| People have been asking for updates and pictures. I'm giving you the part of the request I can fulfill. I apologize for my writing. It's not good and might be something you've already heard, it's just a piece of what God has been talking to me about.
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As a Christian in today's world it's hard to feel comfortable. The Devil lives here. In Job 1:6 the Lord asks the Devil where he comes from. The Devil replies, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it." We aren't supposed to feel good here. We aren't supposed to feel home. If you are observant you'll find that we are living a silent war. I call it silent because most people don’t talk about it and you won’t really find it being talked about on major new stations. This war I talk about? If you are a strong Christian you need no further explanation. If you aren't a Christian, you'll catch on quickly.
This war between good and evil that I talk about is mostly evident internally. There are signs visually if you look for it. You know that twinge you have when you lie just a little bit, or when you borrow something you know you won’t ever give back? That twinge can be identified as your conscience, the voice of reason inside. When you're eyes are opened to the righteousness of God, it's amazing how many more things will set it off. If you're a brother, looking at girls a certain way becomes a source for the twinge. If you're a sister, envying that handbag becomes a source for the twinge.
Why I bring this up is to talk about the war we're fighting and the mentality that we have about it. Satan has established his rule of this playground we call Earth. Everything on it that belongs to the Earth can be and will be used by Satan to bring you to destruction. These things will be used in his attack on your well being. This could be considered an Act of War. This computer I use tonight to bring you what God has been talking to me about can be used at the same time to tempt and lure me into things unclean and un-glorifying to the Lord. Think about the things you hold dear, how could Satan use whatever it is to take you away from the Lord?
I fear that most of us have taken a complacent attitude about it. Most of us have taken a stance that is non abrasive to outsiders and oblivious to what is actually happening. We live each day tasting God and ignoring that there is a very real, and very mean, and very evil Devil. We also under estimate how good the Devil is at what he does. The Devil is the best at evil, that's why He's the ruler of it. We have all heard the sermon about how dangerous this stance is. We have all heard about how the Devil wants us to act like he's not here.
So I write tonight to simply urge you, my brothers and sisters, to be vigilante. Take a stance for what you know to be so true and right. Take a stand for He who is righteous and blameless. I would hate to compare this war I talk about to the current Iraqi freedom campaign. The reason, the war I talk of is more important. I fear the souls lost to our war are far more than the Iraqi war. Do you think the soldiers fighting in Iraq walk around the enemy’s territory, day dreaming? Even more, do you think the soldiers walk around Iraq feeling as though the enemy doesn’t exist? Do you think they disregard the bullets that are fired at them as mere coincidences? NO WAY. The soldiers that have behavior that reflect my previous statements are the soldiers we see coming back on planes in body bags. The casualties of our war are just as serious.
"10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." -Ephesians 6:10-18
Paul nailed it. I would like to give you advice, but Paul told the Ephesians exactly what I would tell you all. Please be on guard. Please be in prayer, constantly. Please prepare your self daily for your battles and trials. Please become the type of soldier that would please God. C.T. Studd, one of the Cambridge seven (look him and them up), calls the opposite of what I speak a "chocolate soldier". Read about it here: http://www.wholesomewords.org/missions/msctserm.html . For the people who won’t read that, you're missing out, but, he says chocolate soldiers are the type that dissolve in water and melt under heat. They like being sweet, being enjoyable to others, and all of the fancy decorations, but they aren't good for much more than that. I urge and beg you all to not be chocolate soldiers for Christ.
Heed the words of the great Christian minds before us. Be soldiers worth having. I probably won't know half of the people that read this, but know that I'm rooting for you. I care about you and love you with the love of Christ. Glory be to God for His love and mercy. Glory be to God for His power and might.
One Love,
Kyle
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