What Is Love?

The following article is Lesson 3 from my book, Superhero University: The Ultimate Superhero Training Manual:

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Superheroes, having the correct understanding of what is good and right, are full of love, and they are compelled to act out from love. This is the only reason we can distinguish the hero from the villain. Spider-Man doesn’t save a falling person from splatting on the ground because he hates the person he saves, right? The superhero saves someone from danger/death because he/she has love for the person he/she is saving. In stark contrast, the villain performs acts of evil, not love. Again, evil is merely a privation of what is good; hatred is a privation or lack of love. It is written in James 2:8 that we are doing right by living a life of love toward others. But what is love? 

Love is not something we can have or hold like materialists would like us to believe. Not everything in life can be boiled down to materialism. Think about it: Can you describe the physical features of love or even the thought about love? How much does love weigh? Of what is the love molecule comprised? There is no infinity stone of love we can possess that can be contained in a gauntlet. In fact, of all the infinity stones Thanos (from the Avengers) had been able to collect that provided him with seemingly unlimited power and ability, it is evident that he lacked love, and that is why he had no qualms about murdering half of the created creatures in the universe—including his own daughter! In fact, Thanos had to sacrifice love in order to be able to obtain one of the infinity stones. Ultimately, Thanos traded love for power because he could not possess both. 

But what is love? And why do humans possess the capability to love? If love is not a material that can be weighed, or measured, how are humans able to possess love? How do we even know that love exists? Does love exist? We know that love exists—not because humans have defined the term—but because the Creator provided the definition of love and humans live by that defined divine design. 

Think about this: Oxygen—the air we breathe—exists whether humanity believes in it or not. In fact, oxygen exists even if humans call it something else. Humanity never created or invented oxygen; we merely discovered it. Likewise, love exists whether humanity believes love exists or not. Love exists even if humans call it something else. In fact, the definition of love is so confused by many humans because they believe it to be something it is not. Many people misuse the word love when they are actually referring to something else that love is not. And this is why it is important that the word love be clearly defined. 

(1 John 4:7–8, NLT)
“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

(1 John 4:19, ESV)
“We love because he first loved us.”

Scripture makes sense. If GOD is love, then we would love because GOD first loved us because GOD created us. We are able to love because GOD is love and we are from GOD. If love is GOD, then we must know who GOD is so we can better understand what love is. So who is GOD? We will examine that in detail in Lesson 32, but for now suffice it to say that GOD is love and the absolute moral standard and therefore provides the definition of love (which we will soon examine and define). But we can also better understand love by examining what love is not. 

Love Is Not An Emotion 

Many people in the world claim that love is an emotion, but that simply isn’t true. Love affects our emotions and even causes us to produce emotions within us, but love is not an emotion in and of itself. You may claim that you can feel as if someone loves you, but love is not a feeling. 

Love Is Not Sexual Intercourse 

It is unwise to confuse sex for love and love for sex. Sex needs love to be relevant and meaningful; however, love does not need sex to be relevant and meaningful. A person can have sex with another person simply for the pleasure all while possessing no love for that individual. Examples of this, of course, is prostitution or rape. Such acts of sexual intercourse are meaningless because there is no love in the act of sex. That kind of sex serves a selfish purpose, but has no ultimate meaning. And of course, sex isn’t necessary for love to exist, to be relevant and be meaningful (I will expound upon this later when I define love). Now sex may be found in one of the definitions of love (Eros—I’ll get to this soon), but Eros is within the definition of love; love is ultimately selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional. A distorted desire is often misconstrued, mistaken as love. It is unwise to confuse lust for love. 

Even if love is not an emotion, a feeling, or even the act of sexual intercourse, does it matter if love can be clearly defined? If so, why does it matter? Consider what is written: 

(1 Corin. 13:1–3, NLT)
“If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.”

The definition of love matters because GOD is love and GOD created us in His image (Gen. 1:27). For without GOD, love would not matter because life would ultimately be meaningless and purposeless. And if we are to be loving beings, it is important that we understand the definition of love. 

What Is Love? 

(1 Corin. 13:4–8, NLT)
“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!”

Love Is an Action 

Though it is not specifically and solely the act of sexual intercourse, love is definitely an action; it is something we do. Read verses 4–7 again and take notice of the fourteen different active descriptions the Holy Spirit (via Paul) uses to define love (patience, kindness, etc.). It’s important to note that this is not Paul’s definition of love, but the definition of love written by Paul while he was inspired by the Holy Spirit. 

Love Is a Choice 

The fourteen active descriptions are actions that we choose to do or not to do. There’s a nonsensical saying that states, “You can’t help who you love.” But yes—you can! We get to decide if we love and who we will love if we decide to love. And this is because we have free will (discussed in Lesson 41). 

Also, there’s a saying that states, “I fell in love.” It sounds so romantic, but this is also nonsense. Love is not a hole or trapdoor we can fall in. You don’t fall in love any more than you fall out of love. Love is a choice. You choose to love. You choose not to love. People do not fall in love; people decide to love. People do, however, fall into the trapdoor of lust. When people talk about love at first sight, what they really mean is lust at first sight. Now is it possible to possess love for someone at first sight? General love? Yes. Complete love? No. Love in the sense that you want the best for someone? Yes. Love in the sense that you desire the best for someone despite all his/her flaws and mistakes? No. It’s not possible to love someone so deeply at first sight because you wouldn’t know the flaws and mistakes associated with the person. And how is it possible to truly love someone unless you love despite the flaws and mistakes? 

Love, in a nutshell, is the good you will show toward someone and/or others. It’s treating someone else with the qualities described in 1 Corinthians 13:4–7. Take the Supreme Superhero (Jesus) as an example (after all, the Savior is the definition of love and the ultimate example of love): 

(John 15:12–13, NLT)
“This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

However, the Supreme Superhero goes even further by commanding us to love our enemies (Matt. 5:43–48). And then the Savior did exactly that—Jesus went out and laid down His life for us by dying on the cross as our atoning sacrifice while being mocked, spat on, beaten, lacerated, and murdered by those who hated Him for no good reason. Love is caring more for others than for self because love is selfless. Love is sacrificial. Love is unconditional. 

Love Defined 

Unlike the English language, which uses the one word of love ambiguously, the ancient Greek language used different words to define the one word of love so that people wouldn’t be confused as to which definition of love should be inferred. Examine the four following words and their associated definitions: 

• Storge/stergo—This is a familial love such as the love of a parent toward offspring and vice versa. Devotion can be a key word associated with this type of love.

• Phileo—This love is companionable and relational. It means brotherly/sisterly love or friendship. It carries the idea of two or more people who feel compatible with each other.

• Eros—This is the word for sexual or romantic love. In fact, this is where we get the word erotic. This word implies a sexual demand. And because it is unwise to confuse lust for love, it is imperative that we not confuse lust for Eros. The passion and intimacy of Eros is to be confined within the covenant bond between husband and wife, as was designed by the Designer. Lust is only about the pelvic thrust, to seek pleasure and fulfill a selfish desire. Lust is committed only to fulfilling a distorted desire whereas love (eros) is committed to fulfilling the needs of the partner within the covenant union. Therefore, be wise: pursue love and reject thoughts produced from the lustful lair of the Liar—they are lies created in the cave of the contemptible con artist and Counterfeiter, the Salesman that is Satan. Don’t buy the lies. Even a lustful look is adultery in the heart (Matt. 5:28). Money can’t buy you love. And no—that’s actually not from the Beatles—it’s from the Song of Solomon 8:7.

• Agape—This is the highest and deepest level of love. This is the ultimate love and is selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional. This is the love of GOD. This is the type of love all superheroes should possess. 

(1 Pet. 4:8, NLT)
“Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.”

Love covers a multitude of sins? Is that true? Yes! In fact, that is exactly what Jesus did for us:

(Rom. 5:6–8, NLT)
“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”

For love, compassion is the key and empathy is everything: 

(Luke 23:34, NLT)
“Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”

Jesus is able to see us as His precious people, not a pervasive problem such as a plague. The Savior sees us as eternal beings, not mortal enemies. The Supreme Superhero sees us as family who belong in His heavenly home, not failures to be flung in the fiery furnace. Hell is where evil belongs and will ultimately be quarantined, but GOD doesn’t desire for us to go to that awful place. In fact, the Lord desires for everyone to be saved and doesn’t take any delight in the destruction of the wicked (Ezek. 18:21–23; 33:11; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9). 

Jesus is our awesome, ardent advocate who absorbed for us the penalty of sin. Apostle Paul assists us by providing an important reminder that helps us put people into proper perspective: 

(Eph. 6:12, NLT)
“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”

It is of the utmost importance that all superheroes remember this: we are to hate evil/sin, but we are to love people. 

Conclusion 

1. Love never fails. 

(Song of Sol. 8:7, NLT)
“Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it. If a man tried to buy love with all his wealth, his offer would be utterly scorned.”

2. Love perfects us. 

(1 John 4:12–18, NLT)
“No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.”

3. Love is supreme. 

(1 Corin. 13:13, NLT)
“Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.”

Reflection 

If you want to be a superhero, you must possess love and choose to love others. A superhero can only be a superhero if the hero first and foremost possesses love for others. Do you possess love for others? If not, you resemble a villain. But wait—is that a fair statement? Consider the words of the Supreme Superhero:

(Matt. 12:30, ESV)
“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”

The late and great Martin Luther King Jr. once posed a powerful question to the clergymen of Alabama in his renowned letter, “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” He asked, “So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for hate or for love?” 

And that’s not a fallacy of false dilemma—if we’re not loving others, then…we’re not loving people. Therefore, I implore everyone to examine the motives and intentions of each and every choice/decision you make. Are you able to recognize good from bad? Right from wrong? Are you living a life of love or hate? For if you’re not living a life of love, what are you doing and what is your life? I choose to live an extreme life of love (not lust), and I urge you to do the same. Don’t scatter. Be a gatherer. Ironically, the best way to be a gatherer of people is to scatter seeds of love. How many seeds of love can you sow today? 

So ask yourself, do you love others? From where did you get this desire to love? Do you feel compelled to act out from love? If so, why do you think that is? All superheroes possess love for people. If you love people, then you possess one of the qualities of a superhero and you just might be one someday! 

Superhero University: The Ultimate Superhero Training Manual

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Superhero: Superpowers

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

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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: 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: