Call me a girl, but I have the hots for Alex O'Loughlin. Pictured here. The man on the left. He's been seen in
The Back-Up Plan with Jennifer Lopez and, most recently, "
Hawaii Five-O." Fortunately, it's just a little crush, and it takes into consideration no part of his character. I know nothing about Mr. O'Loughlin other than 1) He's cute 2) He looks good in a suit and 3) He knows how to catch a bad guy or two. Oh, and he never willingly aids or abets the enemy he is tracking.
Do you? Aid or abet the enemy, I mean. What about your kids? Do they aid or abet the enemy?
Several weeks ago, I flipped through the TV channels and came across a lady whose family member died in the terrorist attacks in New York on
Sept. 11, 2001. I believe it was her husband. The lady was on the program to give her reaction to an interview from the man behind a proposed mosque being built at Ground Zero. In the interview, the man's belief was that, if the mosque is moved from its current plans, it will present a safety hazard to Americans, including soldiers stationed overseas. The widow's reaction centered on this point. She was scared. And the mention of the
possibility of bad things to come created a fear she could not shake. Thus, her opinions about all involved were spent trying to appease that fear. Or at least hold it down so she could breathe.
It was her fear that concerned me. President John F. Kennedy, in his 1961
Inaugural Address, said, "Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate."
President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in his 1933
Inaugural Address, said, "So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself -- nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance."
I'm not hear for a political debate or history lesson, so let me move to Jesus.
"... for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." 2 Timothy 1:7
"... saying to you, 'You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off'; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:9-10
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." Psalm 23:4-5
Let's cut to the chase: With Jesus as your savior, your enemies are Jesus' enemies (hear that bullies?), and there is nothing to fear.
But that's only a crumb of the point I aim to make. A church in Seattle, Wash. -- Mars Hill -- is spending multiple years on the book of Luke. I recently watched a couple of clips from the
message over Luke 11:14-28 ("
You have two choices; one of them is Jesus" and "
How have you aided the enemy?"). I became stuck on the final two minutes of the first clip. In those brief moments, past the
Jack Bauer references, Pastor Mark Driscoll packed a punch of questions:
1. Do you belong to Jesus? Are you a Christian or non-Christian? Spirituality is demonology. Do you know Jesus?
2. Are you repenting of your sin? Are you walking with Jesus? Are you living in relationship with Him?
3. Are you using your exercised authority in Christ? Are you commanding
unclean people, beings, spirits to be away from you?
If not, you're inviting defeat.
Number 3 is when I paused my work and listened. When was the last time you said with power and fearlessness, "Satan, get behind me"? When was the last time you were in the midst of sinning when you stopped and said, "Satan, get behind me"? When was the last time you told Satan and his minions to get lost? If Jesus isn't the one who casts a spirit of fear over us, then Satan is. And exercising my authority in Christ is scary! Christ is undoubtedly more powerful than my enemies. I am not. But while I am weak, He is strong. And the name of Jesus is power.
Tell your kids.
