining faithful and obedient (Matthew 10:28; 1Corinthians 9:24-27; Philippians 3:14-16; 1Timothy 6:11-16; 2Timothy 4:3-5; Hebrews 10:35-39; 2Peter 1:5-11; Revelation 3:16).

See my other article, “Superhero: Never Give Up“.

 

If Jesus Is GOD, Who Did He Pray To In The Garden?

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A woman wrote to me in response to the article I published, “Did Jesus Actually Die?“, and she asked me, “My question is that if Jesus is god, then who did he pray to in the garden when he was afraid to die by the betrayal?”

I want to begin by giving this woman some praise. She asked a good question. We should ask questions. It’s acceptable to ask questions. However, if we are to ask questions, we must also be willing to pursue the answers. This woman is obviously willing to pursue answers to her questions and because of that, I applaud her dedication to seeking Truth. 

To answer this question, let’s first examine if Jesus was afraid to die. It is written that Jesus willingly sacrificed Himself; no one took His life, but He gave it (John 10:18). And as we see in Matthew 26:45, Jesus was ready for what was to come. We know He was ready because He foretold His betrayal and death three times prior to the moment in the garden (Matthew 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:17-19; Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:32-34; Luke 9:22; 9:44; 18:31-33). Also, GOD is love (1John 4:8,16). And there is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love (1John 4:18). Further, GOD gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control, a sound mind (2Timothy 1:7). Thus, Jesus could not have been afraid because He acted out from love and not fear. However, it is written that He was anguished or distressed with grief to the point of death (Matthew 26:37-38; Mark 14:33-34; Luke 22:44). This is the same sadness/sorrow/grief we see in Luke 19:41-44 when Jesus wept over Jerusalem because the people had rejected Him — their Savior! Jesus had so much love for the people He came to save that it caused Him to weep and experience extreme grief. In fact, this extreme grief caused Jesus to sweat drops of blood (Luke 22:44). That word, “drops” is thrombos in Greek and it means, “blood unusually thickly clotted. This is a medical condition called hematidrosis, which comes from an extreme emotional state of being. And the reason that Jesus was able to experience this extreme emotional state of grief/sorrow is twofold: Jesus was fully man and fully divine. In His human nature, He still experienced what we experience (Hebrews 4:15; 5:7-9). Being fully divine, Jesus felt overwhelmingly compassionate and love for everyone. Think: consider the amount of pain and suffering you have experienced just in your own life. Now consider the fact that Jesus was about to absorb everyone’s sin like a sponge that absorbs water. Take your pain and suffering and multiply it by the entire world’s population and that equals what Jesus felt. Jesus was about to absorb all of it on the cross. That’s an extreme emotional state of being. And finally, we can know that Jesus was not afraid because Jesus is the ultimate example, the One who tells us not to fear (Matthew 10:28) and provides us with the cure for worry/doubt/anxiety/fear: Seek first the kingdom of GOD and His righteousness, and then everything else will simply fall into place (Matthew 6:33; Luke 12:31).

Second, let’s examine the main concern of the question: if Jesus is GOD, why did He pray to the Father, who is known as GOD? Why would GOD pray to GOD? In order to answer this question, we must examine and understand three main essentials: 

• Did Jesus Claim To Be GOD?
• Is The Resurrection of Jesus Authentic?
• What Is The Trinity?

Once we realize that Jesus did, in fact, claim to be GOD and prove Himself to be GOD by fulfilling prophecy and resurrecting from death, we then need to understand the Truth of the Trinity. It is in this special divine revelation of the Trinity that we understand that Jesus wasn’t praying to GOD as an ordinary man would pray to GOD. Jesus was merely in communion; the second person of the Trinity was communicating with the first person of the Trinity. The Son and the Father are One (John 10:30). 

But why pray then? The reason can be found in Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46. Three times Jesus prayed aloud so that His disciples could hear Him and three times He made sure that His disciples were awake, ensuring that they were paying attention to what He was saying. Why did Jesus pray aloud when He could have gone off alone as He had done many times before (Luke 5:16)? Why didn’t Jesus pray silently to Himself this time as He had previously taught people to do (Matthew 6:6)? Because He was setting the example of what we should do, just as He had done so many times before. Jesus often said or did things so that we could see and hear what He did, how He did it, and understand why He did it (John 11:41-42). This prayer to the Father was for us, not Him. If you read the entire incident in context, it is easy to see that Jesus basically said the following to His disciples: “It’s important to pray. Are you paying attention? You need to know this! It’s important to pray and stay in constant relationship with GOD. This is your example to follow. Are you paying attention? Persistent prayer is good. Are you paying attention? You need to know this.”

So, what was it that Jesus wanted His disciples to know? The answer is found in Matthew 26:39,41,42: because the spirit is willing yet the body is weak, we must always pray, “Nevertheless, not my will, but Your will be done.” Jesus was the ultimate example and was showing us how to respond even in the worst of scenarios. Think about it: Jesus knew He was going to be led away like a lamb going to its slaughter (Isaiah 53:7; John 1:29; 1Corinthians 5:7; Revelation 5:6), that His disciples (sheep) would be scattered (Zechariah 13:7; Matthew 26:31), and that they would need this example of devotion for when it came time for them to spread the Gospel all over the Earth (Acts 4:13,19-20; 5:29). Why? Because Jesus told them that they were going to be persecuted — even unto death (Matthew 10:16-23; John 15:18-20; 2Timothy 3:12). But because Jesus set the ultimate example of faith-filled commitment, His disciples were equipped, enabled, empowered, and emboldened to endure despite death. And this is why the Apostle Paul — who had once been a persecutor of Christianity — said, “If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” (Romans 8:31)! Paul also went on to say, “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, ‘For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.’) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35-39) -NLT.

Conclusion:

This isn’t a question about the identity of Jesus; rather, the scene of Jesus praying in the garden of Gethsemane is preparation for persecution due to our commitment to Christ, who is the Truth, the Way, the Life (John 14:6), and the Light (Psalm 139:12; Isaiah 45:7; John 1:5; 8:12; Revelation 21:23-24; 22:5). Knowing this, please challenge yourself and answer the following questions:

• Who do you say Jesus is (Matthew 16:15)?
• When it comes time for you to experience the weakness of your worldly body, will you seek first the Kingdom of GOD or rely upon your own weakness?
• Are you in constant relationship with GOD?
• Are you willing to say, “Nevertheless, not my will, but Your will be done”?

Superhero: Superpowers

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This is Part 23 of my Superhero series. In the introduction of this series, I provided the argument that heroes are real and then I distinguished between heroes and superheroes. I also provided a list of what defines a superhero. In Part 1, we learned that superheroes recognize the absolute standard of Good and realize that evil is a mere privation of what is good. In Part 2, we learned that superheroes recognize the absolute moral standard and realize that what is wrong can only be known by the standard of what is right. In Part 3, I defined and expounded upon love because all superheroes are full of love and are compelled to act out from love. In Part 4, I explained that superheroes desire to save people from all forms of danger and/or death and this desire comes from love. In Part 5, we learned that superheroes are solution seekers. In Part 6, we saw that solution seekers are willing to sacrifice if necessary. In Part 7, we saw that sacrificial love steps forward and offers service. In Part 8, we saw that superheroes go above and beyond the call of duty. In Part 9, we saw that superheroes never give up! In Part 10, we saw that superheroes don’t need recognition – they are motivated only by love! In Part 11, we saw that relationships matter and teamwork works! In Part 12, we saw that the struggle is real; however, Jesus is the real solution to our real problems. In Part 13, we saw that despite problems, superheroes are more than conquerors! In Part 14, we saw that true superheroes do not have identity crises – they know who they are even if others don’t! In Part 15, we saw that superheroes are always ready to fight evil with the belt of Truth. In Part 16, we saw that superheroes are always ready to resist evil by putting on the breastplate of righteousness. In Part 17, we saw that superheroes are always ready to walk with purpose. In Part 18, we saw that superheroes are always ready to deflect the enemy’s attacks by holding up the shield of faith. In Part 19, we saw that by wearing the helmet of salvation, superheroes always protect themselves from evil penetrating their minds with parasitic seeds of thought that contaminate, corrupt, and control. In Part 20, we saw that by using the Sword of the Spirit, superheroes can not only block the enemy’s attacks, but also drive the enemy away. In Part 21, we saw that it matters to whom we pray. In Part 22, we saw that prayer has a purpose; furthermore, persistent and purposeful prayer with proper priority is a powerful weapon for the Savior’s superheroes.

In this message (Part 23), we will see that the Savior’s superheroes do possess superpowers even though they are often taken for granted.

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As I have shown thus far, superheroes share many of the same qualities that average humans possess. But how do superheroes relate to us in reality if they have superpowers and real human beings do not? Many people love superheroes (myself included) because they possess special superpowers and they end up helping people or even saving people. Perhaps some people like superheroes because they envy the superheroes’ superpowers. In my younger years, the topic of superpowers had often sparked debates between my friends and I. We would often ask each other, “If you could have any one superpower, what would it be and why?” At that time in my youth, I had always desired to have the superpower of teleportation so that I could go anywhere at any time. And if I’m being honest, I still want to have that power today. (After all, who wants to sit in traffic behind a long line of cars? Not me!) And as long as I’m being honest, I can openly admit that my childhood fascination of superheroes and their superpowers made me feel less than adequate, unimpressive, ordinary, dull, and incapable of being someone of significance. Have you ever felt that way?

Marvel has created many movies in recent years that have topped the box-office sales, including Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, Avengers, and Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Infinity War, and Ant-Man and the Wasp. I never even knew that Ant-Man was a superhero until Marvel came out with the movie in 2015. And I was fairly certain that I wasn’t going to like the movie, but I decided to go see it anyway. To my surprise, I enjoyed the movie; in fact, I enjoyed the movie a lot. Why? Because the Holy Spirit spoke to me during that movie and gave me a message to share with everyone else: superheroes have superpowers. (Enlightening, huh?) Obviously, superheroes in the comic books and movies have superpowers. But that’s just the top layer of that truth, the scratch on the surface. We need to dig deeper. There is a greater depth to this truth that we can apply to our lives.

The superhero, Ant-Man, has a very interesting origin and storyline that parallels many of our own lives. Prior to becoming Ant-Man, he was a burglar named Scott Lang. Scott had been a misguided guy who ended up in prison. And once he got out of prison, he promised himself he wouldn’t go back to a life of crime so that he could be a good father to his daughter; however, his love for his daughter and his desire to have visitation rights with her eventually led him back into crime in hopes of gaining a lot of money in a short amount of time. But Scott soon realized the truth that there are no shortcuts to success and he ended up getting arrested yet again and sent back to prison. However, a scientist, Dr. Hank Pym, became Scott’s mentor, guided Scott and brought the good out of him. In order to radically change Scott’s life, Dr. Pym met Scott where he was currently at in life and then raised him up to use his gifts for good. Dr. Pym encouraged Scott to take what he already knew and to use it for good – to do what he hadn’t previously been able to do on his own. 

Christ Jesus is our ‘doctor’ and ‘mentor.’ Dr. Pym gave Scott the ability to shrink. Jesus doesn’t give us the ability to shrink; instead, Jesus enables us with supernatural and spiritual tools in order to grow. And Jesus meets us wherever we are currently at in life. Jesus can meet someone in a prison cell, on the streets, on top of a bridge, in a car, in a shack, or even in a mansion – Jesus can save at any place and at any time! Physically, Jesus already came to us and died on the cross for us – He met us where we were! But Jesus can still meet us where we are today with the Holy Spirit. And when we accept Jesus as our Teacher, we will be able to do things that we had not previously ever been able to do on our own. Anyone can become a hero, but with Jesus, anyone can become a superhero!

“For though we walk in the world, we do not fight according to this world’s rules of warfare. The weapons of the war we’re fighting are not of this world but are powered by God and effective at tearing down the strongholds erected against His truth.”
(2Corinthians 10:3-4) -Voice

We Are All Equipped With Spiritual Gifts:

“God in his kindness gave each of us different gifts. If your gift is speaking what God has revealed, make sure what you say agrees with the Christian faith. If your gift is serving, then devote yourself to serving. If it is teaching, devote yourself to teaching. If it is encouraging others, devote yourself to giving encouragement. If it is sharing, be generous. If it is leadership, lead enthusiastically. If it is helping people in need, help them cheerfully.”
(Romans 12:6-8) -GW [See also: 1Peter 4:10-11; 1Corinthians 12:4-11,28]

We All Possess The Ability To Tap Into Supernatural Power:

“Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”
(1Corinthians 3:16) -NKJV

“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.”
(Romans 8:11) -NLT

“I tell you the truth, whoever believes in me will do the same things that I do. Those who believe will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And if you ask for anything in my name, I will do it for you so that the Father’s glory will be shown through the Son. If you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it.”
(John 14:12-14) -NCV

Superman got his superpowers because he was not of this world, but he also received his powers due to the sun, which is for our world. We get our supernatural spiritual gifts due to the Son, who is for us (Romans 8:31); moreover, we are not of this world (John 17:14-18)! Jesus told us that we will do even greater things than He did because He was going to empower us to do so!

Hero Or Villain?

David understood and proclaimed his superpower! When evil threatened to conquer GOD’s people, David used his supernatural gifts of courage and faith and he said to Goliath, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”
(1Samuel 17:45) -NLT

Mordecai used his supernatural gift of wisdom to speak into the life of Esther (Esther 4:13-14). And then Esther used her supernatural gifts of courage and faith to speak up for what was right and address the truth to the king even though she knew she could be killed for doing such a thing. However, she ended up saving an entire population of Jews (Esther 8:11-17) because she decided to speak Truth out from love (Ephesians 4:15).

We need to start realizing that we (Christians) are all superheroes who possess different powers – given to us by GOD-Almighty! Too many Christians tuck their tails between their legs and then go bury their heads in the sand. We are a new creation in Christ (2Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 4:21-24; Colossians 3:1-17)! I want to reveal to you just how super you could be if only you possessed the faith necessary to allow yourself to be super. 

First, we are all merely humans. All humans possess the potential of either becoming an evil villain, a citizen that merely exists in the background but is never noticed, or a hero. Just as Scott Lang was a villain (a burglar) and then transformed into a superhero known as Ant-Man, we are all quite capable of transforming and becoming greater versions of ourselves. In the Bible, Jesus transformed the evil villain Saul into the superhero of Paul (Acts 9:1-22; 13:9)! Prior to becoming the apostle Paul, he was known as Saul and he persecuted Christians (Acts 7:58; 8:1-3; 9:1,4)! But when Jesus transformed Saul’s life, he became a superhero and new creation in Christ known as Paul. You have a choice. You could be:

Ant-Man: A.N.T. (Automatic Negative Thoughts):
Don’t sabotage yourself! Negative thoughts eat away at life! When one ant finds its way inside to the spiritual fruits, many ants will follow and they will devour your spiritual fruits. Once you allow negative thoughts to infiltrate your mind, you then transform from Ant-Man into Can’t-Man.

Can’t-Man: C.A.N.T. (Convinced About Negative Thoughts):
Once you accept the negative thoughts as truth, you speak lies and become an evil villain named Liar Man. 

Liar Man:  L.I.A.R. (Living Inside Adversary’s Realm):
While living inside the Adversary’s realm, the Adversary introduces you to another evil villain named Doubt Man and convinces you to team up with him.

Doubt Man: D.O.U.B.T. (Destroying Our Unresolved Beliefs Tactfully):
Or as my mom told me, Don’t Overthink Upon Basic Truth. While inside the Adversary’s realm, Doubt Man convinces you that you never actually knew the Truth and that you have nowhere else to go. If you have seen the 2019 movie, Dark Phoenix, you will realize that this happened to Jean Grey when the villain, Vuk, invited Jean into a house with the other aliens. While in there, Vuk tried to convince Jean that she didn’t belong anywhere else and that Vuk was her only chance because Jean had nowhere else to go. And so, Doubt Man then introduces you to another evil villain: Fear Man.

Fear Man: F.E.A.R. (False Evidence Appearing Real):
Doubt Man and Fear Man both convince you that happiness is the only truth and that the only way to be happy is to serve yourself. Again, an example can be seen in Dark Phoenix when Vuk said to Jean, “You’re special, Jean. And if you stop fighting that force inside you, if you embrace it, you will possess the very power of a god.” Once Doubt Man and Fear Man have convinced you that you need to seek pleasure for self to find happiness, the Adversary returns and gives you a superpower called Pride. Once you accept Pride and integrate it into your life, you become callous, live in complacency, and then become a super villain known as Chaos Man.

Chaos Man: C.H.A.O.S. (Creating Hell Amongst Others’ Souls):
Once you get to the point where you have teamed up with the Adversary, you then become a super villain who destroys the loving and beautiful work of GOD and you start to create Hell for not only yourself, but also for everyone else around you.  

Examine The Origin:

“You planned something bad for me, but God produced something good from it, in order to save the lives of many people, just as he’s doing today.”
(Genesis 50:20) -CEB

Understand this: GOD can take what was meant to destroy us and then transform it for our good! The Adversary had convinced Joseph’s brothers to get rid of Joseph and sell him into slavery. Joseph found himself in a horrible place in life only for GOD to transform that bad into something good – Joseph went from being in a prison to being in a palace and saving everyone from famine.

Also, consider Moses and Rahab. Moses was a murderer, but GOD used him and transformed his bad into something good and the Israelites were freed from slavery and the terrible reign of Pharaoh. Rahab lived a life of prostitution, but GOD used her and transformed her bad into something good and her life was spared because of her decision to use her supernatural gift of faith in GOD.

Superheroes always have origins, but evil villains also have origins. Examine the origin! Both superheroes and super villains have something in common: they were both average and not super in their origins. What they both have in common is the crossroad at which they stood where they had to choose good or evil. At the crossroad is where average people either become super villains or superheroes, either traveling down the path of evil or the path of righteousness. In Dark Phoenix, Charles Xavier told a young Jean Grey that she had a gift, but it was up to her whether she would use her gift for good or evil. Adam and Eve found themselves at the crossroad and they chose to act in disobedience. Adam and Eve’s sons found themselves at the crossroad; sadly, Cain chose to do evil and murder his brother despite GOD’s warning to master his anger:

“If you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”
(Genesis 4:7) –NLT

“Today I’m giving you the choice of a blessing or a curse. You’ll be blessed if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I’m giving you today. You’ll be cursed if you disobey the commands of the Lord your God, if you turn from the way I’m commanding you to live today, and if you worship other gods you never knew.”
(Deuteronomy 11: 26-28) –GW

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!”
(Deuteronomy 30:19) –NLT

“Keep your eyes focused on what is right, and look straight ahead to what is good. Be careful what you do, and always do what is right. Don’t turn off the road of goodness; keep away from evil paths.”
(Proverbs 4:25-27) –NCV

“There’s a way of life that looks harmless enough; look again—it leads straight to hell.”
(Proverbs 14:12) –MSG

Every single person has the Fantastic Four:

1. Origin
2. Opposition
3. Opportunity
4. Outcome

Today, I am a preacher and teacher of GOD’s Word, but I didn’t start out that way. I was an atheist actor in the entertainment industry who was seeking fame and fortune. I have the same body, but I have a renewed mind and transformed spirit – I am a new creation in Christ! Batman had an origin – he witnessed his parents get murdered. This is where he met his opposition and came to a crossroad. But from the bad, Bruce Wayne discovered opportunity and out came the good. Batman is still Bruce Wayne, but he becomes a new creation when he puts on his suit and uses his utility belt. As Christians, we also have a suit (the whole armor of GOD) and a ‘utility belt’ of spiritual gifts we can use. At any given time, we can choose to use our ‘utility belt’ and pull out and use our spiritual gifts! The following is not an exhaustive list; rather, it is only a small sample of possible ‘tools’ we can choose to use for good:

• Service (serving)
• Instruction (teaching)
• Encouragement
• Compassion
• Generosity
• Words of life (affirmation)
• Truth
• Wisdom
• Discernment
• Joy
• Peace
• Forgiveness
• Gentleness
• Hospitality
• Loyalty
• Patience
• Love

By accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, Jesus takes you out of the Adversary’s realm and transforms all the bad into something good. Jesus was sent here on a mission of relentless rescue. Jesus sacrificed Himself so that we would not be held captive in the depths of Hell. Even if you were Chaos Man prior to hearing this message, Jesus can transform you into the true person GOD has called you to be. By accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you will become Can Man!

Can Man: C.A.N. (Conquering Adversary’s Necrosis):
It’s time to squash your automatic negative thoughts! Speak life! Yes – you can! With GOD, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26; Luke 1:37)! Know Jesus, know peace; no Jesus, no peace. Stop creating hell within yourself and for others around you. GOD transforms nothing into something! GOD transforms mistakes into miracles! Your trial can be your triumph! Your test can be your testimony! Once you have Jesus as your Lord and Savior and you repent from all the bad in your life, Jesus gives you forgiveness and then also heals your soul – this is called a fresh start (or clean slate)! Once you accept His forgiveness and fresh start, you become Ant-Man once again; however, you are now a new creation!

Ant Man: A.N.T. (A New Testimony):
You can transform from the Ant-Man who was the negative person full of bitterness, resentment, anger, hatred, doubt, fear, etc. and become the new Ant-Man superhero simply because you have a new testimony! Once you have a personal testimony, the Adversary and his demons no longer posses power in your life! Once you accept that GOD possesses all power and authority (leaving Satan with none!), you transform from the new Ant-Man into a Christian. And a Christian is a true superhero for the Savior! Or, to say it another way, a Christian is a sidekick for the real superhero, Jesus.

Christian: I didn’t create an acronym for a Christian because it would only water down the true definition. If you are a Christian, then you are a follower of Christ Jesus. That means that you follow all that Jesus taught and commanded. And Jesus told us that we will do the great things that He did and even greater because we will be empowered by Him! 

GOD equips, enables, empowers, enhances and emboldens us! We have the whole armor of GOD and we have weapons of love and Truth to combat evil. Our deeds are our seeds and the evidence of supernatural power is found in the fruit that blossoms from our seeds of deeds (Matthew 12:33; Luke 6:43-44; John 13:34-35; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:9).

“But the fruit that comes from having the Holy Spirit in our lives is: love, joy, peace, not giving up, being kind, being good, having faith, being gentle, and being the boss over our own desires. The Law is not against these things.”
(Galatians 5:22-23) -NLV

So, are you being the superhero GOD has called you to be? You have a direct connection with the Source of Power and you have been given certain spiritual gifts of supernatural power! So, what good are you doing? Are you making others’ lives better? Are you creating joy in others’ lives? You may not be able to produce webs like Spiderman and use those webs to catch someone falling; however, you most certainly can catch someone when they fall or even pick that person back up after a fall. You may not have X-ray vision like Superman; however, you can still use the supernatural gift of discernment to see through the enemy’s schemes. You may not have super strength and the ability to lift up vehicles; however, you most certainly do possess the strength necessary to lift people up with your prayers and emotional support. You may not be able to crash through buildings due to your super-strength, but you most certainly do possess the strength necessary to be able to destroy strongholds of the enemy! Where is your fruit? If you don’t have any fruit, it’s time to start planting seeds.

If you are currently standing at the crossroad of good and evil, I invite you to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and become the superhero GOD created you to be. You can change others’ lives for the better!

If you have already started traveling down the path of evil, it’s not too late to repent and turn around! Allow Jesus to transform your mistake into a miracle! Allow Jesus to transform you from a Saul to a Paul! Simply call upon Christ and ask Him to forever change your life and redirect your steps. Simply repent, accept forgiveness, accept your fresh start, begin your journey and use your spiritual gifts.

In the 2015 movie, Ant-Man, Dr. Pym said to Scott Lang, “Everyone deserves a chance for redemption.”

You deserve a chance for redemption and restoration! In fact, GOD is so loving that He is patient enough to provide everyone with an opportunity to accept Him (1Timothy 2:4; 2Peter 3:9). GOD is the GOD of second chances! GOD is the GOD of miracles! If you desire a second chance (or 3rd, 4th, or 100th), I pray right now that GOD would cleanse you of all evil, purify your heart, fill you with the Holy Spirit, anoint you, and make you fit to be who you were created and called to be!

I pray that GOD would equip you with godly ideas and empower you, enable you, and enhance your abilities! May you become the superhero GOD has created you to be! May you decide to use the spiritual gifts of supernatural power to love people into the Truth.

If you don’t know what your spiritual gifts are and desire to discover them, there are spiritual gifting tests you can use as a guide (most churches nowadays have them). However, A common problem for Christians is the temptation to get so caught up in identifying our specific spiritual gift that we only seek to serve GOD in the limited area in which we feel we have been gifted. That is not how the spiritual gifts work. GOD calls us to obediently serve Him in all things (1Samuel 10:7; Ecclesiastes 9:10; Colossians 3:23). He will equip us with whatever gift(s) we need to accomplish the task He calls us to do. All throughout the Bible, it is evident that GOD qualifies whom He calls, He doesn’t call the already-qualified.

Identifying our spiritual gift(s) can be accomplished in a few different ways. Spiritual gift tests or inventories, while not to be fully relied upon, can definitely help us understand where our gifting might be strongest. Confirmation from others also provides insight as to what our spiritual gift(s) might be. Other people who see us serving the Lord can often identify a spiritual gift in us that we might take for granted or not recognize. Prayer is also important. The one person who knows exactly how we are spiritually gifted is the gift-giver Himself — the Holy Spirit. We can ask GOD to show us how we are gifted in order to better use our spiritual gifts for His glory. But better yet, let us ask GOD to reveal to us what He wants us to do and then let us pray for Him to equip and enable us to do what He has called us to do. This very book is an example. When I first knew I had been called to write this book, I felt incapable of doing so. But I acted in obedience. And in the process of being obedient, the Holy Spirit brought to my mind specific ideas I hadn’t before thought about. This book was compiled piece by piece. And then all the pieces were arranged. This book took me a little over a year to write and arrange. 

Obviously, some people are called to specific areas of life. GOD calls some to be teachers and gives them the gift of teaching. GOD blesses some people with awesome artistic abilities. However, specifically knowing our spiritual gift(s) does not excuse us from serving GOD in areas outside our strongest areas of gifting. Is it beneficial to know what spiritual gift(s) GOD has given us? Of course it is. Is it wrong to focus so much on specific spiritual gifts that we miss other opportunities to serve GOD? Yes. If we are dedicated to being used by GOD, He will equip us with the spiritual gifts we need and empower us to use them according to His will. Don’t refuse to serve coffee and donuts because you’re a teacher. Don’t refuse to help someone move because you’re an artist. Instead, seek to serve because you are the greatest sidekick to the greatest Superhero! Remember: the greatest superhero is the greatest servant (Matthew 18:1-5; Mark 9:33-37; Luke 9:46-48; 22:24-26)!

The sad reality is that evil exists in this world. The evil villains possess powers to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). However, we have supernatural power through our spiritual gifts to repair, restore, heal, fulfill, and lead people to the Light. Are you using the spiritual gifts you have been given? Where is your fruit? If you don’t have fruit, it’s time to start planting seeds. There’s a real infinity war waging all around us. At the end of days, there will be a real End Game. But there’s only One way to salvation and that is through Jesus. 

“ ‘Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.’ Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.’ ”
(John 14:1-7) -ESV

Superhero: Armor of GOD: Powerful Prayer (2/2)

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If you would rather read this message, the words are provided below…

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This is Part 22 of my Superhero series. In the introduction of this series, I provided the argument that heroes are real and then I distinguished between heroes and superheroes. I also provided a list of what defines a superhero. In Part 1, we learned that superheroes recognize the absolute standard of Good and realize that evil is a mere privation of what is good. In Part 2, we learned that superheroes recognize the absolute moral standard and realize that what is wrong can only be known by the standard of what is right. In Part 3, I defined and expounded upon love because all superheroes are full of love and are compelled to act out from love. In Part 4, I explained that superheroes desire to save people from all forms of danger and/or death and this desire comes from love. In Part 5, we learned that superheroes are solution seekers. In Part 6, we saw that solution seekers are willing to sacrifice if necessary. In Part 7, we saw that sacrificial love steps forward and offers service. In Part 8, we saw that superheroes go above and beyond the call of duty. In Part 9, we saw that superheroes never give up! In Part 10, we saw that superheroes don’t need recognition – they are motivated only by love! In Part 11, we saw that relationships matter and teamwork works! In Part 12, we saw that the struggle is real; however, Jesus is the real solution to our real problems. In Part 13, we saw that despite problems, superheroes are more than conquerors! In Part 14, we saw that true superheroes do not have identity crises – they know who they are even if others don’t! In Part 15, we saw that superheroes are always ready to fight evil with the belt of Truth. In Part 16, we saw that superheroes are always ready to resist evil by putting on the breastplate of righteousness. In Part 17, we saw that superheroes are always ready to walk with purpose. In Part 18, we saw that superheroes are always ready to deflect the enemy’s attacks by holding up the shield of faith. In Part 19, we saw that by wearing the helmet of salvation, superheroes always protect themselves from evil penetrating their minds with parasitic seeds of thought that contaminate, corrupt, and control. In Part 20, we saw that by using the Sword of the Spirit, superheroes can not only block the enemy’s attacks, but also drive the enemy away. In Part 21, we saw that it matters to whom we pray.

In this message (Part 22), we will see that prayer has a purpose; furthermore, persistent and purposeful prayer with proper priority is a powerful weapon for the Savior’s superheroes.

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We are instructed to pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion (Ephesians 6:18-20).

But what is prayer? Are there examples of prayer we should follow? Is there a right or wrong way to pray? How often should we pray? Why do we need to pray? What if GOD doesn’t answer our prayers?Many people have many questions regarding prayer; many people have many different opinions regarding prayer. But what does GOD’s Word tell us about prayer? How does prayer fit in with the whole armor of GOD? Why is prayer mentioned with the Sword of the Spirit? How can prayer be a powerful weapon?

What Is Prayer?

In short, prayer is simply talking to GOD. It is the direct communication of the human soul with the Lord who created the soul. Because prayer acknowledges our lack of power and also petitions acknowledgment from the Ultimate Power, the act of praying is an act of humility. The very act of producing a prayer is to admit that we need GOD. This means that prayer combats pride. For this reason alone, prayer is a weapon associated with the Sword of the Spirit that helps us cut pride out of our lives. The powerful weapon of prayer can be activated by softly spoken words that come from your audible voice, but it can also be activated from a silent scream from within your soul. Communication is the key to unlocking the power of prayer. As the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia puts it, “Christian prayer in its full New Testament meaning is prayer addressed to God as Father, in the name of Christ as Mediator, and through the enabling grace of the indwelling Spirit” (“Prayer” by J. C. Lambert).

An Example Of Prayer:

In Luke 11:1 (see also Matthew 6:9-13), one of the disciples requested that Jesus teach them how to pray. Jesus then gave them an example of a prayer:

“Jesus said, ‘This is how you should pray: “Father, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. Give us each day the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation.” ‘ “
(Luke 11:2-4) -NLT

Notice that the prayer had three parts; notice also the order in which the parts were given:

1. GOD’s Kingdom is priority number one (Your will be done, not mine: Matthew 6:33; 26:39).
2. Secondly, may we receive all that we need (gratitude and contentment: Philippians 4:11-13).
3. Lastly, keep us from all that we do not need (faith/trust in GOD: Psalm 9:10; 28:7; 31:14; 37:5; 84:12; Proverbs 3:5-8).

Just as GOD provided for the Israelites with daily manna (Exodus 16:4,19), GOD is to be our ‘daily bread’ (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4). We need GOD every new day just as much as we did the day before. We must communicate with GOD on a daily basis. In Luke 11:5-13, after Jesus provides an example of prayer, Jesus then teaches His disciples two important things to remember in regards to prayer:

1. We need to be persistent in our prayers.
2. GOD is faithful and will provide.

Is There A Right Or Wrong Way To Pray?

Those of us who attend church have most likely noticed that people tend to both worship and pray differently from each other. Some people are standing up, but others are sitting down, kneeling, or even prostrating themselves flat on the ground. Some people have their hands open, some have their hands closed, but some have their hands lifted up as if trying to touch GOD in Heaven. Is there a right or wrong way to pray? Are we holy when we close our eyes during prayer and unholy if our eyes are open? Is it better to pray in a church building or out in nature? Do we have to bow our heads? Do we have to put our hands together? Should we pray in the morning when we get up or at night before we go to bed? Are there certain words we need to say in our prayers? What if we forget to say those specific words or phrases? How do we begin our prayers? What is the proper way to close a prayer? If we don’t pray properly, will our prayers not be answered? Are prayers only answered for those who give the most money to the church? Does GOD not answer my prayers because I’ve been struggling with sins? These questions, and many others, are frequently asked questions regarding prayer.

Jesus shined some light on what’s important in prayer:

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!”
(Matthew 6:5-8) -NLT

Prayer is genuine, open, honest, and real. So, talk. It’s that simple. However, some people might wonder why we need to pray if GOD already knows what we need. Well, prayer is not a means of asking for what we want. Prayer is a connection between us and GOD; in prayer, we are connected with our Christ-compass and it keeps us in alignment with GOD’s will. A healthy relationship requires constant communication. Therefore, talk. However, pray with purpose. Prayer is a way for us to discover what we need rather than request what we want.

“The Holy Spirit takes hold of us in our human frailty to empower us in our weakness. For example, at times we don’t even know how to pray, or know the best things to ask for. But the Holy Spirit rises up within us to super-intercede on our behalf, pleading to God with emotional sighs too deep for words. God, the searcher of the heart, knows fully our longings, yet he also understands the desires of the Spirit, because the Holy Spirit passionately pleads before God for us, his holy ones, in perfect harmony with God’s plan and our destiny.”
(Romans 8:26-27) -TPT

We don’t always need to know what to pray for or exactly how to pray, but we do need to pray at all times and on every occasion. Philippians 4:6 instructs us to pray about everything. Everything? Yes. 1Thessalonians 5:17 instructs us to pray without ceasing. Without ceasing? At all times? Yes. Even without speaking words, our soul can still cry out to the Lord. GOD must be in everything we do, not just some of what we do. Jesus did not provide to us an exact prayer to repeat; rather, He gave us a simple example to follow. There does not exist a magic formula to prayer. In fact, it’s possible to say all the right things yet not believe in any of them. GOD’s Word tells us that GOD looks at our hearts (1Samuel 16:7).

Praying expectantly is the natural response to living out a faith-filled life. GOD is there, GOD is aware, and GOD does care. Jesus clearly teaches us to expect answers to prayers that are specific and persistent. However, Scripture never presumes prayer will remove all suffering. It’s important to know what to expect while praying expectantly. We are to expect that GOD’s will is the way and that GOD’s will is what is best and right. Should we expect answers for prayers? Absolutely. But we should not be so naive to believe that the answer will arrive as we demand or believe it should. Our answer may arrive as a “no” while we are still alive or it may even arrive after we leave Earth to be in the presence of GOD. Consider Joseph from the Bible. If we had been with Joseph, we might have prayed for him to be delivered from his brothers and not to be sold into slavery. But if that prayer was granted, Joseph never would have saved Egypt and the lives of his family later on. If we had been with Mary and Martha, we might have prayed for Lazarus not to die. But if that prayer had been granted, the glory of GOD would not have been revealed when Jesus rose him from the dead. How many people prayed for Jesus to save Himself and be spared from crucifixion? Had that prayer been granted, Jesus would not have accomplished His mission to save all of humanity. We are to expect answers to our prayers, but we must above all else expect that GOD’s will be done. Prayer is not our last resort before deciding to abort because we came up short; prayer is our first concentrated effort and direct line of support. Prayer is not our last option before collapsing into a coffin; it is our first response of action, second to none, priority number one. The power behind prayer is the purpose that propels it forward.

Praying persistently provides opportunity for us to discover the value for whatever it is we are praying. If something is important, we make it a priority and continue to ask GOD for a way. Persistent prayer makes us more Christlike by tempering our human selfishness and by strengthening our divine dependence. The Bible reveals that many believers prayed for months or even years before finally receiving an answer. Persistent prayer must be met with patience and the ability to forbear. The Bible reveals that people who were commended with great faith often didn’t receive immediate answers to prayers. Faithful prayer is not distinguished by the immediacy of answers but by the persistency of the petitions. Expecting immediate answers is a sign of immaturity. Christ’s ministry, from conception to the cross, took years to fulfill. The Jewish people had prayed for centuries for their Messiah. And when Jesus finally arrived, some people prayed for Him to provide immediate political, military, or economic deliverance, but GOD had a better plan. We trust our Savior because He works perfectly, not because He works quickly. GOD is not limited by our time and He answers prayers in His perfect time. We do not need to see the result of our prayers in our lifetime to know that GOD will do what is best and right in the eternal picture. GOD knits together a blanket of love of His purposes from the yarn of our prayers and circumstances, but in His knowledge, His power, and His time.

Prayers that are answered too soon can create complacency and can desensitize us to our need for patience through our persistence. Understanding GOD’s primary goal that our prayers is for our spiritual transformation helps explain the delay for some requests. We may desire a change in our current circumstances when GOD desires first a change within our hearts, minds, character, and overall attitudes. We want quick solutions, but GOD wants growth in our patience and trust. We may want a problem out of our lives when GOD wants us to learn how to overcome those problems so that we might be able to help others overcome at a later time. We may want an end to the pressure of life’s demands, but GOD might desire for that pressure to transform us into spiritual diamonds. Delayed answers do not necessarily mean that our prayers are wrong, but neither is it wrong to consider altering or refining our prayers. For prayers, it is most important that our petitions are in alignment with GOD’s will. If our prayers are in alignment with GOD’s Word and GOD’s ways, then we may be persistent in our prayers. However, patience must accompany persistence or else our persistence can transform into our own pain that plagues us with an irrational fear of unfulfilled purpose.

Praying in GOD’s will within the boundary of righteousness is necessary for praying what is right. If a football player runs too far in either direction of left or right, he will be out of bounds. Only while staying within the set boundaries and progressing forward can a football player achieve a first down or score a touchdown. We can view the boundary on the right as the line of righteousness and the boundary on the left as the line of wisdom or prudence. GOD grants whatever we ask in prayer if it is in agreement with His will. We head in the wrong direction if we pray for what is wrong in hopes of arriving at the right destination. Asking for what is wrong to hopefully end up in the right cannot be GOD’s will. Discerning righteousness keeps our decisions and petitions in prayer from going out of bounds. GOD’s Word is more authoritative than personal feelings or priorities. Rearranging the order to accommodate personal agenda is to pray outside of GOD’s will and we will find ourselves outside the boundary of righteousness. Our feelings become our authority whenever they determine the priorities of our prayers. Praying in Jesus’ name requires that we give His Word authority over our desires. A football player’s obedience to the rules of the game ensures his continuance in the game without penalties. Likewise, a Christian’s obedience to GOD’s Word (rules) ensures righteousness and his/her continuance in life without penalties (negative consequences brought about by sinful disobedience). One simply cannot know what is righteous unless that person knows GOD’s Word. Because “it is written” for a reason, we must know what is written, understand what is written, and apply what is written to our daily decisions.

Praying in GOD’s wisdom within the boundary of prudence keeps us from being nearsighted and noncompliant. As a Christian, we should not make decisions based on worldly priorities. We must be mindful of our motives. The boundary of righteousness determines whether our decision is moral; the boundary of prudence helps us determine if the decision is wise. Are our prayers loving? Loving prayers place others’ needs and interests before our own (Philippians 2:3-8). We must consider others as we weigh the appropriateness of our prayers (1Thessalonians 4:9-12). We should not pray for GOD to bless choices that disregard the welfare of other loved ones. We should not pray to be lifted up if our elevation causes others to sink. Instead, we should pray to be lifted up so that we may be in a position to help pull others out of despair. It is wise to do our best and then pray for GOD to take care of the rest. Are our prayers legitimate? Legitimate prayers weigh GOD’s interests above our own (1Corinthians 10:31). While there is nothing intrinsically evil about a life lived without concerns, Christians should question whether such a carefree life is in alignment with Biblical requirements to love others. If GOD blesses us with a favorable answer to a prayer, would we use that opportunity to advance the Kingdom of GOD or to keep the blessing for selfish gain? Our prayers are in His will only when the glory of His name is our highest aim. Are our prayers responsible? We cannot pray according to GOD’s will and prioritize according to our own. Are we using our abilities in a responsible manner? We should pray for GOD to use our gifts for Jesus’ sake, rather than praying others will serve our interests. We must always listen to our own prayers with an ear as to whether they are designed to make us givers or takers. We should pray for GOD to guide us away from the desire to seek our good at the expense of others or GOD’s glory. If we are seeking for self, we are acting irresponsibly. The bottom line for responsible prayers: do they further the cause of Christ and do they further His cause without violating the principles of His Kingdom?

Praying forward is the praying ourselves into growth. We are not moving forward unless we are walking in step with GOD. The truest and deepest joys follow prayers that are loving, legitimate, and responsible. We are to consider biblical priorities over worldly pragmatics. When we depend on the quantity or quality of our prayer (or fasting or study or sacrifice) to determine its spiritual effectiveness, we imprison GOD within the limits of our abilities. GOD hears our prayers because of His mercy, not because of our mastery of them or of Him. What matters is the motive, not the mantra. We discern whether our patterns of prayer are accomplishing GOD’s purposes by asking ourselves why we are praying for what we are praying and why we are praying so habitually. As our thoughts, attitudes, and actions are increasingly controlled by the Word and by our union with Christ, our inclinations conform more and more to GOD’s will. Our prayers align with GOD’s desires, because that which grieves Him grieves us and that which pleases Him pleases us. When life becomes immersed in prayer, increasingly we understand that we take no step without GOD’s aid, and we take every step forward with His blessing.

GOD answers prayer requests based on whether they are asked according to His will and in the name of Jesus (to bring glory to Jesus). The ultimate example of prayer can be found in Matthew 26:39,42,44 when Jesus concludes His prayer by saying, “nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” In all of our prayers, we must be seeking first the Kingdom of GOD (Matthew 6:33). Like Hannah pouring out her soul (1Samuel 1:15), the proper way to pray is to pour out our hearts to GOD, being open, honest and real with GOD, as He already knows us better than we know ourselves.

Ask And It Will Be Given To You:

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”
(Matthew 7:7-8; see also Luke 11:5-13) -ESV

James, the brother of Jesus, explains the special stipulation to this promise of receiving after asking:

“You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.”
(James 4:2-3) -NLT

Our desires need to be in alignment with GOD’s will. But knowing GOD requires faith, focus, and follow-through. Jesus promises a reward for the passionate pursuit of seeking GOD’s will. Before making requests, we should ask ourselves three important questions:

1. For what are you asking?
2. Why are you asking for this request?
3. Does this request first focus on the Kingdom of GOD?

Seek First The Kingdom of GOD:

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
(Matthew 6:33) -NLT

“Since we have this confidence, we can also have great boldness before him, for if we present any request agreeable to his will, he will hear us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we also know that we have obtained the requests we ask of him.”
(1John 5:14-15) -TPT

Praying in Jesus’ name requires placing the priorities of Christ before our own. It’s imperative that Christ comes first. Too often our prayers are like Christmas wish lists for Santa Claus rather than meaningful conversations with our Creator. GOD is not a genie in a magic lamp who exists to grant our wishes at our will. The purpose of prayer is not to get what we want. GOD is not a celestial vending machine who dispenses miracles or blessings simply because we input our ‘faith coins’ into a prayer request. We must ensure that our prayers are not spiritual coins being shoved into the celestial slot machine — methodically, ritualistically, and mechanically — with the hope of divine payout.

Proper prayer must put more trust in GOD’s will than human desire. When GOD’s people pray in the name of Jesus, they indicate that they are seeking to bring Christ the glory. To do anything in the Lord’s name means to do it for His purposes. Praying in Jesus’ name keeps our prayers mature and in proper alignment with GOD’s will. If the motive behind every prayer is for the name of GOD to be glorified, we need not doubt that He will answer according to His perfect will. Trust in GOD is not based on our circumstances but on His character. If we truly grasp the goodness of GOD, our prayers don’t seek GOD for our purposes, but to offer ourselves for His purposes.

Here is a challenging question regarding your prayers: If GOD answered all your prayers, would others’ lives be changed or only your own? Prayer is also a way to love others. We should pray for others. But we should also pray that GOD’s will be done. In the connection of prayer, the goal is to come into alignment with GOD’s will. Prayer, like love, has proper priorities: 

1. GOD
2. Others
3. Self

What If GOD Doesn’t Answer My Prayers?

Praying without doubting is to simply have faith in our loving Father and know that GOD’s will is what is best and right. We are not to believe that GOD will respond to every prayer request with a ‘yes’ answer. GOD always answers prayers with either a yes, no, not yet, not quite, or better yet. GOD often does better than what we ask for ourselves and exceeds expectations. Too often confident prayers transform into doubt simply because the answer doesn’t match our unrealistic expectations or the answer is not immediate. It is not wise to believe that our expected result is the best result; it is immature to believe that answers need to be immediate. To pray without doubt is to believe that our answer is on the way or GOD has something better in mind. Answers to prayers don’t need to accommodate specific individual demands in order to fulfill desires and bless everyone. If all personal prayers were affirmed and granted, what would keep the world from exploding into a zillion shards of personal priorities and prevent contradictions and catastrophe? Praying without doubt is recognizing that a ‘no’ answer might just be the best answer. The inconvenience of delayed prayers and even denied prayers may actually save our lives.

Before we adopt a prayer philosophy that requires GOD to provide all our wants, we must adjust our thinking to consider the limitations of our understanding. To pray without doubt is to recognize that we are finite and fallible beings, but we pray to the Eternal One who does what is best and right. We do not doubt GOD, but we may doubt ourselves. Luke 23:34 calls attention to the fact that we may not know what’s best for us even when we think we do. Proper belief is not unwavering confidence that something we want will happen but that something will happen that we will eventually recognize to be something we needed. GOD knows the future we cannot discern and consequences we cannot anticipate. His thoughts and ways are far above our own (Isaiah 55:8-9). The Bible’s message of a sovereign GOD who rules over all things in all places among all people and for eternity answers simply to calm our hearts and stimulate our prayers: “GOD is able.” It is important to thank GOD for all the ‘no’ answers. All the ‘no’ answers eventually lead to the ‘yes’ moment. Remember: when you pray, it is important to pray for the right reasons. Though there is no mandated mantra that needs to be memorized, there does exist a proper priority for prayer. Motive matters.

How Can Prayer Be A Powerful Weapon?

• GOD is the ultimate Power (Genesis 1; Exodus 7:10-14:31; 1Kings 17:14-24; 2Kings 4:2-7; Job 42:2; Jeremiah 32:27; Daniel 2:21; 3:19-27; Matthew 8:1-4; 9:27-31; 17:24-27; Mark 4:35-41; 16:1-8; Luke 1:37; 9:10-17; John 6:16-21).
• Prayer is a petition to the Powerful One.
• The High Priest has direct access to Power (Exodus 28; Hebrews 9:7).
• Jesus is both the Priest and Power (Hebrews 2:17; 4:14; 5:6; 9:12; 10:19-20).
• The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is the same Spirit that dwells within us (Romans 8:10-11).
• The Holy Spirit ensures that our prayers are received and understood (Romans 8:26-27).
• Because of Jesus and through the Holy Spirit, we now have direct access to Power and are able to bring our petitions straight to the Source of Power.
• GOD is love and all-good (1John 4:8,16: Psalm 106:1; 135:3; Nahum 1:7; Mark 10:18; John 3:16-17; Galatians 5:22; 2Thessalonians 1:11; Titus 3:4). Because GOD is love and all-good, GOD will hear our prayers.
• GOD is Holy (Leviticus 11:44-45; 1John 1:5; Revelation 4:8; 15:4). GOD is just (Acts 17:31; Revelation 20:12). If GOD is Holy and just, then GOD will act in His power to do what is best and what is right.
• In the end, good prevails and GOD wins (Revelation 20-22) because we know that for those who love GOD all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
• If our prayers are in alignment with GOD’s will, our prayers have the power of the inevitable victory that belongs to GOD and His people.
• Therefore, persistent and purposeful prayers with proper priority are powerful.

Persistent And Purposeful Prayer With Proper Priority Is Powerful:

Praying boldly is a right granted to us as children of GOD through the blood of Christ who died for us. We can do away with rigmarole of religious rituals, pious performances, superficial celebrations, and pseudo-sacrifices. As a child approaches a loving father, we may approach our loving Father with confidence. We do not need to depend on stodgy formulas or arcane speech. GOD is more concerned with hearing our prayers than grading their forms. If you have children of your own, you understand that you want your children to call you when they are in distress, without being timid or hesitant to do so. You want to hear from them because you are delighted to provide the best for them. With these fatherly desires in our own hearts, we discover the boldness the Father GOD expects from us (Matthew 7:7-11; Luke 11:5-13). Those who truly discover the power of His abiding presence of love do not reserve prayer for periods of isolated retreat when a miracle is needed. How strong can a relationship be if a child only calls the parents once in a blue moon to ask for money? Neither should we only pray once in a blue moon when we need a miracle or a blessing. If our prayers are only formal or occasional, we will miss out on the comfort and blessing of knowing we can pray anytime to our GOD who is attentive to our needs (Psalm 34:15). We may pray about mustard seeds in addition to the mountains; we may pray about colds in addition to cancer; we may pray praises of blessings in addition to petitions to problems. Super prayers are for all superheroes, even if the situation doesn’t demand a super need. As a child of GOD, we can pray confidently and boldly anytime, anywhere, with anyone, and about anything! Because prayer is a connection with the Source of Power, prayer is a powerful weapon that casts the enemy back and propels us forward in faith. Because prayer is a connection with the Source of Power, it brings Light into our lives.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
(John 1:5) -ESV

“For you are my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness.”
(2Samuel 22:29; see also Psalm 18:28) -ESV

[ For an example of a powerful prayer, CLICK HERE ]

Superhero: Never Give Up

 

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If you would rather read this message, the words are provided below…

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This is Part 9 of my Superhero series. In the introduction of this series, I provided the argument that heroes are real and then I distinguished between heroes and superheroes. I also provided a list of what defines a superhero. In Part 1, we learned that superheroes recognize the absolute standard of Good and realize that evil is a mere privation of what is good. In Part 2, we learned that superheroes recognize the absolute moral standard and realize that what is wrong can only be known by the standard of what is right. In Part 3, I defined and expounded upon love because all superheroes are full of love and are compelled to act out from love. In Part 4, I explained that superheroes desire to save people from all forms of danger and/or death and this desire comes from love. In Part 5, we learned that superheroes are solution seekers. In Part 6, we saw that solution seekers are willing to sacrifice if necessary. In Part 7, we saw that sacrificial love steps forward and offers service. In Part 8, we saw that superheroes go above and beyond the call of duty.

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But what good would it do for a superhero to start traveling the extra mile journey if he/she quits halfway through? If we make a commitment to go the extra mile, then we need to follow through and see that we go the distance to complete the second mile. In this message (Part 9), we will see that superheroes might get tripped up and fall down. Superheroes might even get beaten up and knocked down, but they do not stay down! Superheroes never give up! To help us understand this message, let’s examine two examples from real life situations: boxing and racing.

Boxing: Get Back Up!

Muhammad Ali, who is arguably the greatest boxer of all time, said, “You don’t lose if you get knocked down; you lose if you stay down.” One of the greatest victories I’ve ever seen was in the 2005 boxing match of Corrales vs. Castillo. Corrales got knocked down twice in the 10th round, only to get back up and walk away as the winner:

Another one of my favorite boxing matches was the 1990 match of Mike Tyson vs. Buster Douglas. Tyson was undefeated and had a 42-0 record. Douglas – the obvious underdog – was knocked down in the 8th round and didn’t even get back up until it was almost too late at the 9-second mark. But in the 10th round, Douglas managed to knock Tyson down and out for the win.

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.”
(2Corinthians 4:8-10) –NIV

We are not impervious to attacks from the enemy. We’re going to get tripped up and fall down. We’re going to get beat up and knocked down. Unless you’re Rocky Marciano or Floyd Mayweather, you’re going to experience a loss at some point in your life. But truth be told, even if you are undefeated in life, you can still lose in death. Are you living life in preparation for death? Rocky Marciano died on August 31, 1969 (the eve of his 46th birthday) in a plane crash. Did Marciano go to Heaven or Hell? Only GOD knows. But even conquerers in life can end up being conquered in death. And this is why it is of utmost importance that we never give up and finish the race well. And if I could tell Floyd Mayweather and anyone else currently undefeated only one thing, I would share this:

“For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?”
(Luke 9:25) -ESV

Those who are motivated by money or propelled by the pursuit for power typically stay down if the winnings of their worldly ways comes to an end and they experience a loss. Because if your treasure is only found in this world, you are destined for disappointment.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
(Matthew 6:19-21) -ESV

Where is your heart? If you know your ‘why,’ then you will refuse to lose, you will get back up, and you will never give up. In a post-fight interview with Buster Douglas, it was later revealed that he won the fight against Mike Tyson because his ‘why’ was more powerful than Tyson’s punches. Only 23 days before the legendary fight took place that took Tyson’s “0” and gave him a “1” in his losses, Douglas’ mother died. Before she died, she told Douglas that he was going to beat Mike Tyson. Simply put, love is what won the fight for Douglas. And truth be told, love is what we need to persevere! Love compels us to get back up and never give up. In the amazing 2005 movie, Cinderella Man, based on the boxer, James Walter Braddock, there’s a scene where the press is asking him why he’s winning fights. Russell Crowe (Braddock) states he knows what he’s fighting for: milk. The motivation behind the action was love for his family. This movie showcases the power of the ‘why.’

Racing: Finish The Race!
A man by the name of John Stephen Akhwari represented Tanzania in the marathon at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. He wounded his knee and dislocated a joint in a fall, but he got back up and continued the race. He finished last place. By the time he crossed the finish line, it was dark outside and most of the audience had already gone home. When later interviewed and asked why he continued running, he said, “My country did not send me 5,000 miles to start the race; they sent me 5,000 miles to finish the race.”

It was the greatest last place finish ever! John Stephen Akhwari didn’t come in first place in that race; however, he was a winner because he finished the race! There are many people in this world who do not finish the race. In fact, suicide prevents many people from finishing the race. Too many people give up before reaching the finish line.

This world teaches that in order to win we must be first or the greatest. But is that true? Even if you are the last person to arrive in Heaven, you still achieved what others who never arrived never achieved. Last place can most certainly be the best finish. In fact, Jesus told us that those who are now last would be first and the first would be last (Matthew 19:30; 20:16; Mark 10:31; Luke 13:30). Jesus also told us that If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all (Mark 9:35).

When John Stephen Akhwari finally finished the race, it was dark outside and most of the audience had already left. And so it is with life. The majority of people that will be around when you start the race might not be there when you finish. Also, people typically only want to be with you during your greatest moments and tend to disappear during your struggles. And when that happens, it may feel like it’s dark outside and the empty bleachers might make you feel as if no one cares. But the people who truly care about you will stay with you while you are down, struggling, and out of the spotlight. But even if you feel alone and abandoned, know that love will help you finish the race so that you may finish well. Be encouraged: Jesus’ disciples abandoned Him when He got arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:56; Mark 14:50). But Jesus’ love for others was the ‘why’ that compelled Him to finish what He started (John 19:30).

As I have written before in one of my songs, I don’t care to win over the crowd – I’m fulfilling all that I have vowed. With or without audience applause, I’m going to do what I do because I do it for the cause. Love compels me to continue and because of that, I care to finish the race so that I may finish well.

I am grateful for John Stephen Akhwari and for many other people like him for being an inspiration and reminding me of what is truly important in life. Indeed, the struggle is real, but our GOD is greater than our problems. What’s truly important is finishing well.

I may not be the best at anything or ever receive praise for any of my efforts, but if I get knocked down, I will always get back up after I fall. I will not stay down. And even if I get injured along the way, I will finish the marathon that is known as life! GOD did not bring me here to merely start my journey – GOD brought me here to finish the race and to finish well! It doesn’t matter how long it will take me to cross the finish line. The goal is to do my best until my last breath.

Persistence, Purpose, Endurance, Eternity:

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
(2Timothy 4:7) -ESV

The apostle Paul wrote these words near the end of his life. These three statements reflect Paul’s struggles in preaching the Gospel of Christ and his victory over those struggles. In the 1st century, the Romans celebrated both the Olympic Games and the Isthmian Games. Competitors would spend up to ten months in demanding and difficult physical training. Because the Corinthians were familiar with these events, Paul used the games as an analogy for a believer’s life of faithfulness. He wrote to the church in Corinth saying, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable” (1Corinthians 9:24-25). Paul’s exhortation is that believers should be as focused and dedicated as those ancient runners in the games. Our motivation in serving Christ is much higher; we “run” not for a temporary crown, but for an eternal one. So, by declaring “I have finished the race,” Paul told Timothy that he had put every effort into the work of proclaiming the Gospel. He had completed the course set before him; he had left nothing undone; he did his best. He was ready to cross the finish line into Heaven. And to finish the race well is to experience victory.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
(Hebrews 12:1-2) -ESV

If we are to finish well, we will need persistence with purpose and endurance for eternity. First, we need purposeful persistence in prayer. In seeking GOD’s will, we will find all we need:

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
(Matthew 7:7-11) -ESV

But here is the special stipulation to this promise:

“You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.”
(James 4:2-3) -ESV

Our desires need to be in alignment with GOD’s will. But knowing GOD takes faith, focus, and follow-through. Jesus promises a reward for the passionate pursuit of seeking GOD’s will. We should be asking ourselves three important questions while being persistent in our prayers:

1. What are you asking for?
2. Why are you asking for it?
3. Will it benefit the Kingdom of GOD?

In order to finish the race well, we also need endurance. In fact, GOD calls us to endure until the end. Each of the seven letters to the churches in the book of Revelation contained a promise to the “victor.” In order to receive the promises, you must be a victor. How do we become a victor? Stay in alignment with GOD’s Word and His absolute moral standard! Keep the faith and endure until the end! The only way to be a victor is to fight the good fight, endure it until the end, and finish the race. Everyone who finishes the race will be exhausted, but they will also come into rest. Just as GOD rested from His work on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2), we too will come into rest on our ‘seventh day.’ We can picture this life here on Earth as our six days of work and the New Earth under the new heavens will be our seventh day of rest. Everything we accomplish in life here on this Earth within our ‘six days’ falls short of perfection. It is only in our ‘seventh day’ that we will come into perfection and receive rest. Along with the good news of Christ’s return and ultimate victory, the main theme found in the book of Revelation running parallel to the good news is that we must endure until the very end, remaining faithful and obedient (Matthew 10:28; 1Corinthians 9:24-27; Philippians 3:14-16; 1Timothy 6:11-16; 2Timothy 4:3-5; Hebrews 10:35-39; 2Peter 1:5-11; Revelation 3:16).

Conclusion:
Remember: opportunistic predators wait until either you are too weak to fight or complacent and cannot see the attack coming. Demons don’t need to beat you while you are at your best; rather, demons simply need to slowly chip away at your defense until you become too tired and weak to defend yourself.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
(1Peter 5:6-10) -ESV

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”
(James 4:7-8) -ESV

Satan only cares about the outcome, the final decision. Do not give up. Do not ever give up. We are in it to win it. It’s not over until it’s over. We must finish well. Starting is pointless unless we finish. We must fight the good fight. Get back up, go back in. Love never dies (1Corinthians 13:8).

GOD passionately pursues us with the mission of relentless rescue. And if we are to accurately reflect the love of Christ, we need to go above and beyond in love and endure until the end.

“Bow down to the Lord. He will lift you up.”
(James 4:10) –NIRV

“When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”
(Ephesians 3:14-21) -NLT

The person who kneels humbly before GOD can stand up confidently in the name of Christ and resist the devil and watch him flee. GOD provides us with a way to escape temptations and to live through any circumstance until He calls us Home (1Corinthians 10:13; Philippians 4:11-13). Never give up!

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”
(Galatians 6:9) -NLT

Listen! If I can’t inspire you, then I’ll just let Shia LaBeouf do it: