spiritual warfare: live like a winner

 spiritual warfare: live like a winner by ric gustafson

So how do we resist the devil?. Are we facing temptation from Satan or being tested by God?. If you give in to these thoughts? are you getting closer to God or farther away from him?. 

Satan tempts everyone. His temptations are well aimed. We need the right focus. How do we resist temptation?. We need to draw near to God. Our hearts need to be cleansed. We need to humble ourselves. Battle with Satan is a wrestling match. We need to fight Satan with God's Word. 

The End.

research help: ' Reclaiming Surrendered Ground' by Jim Logan

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

Flavius Artemis the centurion page 12

 Flavius Artemis the centurion page 12 by ric gustafson

Flavius held tightly onto the rope. He was leading Jesus across an open courtyard toward Caiaphas's house. As he led the Rabbi across the dark courtyard, he noticed a coal fire in a corner. He noticed two men standing near it. One was big and burly. He looked like a fisherman. He looked familiar to Flavius. The centurion could not remember where he had seen him.

Jesus was led into a large meeting hall. Caiaphas noticed the two walk in. He raised his hand to silence the seventy men behind him. Caiaphas studied the man now in front of him. His head was down. He was silent. He was in a tattered cloak. His face was swollen from being struck. This so called King was now standing in front of Caiaphas. 

He was ready to examine him.

He smiled at Jesus. " Let us begin".

Several people came forward and hurled accusations at Jesus.

Caiaphas knew none of these accusations could be used against him. And then, the last two to accuse him came forward.

research help: ' The Murder of Jesus' by James Macarthur

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

spiritual warfare: pride

spiritual warfare: pride by ric gustafson

Satan loves to use pride in his attacks on us. In God's universe, pride is the original sin. Satan had pride in his exalted position. Using pride, he wanted more. Pride originated in heaven. Satan had pride in his heart. God judged Satan for what was in his heart. A stronghold starts with lies. God hates pride. 

How do we deal with pride?. We must recognize God's grace. We must accept God's grace with humility. When we have pride, God withholds spiritual power. After pride, comes a fall. We must submit to God. We must resist Satan. It's either God's way or my way?. Which do we choose?.

For me it is God's way. Why?. Because God loves us more than anything else.

research help: ' Reclaiming Surrendered Ground' by Jim Logan

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

Columbine page 6

 Columbine page 6 by ric gustafson

From a site called ' the Anarchist Cookbook', Eric Harris devised a bomb. It was a barbecue design with propane tanks. These tanks packed twenty pounds of high explosive gas. In the meantime, Eric had his Judgment Day all planned out. First, he and Dylan would detonate two bombs in the ' commons' during the lunch hour. Eric's hope was to kill as many students as possible. The bombs would be brought in inside 2 duffel bags. They would place them next to pillars in the cafeteria. That way both bombs would cause massive death on both floors of the school.

Then the teens would use a 9mm handgun, a shotgun and a 9mm carbine to kill as many students who would be trying to escape. Eric decided it was best for the two to wear black trench coats to hide their weapons. 

Eric and Dylan had been planning the attack for at least a year and a half. They had planned the attack on Monday April 19. That day was scrubbed because Eric was waiting for ammo. It was decided to do it on Tuesday April 20 1999.

research help: ' Columbine' by Dave Cullen

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

spiritual warfare: to get right

 spiritual warfare: to get right by ric gustafson

In the Christian faith there are two things you must have. That is faith and a good conscience. The Apostle Paul asked Timothy to wage the good warfare. We are to be on our spiritual guard. Timothy was serving God in Ephesus. This church was a hot bed for false teachings. To fight a good spiritual fight, we need a good conscience. We need to clear our conscience. We need to let go of the past. We need a clear conscience, a pure heart and genuine faith. Painful memories leave scars. 

Jesus loves us more than anything else.

research help: ' Reclaiming Surrendered Ground' by Jim Logan

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

Flavius Artemis the centurion page 11

 Flavius Artemis the centurion  page 11 by ric gustafson

Annas was resting on some big cushions. A servant walked in. " Sire, someone very important is coming".

Annas began munching on a grape. " Who is that?".

" Remember that Rabbi from Galilee". His voice hesitated. " The one who caused all that trouble in the Temple".

Annas winced. A lot of his wealth came from license fees he charged the moneychangers. This Rabbi made a whip and turned over the moneychangers tables. He lost a lot of money that day.

Flavius led Jesus by a rope into the torch lit room. Annas could not believe who he was looking at. The young bearded man in front of him was in tattered clothes and he looked like he had been roughed up by soldiers.

Annas smiled. " Tell me about your doctrine and your disciples?".

" Why do you ask me?". Jesus stared at Annas. " Ask those who have heard me?".

One of the soldiers struck Jesus. " Do you answer the high priest like that?".

" If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil". Jesus turned toward the soldier who struck him. " But if well, why do you strike me?".

After a time of trying to get some answers from Jesus, Annas motioned for Flavius.

" Take him through the courtyard to Caiaphas's house".

research help: ' The Murder of Jesus' by John Macarthur

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

spiritual warfare: unforgiveness and bitterness

 spiritual warfare: unforgiveness and bitterness by ric gustafson

God's Word is filled with God forgiving people. Forgiveness is one of the central themes of his Word. One of Satan's tricks is unforgiveness. It is hard for us to be forgiven by God and also harbor unforgiveness in our heart. Unforgiveness and bitterness hurts our relationship with God and others. It opens us up for Satan's attacks. We are forgiven people. We need to forgive others. Christians don't like to admit they are bitter. Bitterness is a weed. It needs to be pulled and thrown away. 

Christians suffer but now alone. Jesus is there to help us. We need to identify and release the bitterness. We need to forgive from the heart. We need to choose to forgive.

Jesus loves us more than anything else.

research help: ' Reclaiming Surrendered Ground' by Jim Logan

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric