Slowed Down, but Still in the Lord’s Hands

 These past few months have been a struggle with my health. I have spent much of my life preaching, teaching, singing, and going wherever the work called me. Now I am learning how to live at a different pace. That has not been an easy lesson for this country preacher.

Parkinson’s has slowed me down. My walk has become more of a shuffle. My voice is changing, and sometimes I know what I want to say, but the words just will not come out. When you have spent a lifetime using your voice to preach the Word of God and sing His praises, those changes reach deeper than some folks might realize.

Yet the Lord understands the words I cannot get out. He knows what is in my heart before I can put it into a sentence.

“For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.” — Psalm 139:4

The numbers connected with my blood cancer have not been good, and the infection in my foot has complicated matters further. My kidneys had been headed toward shutting down, but the latest results have shown improvement. I am thankful for that encouraging turn. There are still serious concerns, but I can thank the Lord for progress while continuing to face the work ahead.

I have become a complicated patient. What may help one part of my body can create trouble somewhere else. Finding the right balance is a major task. I have a team of seven doctors working to keep me alive, and I am grateful for their knowledge, patience, and willingness to work through the difficulties of my care.

I thank God for the people who have studied, trained, and devoted their lives to helping the sick. Their work has become very personal to me. Each appointment, each treatment, and each careful decision reminds me how much I depend upon the help of others.

Alongside that medical care are the many prayers offered for me every day. Some come from people I see regularly. Others come from folks who live far away. There are likely prayers being offered that I will never know about this side of heaven.

It is humbling to realize that people pause in the middle of their own troubles and responsibilities to bring my name before the Lord. They have burdens of their own, yet they make room for mine.

“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” — Galatians 6:2

I have preached that verse many times. These days, I am experiencing what it means to have others help carry my burden.

A message asking how I am doing, a word of encouragement, or someone saying, “Preacher, I am praying for you,” means more than I can adequately express. Those simple acts remind me that I am cared for. I am truly blessed.

I will be honest: there are days when I grow weary. I miss being able to move freely and speak easily. I would like to accomplish more than my body sometimes allows. Faith does not require me to pretend those struggles are easy. It gives me somewhere to take them.

The Apostle Paul heard these words from the Lord:

“My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9

I am learning to lean upon that promise in ordinary moments—when I rise from a chair, when I walk across a room, when my voice falters, and when another medical report arrives. I need the Lord’s grace for the day I am living.

There is still work on my heart. There are things I want to write, truths I want to teach, and people I want to encourage. I have family to love and memories to share. My pace has changed, and I am learning to recognize the opportunities that remain within reach.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” — Psalm 46:1

That word present means a great deal to me. The Lord is with me in the examination room, during the long night, and through the uncertainty of what comes next.

To every person praying for me, thank you. To my doctors and those helping with my care, thank you. To my family and friends who walk through these days with me, thank you. You have helped me understand more deeply how precious it is to be loved and how much strength there is in faithful companionship.

This old country preacher is moving a little slower these days. Sometimes the steps shuffle, and sometimes the words hesitate. But I still have reason to give thanks, and I still have a testimony to share.

“It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” — Lamentations 3:22–23

Whatever tomorrow brings, I am grateful for the mercy that has met me today. I remain in the Lord’s hands.

When Support for Israel Overshadows the Call to Repent

What troubles me about Christian Zionism is how easily political loyalty can overshadow the gospel of Jesus Christ. Some Christians speak as though supporting the modern State of Israel is the measure of faithfulness to God. But where does Scripture make allegiance to an earthly government the test of Christian obedience?

Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). Our first allegiance belongs to Him.

I disagree with dispensational teaching when it creates the impression that Jewish people have a saving relationship with God apart from Jesus Christ. Whatever our understanding of prophecy, we cannot set aside the Lord's words:

"I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." — John 14:6

Peter proclaimed that same message to the rulers of Israel:

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." — Acts 4:12

No separate gospel removes the need for Christ. The gospel calls Jew and Gentile alike to repentance and faith.

Judaism does not confess Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God. That is a fundamental disagreement with Christianity. John addressed the denial of Christ plainly:

"Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son." — 1 John 2:22

That passage identifies a teaching opposed to Christ. It does not authorize hatred of Jewish people, nor does it justify calling every dispensational Christian an enemy of Christ. Many sincerely confess Jesus while holding interpretations of prophecy that I believe are mistaken. We should examine those teachings carefully and judge them by Scripture.

My concern is this: when Christian support for Israel excuses injustice or silences the call to receive Christ, that support has departed from the Christian message.

Israel's own prophets never taught that being chosen by God placed the nation beyond accountability. They warned that privilege brought responsibility.

"You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities." — Amos 3:2

Notice that word therefore. Their relationship with God made their disobedience more serious.

Jeremiah confronted people who trusted in their religious identity while refusing to change their conduct:

"Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these." — Jeremiah 7:4

God required them to amend their ways, execute judgment, and stop oppressing the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. They were also commanded not to shed innocent blood (Jeremiah 7:5–6). Possessing the temple did not excuse their sins.

Should Christians today offer any government an exemption from those moral demands?

Isaiah declared:

"Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow." — Isaiah 1:17

A preacher who excuses others' oppression because of a prophecy interpretation needs to reconsider that interpretation. Supporting Israel's existence or caring about its people does not itself violate God's commandments. Excusing wrongdoing does. God's standards apply to Israel, its neighbors, and our own country.

Jesus loved Jerusalem. He wept over it. Yet He also warned of judgment:

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee…" — Matthew 23:37

Then He said:

"Behold, your house is left unto you desolate." — Matthew 23:38

His love did not prevent Him from speaking the truth. His warning came from a heart that desired to gather the people to Himself.

Those words had a historical fulfillment in Jerusalem's destruction. Christians differ over how other prophetic passages relate to Jerusalem's future. We should be careful not to claim we know the timing or details of another judgment. We can say with certainty that God calls people to repentance and holds nations accountable for injustice.

How will Christian Zionists explain judgment if their teaching has led people to believe that Israel enjoys unconditional approval for its actions? How will they reconcile political endorsement with the prophets' demand for righteousness?

Paul's desire for Israel was clear:

"Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved." — Romans 10:1

That should be our desire, too. Paul also warned Gentile believers against boasting over Israel: "Boast not against the branches" (Romans 11:18). We have no grounds for pride, contempt, or hatred. We stand by faith and depend on God's mercy ourselves.

As a country preacher, we must love Jewish people enough to proclaim Christ, love Palestinian people enough to care about their suffering, and love our own country enough to confront its wrongdoing.

The message is repentance. The hope is Jesus Christ. Our responsibility is to speak truth, seek justice, show mercy, and remain faithful to the Lord.

The Influence of Evil: What Azazel’s Story Teaches Us

 Evil seldom announces where it intends to take us. It may begin with an attractive promise: greater knowledge, greater power, greater freedom. The danger becomes clear when that promise leads us away from obedience to God and toward destroying our neighbor.

In our discussion of Azazel, one thought has stayed with me: evil's influence can continue long after the original offender has been restrained. Corrupting instruction can take root in human hearts, become accepted practice, and pass from one generation to another.

I believe the books of Enoch and Jubilees offer valuable insight into this relationship between spiritual rebellion and humanity. Many Christians do not receive these books as Scripture. I recognize that distinction and identify their accounts separately from the biblical passages quoted here from the KJV. My purpose in studying them is to understand their explanations of evil while keeping our responsibility to Jesus Christ clearly before us.

In 1 Enoch 6–10, Shemihaza leads the Watchers who take human wives, while Azazel is singled out for teaching practices that contribute to corruption. His instruction includes the making of weapons and the use of adornment. The accusation concerns heavenly knowledge disclosed and turned toward unrighteousness. The account places particular responsibility upon Azazel for the corruption that spreads across the earth.

This raises a question that reaches into our own lives: What happens when knowledge grows faster than obedience?

Knowledge can serve good purposes. We thank God for discoveries that relieve suffering, improve our work, and help us care for one another. Yet the ability to make something does not establish the righteousness of using it. A person may possess great intelligence and exercise very little mercy.

James makes a distinction between kinds of wisdom:

“But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.”
— James 3:14–15, KJV

He then describes wisdom from above:

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”
— James 3:17, KJV

These verses give us a practical measure. We should examine the character and fruit of what we are being taught. Does it encourage truthfulness, mercy, and peace? Does it cultivate envy, pride, exploitation, or cruelty?

Azazel’s story portrays knowledge becoming an instrument of corruption. We need not claim that he personally directs a particular modern invention to recognize the moral warning. Human skill becomes destructive when its purposes are governed by hatred, greed, or the desire to dominate.

Enoch describes God ordering Azazel bound and confined until judgment. Shemihaza and his companions are also bound. Their heavenly origin does not protect them from accountability. But their confinement does not immediately end the consequences of their rebellion.

According to 1 Enoch 15–16, the bodies of the giants—the offspring of the Watchers and human women—are destroyed, while evil spirits proceed from them and continue afflicting humanity. The account distinguishes these spirits from their imprisoned fathers. Their activity also has an appointed end at judgment.

Jubilees 10 adds another account. Noah prays for protection from the spirits troubling his descendants. Mastema, their chief, requests that some remain under his authority. Nine-tenths are confined, while one-tenth is permitted to remain. This portrays continuing evil under limits established by God.

These writings do not supply every detail of one complete hierarchy. We should therefore be careful about treating Azazel, Shemihaza, Mastema, and Satan as interchangeable names. Their described roles differ.

The New Testament plainly presents Satan as an active adversary:

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”
— 1 Peter 5:8, KJV

That warning calls for sober attention. It gives us no reason to surrender to fear or to accuse every person who disagrees with us of serving a demon. Nor does spiritual influence remove human responsibility. We remain accountable for what we believe, what we repeat, and what we choose to do.

James describes temptation working through human desire:

“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”
— James 1:14–15, KJV

There is a progression here: desire, enticement, sin, and death. Evil gains ground when we welcome what God has forbidden and then find reasons to defend it.

We may excuse dishonesty because it benefits our cause. We may overlook cruelty because the person practicing it belongs to our political party. We may accept teaching because it flatters us, without examining whether it agrees with Christ. Over time, repeated excuses can dull the conscience.

This is why discernment must include examining ourselves. It is easy to recognize corruption at a distance. It is harder to confess the resentment, pride, or indifference taking root in our own hearts.

Paul writes:

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”
— Ephesians 5:11, KJV

We must expose wrongdoing truthfully and refuse to participate in it. Our witness loses credibility when we use falsehood to oppose falsehood or hatred to condemn hatred.

The armor of God in Ephesians 6 gives us the daily response: truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and persevering prayer. Each belongs in the ordinary conduct of a Christian. Spiritual warfare includes telling the truth when a lie would be convenient, forgiving when resentment feels satisfying, and defending someone whose suffering others prefer to ignore.

Psalm 82 makes that responsibility concrete:

“Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.”
— Psalm 82:3–4, KJV

If our study of spiritual evil leaves us indifferent to people harmed by injustice, we have missed an essential duty. The suffering neighbor needs our compassion, our practical help, and our willingness to speak.

The story of Azazel warns us about the lasting reach of corrupting influence. But the Christian’s confidence rests in Christ. Evil is accountable to Him, and its activity will not continue forever.

Jesus said:

“The prince of this world is judged.”
— John 16:11, KJV

We therefore resist evil with confidence in the Lord’s authority. We guard what enters our minds, examine the fruit of our teaching, repent when we have gone wrong, and keep His commandments.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7, KJV). Submission comes first. As we walk with Christ, our words and actions can carry a different influence into the world—one that tells the truth, protects the vulnerable, and brings mercy where evil has brought harm.

We Belong to God’s Kingdom Now—Are We Living Like It?

I am concerned that many Christians have been taught to look for a future kingdom without understanding their responsibility in the kingdom of God today. They expect to serve and reign with Christ when He returns, but do they understand that they already belong to Him?

The return of our Lord is our blessed hope. Yet waiting for His return does not release us from obeying His commands now. The hungry need food today. The fatherless need protection today. The lost need to hear the gospel today.

We cannot postpone obedience until tomorrow when our King has given us work to do today.

Jesus began His ministry declaring:

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” — Mark 1:15, KJV

God has always ruled over His creation. Through Jesus Christ, His kingdom came among us in a decisive way. Christ called people to repent, believe, and follow Him. He continues to call us into that life of allegiance and service.

Jesus told Nicodemus:

“Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” — John 3:3, KJV

The new birth changes more than our future destination. It changes whom we serve, how we live, and what governs our decisions.

Paul describes believers as those whom God:

“Hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.” — Colossians 1:13, KJV

Notice that Paul speaks of something God has already done. Those who belong to Christ have been brought into His kingdom. We await its fullness, but our citizenship and responsibility have already begun.

Our participation in Christ’s reign means serving under His authority. It gives us no permission to become proud, dominate others, or confuse our personal ambitions with God’s will. Jesus taught His disciples that greatness is expressed through service. We represent our King faithfully when our conduct reflects His character.

The question, then, is simple: Are we obeying the King to whom we belong?

Jesus asked:

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” — Luke 6:46, KJV

That question ought to bring every one of us to examine our heart. We may understand prophecy, defend our doctrine, and speak confidently about the kingdom, yet still neglect the commands of Christ.

It is also possible for a Christian to misunderstand the kingdom’s present reality while faithfully serving the Lord. Someone may expect the kingdom only in the future and still preach the gospel, feed the hungry, visit the sick, and love their enemies. We should teach that person patiently. Understanding carries responsibility, but correct terminology alone does not establish faithfulness.

Jesus said:

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” — John 14:15, KJV

Love for the King must become obedience to the King.

Our first responsibility is to proclaim the gospel. People need to hear that Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose again, and that through Him there is forgiveness and new life. We are His witnesses. We must call people to repentance and faith, and teach them to observe His commands.

But the life of the witness must agree with the message of the witness. If I preach Christ’s love while treating people cruelly, my conduct undermines my words. If I proclaim His righteousness while excusing dishonesty, I fail to represent Him faithfully.

We must also put His kingdom first:

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness.” — Matthew 6:33, KJV

That command reaches into our private lives and our public loyalties. Our political party, our nation, our preferred leaders, and our personal interests must answer to the authority of Jesus Christ. We cannot excuse wrongdoing simply because the person responsible is someone we support.

The King determines what is right. Our loyalties do not change His commandments.

Faithfulness also requires concern for those who are weak and vulnerable. Psalm 82 declares:

“Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.” — Psalm 82:3–4, KJV

Whatever differences Christians have about the identity of those addressed in this psalm, God’s concern for justice is unmistakable. He condemns the failure to protect those exposed to oppression.

We should take that concern seriously. A church that proclaims God’s righteousness must care about people suffering injustice. That may mean helping a family buy groceries, protecting a child, visiting someone who is alone, supporting a person who has been abused, or speaking truthfully about the actions of those in authority.

We cannot solve every problem, but we can obey God in the responsibilities He places before us.

Our love must also reach beyond those who agree with us. Jesus commanded:

“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you.” — Matthew 5:44, KJV

That is a demanding command. It tests our faithfulness when anger would be easier than mercy. We can confront evil and seek accountability while refusing hatred, revenge, and delight in another person’s suffering.

To remain faithful, we must abide in Christ. Prayer, Scripture, fellowship, and dependence on the Holy Spirit sustain our service. Jesus said, “Without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). We cannot represent His kingdom faithfully while neglecting our relationship with Him.

We must also repent when we fail. Faithfulness does not mean pretending we never stumble. It means responding to the Lord’s correction, confessing our sins, turning from them, and making things right where we can.

None of this purchases salvation. We are saved by grace through faith. Yet the same passage that teaches salvation by grace also says we are created in Christ Jesus unto good works (Ephesians 2:8–10). Obedience is the fruit of His saving work in us.

I believe the church needs to teach both our future hope and our present responsibility. Christ will return, and His reign will be revealed in its fullness. Until then, He has given us a calling.

We are to proclaim His gospel, obey His commands, care for our neighbors, defend the vulnerable, and remain faithful through hardship.

When we gather for worship, we ought to ask: Who around us needs mercy? Who needs to hear the gospel? Where are we excusing sin? What has Christ commanded that we have left undone?

We belong to God’s kingdom now. Let us be faithful to our King today.

Reigning With Christ: Our Responsibility Before God

I believe Christians need to give serious thought to what it means to belong to the kingdom of God. We speak of Jesus as our King. We confess that He has all power in heaven and earth. We believe we have been delivered from darkness and brought into His kingdom. But what responsibility comes with that relationship?

If we participate in Christ’s reign now, then we have a present responsibility to carry out His commands. We cannot claim the privileges of His kingdom while neglecting the duties of His kingdom.

Paul tells us that God “hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:13, KJV). This describes something God has already done for His people. We belong to Christ’s kingdom today.

And our King is reigning today.

“For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet” (1 Corinthians 15:25).

Christ’s authority does not depend upon the approval of governments, armies, or religious institutions. He is Lord whether the world acknowledges Him or opposes Him.

Seated With the Reigning Christ

Paul writes that God “hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6).

Notice the words “hath raised” and “made us sit.” Paul describes a present spiritual reality grounded in our union with Jesus Christ. We belong to the One who has overcome death and is seated at the Father’s right hand.

I understand this to mean that we already participate in Christ’s reign. Christians differ over the timing and meaning of some passages about reigning with Him, and the fullness of our inheritance is still ahead. Nevertheless, our membership in His kingdom and our commission to serve Him are present realities.

We do not possess an independent throne. We do not have authority to substitute our ambitions for God’s will. Whatever authority we exercise comes from Christ and remains subject to Him.

Paul says, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20). An ambassador has a responsibility to represent the one who sent him faithfully. We represent Jesus through our words, our choices, and our treatment of other people.

That brings us to a searching question: Are we representing the character of our King?

The King Commands Us to Defend the Weak

Psalm 82 reveals God’s concern about the abuse and neglect of those who need protection:

“Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked” (Psalm 82:3–4).

Whether one understands those addressed in this psalm as heavenly rulers or human judges, the standard God declares is unmistakable. He requires justice. He condemns partiality toward the wicked. He demands that the weak receive protection.

Those who exercise authority are accountable to God for how they use it.

Surely those of us who belong to Christ’s kingdom should reflect that same concern. We cannot read these commands, acknowledge their righteousness, and then decide that the suffering around us is none of our business.

The fatherless need care. The afflicted need help. The poor need fair treatment. Those being harmed need someone willing to stand beside them.

James makes this responsibility personal:

“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27).

Our faith must reach into the circumstances of people who are hurting. A visit may lead to a meal, a ride to an appointment, help with a bill, or steady companionship. Sometimes the greatest gift we can offer is a willingness to remain involved after everyone else has gone home.

Obedience Must Become Action

There is a danger in becoming satisfied with saying the right things. We can speak about mercy without showing mercy. We can condemn injustice in general while overlooking it when confronting it would cost us something.

John asks:

“But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” (1 John 3:17).

Then he gives the answer in the form of a command:

“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18).

I cannot meet every need in the world. Neither can you. But we can respond to the people God places within our reach. We can use what we have. We can join with others when the need is greater than our individual ability.

The Good Samaritan did not solve every problem along that road. He cared for the wounded man he encountered. He stopped, drew near, tended the wounds, and arranged for continued care.

Jesus ended that account with these words: “Go, and do thou likewise” (Luke 10:37).

That command still speaks to us.

We Must Speak Truth to Those With Power

Caring for the weak also means challenging the actions that harm them.

Proverbs commands, “Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:9).

There are times when obedience requires us to speak. We may need to report abuse, question a public policy, confront mistreatment, or ask a church leader why someone’s suffering has been ignored.

We must do so honestly. Before repeating an accusation, we should establish the facts. We must distinguish between a verified wrong and a suspicion. Our concern for justice does not excuse careless words or false witness.

But neither should we use uncertainty about some details as a permanent excuse to ignore clear suffering.

Our loyalty to Christ must govern our judgment. A political party, a government, or a religious leader cannot make cruelty righteous. Friendship cannot turn dishonesty into truth. A Christian label cannot excuse conduct contrary to the commands of Jesus.

The same standard must apply to ourselves. We should welcome correction, examine our motives, and repent when we have treated someone unfairly.

Christ Shows Us How to Exercise Authority

Jesus taught His disciples that greatness in His kingdom involves service:

“Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister” (Matthew 20:26).

Then He pointed to His own example:

“Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).

Our participation in His reign must take its character from Him. It calls for humility, courage, sacrifice, and love. It gives us no permission to dominate others or compel them to believe.

We overcome evil by remaining faithful to Christ. We pray, speak truth, offer help, resist temptation, and refuse to participate in wrongdoing. We love our enemies while holding them accountable for their actions.

That kind of obedience may bring opposition. Scripture says, “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him” (2 Timothy 2:12). Our present service looks toward the fullness of that promise. Until then, faithfulness may require us to bear a cost.

What Will We Do Today?

I believe we share in Christ’s reign now through our union with Him. That belief should make us more attentive to the responsibilities He has given us.

We ought to ask ourselves: Is there a child who needs support? A widow who needs companionship? A struggling family who needs help? Someone being mistreated who needs an advocate? Is there an injustice I have overlooked because speaking would be uncomfortable?

Jesus asks a question that reaches beneath every claim we make:

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).

That is a question for this country preacher as much as for anyone reading these words.

Our King has spoken. He commands us to love, serve, defend, and obey. May our conduct show that we belong to His kingdom, and may the weak and suffering find help through our faithfulness to Him.

The Spiritual War We Cannot Afford to Ignore

 After many years in ministry, I remain concerned about how easily we can confess faith in Jesus Christ while allowing our loyalties to lead us away from His teachings. We recognize evil when it comes from someone we oppose. It becomes harder to recognize when it comes from someone we admire.

That is one reason we must take spiritual warfare seriously. Deception works by persuading us to accept something false as true and something sinful as necessary or righteous.

Paul warns us:

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” — Ephesians 6:11

He then explains:

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” — Ephesians 6:12

There is a spiritual conflict behind the struggles we see in human life. Its influence can become visible through lies, hatred, exploitation, injustice, and the corruption of authority. Human beings remain responsible for their choices, but Paul tells us that the struggle reaches beyond human beings.

We must understand both the seriousness of the enemy and the responsibility of the believer.

I understand Psalm 82 as describing spiritual beings held accountable by God for their failure to uphold justice. On that reading, their rebellion had consequences for people on earth. God’s charge against them concerns the wicked they favored and the vulnerable they failed to defend:

“Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.” — Psalm 82:3–4

Consider what that means. God judges these powers for abandoning people who needed protection. Their failure concerns the poor, the fatherless, the afflicted, and the needy.

If these are the very failures God condemns, Christians should be deeply troubled when we find ourselves excusing them.

How can we claim to oppose spiritual darkness while defending its works? How can we speak of righteousness while overlooking cruelty? How can we pray for God’s blessing while refusing to hear the cries of those suffering under injustice?

Our allegiance to Christ must govern every other allegiance.

John tells us that the spirit of antichrist was already in the world in his day. I understand this as an ongoing spiritual opposition to Christ, His truth, and His authority. John gives specific warnings about denying who Jesus is. He also makes clear that a profession of faith must be accompanied by obedience:

“He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” — 1 John 2:4

Jesus Himself asks:

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” — Luke 6:46

Those words should cause every one of us to examine our lives.

Calling ourselves Christians carries a responsibility. We bear the name of the Lord before our families, our neighbors, and the world. When we knowingly use His name to defend conduct He condemns, we dishonor that name. In that sense, we bear it in vain.

There is a difference between a believer who falls into sin and repents, and a person who insists that sin should be accepted and defended. John acknowledges our need for confession and forgiveness. Faithfulness includes receiving correction, admitting wrongdoing, and returning to obedience.

The danger comes when we stop allowing Scripture to correct us.

We may begin by excusing one lie because it helps our cause. Then we overlook cruelty because we believe it serves a necessary purpose. Eventually, we may find ourselves defending behavior we once recognized as sinful.

Spiritual deception can work through those small concessions.

Paul gives us a responsibility toward the works of darkness:

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” — Ephesians 5:11

We must expose wrongdoing truthfully. We must refuse to participate in it. We must defend those who are harmed and call those responsible to account.

That requires care. Before repeating an accusation, we should establish whether it is true. We must apply the same standard to our friends that we apply to our opponents. Exposing sin does not give us permission to spread rumors, judge hidden motives, or treat people with contempt.

Our struggle is not against flesh and blood. People are accountable for their actions, but they are also people for whom we should pray and whose repentance we should desire.

There are times when speaking requires courage. There are also times when we need to listen, learn, and determine how best to help. Yet persistent silence in the face of known injustice can leave the suffering abandoned and the wrongdoer unchallenged.

We should ask ourselves: Am I silent because I lack the facts, or because the truth would make me uncomfortable? Am I protecting someone who is vulnerable, or protecting my place among people whose approval I want?

The armour of God prepares us to answer those questions faithfully.

We must be girded with truth. We need honesty in what we believe, what we say, and what we share. A convenient falsehood still serves deception. We must allow God’s Word to examine our assumptions.

We must wear the breastplate of righteousness. Our own conduct matters. We cannot effectively call others to integrity while deliberately harboring dishonesty, bitterness, or cruelty in our lives.

Our feet must be prepared with the gospel of peace. We carry the message of reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ. Even when confronting wrongdoing, we must seek the protection of the vulnerable and the repentance of the offender. Hatred must not determine our steps.

We must take the shield of faith. Fear can tempt us to compromise. We may fear rejection, loss, or the disapproval of people we respect. Faith enables us to trust the Lord enough to obey Him when obedience is costly.

We must wear the helmet of salvation. Our hope rests in Christ. Remembering whose we are helps guard our minds against despair and against promises that demand we surrender our conscience for the sake of security.

We must take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Scripture must govern our judgment. We need to read it faithfully and receive its correction, rather than search for a verse to excuse what we have already decided to support.

And we must pray:

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” — Ephesians 6:18

We need prayer for discernment, courage, humility, and endurance. We need to pray for those who suffer, for those in authority, for our fellow believers, and for those who oppose us. We also need to pray that the Lord will expose deception in our own hearts.

This armour is for daily living. We wear it in our conversations, our decisions, our treatment of others, and our response to the news. Faithfulness is expressed when we refuse a lie, confess a wrong, help a neighbor, defend someone mistreated, or choose mercy when resentment would be easier.

We should take the spiritual war seriously without becoming consumed by fear. Christ has triumphed over the powers, and our confidence rests in Him. We do not need to discover the name of every spiritual being to obey the commands God has already given us.

We know we are called to truth. We know we are called to righteousness. We know we are called to love our neighbors, show mercy, and defend the weak.

Each morning, we would do well to pray: “Lord, help me recognize deception, beginning with any deception I have accepted myself. Give me courage to expose wrongdoing, compassion for those who suffer, and humility to receive correction. Clothe me with Thy armour, and help me follow Thee today.”

The seriousness of this war calls for daily faithfulness. May the name we bear be honored by the lives we live.

When Leaders Fail the Weak, Christians Must Speak

“Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.” — Psalm 82:3–4, KJV

Psalm 82 brings us into a courtroom where God Himself is the Judge. He asks those who hold authority, “How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked?” That question ought to trouble anyone entrusted with power. It ought to trouble the church, too, whenever we excuse injustice because we approve of the leader who commits it.

God does not tell the authorities merely to express sympathy for the afflicted. He tells them to defend, do justice, and deliver. The poor, the fatherless, and the needy must not be left at the mercy of those who can harm them. A government has a solemn duty to protect people who cannot protect themselves. When its leaders instead favor the powerful, neglect the suffering, or use their authority to injure the innocent, they must be held accountable.

That responsibility belongs to Christians as well. Proverbs 31:8–9 says, “Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.” There are times when speaking up is part of obedience to God.

I know that people will disagree about a government’s policies or about the facts of a particular event. That is why we must seek reliable evidence and speak honestly. But uncertainty about one claim must not become an excuse to ignore suffering that is plainly before us. We can ask hard questions. We can call for independent investigation. We can insist that civilians be protected, that the hungry be fed, and that officials answer for unlawful actions. Those are responsibilities, not acts of disloyalty.

Christians must be especially careful when a leader says the things we want to hear. A promise to defend our faith, our country, or our interests does not give anyone permission to violate God’s commands. The LORD does not change His standard of justice to suit our party or our preferred government. We cannot bless cruelty with religious language and expect God to bless us for it.

Some may say, “We must stand with our leaders.” I believe we should pray for them, as Scripture teaches in 1 Timothy 2:1–2. We should also tell them the truth. Praying for a leader does not require defending every action that leader takes. Loyalty to Christ must come before loyalty to any officeholder. If we stand with evil actions because the person committing them is on our side, we are no longer following the way of our Lord. We are yielding to the devil’s work of deception, cruelty, and division.

Jesus told us to love our enemies. That command does not mean overlooking what they do, and it does not mean withholding concern from their victims. It means we seek justice without hatred. We do not blame a whole people for the deeds of their rulers. We do not spread rumors or wish harm upon anyone. We speak truthfully, defend those in danger, and leave final judgment in the hands of God.

This is no small matter for the church. What will our witness mean if we preach that every person is precious to God, then turn away when the weak are harmed? What will it mean if we call for righteousness in private lives but excuse injustice in public office?

Psalm 82 ends with a prayer: “Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.” No government owns the nations. No leader sits above the LORD’s judgment. That truth gives us courage to speak, humility to examine our own loyalties, and hope that injustice will not have the final word.

May we pray for our leaders. May we help those who suffer. May we hold power accountable with truthful words and peaceful action. And may we never mistake standing beside a powerful person for standing with God.