Waking the Dead Part 11

                In The Lord of the Rings, Frodo didn’t attempt to destroy the ring by himself.  He had the help of all kinds of races when he first set out and they were known as the “Fellowship of the Ring.”  Frodo definitely wouldn’t have been able to destroy the ring without the help of his best friend Sam.  The same could be said about Christians.  We wouldn’t be able to defeat the evil we’re surrounded by everyday if we don’t surround ourselves with a sort of fellowship.  Life is so much easier whenever you have friends beside you who will help you conquer armies, tear down walls, and fight along with you.  It’s essential.  “You must cling to those you have; you must search wide and far for those you do not yet have.  You must not go alone.” 

                Frodo didn’t take a thousand elves with him to Mordor and Jesus had a platoon of twelve brothers.  They accomplished great things with a small number of close friends because it’s impossible to have intimacy with a large number of people and that’s what this war will require of us.  It’s an awesome experience to worship with thousands of people, but you can’t even say hello to everybody in a crowd that large.  Is it possible to offer rich and penetrating words to someone you barely know, in the lobby of the church, as you dash to pick your kids up?  Would you feel comfortable asking the person you pass the offering plate to if they could bind a demon that is sitting on your head?  I’m going to call this close group of friends your “inner circle.”  These are the people that are going to fight for your heart.  Counseling has become a hired profession because we could not find it anywhere else.  Christians need to find it because this battle is going to be rough without it.

                Church is not a building and is not an event that takes place on Sundays.  Church, as America thinks of it, is not how the Bible uses the term.  When Scripture talks about church, it means a community.  Little fellowships that share life.  They worship together, eat together, pray for one another, go on quests together, and fight for each other.  They can do this because they are small and intimate.  Small groups have become a popular part of churches and they are short-lived for the most part.  You can’t expect a group of complete strangers to become intimate allies over the course of 12 weeks.  That sort of relationship builds over a shared life.  “All the believers were one in heart and mind.” Acts 4:32a This means they all loved the same thing, wanted the same thing, and were bonded together to find it.  Most small groups don’t heal the brokenhearted or set the captives free because we come, we learn, and we leave.  This is not enough because hearts are still unknown to each other. 

                It’s going to get messy too.  Just because everyone in your inner circle is a Christian doesn’t mean they won’t screw up and you will mess up eventually too.  Going to church with hundreds of people to sit and hear a sermon is easy.  It won’t expose you which is why most people prefer it.  A community will expose you though.  It will reveal to you where you have yet to become holy at the same moment you realize where they have yet to become holy.  It will bring you close and you will be seen and you will be known.

This kind of community is extremely rare.  Why?  Because it is hard and fiercely opposed.  Most churches survive because everybody keeps a polite distance from one another and conversations are superficial.  Living in a community is like camping together, in the desert, for a month, with no tents.  Anybody can be captured for Christ for an hour a week, but your life is exposed to a community you live with.  There are two keys you have to keep in mind when dealing with other people so intimately too: the heart is good and we are at war.  Times are going to come up where you lose patience with someone but we know the Truth.  Once we are born again, our hearts are good.  The Enemy is also trying to stop us with everything in his power.  That is why we need to band together and fight.

We have to fight against the Enemy and we have to fight for each other because without it we’re screwed.  “Suddenly, all those one another’s in Scripture make sense.  Love one another.  Bear one another’s burdens.  Forgive one another.  Acts of kindness become deeply meaningful because we know we are at war.”  You have to know your friends’ hearts intimately because when they seem distant, you know what’s really going on.  We also have to be careful with how we treat our inner circle.  If you bring your every need to the group, it will collapse.  Community is no substitute for God. 

“God is calling together little communities of the heart, to fight for one another and for the hearts of those who have not yet been set free.  That camaraderie, that intimacy, that incredible impact by a few stouthearted souls—that is available.  It is the Christian life as Jesus gave it to us.  It is completely normal.”  If you started following my blog a little later than when I first started, most of the stuff I write about comes from the book Waking the Dead by John Eldredge. (which explains the random quotes) I highly recommend the book because it is awesome and so true.  Christians today are not the people we were created to be.  I hope this post is enlightening and that you truly seek out brothers and sisters in Christ who will fight for your heart and that you will fight for theirs.  If you need to talk to me about anything, have a question, or just want to talk about what God is doing in your life hit me up!  Thanks for reading, only one more post from this book and it’s going to be an epic finish.

In Love,

Bill Bouillon

Waking the Dead Part 10

                I’ve talked in previous posts about spiritual warfare, restoration, and counseling.  All of these things can really change your life if you let God work in you and put in a little effort yourself.  Why would you want to do this you may ask.  It’s because we are not what we were created to be.  Christianity today is filled with people who are just trying to get by.   Some have hope but still don’t live up to the life that we’ve been called to live.  And we feel so guilty about it too.  We search for purpose.  What were we created to do?  “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.  God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.  Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’” Genesis 1:26-28 We were created to rule.

                Now I’m not talking about taking over the world.  I am not trying to create some weird cult; we have plenty of those already.  If we picture ourselves at war with Satan and his armies, then it makes sense that we were created to rule.  This isn’t Sunday school hour anymore.  The Enemy doesn’t want God’s glory to shine and will do everything in his power to prevent that.  The book of Revelation baffles me.  The prophecies in that book confuse the heck out of me even after reading the Left Behind series.  One thing is made clear to me though from that book and other parables that Jesus taught about; Christians will rule the earth when Christ comes back.  Not like a military coup, but God has ultimate control and power and every knee shall bow at His Name when He returns.  What are we supposed to do in the meantime though?  Training us to do what we were created to do: rule.

 In Luke 10 Jesus sent out 72 disciples, ordinary people like you and me, to do His ministry which is healing the broken and setting captives free.  “Go!  I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.” Luke 10:3 He flat out told them it wouldn’t be easy.  When they return, they are absolutely blow away by what happened.  “The seventy-two returned with joy and said, ‘Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.’” Luke 10:17 Christ gives His followers authority and it works!  Satan’s days on Earth are numbered and he knows it.  “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me.’”  Matthew 28:18 Why would He give us authority if we weren’t supposed to use it?

Unfortunately the attitude of Christians today is anything but fierce.  We’re passive, acquiescent.  We act as if the battle is over already.  We’ve believed the lie that says, “You don’t need to fight the Enemy.  Let Jesus do that.”  It is true that Jesus has won the victory over Satan and his kingdom. (Can I get an amen!) However, the battle is not over.  Until Jesus comes back for the finishing blow, there is work to be done.  We are supposed to fight for the lost and hurt now until that day comes.  “Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7

One thing I’m God is just speaking to me about right now is that I have the authority.  I know my heart is good, awesome.  I am more aware that I’m being attacked by the Enemy now and I try to see where my emotions come from and what is assaulting me.  How do we combat these assaults though?  John Eldredge has an awesome example that kind of explained what was happening to me.  I’ve asked God to help take some things out of my life.  Remove the temptations and protect me.  I’ve felt Him there beside me, but some things just haven’t been going away.  They’ve still had a hold on me and it was driving me crazy.  God has been telling me, “You do it Bill.”  I didn’t really think of it that way.  “I have the authority?  That can’t be right God.”  Sometimes we think we are so powerless in front of the giants we face.  The Bible is full of underdog stories.  David defeats Goliath.  Gideon’s 300 men wiped out the Midianites.  Peter and Saul changed the church forever.  God has given you and me authority over our Enemy just like He has the ultimate authority.  Through the Cross, we have power that we never imagined and it’s time we start using it.

Please don’t live your life ashamed of your past or even where you are now.  Change.  Be that person that brings glory to God with the way you live.  You have the authority over the Enemy so stop listening to the lies and rule.  My prayer is that you realize you have the authority of Christ and you aren’t afraid to use it in your life.  God loves you and I love you.  Please let me know if there’s something I can pray for you about.

In Love,

Bill

Waking the Dead Part 9

               In this journal I’m going to be talking about Spiritual Warfare.  I’ve made pretty clear in other posts the case that we are constantly at war with the Enemy and he is hell-bent on preventing God’s glory shining through us.  “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;” John 10:10a He came to literally do this.  “The story of your life is the story of the long and brutal assault on your heart by the one who knows what you could be and fears it.”  “I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.  I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.”  Isaiah 45:2-3 Be completely honest with yourself, when you read the above passage did it seem a bit…overblown?  “God’s gonna level mountains for me Bill?  That’s cool.  I was just kinda hoping He’d help me get through this week.  I have a million things to do and I don’t know how I’m gonna do it.”  The part about treasure reminds you of a children’s tale you used to hear when you were little and it was wrote to be poetic and inspire, but what good does that actually do us now?

                What if we viewed Scripture through the eyes of our heart?  The language used in the Bible makes perfect sense if we view it on a mythic level like in Lord of the Rings.  Gates must be broken down, riches are hidden in darkness, and precious friends must be set free.  Things are not what they seem.  We are at war and the Enemy is set against your heart, your glory.  “He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.”  Isaiah 61:1b This is God’s mission for His people.  We have all been held captive by something and we can’t see in the darkness.  Our hearts have been the treasure hidden in the darkness.  Maybe you understand that perfectly, but what we don’t always understand is the Where and How.

                In every story there is a villain.  In Lord of the Rings, Sauron wanted the Ring back and attempted everything in his power to recover it.  Satan was cast out from heaven along with the fallen angels and he wants revenge on God.  The only way he can get this is by attacking us.  He is trying to steal your freedom, kill your heart, and destroy your life.  “Very few people live like that.  The alarm goes off, and they hit the snooze button, catch a few extra winks, gulp down a cup of coffee on their way to work, wonder why there are so many hassles, grab some lunch, work some more, come home under a sort of cloud, look at the mail, have dinner, watch a little TV, feed the cat, and fall into bed—without once even wondering how the Enemy might be attacking them.  All they know is, they sure aren’t enjoying that abundant life Christ talked about.”  To live in ignorance of the war going on around you is the most destructive thing we can possibly do. 

                Satan has been called the Father of Lies in John 8:44.  His very first attack against Adam and Eve was a lie in the Garden and he was successful.  He likes to suggest to us some sort of idea or inclination or impression, and what he is seeking is a sort of “agreement” on our part.  He’s hoping we buy into whatever he’s offering, saying, insinuating and then he can destroy the work God wants to do through us.  Quite possibly the two hardest things to hold onto is that our hearts are good and they matter to God.  Try to hold onto these for a day and see the resistance you face.  You have an argument with your daughter on the way to school; as you drive off, you have a nagging sense of, Well, you really blew that one.  If your heart agrees with this without taking the issue to God then the Enemy tries to take more from you.  You’re always blowing it with her.  Another agreement is made.  It’s true.  I’m such a lousy parent.  You can see how your whole day goes down the drain in about 5 minutes.

 This sort of thing happens all the time and if we don’t recognize it for what it is we’re toast.  If a demon told you to drink a rat poison he was handing you, you would tell him where he can drink his poison.  “But because we do not live as though we are at war, well, we just assume these impressions are our own, and we accept them, agree with them, live under them like slaves under a task master.”  Any movement toward freedom and life will be opposed.  Sadly, the opposition will sometimes come from Christians because they do not understand what they are saying comes from the Enemy.  David took a census of Israel when he was commanded not to and Peter tried to rebuke Jesus.  These are some great Christian men who fell for lies.  We must be careful who or what we are agreeing with.

Probably half the stuff people are trying to “work through” in counseling offices or pray about in their quiet times are agreements they’ve made with the Enemy.  They could end their agony if they treated it for the warfare it is, break any agreement they’ve made, and send the Enemy packing.  Have you ever had an experience where there was something you couldn’t just “work through”?  I know I have.  Whether it’s something you’ve done in the past, anger you’re holding onto, or the feeling that you aren’t worth anything, stop agreeing now!  “The Enemy will suggest all sorts of things.  You see—God doesn’t care.  You’re not worth fighting for.  Your heart doesn’t matter.  You can’t trust him.  He is trying to kill your heart, destroy the glory of your life.  It will feel hard—really hard, almost impossible—but whatever you do, make no agreements.  You have to start there.”

God is often referred to as “the Lord Almighty” in the Bible.  What kind of image does this create in your head?  To me, it paints a picture of someone who is up in heaven yet in control.  Powerful, yet a bit behind the scenes.  The Hebrew version of this translation is “the Lord of hosts” and “God of hosts.”  This seems like a much better representation because my God is the God of armies who will fight for his people.  The God who is at war.  Lord Almighty doesn’t really convey this image to me.  “The God of angel armies sounds like the one who would roll up his sleeves, take up sword and shield to break down gates of bronze, and cut through bars of iron to rescue me.”  Why have Christians abandoned a warfare worldview?  Why do we still think, and some churches will even preach, that our hearts are evil?  It’s because we have believed in the lies of the Enemy for far too long and it’s time to stop and fight back.

I want to close out this post by reviewing some of my previous journal entries to kind of tie them all together.  Much of Christianity in today’s American society has turned discipleship into a soul-killing exercise of principles.  A lot of people don’t realize they can walk with God and hear His voice.  We’ve viewed counseling as a profession for sick patients so people’s hearts are never healed.  We sit in pews as broken people, feeling guilty because we aren’t living the life we’re supposed to.  We’ve believed the lies of the Enemy, especially the one that there is no war.  How many Christians do you know practice spiritual warfare as a normal, essential part of daily life?  If you want the life and freedom Jesus offers, then you are going to have to break free of this religious fog.  “It is freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”  Galatians 5:1 Here’s a good test to use to see what you believe is the truth.  If it doesn’t bring freedom, life, or restore the image of God, it’s not Christianity.

 I really can’t stress how important it is to recognize that we are at war and we must guard ourselves and fight daily.  Satan is out there trying to steal, kill, and destroy whatever part of our lives he can get a hold of and I do not want to see myself or my friends fall prey any longer.  If you have anything you want me to pray for, please let me know.  I love you guys and hope you start off the New Year right!

In Love,

Bill